Library

Celebrate! Paper Flower Crowns

Main Library- Tuesday, December 6, 2022, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Madison Branch- Thursday, December 8, 2022, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
For Students in First through Sixth Grades.
This is the season for celebrations. Get in a festive mood and crown yourself with a beautiful crown made of paper flowers that you make yourself. Paper flower crowns are called vinok in Ukraine and include streamers falling off the back of the crown. Your own paper flower garland to wear around your head, including streamers, will put you in a festive mood. Registration is required. Register online at lakewoodpubliclibrary.org/youth or call (216) 226-8275, ext. 140.

Smiling Sunflowers for Little Ones

Main Library- Wednesday, December 7, 2022, 10:30am - 11:15am
Madison Branch- Thursday, December 8, 2022, 10:30am - 11:15am,
For You and Your 2-to-6-Year-Old Child

Dear Ukraine: Ukrainian Folk Tales and Craft

Wednesday, November 9, 2022, 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. 
Main Library Activity Room
For Students in Kindergarten through Second Grade
Do you like stories about animals? Ukrainian folk tales and fairy tales often use animals to show us how we can succeed with the challenges life brings us and encourage us to never give up! Join us October 12 as we read "The Cat and the Rooster" by Ivan Malkovych and create our own piece of Ukrainian art. Registration is required. Register online at lakewoodpubliclibrary.org/youth or call (216) 226-8275, ext. 140.

Sunflower Garden for Ukraine

Mondays through Thursdays, October 10, 2022 through November 17, 2022 
from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Main Library Activity Room and Madison Branch Children’s Program Room
For you and your pre-school child. Sunflowers are a Ukrainian symbol of peace. Help the Library grow a paper sunflower garden as a visual tribute to Ukrainian people. Create one sunflower craft for the Library’s sunflower garden and one to take home. A different sunflower craft will be offered each week. No registration is required.

Sunflower Scavenger Hunt: For All Ages

October 1, 2022 through November 30, 2022
Main Library and Madison Branch

Sunflower Garden for Ukraine

Mondays through Thursdays, October 10, 2022 through November 17, 2022 
from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Main Library Activity Room and Madison Branch Children’s Program Room
For you and your pre-school child. Sunflowers are a Ukrainian symbol of peace. Help the Library grow a paper sunflower garden as a visual tribute to Ukrainian people. Create one sunflower craft for the Library’s sunflower garden and one to take home. A different sunflower craft will be offered each week. No registration is required.

Sunflower Scavenger Hunt: For All Ages
October 1, 2022 through November 30, 2022
Main Library and Madison Branch
Sunflowers have long been a beloved symbol of Ukraine and now are a symbol of peace throughout the world. Learn interesting facts about this beautiful flower as you find pictures of sunflowers placed throughout the Main Library and Madison Branch. Submit your completed scavenger hunt form to enter a drawing for a prize. No registration is required.

Jim Kleefeld's Spooky Magic Show
Friday, October 21, 2022 / 6:00pm - 7:00pm 
Main Library Multipurpose Room 
For the Whole Family This spooky show is fun for all ages and not too scary. Experience lots of comedy and magic. You will see Jim help out a goofy Frankenstein when he loses his head and a skeleton come apart inside a closet. You'll see a funny ghost flit from room to room while Jim tries to find him and another one magically change color from white to green to pink! There's even some helpful Halloween safety tips about not trick-or-treating at strangers' houses and carrying a flashlight for safety. Of course, in typical Jim Kleefeld fashion, the stranger's house and the flashlight both act very magical to add some fun to the message. No registration is required.

Meet the Author - "In the Heart of it All: An Unvarnished Account of My Life in Public Service"
Book by Richard F. Celeste
Thursday, November 10, 2022 at 2:00 p.m.
Main Library Auditorium

Please join us as former Ohio Governor Richard Celeste visits his hometown of Lakewood for a special Meet the Author program. "In the Heart of It All: An Unvarnished Account of My Life in Public Service," recounts his remarkable journey from humble beginnings in northeast Ohio to Yale, Oxford, Washington DC, India, the Ohio Governor’s Residence, and beyond. Books will be available for sale and signing at this event.

Knit & Lit Book Club
Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m.
Main Library Meeting Room
Come share your passion for great literature and show off your knitting, crocheting, counted cross-stitch, embroidery and quilting works-in-progress.

November 15, 2022 The Foundling by Ann Leary 

Booked for Murder Book Club
Thursdays at 7:00 p.m.
Main Library Meeting Room 
If you share a passion for mystery, join the group each month to discuss your favorites and selections made by group members.

Dear Ukraine: Ukrainian Folk Tales and Craft

Wednesday, October 12, 2022, 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. 
Main Library Activity Room

For Students in Kindergarten through Second Grade
Do you like stories about animals? Ukrainian folk tales and fairy tales often use animals to show us how we can succeed with the challenges life brings us and encourage us to never give up! Join us October 12 as we read "The Mitten" by Jan Brett and create our own piece of Ukrainian art. Registration is required. Register online at lakewoodpubliclibrary.org/youth or call (216) 226-8275, ext. 140.

Family Weekend Wonders

Looking for weekend entertainment for the whole family? Look no further! Drop in to the Library's special weekend story time. Your whole family will enjoy these programs full of enthusiastic stories, engaging activities, entertaining music and clever crafts. Family Weekend Wonders Drop-In Story Time is offered every weekend throughout the year and features a different theme each week to keep things engaging. No registration is required.
Main Library- Fridays- 10:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. 
Saturdays- 10:30 a.m. 
Madison Branch- Fridays- 10:30 a.m. 

Homework Help

For Students in Kindergarten through Eighth Grade
August – May
Monday through Friday, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

How can you get intermediate and high school students interested in history?

A Case Western Reserve history professor nearly forty years ago came up with an idea: a history contest. He called it History Day, and it has since grown from a local to a state and then a national competition—National History Day.

