Library News

Celebrate Arbor Day at MCDL!

Friday, April 26, 2019

Give back to the earth by picking up a Norway Spruce tree to plant.

All day, at all MCDL locations.

Spruce trees provided by Kall's Christmas Tree Farm.

While Supplies Last!

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Writers Live Series
Featuring: Paula McLain

Wed., May 22, 12:00 pm, Weymouth Country Club

Paula McLain is the author of the New York Times and internationally bestselling novels The Paris Wife and Circling the Sun. She now introduces her latest title, Love and Ruin, which returns to the subject of Ernest Hemingway in a novel about his passionate, stormy marriage to Martha Gellhorn – a fiercely independent, ambitious young woman who would become one of the greatest war correspondents of the twentieth century. Paula received her MFA in poetry from the University of Michigan in 1996, and she lives with her children in Cleveland, Ohio.

Tickets: $25 (includes lunch) Purchase tickets Apr. 17 - May 15 at any MCDL location or online.

Browse our catalog for titles by Paula McLain.

Photo credit: Melanie Acevedo

Past Authors

Claire McMillan is the author of Gilded Age and The Necklace. She is the 2017-18 Cuyahoga County Writer-in-Residence and currently serves as a member of the board of trustees of The Mount, Edith Wharton's home in Lenox, Massachusetts. She practiced law until 2003 and then received her MFA in creative writing from Bennington College. She grew up in Pasadena, California, and now lives on her husband’s family farm outside of Cleveland, Ohio, with their two children.

Browse our catalog for titles by Claire McMillan.

Alyssa Satin Capucilli is the author of the Biscuit books, Katy Duck books, and more.

Browse our catalog for titles by Alyssa Satin Capucilli.

Shelley Pearsall grew up in Parma, Ohio, and is the author of six books for children. Prior to becoming a full-time author, Shelley was a teacher in the public schools, as well as working in the education departments of several parks and history museums where she created museum theater programs. Shelley’s books have been ALA Notable Books, Ohioana Book Award winners, and Choose To Read Ohio choices. She lives in the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area with her husband and cat.  

Browse our catalog for titles by Shelley Pearsall.

David Giffels is the author of The Hard Way on Purpose, a New York Times Book Review “Editor’s Choice,” and the memoir All the Way Home, winner of the Ohioana Book Award. His most recent memoir, Furnishing Eternity, is a vibrant, heartfelt memoir about confronting mortality, surviving loss, finding resilience in one’s Midwest roots and seeking a father’s wisdom through an unusual woodworking project – constructing his own coffin. David is an associate professor of English at the University of Akron, where he teaches creative nonfiction in the Northeast Ohio Master of Fine Arts Program.

Photo credit: Angelo Merendino

Browse our catalog for titles by David Giffels.

Emilie Richards is the author of over 70 novels including romance, women’s fiction and cozy mystery. Her series include Ministry is Murder mysteries, the Shenandoah Album novels, The Happiness Key series, and the Goddesses Anonymous novels.

Her background as a counselor enables her to write richly textured family stories that explore the human condition.

Browse our catalog for titles by Emilie Richards.

Tom Batiuk celebrated the 10th anniversary of Lisa’s Story, the award-winning storyline in Medina resident Tom Batiuk’s Funky Winkerbean comic strip. Lisa’s universe was expanded in September 2017 with two new titles: Prelude and The Last Leaf.

Batiuk was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for his portrayal of Lisa’s Story and received the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Cure Hall of Fame Award.

Browse our catalog for titles by Tom Batiuk.

Jay Asher’s debut YA novel, Thirteen Reasons Why, has appeared regularly on the New York Times bestsellers list for the past 10 years. It has sold over 2.5 million copies in the US alone. His second YA novel, The Future of Us, was coauthored with Printz-honor winner Carolyn Mackler. His novels have been translated into over 30 languages. His third novel, What Light, was released in October 2016.

Browse our catalog for titles by Jay Asher.

Brad Ricca is the author of Mrs. Sherlock Holmes and Super Boys, which won the Ohioana Book Award for Nonfiction and was named a Top 10 Book on the Arts by Booklist. His book of poetry, American Mastodon, won the St. Lawrence Book Award. He is a 2014 winner of a Cleveland Arts Prize for Emerging Artist in Literature and is a SAGES Fellow at Case Western Reserve University.

Browse our catalog for titles by Brad Ricca.

Jim Gill is an award-winning musician and author. His distinctive music play creates the spirit of a family room in the concert hall and is an invitation to children, parents and grandparents to sing and play together!

Browse our catalog for titles by Jim Gill.

