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

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This week

Literature Out Loud will be at 4 p.m. Feb. 7 at Willoughby Library, 30 Public Square. Great American stories will be read aloud through dramatic readings by a professional actor. Stories from the American frontier, patriotic poems and excerpts from American novels and short stories of adventure, comedy, romance and history will be featured. Registration is required at 440-942-3200.


The East Cuyahoga County Genealogical Society will meet at 7 p.m. Feb. 7 at the Ross C. DeJohn Community Center, 6306 Marsol Road, Mayfield Heights. Diana Crisman Smith will present a program on how to add color to your family history by providing sources you may not have thought about using. Guests are welcome to attend for a $3 visitor fee that may be applied to membership. For more information, contact Stacie at 216-379-0749 (evenings or weekends) or Mac at mksauer4@roadrunner.com. Smith is a genealogical writer, speaker, editor and teacher. She is treasurer of both the International Society of Family History Writers and the Genealogical Speakers Guild, and lay librarian at the Family History Center in Westlake as well as an online instructor through Family Tree University and has a column in the Association of Professional Genealogists’ Quarterly.


Nintendo DS Game Night will be 7 to 8 p.m. Feb. 7 at Willoughby Library, 30 Public Square. Bring a Nintendo DS and any linkable games to the library for the opportunity to play with other children. Participants must have a DS, but games are not required. Registration is required at 440-942-3200.


Jump Start Your Job Search will be 9:45 to 11 a.m. Feb. 8 at Eastlake Public Library, 36706 Lake Shore Blvd., Learn about free workshops and job search assistance available through Lake1Stop. The 90-minute session is a pre-requisite for attending the workshops, to find out about available training funds, or for receiving one-on-one job search assistance. To register for the program, call Debra Laurin at 440-350-2493 or 440-918-2493.


Crossroads will hold a Family Valentine’s Story Time 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 8 at its Early Childhood Services Center, 1083 Mentor Ave., Painesville. Children are encouraged to wear their pajamas for the family-friendly event, which will feature books, crafts and a seasonal snack. The event is geared for children up to age 8. The event is free, but registration is required at 440-358-7370. The Crossroads Early Childhood Services Center provides a broad range of behavioral health services to children from birth to age 5.


"Download Books Free With Your Library Card" will be at 7 p.m. Feb. 9 at Chardon Library on Chardon Square. Patrons who have received or purchased an e-reader will learn how to download free e-books from the Overdrive’s Ohio e-book project, accessible from the Geauga County Public Library’s website. If patrons bring their own laptops and e-readers, they can get hands-on assistance in downloading their own e-books. For additional information, contact Lou Jerkich, assistant manager of Chardon Library, at 440-285-7601.


Job Searching Online will be at 10 a.m. Feb. 10 at Eastlake Public Library, 36706 Lake Shore Blvd. Registration is required at 440-942-7780.


Meet author Chris Bohjalian at 2 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Beachwood Branch of the Cuyahoga County Library, 25501 Shake Blvd. (at the corner of Richmond and Shaker). Bohjalian is the author of 13 books, many of which are New York Times bestsellers and/or Publishers Weekly best books. His book "Midwives" was an Oprah Book Discussion Selection. Registration is required: 216-831-6868.


Crafy Kids will be 2 to 3 p.m. Feb. 12 at Willoughby Library, 30 Public Square. Children in grades one through six will make crafts. Registration is required at 440-942-3200.


Teen Anime Afternoons will be 2 to 3 p.m. Feb. 12 at Willowick Library, 263 E. 305th St. Youths in grades six through 12 can join others to watch anime movies and draw. Snack will be provided, and registration is required at 440-943-4151.


Valentine Chocolate Candy Making will be 2 to 3 p.m. Feb. 12 at Eastlake Library, 36706 Lake Shore Blvd. Youths ages 11 through 18 can make chocolate suckers to take home to their valentines. Registration is required at 440-942-7780.


Friends of Morley Library will host a book sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 12 in the lower level of Morley Library in Painesville.


Computer Basics I, designed for a person with no computer experience, will be at 10 a.m. Feb. 12 at Willowick Library, 263 E. 305th St. Learn about hardware and software. Time will be provided for hands-on practice with the keyboard and mouse. The program is limited to 10 participants, and registration is required at 440-943-4151.


The Friends of the Burton Public Library Chess Tournaments will be every Saturday in February at the library. This annual event has been drawing chess players from all over the area. Prior tournament competition is not necessary. Players need to bring a standard chess set, a sack lunch and beverage. Tournaments
for different age groups are scheduled as follows:

• Sixth through eighth grade: 10 a.m. Feb. 12
• Ninth through 12th grade: 10 a.m. Feb. 19 (expected to finish by 5 p.m.)
• Adults: 10 a.m. Feb. 26

All tournaments will be Swiss-type, providing each player at least four games regardless of his or her win-loss record. Medals will be awarded to the top places in each category. Prior registration is required for all tournaments. To register, call the Burton Public Library at 440-834-4466. For further information about the tournaments, call Jim Wohlken at 440-834-4283. Visit the library online at www.burton.lib.oh.us.


The Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin Office of College, Counseling and Support Services is sponsoring a college application process program for NDCL juniors and their parents. The event will be 2 to 4 p.m. Feb. 13 in the NDCL Library. Information will be presented, and questions answered, by an expert panel on college admission, including representatives from Case Western Reserve University, The College of Wooster and Bowling Green State University. Registration in advance is not required. Contact NDCL at 440-286-6226 if there are any questions. Those interested also can visit NDCL anytime at www.ndcl.org.