Mary Manning, coordinator of the Ohio District 3 contest at the Western Reserve Historical Society, will visit Lakewood Public Library to explain the program at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 19, 2022. The event will take place in the Main Library Auditorium.

The contest is open to students of all schools, including home schools, from grades six to twelve. Students compete individually or in small groups in five categories: historical papers, websites, documentaries, performances, and exhibits. Winners in each category may go on to the state contest in Columbus and from there to the national contest in College Park, Maryland.

Besides knowledge, interest, and experience gained along the way, students are also eligible for special prizes ranging from cash awards to college scholarships. In recognition of its role as the “Birthplace of History Day,” Case Western Reserve has offered a full four-year scholarship as a prize at the national level.

“Frontiers in History” will be the theme for History Day 2023. District 3 History Day will take place at University Circle in early March 2023. After two years of virtual contests, Manning has high hopes for hosting a live event.

Please join us at Lakewood Public Library on Wednesday, October 19, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. as Mary Manning discusses the benefits for participants and provides samples of local National History Day entries. This program is presented in partnership with the Lakewood Historical Society.

Knit & Lit Book Club

Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m.

Main Library Meeting Room

Come share your passion for great literature and show off your knitting, crocheting, counted cross-stitch, embroidery and quilting works-in-progress.

October 18, 2022  "The Bee and The Fly" by Lorraine Tosiello and Jane Cavolina

Booked for Murder Book Club

Thursdays at 7:00 p.m.

Main Library Meeting Room   

If you share a passion for mystery, join the group each month to discuss your favorites and selections made by group members.

October 20, 2022  "The Company of Demons" by Michael Jordan

Family Weekend Wonders

Looking for weekend entertainment for the whole family? Look no further! Drop in to the Library's special weekend story time. Your whole family will enjoy these programs full of enthusiastic stories, engaging activities, entertaining music and clever crafts. Family Weekend Wonders Drop-In Story Time is offered every weekend throughout the year and features a different theme each week to keep things engaging. No registration is required.
Main Library- Fridays- 10:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. 
Saturdays- 10:30 a.m. 
Madison Branch- Fridays- 10:30 a.m.

Homework Help

For Students in Kindergarten through Eighth Grade
August – May
Monday through Friday, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Main Library Homework Room and Madison Branch

“Education done well is transformative.” – James P. Kubacki

In over forty years devoted to the field of education, James P. Kubacki worked hard to transform the lives of the students he served. Though he no longer walks the halls of St. Edward High School, the recently retired president is still making an impact with his new book, “Choose to Lead: A Practical Guide for Educational Leadership.”

Kubacki has taken the greatest lessons of his career and assembled a guide meant to create and inspire effective leaders among the students, teachers, principals, and trustees that shape our learning institutions. The author will visit Lakewood Public Library to discuss the book on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. The event takes place in the Main Library Auditorium.

Born to hardworking parents who ran the Pink Elephant Tavern in Westlake (now the Rusty Barrel), Kubacki went on to graduate from St. Ignatius High School, Harvard University and Fordham University. His robust career has included serving as head of a secondary school, principal, college football coach, college associate dean of admissions and most recently, sixteen years as President of St. Edward High School.

In his book, Kubacki counsels the reader as if they were the new head of school walking through the front doors on day one. He offers insights and tips on what they might expect, how they may be feeling and where to begin.

“First, get to know the lay of the land,” Kubacki advises. “Get keys and wander the campus. Open every door.”

From developing relationships and a vision to managing operations and strategic planning, the author’s guidance extends far past the doors of academia. “Choose to Lead” applies to effective leadership in any field.

The program will begin with a special introduction of Mr. Kubacki by Sean Kearns, St. Edward High School Class of 1988.

Booked for Murder Book Club
Thursdays at 7:00 p.m.
Main Library Meeting Room 
If you share a passion for mystery, join the group each month to discuss your favorites and selections made by group members.

September 15, 2022 "The Big Con: The Story of the Confidence Man" by David W. Maurer
Knit & Lit Book Club
Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m.
Main Library Meeting Room
Come share your passion for great literature and show off your knitting, crocheting, counted cross-stitch, embroidery and quilting works-in-progress.

September 20, 2022 "The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek" by Kim Michele Richardson

Family Weekend Wonders

Looking for weekend entertainment for the whole family? Look no further! Drop in to the Library's special weekend story time. Your whole family will enjoy these programs full of enthusiastic stories, engaging activities, entertaining music and clever crafts. Family Weekend Wonders Drop-In Story Time is offered every weekend throughout the year and features a different theme each week to keep things engaging. No registration is required.

Main Library- Fridays- 10:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. 
Saturdays- 10:30a.m.

Madison Branch- Fridays- 10:30 a.m. 

Homework Help

For Students in Kindergarten through Eighth Grade
August – May
Monday through Friday, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Main Library Homework Room and Madison Branch

Students who need a little extra help with homework or just want a cool place to work can come to the Library for Homework Help to get assistance and to use the Library’s resources in a quiet place free of distractions. Students can use their library card to check out a Chrome Book to use in the Library and have access to a variety of school supplies including pencils, pens, crayons, markers, calculators, protractors, and more. In addition, students with Eureka Math™ homework will find grade level Homework Helpers workbooks, companion guides to Eureka Math™. A library staff member is on hand and available to assist with everything from spelling words to solving math problems. No registration is required.

Girls Who Code Club

Pre-school Story Time: For You and Your 2 to 5-Year-Old Pre-schooler

This four-week pre-school story time is ideal for walkers, new talkers, and learning early literacy skills. You and your toddler and preschoolers will enjoy short books, songs and rhymes. The focus is on skills with your participation as a model. Registration is required. Register once for all four weeks.