Mary Doria Russell is the award-winning author of six bestselling novels, including the science fiction classics The Sparrow and Children of God; the Pulitzer-nominated World War II thriller, A Thread of Grace; and a political romance set in 1921 Cairo called Dreamers of the Day.  With her latest novels, Doc and Epitaph, Russell has redefined two towering figures of the American West: the lawman Wyatt Earp and the dental surgeon Doc Holliday.  The daughter of a sheriff, Mary grew up with cops and guns but also holds a Ph.D. in biological anthropology from the University of Michigan and taught anatomy at the Case Western Reserve University School of Dentistry.

Browse our catalog for titles by Mary Doria Russell.

Emily St. John Mandel is the author of the critically acclaimed novel Station Eleven, a finalist for the 2014 National Book Award and MCDL's One Book, One Community 2016 selection. Mandel is the author of three previous novels – Last Night in Montreal, The Singer’s Gun and The Lola Quartet – all of which were Indie Next picks. Mandel was born in British Columbia, Canada. She is a staff writer for The Millions, and her work has appeared in numerous anthologies, including The Best American Mystery Stories 2013 and Venice Noir. She lives in New York City with her family.
Photo credit: Dese'Rae L. Stage

Browse our catalog for titles by Emily St. John Mandel.

Thrity Umrigar, author of The Story Hour, The World We Found, The Weight of Heaven, and other novels, is the Armington Professor of English at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. She was born in Bombay, India, and came to the U.S. when she was 21.  After earning a business degree, which she survived by writing and acting in plays, she earned her M.A. in English and later received a fellowship at Harvard University, where she wrote her first novel, Bombay Time. Thrity speaks at literary events all over the U.S. 

Lauren Oliver is the bestselling author of the Delirium Trilogy, as well as Before I Fall, Panic, and Vanishing Girls for teens, Liesl & Po and The Spindlers for middle-grade readers, and Rooms for adults. Raised in Westchester, NY, in a family of writers, Oliver has always enjoyed living creatively, often writing sequels for her favorite books as a young adult. She studied literature and philosophy at the University of Chicago and Creative Writing at New York University. She enjoys reading, cooking, traveling, running, dancing, making up weird songs and working in her pajamas.

Presented by MCDL and the Friends of MCDL

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MCDL to Go! Discover Carry-Out Services for All Ages

Medina County District Library offers several To-Go services that appeal to all ages.

Discovery Packs – Kids love carrying things around in a backpack, especially preschoolers! These clear backpacks feature themed books, a video and a toy all in a handy backpack. Check out nature versions inspired by the Medina County Parks to encourage outdoor fun. Discovery Packs are available for check out at all MCDL locations.

Book Club Bags – These take the work out of running a book club. Have 10 copies the requested book and discussion questions ready for your group at your next meeting. Browse and reserve titles at mcdl.info/BookClubBags and pick up your Book Club Bag at your favorite library.

NEW! Memory Care Kits – Finally a kit designed for the care of loved ones living with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and other memory and cognitive issues. Each kit contains interactive tools and games, a music CD, photo cards, and discussion starter questions. Maybe most importantly, kits have information and guidance for caregivers. Kits are available for check out at all MCDL locations. Kits debuted in February 2019. Go to mcdl.info/Outreach for more information.

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Summer Reading Game Begins May 31

With a “Universe of Stories”

The 2019 Summer Reading Game at Medina County District Library kicks off the first day of summer break for many Medina County students – Friday, May 31 and goes through August 10.

The 2019 theme, A Universe of Stories, honors the 50^thanniversary of the first moon walk, which occurred on July 20, 1969.  The theme also lends itself to a focus on STEM and STEAM events.  And, as always, reading improvement among youth participants during the summer months.

“We have NASA experts bringing unique topics to four of our locations, Armstrong Air and Space Museum will present an interactive event for families, and for the younger set, look for the Outer Space Magic Show. Teens will be excited about the many STEM related events including the Kerbal Space Program, Robotics classes and Lego Mindstorms building.” says Aimee Adams, MCDL Events Coordinator.

Children’s Game

Youth ages birth through entering fifth grade may play the Children’s Game in the library (no online game this year).  The children’s game features a game board to track reading progress and incentive prizes along the way, including a book of choice upon completion.

The Grand Prize is a Bookmobile Party.  The stop features an age appropriate story time, crafts and activities for all! 

Teen Game

Students entering grades six through twelve may play the Teen Game.  This game is played entirely online.  Just log minutes read for chances to spin the prize wheel.  Prizes include entries for weekly gift card drawings, snacks, a mystery box and a book of choice (while supplies last). Enter to win from a selection of six grand prize items upon completing the game, which include an art supplies bundle, a Fuji Instax camera, Bluetooth headphones and more!

The 2019 Summer Reading Game is made possible through donations from the Friends of Medina County District Library, Stuart and Pat Neal, Armstrong Cable, Discount Drug Mart and the Medina City Teachers Association.

