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.

---

This week

Mentor Library's Monday Night Book Discussion takes place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. the first Monday of each month from October through June, with the next meeting being April 4. For this month's selection, contact librarian Barb Hauer at 440-255-8811, ext. 210. The library provides books, and refreshments are courtesy of the Friends of the Library.


The Lupus Foundation of America Inc. Greater Cleveland Chapter will host the Willoughby Area Support Group from 6:30 to 8 p.m. April 5 at Willoughby Library, 30 Public Square. Details: 440-717-0183.


The Citizens for Chardon Schools Levy Campaign Committee is sponsoring a Levy Information Night at 7 p.m. April 6 at the Chardon High School Library. Chardon Schools Superintendent Joseph Bergant, Treasurer Stephanie Swain and leaders of the volunteer levy committee will be on hand to answer questions on Issue 2, the district’s operating levy request, which is on the May 3 ballot.


John Stark Bellamy II, author of "The Last Days of Cleveland," will be in the area at the following times, dates and locations:

• 7 to 8 p.m. April 6, Gates Mills Branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library, 1491 Chagrin River Road. Details: 440-423-4808.
• 7 to 8 p.m. April 10, Chagrin Falls Branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library, 100 E. Orange St. Details: 440-247-3556.
• 7 to 8 p.m. April 12, Mayfield Village Branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library, 6080 Wilson Mills Road. Details: 440-473-0350.
• 7 to 8 p.m. April 14, Willowick Public Library, 273 E. 305th St. Details: 440-943-4151.

The Friends of the Wickliffe Public Library, along with the Children's Department librarians, will kick off National Library Week on April 10. "Family Bingo" will be between 2 and 3 p.m. in the library meeting room of the library, 1713 Lincoln Road, and cookies and punch or tea will be included. Books will be awarded to the bingo winners.

Coming up

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 April 11. 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.


Books & Cooks! will be 6 to 8 p.m. April 11 at Madison Library, 6111 Middle Ridge Road. Several local authors will be signing and selling their books while local cooks, caterers and restaurants will be offering samples of their specialties. The event is sponsored by Friends of Madison Public Library and will be the grand finale of Patron Appreciation Day, April 11, which kicks off Madison Public Library's National Library Week celebration. If you are an author or cook and want to reserve a table, call the library at 440-428-2189. Visit the library's website at www.madison-library.info for more National Library Week Activities.


Carol Starre-Kmiecik will bring the Unsinkable Molly Brown to life at 7 p.m. April 12 at Mentor Library, 8215 Mentor Ave. Brown an American socialite, philanthropist and activist, became famous for surviving the sinking of the Titanic in 1912. Margaret Brown’s experiences on the ship are the most well-known portion of her story, but Starre-Kmiecik will give a complete picture of Brown’s life. Call the library at 440-255-8211, ext. 248, to register.


Tweens and teens are invited to Draw Your Life Story from 6 to 7:30 p.m. April 13 in the James Garfield Room at Mentor Library, 8215 Mentor Ave. Youths will draw a page from their life story under the direction of graphic novelist Del Borovic. Borovic will demonstrate the concepts of graphic-novel and fusion art, leading a discussion on the workflow of creating a comic page, serving the story, determining what tools to use, and finding a style. She also will talk about the differences between Japanese and American Manga art, as well as the history of the medium. Tweens and teens will also be able to talk one-on-one after the workshop. Some supplies will be on hand, but you may bring along a sketchbook full of ideas. Registration is required: 440-255-8111, ext. 215 or 221.


The annual Spring Basket Auction and Book Sale sponsored by Friends of the Morley Library will be April 14 to 17 in the lower level of Morley Library. Auction baskets will be on display from 4 to 8 p.m. April 14, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 15 and 16. Tickets will be drawn at 2:45 p.m. April 17. Tickets sold at the circulation desk during library hours through April 13 will be five for $1. Tickets sold at the circulation desk during library hours April 14-16 will be four for $1. Tickets sold in the lower level conference rooms from 1:30 to 2:40 p.m. April 17 will be three for $1. Details: Friends of Morley Library at 440-252-3383.
The book sale will be:

• 5 to 8 p.m. April 14 (Preview Night for Friends; memberships available at door)
• 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 15
• 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 16
• 1:30 to 3 p.m. April 17

Community Paper Shred Day will be 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 16 at Mentor Library, 8215 Mentor Ave. The library is partnering with Xpress Shredding, which will do the free collection in the library staff auxiliary lot that day. Mentor residents, patrons and staff may drop off up to five boxes of paper, which will be loaded into a secure truck with an attendant and taken to Xpress' secure shredding facility. The service will be provided at no charge to Mentor Library or residents. Xpress also will provide coupons to patrons for an additional one box of shreddable paper brought directly to its facility on Tyler Boulevard.


A Pre-Robotics Workshop will be 10 to 11:30 a.m. April 16 at Beachwood Library, 25501 Shaker Blvd. The event for students ages 6 to 10 will allow youths to build and program robots using Lego Mindstorms system. Family and friends will be encouraged to watch the teams demonstrate their robots at the end of the workshop. Registration required: 216-831-6868 or cuyahogalibrary.org.


The Friends of the Cleveland Public Library will have a Spring Used Book Sale April 18-21 at Cleveland Public Library, 525 Superior Ave. A large selection of books in all categories will be on sale, including an assortment of audio books and music CDs. A members-only preview will be 10 a.m. to noon April 18, and members should bring their cards for admittance. Those who are not members of the Friends may join at the door. The sale will be open to the public noon to 6 p.m. April 18 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 19 and 20. On April 21, a bag of books will be offered for $5 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Details: 216-623-2821.


Mentor Public Library's Book Club for Men will meet at 7 p.m. April 18 in the Frances Cleveland Room at the main library, 8215 Mentor Ave. Join male readers to discuss books of interest with librarian Steve Haas. This month's selection is "To Kill the Irishman" by Rick Porrello. Details: 440-255-8811.

Ongoing events

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.


Claire Zurbuch, a resident of Hambden Township for nearly four decades, is the season’s featured artist at “Art in the Mart” at the Middlefield
Library, 16167 E. High St. Zurbuch is a photographer who specializes in film. His work features nature, landscapes and photos from a recent trip to Italy with his wife, Kay. Zurbuch will present “Photographing Italy” at 7 p.m. April 28. More than a travelogue, the free program will include tips on how to photograph a vacation. “Art in the Mart” is sponsored by the Geauga Council for Arts & Culture, whose mission is to bring art and people together. All of the items are for sale and the proceeds benefit the artist, the council and the Middlefield Library. Other Art in the Mart locations include the New York Deli, the Geauga YMCA and University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center. Those interested in purchasing a piece, can email artinthemart@gmail.com or call 440-537-3344.


Mentor Public Library is celebrating National Library Week by hosting a writing contest for children ages 12 and younger. From now until April 11, children can show off their creative spirit and have a chance to win Barnes & Noble gift cards. Everyone who enters the contest will have their story published in a book that can be checked out at the library. Entries will be judged in age groups: 6 and younger, 7 to 9, and 10 to 12. Children should submit a typed or clearly written story, 1,000 words or less, about "A Night at the Library." Younger patrons who have not learned to write may draw their story. Participants should write their name, age and phone number on submissions. Details: 440-255-8811, ext. 221.


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