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

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.


Reel Talk-Book and movie discussion group meets at 2:45 p.m. the second Monday of every month in Morley Library meeting Room B, 184 Phelps St., Painesville. Books and DVDs are available at the check-out desk on the main floor. Details: www.morleylibrary.org


Mentor Public Library will have an end-of-summer party at the Read House next to the Main Library, 8215 Mentor Ave., Mentor at 6 p.m. Aug. 10. Bring the family and celebrate the end of summer. There will be games and three inflatables to explore. For details call 440-255-8811.


The Art of Poem-Making will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 11 at The Gathering Place East, 23300 Commerce Park, Beachwood. Poet John Fox will conduct a poetic medicine workshop that teaches participants to use poetry as a tool for expression. Advance registration is required. The event is free. For details, call The Gathering Place at 216-595-9546 or visit www.touchedbycancer.org.


Friends of the Wickliffe Public Library will host the annual book sale Aug. 12-14 in the meeting room of the library, 1713 Lincoln Road, Wickliffe. The sale hours are 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday for members only, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Saturday will be the day for the bag sale. Good bargains will be offered in books, videos, CDs, children’s books, paperbacks and more. Donations of any of the above materials that are in good condition will be accepted for the sale. For details call 440-944-6010.


Chef Sherry K. Letzelter, a popular local expert chef, is returning to the Beachwood Library to help children create several delicious treats following the theme of Melina Long’s book, “How I Became a Pirate.” Children entering second through fifth grades are invited to this progra,m which will begin at 4 p.m. Aug. 14. Registration is required, and parents must sign the release for their children to participate. Register by phone at 216-831-6868 or online at cuyahogalibrary.org.


The Burton Public Library will host a book sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 14 in the library basement. Enter the sale through the white door located at the back of the building. Burton Public Library is located opposite the Burton Park.


Join Steve Haas on Aug. 30 at Panera Bread, 9587 Mentor Ave., Mentor, at 6:30 p.m. for the “Twenty Something Readers.” This month’s selection will be "Manhunt: the twelve-day chase for Lincoln's killer" by James L. Swanson. Light refreshments will be provided. Stop by the library to get your copy of the book. For more information, call Haas at 440-255-8811. Details: www.mentorpl.org.


--Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com