Library

Come to the Lakewood Public Library and meet some of Jungle Bob’s incredible animals. Jungle Bob is a certified animal technician as well as a licensed teacher in animal care who has been educating and engaging children for nearly three decades. He is not only dedicated to entertaining audiences with his interactive animal shows, but also to teaching children about the importance of animal care, safety, and conservation. It will be a fun evening with reptiles and furry friends. “Jungle Bob and His Crazy Critters” will take place in the Main Library Multipurpose Room on Saturday, November 16, 2019 at 7:00 p.m.

The Cuyahoga River dates back 12,000 years, but it was the fire in 1969 that made it famous. Even though it was not the first or the worst, the 1969 blaze caught the attention of the country, making Cleveland the butt of jokes and spurring the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency.

What if your family history research revealed a long-hidden family secret? Award-winning author Gail Lukasik grew up with few photographs of her mother’s family and in 1995 she discovered the reason why. When researching census records for her Louisiana family, Gail discovered that her mother’s father and his entire family were designated as black. “You can’t tell anyone,” said her mother Alvera.

Thursday, November 7, 2019 at 7:00 p.m.
Meet the Author
"Cafe Abyss: John O’Brien’s Fiction, A Reflection"
Edited by Dave Megenhardt and Rob Jackson
Main Library Auditorium
Editors and contributors of "Cafe Abyss" discuss the fiction of John O’Brien, Lakewood native and author of four novels including "Leaving Las Vegas." O’Brien’s sister, Erin O’Brien, will discuss John’s life and legacy. Contributors Sara Dobie Bauer, Patrick Snee, Matt Marshall and Tanya Pilumeli, will speak about discovering O’Brien’s work and share their analyses of it. Books will be available for sale and signing at this event.

NaNoWriMo Writer's Cafe
For students in fifth through twelfth grade

Thursday, October 17, 2019 at 7:00 p.m.
Author Event - "Pit Bull Heroes: 45 Underdogs with Resilience and Heart"
Book by Greg Murray
Main Library Auditorium
Meet Chad, the first pit bull in the pet therapy program at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; Apollo, who sniffs out narcotics at his job in Washington State; Charlie, who rallied a community to fight breed-specific legislation laws in Lakewood; and forty-six other underdogs. They are all pit bulls and heroes in their own way. Greg Murray is an award-winning animal photographer and advocate. Books will be available for sale and signing at this event.

Long before he wrote the novel “Leaving Las Vegas,” John O’Brien called Lakewood home. The 1978 Lakewood High School graduate had a tragically short life and literary career, but the impact he made on the people who knew him and the readers moved by his work has more than endured the twenty-five years since his untimely death in Beverly Hills.

It is from this legacy that “Café Abyss: John O’Brien’s Fiction, A Reflection” was born. The editors and contributors of the book are visiting Lakewood Public Library on the day of its release, Thursday November 7, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. for a discussion about the novelist’s life and work. This special Meet The Author event will be held in the Main Lower Level Auditorium at 15425 Detroit Avenue.

Editors of “Café Abyss,” Dave Megenhardt and Rob Jackson, as well as O’Brien’s sister, Erin O’Brien, will join the discussion, along with additional essay contributors Sara Dobie Bauer, Patrick Snee, Matt Marshall and Tanya Pilumeli, who will speak about discovering O’Brien’s work and share their analyses of it.

In addition to his first novel, “Leaving Las Vegas,”(1990) which was made into a film of the same name in 1995, three more books, “The Assault on Tony’s”(1996), “Stripper Lessons”(1997), and “Better: a novel”(2009) were released posthumously with help from his sister.

Sew Your Own Library Tote
For anyone age 8 and up

Come to Lakewood Public Library to experience a riveting show that blends comedy and magic. The astounding escape artist Ron Price will captivate the audience by his ability to escape from just about anything. Wrap him in chains, ropes, mail bags, or straitjackets--it doesn’t matter--he can escape! Price spent years practicing magic and escape artistry to create an amazing show. You might even be picked out of the crowd to enjoy the fun of being a magician’s helper. “Comedy Escapes and Magic Fun with Ron Price” will take place in the Main Library Multipurpose Room on Saturday, October 19, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. Come and enjoy a free program that is full of amusement for the whole family.