Main Library- Tuesdays, September 13- October 4, 2022
10:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m. 
11:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. 
Wednesdays, September 13- October 5, 2022
11:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Madison Branch- Thursdays, September 14- October 6, 2022
10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Just Baby 'N Me: For You and Your Birth to 24-Month-Old Baby

In-Person Family Weekend Wonders

Looking for weekend entertainment for the whole family? Look no further! Drop in to the Library's special weekend story time. Your whole family will enjoy these programs full of enthusiastic stories, engaging activities, entertaining music and clever crafts. Family Weekend Wonders Drop-In Story Time is offered every weekend throughout the year and features a different theme each week to keep things engaging. No registration is required.
Main Library- Fridays- 10:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. 
Saturdays- 10:30 a.m. 
Madison Branch- Fridays- 10:30 a.m. 

Virtual Meet the Authors

Mary Cole Watson Reads Her Book, "Wisdom Warriors"
Cleveland Heights author Mary Cole Watson shares her book, a culmination of more than twenty short stories, to provide wisdom to all who may need it when faced with a crucial conversation. Mary Cole Watson made it her life goal to ensure the next generation of learners understand their designated place in African American heritage.

Meet the Author- Ten Ohio Disasters

Book by Neil Zurcher 

Wednesday, August 3, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. 

Main Library Auditorium 

Revisit the devastating Xenia tornado, the statewide Blizzard of ‘78, and an ill-fated group parachute jump over Lake Erie in "Ten Ohio Disasters." Author Neil Zurcher combines firsthand accounts and local lore to showcase the tragic lessons and inspiring examples of heroism in Ohio history. Neil Zurcher is a retired journalist and original host of One Tank Trips on Fox 8. He has won multiple awards for his travel writing and is the author of nine books.

Meet the Author- A Penny’s Thoughts: Sometimes All You Need Is A Change of Perspective

Book by Tommy O’Sionnach

Wednesday, August 10, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.

The Rotary Club of Lakewood and Rocky River was recognized for awarding Lakewood Public Library a grant for its StoryWalk by Julie Strunk, LPL manager, children's and youth services. The story is located on the west side of the Library on Arthur Avenue. 

In-Person Family Weekend Wonders

Looking for weekend entertainment for the whole family? Look no further! Drop in to the Library's special weekend story time. Your whole family will enjoy these programs full of enthusiastic stories, engaging activities, entertaining music and clever crafts. Family Weekend Wonders Drop-In Story Time is offered every weekend throughout the year and features a different theme each week to keep things engaging. No registration is required.

Main Library- Fridays- 10:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Saturdays- 10:30 a.m.

Madison Branch- Fridays- 10:30 a.m.

Zap’s Pirate and Princess Magic Show

Friday, July 15, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. on the Main Library Front Porch

For the Whole Family

Meet the Author- Wicked Cleveland

Book by Jane Ann Turzillo 

Wednesday, July 6, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. 

Main Library Auditorium 

Wicked Cleveland presents a look into Cleveland’s rough and rowdy past. From bookies to mobsters to Lakewood’s infamous bank robber Ted Conrad, author Jane Ann Turzillo tells the stories from Cleveland’s underworld. Jane Ann Turzillo is a National Federation of Press Women award winner for her books and journalism. She has been nominated twice for the Agatha Award for her vintage true crime books. Books will be available for sale and signing at this event.

Film- Iron Jawed Angels (2004)

Presented by Lakewood League of Women Voters 

Wednesday, July 20, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. (123 minutes)

Main Library Auditorium

Join Lakewood League of Women Voters for a screening of Iron Jawed Angels. American suffragette Alice Paul (Hilary Swank) takes her advocacy to Washington, D.C. to fight for the right to vote. When President Wilson refuses, Paul shows how far she is willing to go for the cause. While challenging the ideology of patriarchy, the film showcases democracy and exhibits white privilege. The film will be followed by a discussion.

In-Person Pre-school Story Time

For You and Your 2 to 5-Year-Old Pre-schooler

This six-week pre-school story time is ideal for walkers, new talkers, and learning early literacy skills. You and your toddler and preschoolers will enjoy short books, songs and rhymes. The focus is on skills with your participation as a model. Registration is required. Register once for all six weeks.

Main Library- Tuesdays, June 14, 2022- July 19, 2022

11:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

6:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Wednesdays, June 15, 2022- July 20, 2022

11:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Madison Branch- Thursdays, June 16, 2022-July 21, 2022

10:00 a.m.- 10:30 a.m.

11:00 a.m.- 11:30 a.m.

Virtual All Day Pre-school Story Time

Cleveland Historian Thomas Matowitz Jr. will present “The Architecture of Walker & Weeks” on Saturday, June 25, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. in the Madison Branch Meeting Room. The Madison Branch is located at 13229 Madison Avenue. This program is free and open to the public.

The architecture firm of Walker and Weeks, known for iconic structures such as Severance Hall, Public Auditorium and the Guardians of Transportation (Hope Memorial Bridge), also designed the Madison Branch Library in 1929. Matowitz will discuss the Library Branch, along with these other well-known buildings.

Frank Walker and Harry Weeks studied architecture at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and traveled to Europe to build upon their training. The two came to Cleveland and eventually established their firm when the development of the city really started to boom.

Thomas Matowitz, Jr. is a native of the Cleveland area, and has a long-standing interest in Cleveland's rich architectural history. Matowitz writes a column on historic Cleveland for Freshwater Cleveland and has written several books on local history.

Learn more about the architecture of the Madison Branch, and other important Cleveland architectural gems on Saturday, June 25, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. in the Madison Branch Meeting Room.

Meet the Author- Fire on the Water

Book by Scott MacGregor

Illustrated by Gary Dumm 

Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. 