Summer Reading – Things to think about 

*Babies are encouraged to play the Summer Reading Game!  Reading to young children is excellent for brain development, bonding and trust.  Also, exposing children to books and reading at a young age is linked to better school performance later on.  

*Reluctant readers may discover their love of reading over the summer.  Speak to a librarian, tell them your child’s interests and they will be able to recommend books that will make reading fun and exciting! Also, allowing a child to choose their reading material provides a sense of pride.

*Prevent the “Summer Slide”.  No one wants their child to lose reading skills over the summer. Keep up their skills by reading and asking questions of your child about their books.  They will see you are interested and they’ll give you an oral book report without even realizing it!

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Read 1000 Books Before Kindergarten

Accept the challenge to read 1000 Books Before Kindergarten. Medina County District Library is joining a national campaign to help babies, preschooler and their families on the path to early literacy.

The 1000 Books Before Kindergarten campaign is implemented by the library’s children’s team and begins January 22, which coincides with the first week of winter storytime sessions.

Parents and caregivers can pick up a packet at any MCDL location, including the Bookmobile. Inside they will find instructions and a sheet to log their first 100 books read. With each 100 books, children can earn a small prize.

“We wanted to launch this with storytimes because it’s a great audience to introduce the concepts to”, says Gail Ebey, Medina Library Children’s Department Supervisor. “We are also distributing the first sheet to more than 1500 day-care students that MCDL staff provide storytimes to each month. We really want to make an impact on parents and caregivers that reading is so important for future success in school.”

Sign up for storytimes at mcdl.info/storytime or attend other library events to help make the trek to 1000 Books Before Kindergarten and count those books, too!

“Don’t worry, reading the same book over and over again counts each time AND helps your child build on language skills, so go ahead and read that Thomas the Train book - again!”, says Ebey.

To learn more go to mcdl.info/1000Books or download the 1000 Books Apps for iPhones and Droids at the App stores.

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Prepare for a New Career, Learn New Skills FREE

On Medina County District Library Website

Medina County District Library is debuting a NEW website section filled with FREE educational and research offerings. Also, popular online learning website Lynda.com, is now available FREE on mcdl.info/OnlineLearning anywhere by simply logging in with your library card.

“Lynda.com is practically a household name, it is the YouTube of legitimate, informative learning videos”, says Chris Weaver-Pieh, Collection Resources Manager at MCDL. “We are so excited to offer it. Lynda.com features full courses to make you more marketable in the job market to quick trouble-shooting videos to help you through a computer issue. If you can think of it, they have a video for it”, says Weaver-Pieh.

The MCDL.info/OnlineLearning website has also been completely reorganized alphabetically and by theme, making it easier to search and find what users are after.

The site features five topics: Automotive, Books & Authors, Careers & Education, History & Genealogy and Law & Business with 32 databases. Featured resources include: Mango Language Learning, Small Engine Repair, Ancestry.com Library Edition, Consumer Reports, Morningstar, even practice tests for new drivers at Driving-Test.org.

MCDL.info/OnlineLearning has something for everyone, from young students, to teens preparing for the ACT/SAT to engine repairs, investments information and can even help you find your great-great-great Grandmother. Check it out!

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Medina Library Tilework Project Update

March 2019 Update

Tile work on the north side of the library is now completed 
 
Work is well underway on the Medina Library’s main entrance (south rotunda). The east-facing doors of the main entry are closed and will remain closed for the duration of the project.  The automatic west facing doors of the main entry will be open for the duration of this portion of the project.
 
Project leaders estimate temporary closings of the main entry will be intermittent during the project and be mostly limited to the library hours of 9:00 am to approximately 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday. The main entry should be open after 4:00 pm and on weekends. Brad Burns, project superintendent with the contractor, EnviroCom Construction, Inc. says, “There could be a few days where the main entry needs to be closed through the evening and until our crews arrive in the morning.  We will do everything we can to limit these instances.”

The MCDL Board of Trustees approved a settlement by a majority vote on Monday, March 18 at their regularly scheduled meeting.  The settlement amount of $650,000 total, from all parties, is payable in 30 days to MCDL.

The latest estimates have the project completion date as mid-May, 2019.
 
The staff and Board of Trustees of MCDL thank our members for your continued patronage during the project despite the intermittent noise and parking challenges.  We also thank you for driving slowly through the parking lot with respect for workers and pedestrian traffic.
 
Remember, the parking deck in the courthouse lot provides ample parking during busy times.  The Garfield School lot is open for library parking after school hours and weekends.  Library materials may be returned to any MCDL location and both Medina Buehler’s Fresh Foods grocery locations, on Forest Meadows and Medina Road.

 

Questions & comments are welcome. Please contact a supervisor or Community Engagement at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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