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

Perry Library’s Adult Summer Reading 2011, “Novel Destinations” begins June 13, and anyone age 16 or older is invited to join. There will be weekly prize drawings, as well as grand prizes at the close of the program July 23. Participants simply need to read or listen to a book of their choice and submit the title with their name for the weekly prize drawings. Prizes are on display at the library. To register, call 440-259-3300 or visit at www.perrypubliclibrary.org. The library is at 3753 Main St.


Cartoonist Jenny Campbell will be featured in a program at 11 a.m. June 13 at West Geauga Senior Center, 11414 Caves Road, Chester Township. Campbell is a children’s illustrator and the author of the nationally syndicated cartoon strip "Flo & Friends." She will talk about her career, background and inspiration for the cartoon strip. For reservations, call 440-729-2782.


Reel Talk-Book and Movie Discussion Group meets at 2:45 p.m. the second Monday of every month - with the next meeting slated for June 13 - in Meeting Room B of Morley Library, 184 Phelps St., Painesville. Books and DVDs are available at the check-out desk on the main floor. Details: 440-352-3383 or www.morleylibrary.org.


Graphic artist Thom Zahler will demonstrate cartooning techniques at 6 p.m. June 14 at the Willoughby Hills Library, 35400 Chardon Road. Details and registration: 440-942-3362.


Playaways now are part of Geauga County Public Library’s lending options. A Playaway is a portable, all-in-one format audio book. It is high-definition audio that does not need a separate player. The orange-boxed devices come pre-loaded and ready to start, making it easy to borrow from a library and use right away. Geauga County Public Library is adding Playaways to the Bainbridge, Chardon, Geauga West and Middlefield libraries. They are already available at Bainbridge Library, and Playaway representatives will be at the other locations to demonstrate the device. Demonstrations will be from 4 to 8 p.m. June 16 at Middlefield Library, and 9 a.m. to noon June 22 at Geauga West Library. Titles include recent best-sellers, young adult and children's books. Individuals also may access the library catalog at www.geaugalibrary.net and search Playaway to check available titles.


Friends of the Morley Library, 184 Phelps St., Painesville, has planned a book sale in the Morley Library Book Cellar. A Friends preview will be 5 to 8 p.m. June 16, and the sale will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 17 and 18. Details: 440-227-6581.


Eastlake Library, 36706 Lake Shore Blvd., will host "Sidewheel Treasure and Tragedy" at 7 p.m. June 16. Georgann and Mike Wachter will highlight several of the ships that traveled the Great Lakes and compare them to two floating museum paddle wheel steamers. The program includes a discussion of the G.P. Griffith, which burned and sank off Willowick's shore. To register, call 440-942-7880.


The Northeastern Ohio Rose Society is celebrating Rose Month (June) by having a book display on roses at Ashtabula Library, Topky Library and Madison Library. A rose show will be June 18 and 19 at the Cleveland Botanical Gardens, sponsored by the Cleveland Rose Societies. The club meets the fourth Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at Madison Library, and the next meeting will be Sept. 26. Details: 440-997-9403.

Coming up

Crossroads will hold a Family Story Time from 6 to 7:30 p.m. June 22 at its Early Childhood Services Center, 1083 Mentor Ave. in Painesville. The family friendly event will feature books, crafts and a snack. The event is geared for children up to age 8 and their parents or caregivers. The event is free, but registration is required. Those interested should call 440-358-7370. The Crossroads Early Childhood Services Center provides a broad range of behavioral health services to children from birth to age 5. Crossroads is a nonprofit organization providing behavioral health services to children and their families.


President Abraham Lincoln, as portrayed by historian John King, will speak at the next meeting of the Willoughby Historical Society to commemorate the Sesquicentennial Anniversary of the Civil War. Lincoln will discuss aspects of his early life and his role throughout the Civil War up to the fateful evening at Ford Theatre. The event will be 7 pm. June 22 at Willoughby Library, 30 Public Square. The event is free and open to the public.

Ongoing events

National Candy Month Contest at Mentor Library, 8215 Mentor Ave., will be May 16 through June 16. June is Candy Month. Check out books from the children's area and receive one chance at guessing how many candies are in the jar. The person with the closest answer wins the jar. One guess per child, per day. The winner will be announced June 17. Details: 440-255-8811.


Bainbridge Library, 17222 Snyder Road, Chagrin Falls, will host the traveling exhibit "A Fine Romance: Jewish Songwriters, American Songs 1910-1965" through July 1. Only 55 libraries across the U.S. were selected to host the exhibit, which is composed of eight colorful double-sided panels filled with text and photographs highlighting the spirit of the musical era. The Bainbridge Library is offering a variety of free programs to enhance the exhibit experience. On June 3, Bill Rudman will present the grand opening for the exhibit with "Jewish Songwriters United: Their Impact on the American Musical" as an after-hours special event at 7:30 p.m. Larry Sheir, cantor at the Westside Temple Beth Israel, will present the grand finale "From Tin Pan Alley to Broadway" at 7 p.m. June 28. Also, the library will show movie musicals that showcase the songwriters included in the exhibit at 2 p.m. on Fridays in June. For more information on the event, call 440-543-5611.


Library card holders now are able to check out and download eBooks anytime, anywhere by visiting the Mentor Library website www.mentorpl.org. Users will be able to browse the library’s website, check out with a valid library card and download to PC, Mac and many other mobile devices. Titles can be enjoyed immediately or transferred to a variety of devices, including iPod and Sony Reader and many others. Users also will need to install free software available on the library website. Titles will automatically expire at the end of the lending period, so there are no late fees.


The Geauga County Library Foundation is accepting nominations for its 2011 Chapman Award. The yearly recognition is bestowed on a special individual (or group of individuals) whose deeds have promoted the enjoyment of and value of books and reading and whose involvement has directly benefitted the Geauga County community. The Chapman Award is presented at the Foundation’s annual ceremony and social event in October. Deadline for submissions is July 15. Nomination forms are available at all Geauga County Public library branches. More than one nomination form may be submitted per person. Details: 440-286-6811.



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