Main Library Auditorium 

Author Scott MacGregor and illustrator Gary Dumm tell the story of a brilliant African American inventor, desperate immigrants and corrupt bosses in "Fire on the Water." This original graphic novel imagines the lives of those involved in the real-life Lake Erie tunnel disaster of 1916. Scott MacGregor has been writing comic book stories for over 30 years. Gary Dumm has been drawing cartoons and comics since childhood. Books will be available for sale and signing at this event.

Booked for Murder Book Club

Thursday, June 16, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. 

Main Library Meeting Room 

If you share a passion for mystery, join the group each month to discuss your favorites and selections made by group members. This month we will discuss "The Woman in the Window" by A.J. Finn. 

Knit & Lit Book Club 

Tuesday, June 21, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. 

Main Library Meeting Room 

Come share your passion for great literature and show off your knitting, crocheting, counted cross-stitch, embroidery and quilting works-in-progress. This month we will discuss "The Vanishing Half" by Brit Bennett. 

In-Person Family Weekend Wonders

Looking for weekend entertainment for the whole family? Look no further! Drop in to the Library's special weekend story time. Your whole family will enjoy these programs full of enthusiastic stories, engaging activities, entertaining music and clever crafts. Family Weekend Wonders Drop-In Story Time is offered every weekend throughout the year and features a different theme each week to keep things engaging. No registration is required.

Begins Friday, June 3, 2022

Main Library- Fridays- 10:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Saturdays- 10:30 a.m.

Madison Branch- Fridays- 10:30 a.m.

Build a Shark Workshop

For Children in Kindergarten through Second Grade

A special shark themed story time where students will make their own stuffed shark, name their shark and receive an adoption certificate. Space is limited. Registration is required.

Oscar Wilde is known for his theatrical plays, but this storied author’s body of work includes much more. Take a look at Wilde’s life with an exclusive performance from WordStage Literary Concerts on Sunday, May 22, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. in the Main Library Auditorium.

May is National Photography Month and Lakewood Public Library has programming to celebrate all month long. From early photography to celebrity portraits and smartphone snaps, we will explore the history and artistry of photography.

Staff from the George Eastman Museum in New York will be presenting the World of Daguerreotypes via Zoom in our Main Library Auditorium or on your home computer. Drawing inspiration from R. J. Palacio’s book "Pony," learn about the history and art of photography and the early processing of daguerreotypes. Patrons ages 10 and older can join us on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. Adults and families are welcome. Registration is required. Register at lakewoodpubliclibrary.org or by calling (216) 226-8275, ext. 140.

Renowned portrait photographer Abe Frajndlich is known for his celebrity portraits and striking creative style. He will discuss his upcoming book "Seventyfive at Seventyfive" on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. in the Main Library Auditorium. This book covers his storied career and includes some of his favorite photos including portraits of Dennis Hopper, Jack Lemmon and Miles Davis, along with breathtaking shots of landscapes and architectural structures.

Do you wonder what life is like under the sea? Then explore Oceans of Possibility during the Lakewood Public Library’s summer reading challenge.

Choose the books you want to read and come into the library once a week to collect stickers. Whenever you read one book or read for twenty minutes, log each title in your reading record or online. Read thirty hours if you are a student entering sixth through twelfth grade and check in every ten hours you complete.  

If you check in your thirtieth book, ten hours, or thirty hours of reading by Monday, August 15, 2022, you will receive a final reward.

Register online at lakewoodpubliclibrary.org. or in person starting Friday, May 13, 2022

During the month of April, The Lakewood Public Library is hosting the exhibits “America’s Wolves” and “Tiger! Tiger!” from the Paly Foundation, an organization dedicated to science-based education and natural conservation.

In “America’s Wolves,” learn all about the Red Wolf, the Gray Wolf, the Mexican Wolf and the Eastern Wolf, all native to North America. In “Tiger! Tiger!” explore the exciting world of tigers and learn about the innovative methods being implemented to make sure they continue to have a home in a balanced ecosystem. Explore how these animals benefit their habitats as apex predators and learn what it will take to save them.  

These exhibits feature interactive games, quizzes and discussion points that are thought provoking and educational. “America’s Wolves” and “Tiger!Tiger!” will be on display in the Main Library second floor gallery from April 1 through April 30, 2022.

March 21

Local author Ladosha Wright, hair stylist turned writer, combines her career in cosmetology with writing to promote her books to various audiences about self-acceptance, culture and life. In “Curly Hair Adventures,” Wright focuses on a difficult question young girls, of all ethnicities, want answered: “What can I do to manage my hair and how can I continue to take care of it?”

March 31

Local author Karen Tapp’s book, “Molly the Mallard Duck,” is the true story of Kathy and the mallard duck she named Molly. A bedtime story Karen told her niece when she was one year old, she is now sharing this story with your children.

Lakewood Public Library is excited to host upcoming virtual events this March. You can watch these programs on facebook.com/lakewoodpubliclibrary and twitter.com/lakewoodlibrary every Thursday evening of the month at 7:00 p.m.   

March 3

We expect our modern first ladies to be activists, hostesses, White House caretakers, and more but why? From the very first receptions held by Martha Washington to the groundbreaking activism of Eleanor Roosevelt, explore The Role of the First Lady with this virtual program from the First Ladies National Historic Site.

March 10

Huron author Mila Kette will talk about her historical fiction novel "Finding Cristina." Written under the pen name of Emilia Rosa, Kette’s novel is set in the 1920s in the beautiful Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. When the family debts start piling up, young Cristina must take action. Kette will discuss the inspiration behind her writing.

In-Person Pre-school Story Time

For You and Your 2 to 5-Year-Old Pre-schooler

This six-week pre-school story time is ideal for walkers, new talkers, and learning early literacy skills. You and your toddler and preschoolers will enjoy short books, songs and rhymes. The focus is on skills with your participation as a model. Registration is required. Register once for all six weeks. Masks are required. No one under the age of two will be permitted in the story time.

