Odds and Book Ends features activities and events in the area related to libraries, books and authors. Send your events to Community@News-Herald.com or submit it at www.News-Herald.com/Calendar, and check back to The Book Club every week for upcoming events and activities at your local library.


“Books with Breakfast” will take place Aug. 24 at Mentor Public Library's Lake Branch. Join Adult Information Services Librarian and Profiler Sarah O. for a half hour packed with poetry, drama, narrative and breakfast. No registration required, just stop in. Sarah will be at the Lake branch at 9:45 am. Details: www.mentorpl.org.


Digital Photography 101 will be at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 24 at Madison Public Library, 6111 Middle Ridge Road. Photographer Ron Surmick will present the class covering basic photographic techniques, the magic of light, benefits of digital photography, basic camera operation, and image processing.
Then go out and take some great photos and to enter in the 10th annual Madison Public Library Photography Contest. This year’s theme is “My Favorite Place.” Patrons will vote on the Best Outdoor Place, Best Indoor Place, Most Fun Place, Most Relaxing Place and That’s My Favorite Place, too! Pick up an entry form and details at the library or online at www.madison-library.info.


The Geauga County National Alliance on Mental Illness Family Support Group will meet at 7 p.m. Aug. 24 at Middlefield Public Library, 16167 East High St., Middlefield Village. The group is for individuals who have a family member, loved one or child diagnosed with a mental illnesss or for those who have a mental illness. The program is freee and registration is not necessary. For details, call the Geauga MHA at 440-285-3945.


The Mentor Public Library is hosting a Starry Night Book Party from 7 to 9 p.m. Aug. 27 under the big tent on the Read House next to the main branch of the Mentor Public Library. Adults are invited to come celebrate the end of summer reading by talking about books they have read over the summer. Attendees also have the option of bringing a book to swap. Refreshments and music, courtesy of the Friends of the Mentor Public Library, will be provided. Admission is free. Register online at www.mentorpl.org or stop by the reference desk for assistance. For more information, contact Barb Hauer at barbara.hauer@mentorpl.org or 440-255-8811, ext. 210.


Madison Public Library, 6111 Middle Ridge Road, Madison, will host “Fall Lawn Care for a Beautiful Lawn Next Spring” Aug. 28 at the library. Details: 440-428-2189.


The Borders Creekside Commons has launched a book drive as part of a chain wide effort to increase literacy among kids. Until Aug. 30, store associates will encourage customers to donate enriching books including titles from the Junie B/ Jones, Magic Tree House and Ramona and Beezus series, as well as picture books for very young readers. The store has partnered with The Salvation Army, which will receive and distribute the donated books to needy kids within the community.
During the book drive it had in March, the store collected about 600 books and plush toys and provided them to Forbes House. The company as a whole delivered more than 600,000 titles and 85,000 stuffed toys to kids in need nationwide.


--Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com