Coming up

Join Cathi Weber, local author of "Haunted Willoughby, Ohio" at 7 p.m. Feb. 14 at Willoughby Library, 30 Public Square, to hear the stories that inspired her to investigate the spooky heritage and true stories that are a part of Willoughby's history. Limited to 60 participants. Registration is required at 440-942-3200.


Reel Talk-Book and Movie Discussion Group meets at 2:45 p.m. the second Monday of every month in Morley Library's meeting Room B, with the next meeting taking place Feb. 14. Books and DVDs are available at the check-out desk on the main floor. The library is located at 184 Phelps St. in Painesville. Details: 440-352-3383 or www.morleylibrary.org.


Friends of the Kirtland Library will have its annual meeting from 7 to 8:45 p.m. Feb. 14 at Kirtland Public Library, 9267 Chilicothe Road. The following slate of officers will be presented by the nominating committee: Kent Packer, president; Ginny Liddy, vice president; Jane Carle, recording secretary; Gail Cap, corresponding secretary; Greg Amyot, treasurer. A brief meeting will be followed by a Valentine's Day celebration with a theme of chocolate, chocolate, chocolate. Refreshments will include a variety of chocolate treats, and one lucky person will go home with a Valentine gift basket. Details: 440-256-READ.


A "Take Charge Tuesday -- Healthy Heart Screening: Cholesterol, Glucose and Blood Pressure" free screening program will take place from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Feb. 15 at Willoughby Library, 30 Public Square. The screening will be provided by health professionals from Euclid Hospital's Healthy Heart Program. Discuss results with a registered nurse. Registration is required at 440-942-3200.


Find a desired cookbook and let your unused cookbooks become treasures for others at the Cookbook Swap and Tasting at 6 p.m. Feb. 15 at Willoughby Hills Library, 35400 Chardon Road. Bring up to three cookbooks from your collection plus a dish to share. Registration is required at 440-942-3362.


Happy Bookers Book Discussion will take place at 7 p.m. Feb. 15 at Willowick Library, 263 E. 305th St. The book "Beloved" by Toni Morrison will be discussed.


A Fancy Nancy Party will be 7 p.m. Feb. 15 at Eastlake Library, 36706 Lake Shore Blvd. Come dressed in finery for fabulous festivities. Registration is required at 440-942-7780.


The Burton Public Library will present "Act It Out," a five-week acting workshop for ages 6 through 10. The workshop will meet from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m. on Feb. 15 and 22 and March 1 and 8, concluding with a performance of "Python's Party: at 4 p.m. March 15. The acting workshop will be taught by Chardon resident Amy Bennett, who has an academic and professional background in children’s arts.
"Act It Out" is free of charge and has limited enrollment. Registration is a commitment to attend all five sessions. To register, call the Burton Public Library at 440-834-4466.


CSI: Painesville will be at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 15 at Morley Library. Forensic chemist Kim Krall, from the Lake County Crime Lab, will give an overview of the science of catching criminals. Attendees will look at DNA, fingerprinting, firearms and race analysis. The program is intended for grades 10 and older, and adults.


DS Nights for Teens will be 7 to 8 p.m. Feb. 16 at Willoughby Public Library, 30 Public Square. Teens in grades six through 12 can bring a Nintendo DS and any linkable games to the library to play with other teens. Attendees must have a DS but games are not required. Registration is required at 440-942-3200.


Facebook for Beginners program will be at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 17 at Willoughby Library, 30 Public Square. Learn how to create and use a Facebook page. Internet, mouse and keyboard skills are recommended. An email address is required to sign up for Facebook. Registration is required at 440-942-3200.


A Mother/Daughter Beading Craft is scheduled for 7 to 8 p.m. Feb. 17 at Willowick Library, 263 E. 305th St. Girls in kindergarten through sixth grade and their mothers will make a craft. Registration is required at 440-943-4151.


Native Plant Society of Northeast Ohio will meet at 7 p.m. Feb. 17 at Loganberry Books, 13015 Larchmere Blvd., Shaker Heights. The evening will be an exploration of book sources and resources for bibliophiles and native plant enthusiasts. Cleveland Botanical Garden Librarian Gary Esmonde will guide the group across the terrain of introductory Ohio flora books to collectors' items in the very special collections of the Eleanor Squire Library. Cleveland Museum of Natural History Librarian Wendy Wasman will share some botanical treasures from the museum's rare books collection. No registration required; suggested donation of $3.


Word Basics will be at 10 a.m. Feb. 19 at Willowick Library, 263 E. 305th St. Learn to create documents in Microsoft Word. Experience with the mouse and keyboard is recommended. Registration is required at 440-943-4151.

Ongoing events

The art exhibit "His, Hers, and the Truth: Paintings of Human Realism" by Judy Takacs is on display at Notre Dame College’s Clara Fritzche Library through Feb. 18. The free exhibit is open to the public during library hours, which are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 10 p.m. Sundays. Notre Dame College is at 4545 College Road, South Euclid. For details, call 216-373-5267 or e-mail kzoller@ndc.edu.


If you are 60 years old or older and a middle- or low-income taxpayer, you can get free tax assistance with an AARP tax aide volunteers. Call the Mentor Library at 440-255-8811, ext. 215, to make your appointment. Volunteers will be at the Main Library, 8215 Mentor Ave., from noon to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through April 12. Bring your completed tax forms from last year and valid I.D. to your appointment. AARP help is by appointment only.


-- Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com
@nhcheryl