Wednesdays, March 9, 2022- April 13, 2022

11:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

March 1

Margaret Bernstein, of Richmond Heights, Ohio, has authored a series of inspiring storybooks designed for fathers to read with their children. Her books - “All In a Dad’s Day,” “Donuts With Dad,” and her latest, “The Fathers Walk” – all showcase a fun day spent by a father and child.

“Meet a Sanitation Worker” - Denis Devito is a long-time Lakewood resident and product of the Lakewood City School District. By day he is a Lakewood Garbage Man. In his spare time he is a Cats On Holiday band member. Have some noisy fun with Denis as he reads stories about garbage trucks.

March 21

Local author Ladosha Wright, hair stylist turned writer, combines her career in cosmetology with writing to promote her books to various audiences about self-acceptance, culture and life. In “Curly Hair Adventures,” Wright focuses on a difficult question young girls, of all ethnicities, want answered: “What can I do to manage my hair and how can I continue to take care of it?”

Lakewood Public Library is hosting an art exhibit by local artist Jerome T. White now through Saturday, March 5, 2022 in the Main Library’s Second Floor Gallery. Artist Jerome T. White was inspired by hearing Air Force stories from his late grandfather, Fred J. Brown, a physical education instructor for the Tuskegee Airmen. He holds a Master of Arts degree, in Art Education, from Case Western Reserve University and currently teaches art in the Cleveland Heights-University Heights School District.

The children’s picture book, "Red Tail Dreamer" was written and illustrated by White as a tribute to his late grandfather and encourages “dreaming and chasing those dreams.”

Children’s picture books by prominent African-American illustrators and authors will also be on display celebrating Black History Month in conjunction with White’s paintings.

For more information on Jerome White or "Red Tail Dreamer," please visit jeromewhite.pixels.com.

Lakewood Public Library patrons can now print remotely or in the Library with personal smartphones, laptops and other devices, including the Library’s Chromebooks, with Mobile Print Service™. This new service allows patrons to print to the library’s printers with ease, while maintaining privacy.

Patrons can print remotely, using Mobile Print Service™ by emailing their print jobs to lpl-main@printspots.com. Patrons will receive a confirmation email, and then they can go to the print release station at the Main Library on the Second Floor near the Reference Desk.

Patrons can also install the PrinterOn App from their device’s app store to print from their smartphone or tablet.  This option works best for patrons who are printing select pages from a large document.

Patrons may print up to 25 pages for free each day with a charge of 10¢ thereafter. 

Lakewood Public Library offers Chromebook laptops to checkout and use in the Library. Chromebooks are available to all adult patrons whose library card is in good standing. Patrons who do not have a Lakewood Public Library card may get a one-time internet pass to use a Chromebook.

For more information on mobile printing, visit lakewoodpubliclibrary.org/services/chromebook-and-printing

Mobile Print Service™ will also be available to Madison Branch patrons when the building  renovation is complete. 

In-Person Pre-school Story Time

For You and Your 2 to 5-Year-Old Pre-schooler

This six-week pre-school story time is ideal for walkers, new talkers, and learning early literacy skills. You and your toddler and pre-schoolers will enjoy short books, songs and rhymes. The focus is on skills with your participation as a model. Registration is required. Register once for all six weeks. Masks are required. No one under the age of two will be permitted in the story time.

Wednesdays, March 9, 2022- April 13, 2022

10:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m.

11:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Virtual All Day Just Baby 'N Me

For You and Your Birth to 24-Month-Old Baby

Just Baby 'N Me is a six-week virtual lap-sit story time ideal for babies from birth through early walkers. The focus is on rhymes, songs, finger plays and exploring short books together. Register to receive access to a video link for the entire day of story time. Registration is required. Register once for all six weeks.

February 3

Author and chef Sara Bir shares the secrets of the pawpaw, a fruit native to North America in "The Pocket Pawpaw Cookbook." For those not in the know, the elusive pawpaw are in season during late summer to early fall in Ohio and taste like a combination of mango and banana. Bir gives expert tips on where to find, how to store and how to cook with this unique fruit.

February 10

Local author Mike Fiorilli’s "Dead Last" follows Mike Anthony’s reinvention as a marathon runner after he loses his high-powered corporate job. As Mike embarks on his first race, his storyline intersects with Kenyan runner Joseph Kipchumba, as each man searches for meaning and purpose.

February 17

Northeast Ohio writer, Monica Weber Babcock uses her family’s real life mystery as inspiration for her second historical novel, "A Melancholy Union" which tells the tragic story of Irish Famine survivors who emigrated to the U.S. in the 1850s.

February 24

Local author Lou Masterson talks about his action-filled novel "Operation Cua Thu – The Last Mission in Vietnam." The CIA’s head of counterintelligence has a rare chance to get some information from the Head of South Vietnamese Intelligence near the end of the Vietnam War. Readers will go on a wild ride, as this newly assembled crew navigates the risky mission in the midst of all of the pandemonium as the U.S. prepares to leave Vietnam. 

The Lakewood Public Library is currently displaying watercolor paintings from the Ohio Watercolor Society’s annual juried exhibit. The artworks will be on display until February 6, 2022 in the Main Library Second Floor Gallery.

The Ohio Watercolor Society’s competitive annual juried exhibition is a showcase of artwork created by Ohioans, as well as members of Ohio art organizations from neighboring states. The artworks were created with water soluble mediums: watercolor, acrylic, casein, gouache and egg tempera.

The Ohio Watercolor Society was formed in 1978 with the purpose of advancing watercolor as a major painting medium, to help in the education of Ohio residents in the area of watercolor aqueous painting, and to foster a greater appreciation and interest of watercolor painting.

For more information, visit: ohiowatercolorsociety.org

Virtual All Day Just Baby 'N Me

For You and Your Birth to 24-Month-Old Baby

Just Baby 'N Me is a six-week virtual lap-sit story time ideal for babies from birth through early walkers. The focus is on rhymes, songs, finger plays and exploring short books together. Register to receive access to a video link for the entire day of story time. Registration is required. Register once for all six weeks.

Thursdays, January 13, 2022- Thursday, February 17, 2022

Virtual All Day Pre-school Story Time

For You and Your 2 to 5-Year-Old Pre-schooler

This six-week pre-school story time is ideal for walkers, new talkers, and learning early literacy skills. You and your toddler and pre-schoolers will enjoy short books, songs and rhymes. Register to receive access to a video link for the entire day of story time. Registration is required. Register once for all six weeks.

Wednesdays, January 12, 2022- Wednesday, February 16, 2022

Make sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on library news, programs and events. 

Lakewood Public Library will premiere virtual Meet the Author events in December. You can watch these programs on facebook.com/lakewoodpubliclibrary and twitter.com/lakewoodlibrary at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday evenings.

January 6

Ohio author Jyotsna Sreenivasan talks about her award winning collection of short stories, "These Americans." The stories are inspired by Sreenivasan's own experiences as an Indian-American growing up in the Midwest. Sreenivasan is also the author of the novel "Laughter Fell from the Sky," as well as two children’s books and numerous short stories for literary magazines.

January 13

Rock photographer Janet Macoska and writer Peter Chakerian talk about their book, "Bruce Springsteen in the Heartland." Cleveland was instrumental in launching “the Boss” to stardom. This collection of rarely seen photos capture Springsteen in concert in Northeast Ohio throughout his career.

Lakewood Public Library will premiere virtual Meet the Author events in December. You can watch these programs on facebook.com/lakewoodpubliclibrary and twitter.com/lakewoodlibrary at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday evenings.

December 16

Local journalist and Duran Duran fan Annie Zaleski talks about her book Duran Duran’s Rio. The book includes interviews with band members, and examines why the album took a while to catch on in the United States, and more.

December 30

Lakewood author Kathy McKinsey shares her love of writing and storytelling, and talks about her most recent book Gifts of Grace.  This collection of novellas tell the stories of three women, and how their faith helps them through difficult times.

If you miss the premiere, the videos will also be available on the Library’s website lakewoodpubliclibrary.org

Make sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on library news, programs and events.  

Lakewood Public Library is thrilled to announce a live virtual event, “With Music and Justice for All” featuring singer songwriter Anne E. DeChant and author Frye Gaillard on Tuesday, December 7, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. on Facebook Live.  

In an evening filled with stories and songs, Gaillard will be reading selections from his historical works, which will be accompanied by original music written and performed by DeChant. This unique musical performance seeks to touch the hearts and minds of people with its themes of justice and human rights.

Nashville-based DeChant grew up in Avon Lake, Ohio and is still a staple on the Cleveland music scene, along with venues all across the country.  A five-time winner of the Cleveland Singer-Songwriter Award and a finalist for the Kerrville Folk Festival in 2020, she has performed on stage with Stevie Nicks, Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge and countless others.  

Virtual Story Time

For all ages

Join Lakewood Library staff members virtually as they read children’s picture books and share songs, rhymes and finger plays.

View these exclusive videos from our website at lakewoodpubliclibrary.org or through our Facebook at facebook.com/lakewoodpubliclibrary.

Virtual Author Visits

For all ages

Join local authors and illustrators virtually as they share and read some of their own children’s books.

View these exclusive videos from our website at lakewoodpubliclibrary.org or through our Facebook at facebook.com/lakewoodpubliclibrary.

Lakewood Public Library will premiere five exciting new virtual events in November. You can watch these programs on facebook.com/lakewoodpubliclibrary and twitter.com/lakewoodlibrary. 

Thursday, November 4 at 7:00 p.m.
Watch Case Western Reserve University professor Heather McKee Hurwitz talk about her book, "Are We the 99%?": The Occupy Movement, Feminism, and Intersectionality. Hurwitz discusses how women, people of color, and genderqueer activists struggle to be heard and understood, even as we look at the Occupy movement 10 years later.

Monday, November 8 at 7:00 p.m.
Artist Arabella Proffer talks about her new collection of portraits painted from 1999 to 2019,"Lips, Eyes and Hair." Faced with terminal cancer, Proffer created this collection to showcase twenty years of her realistic and surreal artwork

Virtual Storytime

For all ages

Join Lakewood Library staff members virtually as they read children’s picture books and share songs, rhymes and finger plays.

View these exclusive videos from our website at lakewoodpubliclibrary.org or through our Facebook at facebook.com/lakewoodpubliclibrary.

Virtual Author Visits

For all ages

Join local authors and illustrators virtually as they share and read some of their own children’s books.

View these exclusive videos from our website at lakewoodpubliclibrary.org or through our Facebook at facebook.com/lakewoodpubliclibrary.

Virtual Girls Who Code Club

For students in sixth through twelfth grade

Mondays, November 1, 2021 – November 29, 2021, 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. via Zoom.

Using Zoom, club members will focus on the Games in Scratch Activity Set from GirlsWhoCode.org. During the five weeks of this club, members will create 2 different games in Scratch through the online lessons and then together design and create a 3rd game of their choice based on what they learned.  The online lessons provide for varying ability from beginners through advanced Scratch users. Build confidence, develop leadership skills and succeed as a team. An email with a Zoom link will be sent to all registrants the day before the session. Please register with a personal email instead of a school email.

Registration is required. Register here (https://lakewoodpubliclibrary.libcal.com/event/8427650) or call (216) 226-8275, ext. 140.

Lakewood Public Library has been selected to be a part of the NASA initiative when the Webb Space Telescope launches this fall! The James Webb Space Telescope will be a large infrared telescope with a 6.5-meter primary mirror. The telescope will be launched from French Guiana in December 18, 2021. The Webb telescope will be the premier observatory of the next decade and will study every phase in the history of our universe.

Virtual Outer Space Storytime

For the whole family

October 2021 – December 2021

Join Librarian Nic Starr as they build anticipation and excitement about the launch by reading stories about outer space.

View these exclusive videos from our website at lakewoodpubliclibrary.org or through our Facebook at facebook.com/lakewoodpubliclibrary.

Lakewood Public Library has been selected to be a part of the NASA initiative when the Webb Space Telescope launches this fall! The James Webb Space Telescope will be a large infrared telescope with a 6.5-meter primary mirror. The telescope will be launched from French Guiana in December 18, 2021. The Webb telescope will be the premier observatory of the next decade and will study every phase in the history of our universe.

Virtual Outer Space Storytime

For the whole family

October 2021 – December 2021

Join Librarian Nic Starr as they build anticipation and excitement about the launch by reading stories about outer space.

View these exclusive videos from our website at lakewoodpubliclibrary.org or through our Facebook at facebook.com/lakewoodpubliclibrary.

Virtual Storytime

For all ages

Join Lakewood Library staff members virtually as they read children’s picture books and share songs, rhymes and finger plays.

View these exclusive videos from our website at lakewoodpubliclibrary.org or through our Facebook at facebook.com/lakewoodpubliclibrary.

Virtual Author Visits

For all ages

Join local authors and illustrators virtually as they share and read some of their own children’s books.

View these exclusive videos from our website at lakewoodpubliclibrary.org or through our Facebook at facebook.com/lakewoodpubliclibrary.

Virtual Storytime

For all ages

Join Lakewood Library staff members virtually as they read children’s picture books and share songs, rhymes and finger plays.

View these exclusive videos from our website at lakewoodpubliclibrary.org or through our Facebook at facebook.com/lakewoodpubliclibrary.

Virtual Author Visits

For all ages

Join local authors and illustrators virtually as they share and read some of their own children’s books.

Lakewood Public Library will premiere four exciting new virtual Meet the Author events in October. You can watch these programs on facebook.com/lakewoodpubliclibrary and twitter.com/lakewoodlibrary on Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m.   

October 7

Join Hannah Shaw as she shares her story of survival in her book, "Still I Rise: My Journey to Conquer Chronic Pain."  Shaw candidly talks about her experiences of navigating the healthcare system and her inner struggles, giving fellow chronic pain sufferers hope and courage.

October 14 

Brandy Schillace tells the story of Dr. Robert White, one the country’s leading neurosurgeons who most notably performed the first brain transplant on a monkey in her book, "Mr. Humble and Dr. Butcher: A Monkey's Head," "The Pope's Neuroscientist," and "The Quest to Transplant the Soul."  Schillace explores both the scientific and ethical issues of experiments on animals, as well as Dr. White’s own devout religious beliefs, with his conviction that the soul was part of the brain.

October 21 

Cleveland-born Hari Ziyad talks about his memoir "Black Boy Out of Time," an honest story about what it’s like growing up black and queer. Ziyad examines complex themes of race and gender, amidst a large blended family with a Hari Kishna mother and Muslim father. 

October 28

Case Western Reserve University Political Science professor and Cuba native, Dr. Laura Tartakoff, reads bilingual poems in English and Spanish, which are inspired by nature.

If you miss the premiere, the videos will also be available on the Library’s website lakewoodpubliclibrary.org

Make sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on library news, programs and events.  

Are you all Zoomed out? Then try two of these reading programs for kids.

Help your child get ready for kindergarten by trying out our 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program. Children, age birth to starting kindergarten, can register online or in-person and will receive a folder, bookmark and their first reading log. Read together and record your progress online at home or by bringing in completed logs to the Main Library or Madison branch to receive rewards and acquire a new reading log.

Children in Kindergarten through eighth grade can join the Library Explorers Badge Quest program by registering online. Participants will read their way through the Children’s and Youth Services collection and earn badges by completing the readings and activities covering juvenile and teen fiction, nonfiction, biographies, graphic novels, and more. Complete twelve of the seventeen badges to complete the program and receive a Lakewood Public Library drawstring book bag, a new book, and a bookmark.

For more information or to register, visit lakewoodpubliclibrary.beanstack.com

Virtual Storytime

For all ages

Join Lakewood Library staff members virtually as they read children’s picture books and share songs, rhymes and finger plays.

View these exclusive videos from our website at lakewoodpubliclibrary.org or through our Facebook at facebook.com/lakewoodpubliclibrary.

Virtual Author Visits

For all ages

Join local authors and illustrators virtually as they share and read some of their own children’s books.

View these exclusive videos from our website at lakewoodpubliclibrary.org or through our Facebook at facebook.com/lakewoodpubliclibrary.

Homework Help

For Students in Kindergarten through Eighth Grade
August – May
Monday-Friday, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. 
Main Library Homework Room and Madison Branch

Students who need a little extra help with homework or just want a cool place to work can come to the Library for Homework Help to get assistance and to use the Library’s resources. Students can use their library card to check out a Chrome Book to use in the Library and have access to a variety of school supplies including pencils, pens, crayons, markers, calculators, protractors, and more. A library staff member is on hand and available to provide homework assistance with everything from spelling words to solving math problems. No registration is required.

Lakewood Public Library will premiere three exciting new virtual Meet the Author events in September. You can watch these programs on facebook.com/lakewoodpubliclibrary and twitter.com/lakewoodlibrary on Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m.  

September 16

Veteran news reporter Paul Orlousky talks about his five decade career in his book "Punched, Kicked, Spat on and Sometimes Thanked: Memoirs of a Cleveland TV News Reporter."  Paul shares colorful and funny stories from behind the scenes.

September 23

Watch local author Marie Vibbert talk about her science fiction debut "Galactic Hellcats."  In the book, an all-female space biker gang form a bond when they travel to another planet to rescue a prince.

September 30

Teacher and football coach turned bestselling author, Dan Largent talks about his series featuring Cooper Madison, a former professional baseball player.  Cooper finds himself in Cleveland and in love in "Before We Ever Spoke and After Edgewater."  Readers will enjoy the love story, along with some suspense, and plenty of Northeast Ohio references.

If you miss the premiere, the videos will also be available on the Library’s website lakewoodpubliclibrary.org

Make sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on library news, programs and events.  

Virtual Storytime

For all ages

Join Lakewood Library staff members virtually as they read children’s picture books and share songs, rhymes and finger plays.

View these exclusive videos from our website at lakewoodpubliclibrary.org or through our Facebook at facebook.com/lakewoodpubliclibrary.

Virtual Author Visits

For all ages

Join local authors and illustrators virtually as they share and read some of their own children’s books.

View these exclusive videos from our website at lakewoodpubliclibrary.org or through our Facebook at facebook.com/lakewoodpubliclibrary.

Homework Help

For Students in Kindergarten through Eighth Grade
August – May
Monday-Friday, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. 
Main Library Homework Room and Madison Branch

Virtual Storytime

Lakewood Public Library’s digital collection continues to grow. Patrons now have an even bigger selection of eBooks and downloadable audiobooks through the Hoopla Digital app and website. Visit lakewoodpubliclibrary.org/collections/ebooks-digital-media to access Hoopla, and other eBooks and digital media available to library patrons

Lakewood Public Library has a variety of online resources to support learning just in time for back to school. Students of all ages will find these online tools helpful, no matter what area of study. You can find these resources at lakewoodpubliclibrary.org/research

Finding a good book is easy with NoveList Plus and NoveList K-8. Students can find enjoyable books based on their interests, as well as their grade and reading level. Search and browse by genre, readalikes, award winners and more. 

With EBSCOhost, students can search thousands of magazines, newspapers and peer-reviewed journals. Search for articles by keyword or use publication search to browse through the archives of specific magazines and journals.

Library Pen Pal

For children three years old through sixth grade

Do you miss the Library? We miss you too! Write a letter to a Library staff member telling us about anything from the last book you read to your favorite animal or even include a drawing. A staff member will read your letter and write you back.

Send your letter to:

Children’s and Youth Services

Lakewood Public Library

15425 Detroit Avenue

Lakewood, Ohio 44107

Virtual Storytime

For all ages

Join Lakewood Library staff members virtually as they read children’s picture books and share songs, rhymes and finger plays.

View these exclusive videos from our website at lakewoodpubliclibrary.org or through our Facebook at facebook.com/lakewoodpubliclibrary.

Post-civil war America could not keep pace with Emily Warren Roebling. She was one of those notable women in history who didn’t waste daylight waiting for public sentiment to approve of her non-traditional ambitions.

Considered the nations’s first female Field Engineer, she took over construction of the Brooklyn Bridge when her husband, the chief engineer, fell ill. She also studied law, travelled extensively and became a sought-after speaker who became determined to convince an incredulous world that women deserved equal rights.

Local author Diane Vogel Ferri chronicles the life and times of this 19th century suffragette in “No Life But This: A Novel of Emily Warren Roebling.” Ferri will be joining Lakewood Public Library for a virtual Meet the Author event at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 12, 2021 to talk about the book.

You can watch this program as well as other Meet the Author events on facebook.com/lakewoodpubliclibrary and twitter.com/lakewoodlibrary on Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m.  If you miss the premiere, the videos will also be available on the Library’s website lakewoodpubliclibrary.org.

Lakewood Public Library will premiere three exciting new virtual Meet the Author events in August. You can watch these programs on facebook.com/lakewoodpubliclibrary and twitter.com/lakewoodlibrary on Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m.

August 12
Diane Vogel Ferri will discuss her latest book, "No Life But This: a Novel of Emily Warren Roebling." Inspired by a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, this book is based on the true story of Roebling, who had to take over the construction of the bridge when her husband, the chief engineer, fell ill.

August 19
Jen Hirt discusses "Hear Me Ohio," a collection of essays about leaving Ohio. Hirt, who grew up in Ohio at her family’s business (Hirt’s Greenhouse), reflects on the places she has lived, finding beauty and fascination in nature.

August 26
Derf Backderf talks about his book, "Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio," a graphic novel retelling of the tragic story of the Kent State shootings. Backderf shares his own personal experience of when the National Guard came to Ohio, as well as what he found in his extensive research, and how he challenged himself artistically to recreate scenes from the actual historic event.

If you miss the premiere, the videos will also be available on the Library’s website: lakewoodpubliclibrary.org

Make sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on library news, programs and events.

May 4, 1970 started out as another ordinary day. But for Kent State University students this day would be anything but normal. It was on this day that members of the Ohio National Guard fired into a crowd of demonstrators, killing four and wounding nine Kent State students.

Library Pen Pal

Expand your DIY, crafting and art talents with Creativebug, a free online resource available with your Lakewood Public Library card.

Creativebug offers thousands of video classes taught by design experts and artists; learn to paint a landscape with oils or with gouache, make herbal infused body oil, a swimsuit or a flying squirrel glider with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math).

You can also download free patterns, templates and recipes. It’s easy!

Just visit www.lakewoodpubliclibrary.org, select the Research tab, choose Creativebug and enter your library card number to discover your next project. You’ll be crafting all summer long!

Library Pen Pal

For children three years old through sixth grade

Do you miss the Library?  We miss you too! Write a letter to a Library staff member telling us about anything from the last book you read to your favorite animal or even include a drawing. A staff member will read your letter and write you back.

Send your letter to:

Children’s and Youth Services

Lakewood Public Library

15425 Detroit Avenue

Lakewood, Ohio 44107

Virtual Storytime

For all ages

Join Lakewood Library staff members virtually as they read children’s picture books and share songs, rhymes and finger plays.