Folias Duo, a flute and guitar ensemble, is comprised of husband-and-wife team flutist Carmen Maret and guitarist Andrew Bergeron. Maret and Bergeron met while both were graduate music students at Michigan State University; they married in 2003.

Music Therapy and More

Over 26 million Americans have mailed in their saliva sample for an at-home ancestry test. The initial process is simple for the consumer, but deciphering the results of this ever advancing DNA research can be baffling. Mary Jamba is visiting Lakewood Public Library on Wednesday, October 16, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. to explain what the reports mean and how you can get the most out of them.

Lakewood Public Library is pleased to welcome Hiroya Tsukamoto, internationally acclaimed guitarist and singer-songwriter, to our concert stage. Born in Kyoto, Japan, Hiroya was thirteen years old when his father gave him a five-string banjo. Inspired by a recording of "Foggy Mountain Banjo" by Earl Scruggs, Hiroya taught himself the banjo and took up the guitar shortly thereafter.

Thursday, October 3, 2019 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Friends’ Fall Book Sale Preview
Friends’ Book Sale Area
Friends of Lakewood Public Library host a special members-only preview book sale. Join at the door for as little as $3.00.

When it comes to dog breeds, pit bulls have the reputation of posing a dangerous threat to our neighborhoods. Greg Murray’s latest book proves that these dogs can have a very different role in our community. Former strays, working dogs, family pets and social media stars are among the “Pit Bull Heroes: 49 Underdogs with Resilience and Heart.”

Some extra special guests are coming to the Lakewood Public Library this month. We are thrilled to welcome illustrator Dave Mottram as well as representatives from Tails from the City cat rescue.

International Day of Peace- Origami Paper Crane Folding Tutorial

A whispering tree evokes the peaceful harmony of nature, the subtle call of natural forces. For singer/songwriter Eleanor Kleiner and multi-instrumentalist Elie Brangbour, the imagery and symbolism contained within that name call forth the music that expresses their very essence.

It sounds too good to be true, but for more than 38 years, volunteers from the Friends of Lakewood Library have been saving thousands of books from area landfills by selling them to happy new readers at super low prices.

Perhaps you’ve seen Mr. Zap at the Lakewood Public Library before. He is a familiar face in children’s entertainment and has been performing magic for over thirty-five years. He loves to entertain, and that shines through in all of his performances. Mr. Zap will keep you laughing with hilarious antics while amazing you with unbelievable feats of magic! He promises to deliver a show that will thrill and dazzle the audience. Mark your calendar for Saturday, September 21, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. when Mr. Zap’s Magic and Thrill Show will take place in the Main Library Multipurpose Room. You will enjoy a free program that is full of fun for the whole family.

Thursday, September 19, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. (52 minutes)
ReelAbilities Film Festival: Family & Hope
Main Library Auditorium
Join us for Family & Hope a double feature and discussion as part of ReelAbilities Cleveland 2019 film fest. The Lakewood Public Library will be featuring two short documentaries, "The Unconditional" and "Unstuck," which touch on parenting, kids and disability. ReelAbilities is the largest film festival in the US dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories and artistic expressions of people with different disabilities.

With a voice clear and warm, the music of Luca Mundaca refreshes like an ocean breeze off her native Brazilian coast. The talented singer and songwriter brings her sophisticated sound to Lakewood Public Library on Sunday, September 15, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. as part of our Sunday With The Friends programming.

Thursday, September 5, 2019 at 7:00 p.m.
Double Author Event: "Mama, Mama, Only Mama" and "Mrs. Morhard and the Boys"
Books by Lara Lillibridge and Ruth Hanford Morhard
Main Library Auditorium
These books are about the lengths to which single mothers will go to create a memorable childhood. In "Mama, Mama, Only Mama," Lara Lillibridge offers advice she’s gained while raising children in a non-nuclear family. In "Mrs. Morhard and the Boys," Ruth Hanford Morhard shares how her mother-in-law, out of love for her son, founded the first ever Little League with support from the Cleveland Indians. Books will be available for sale and signing at this event.

International Day of Peace- Origami Paper Crane Folding Tutorial

For All Ages

Celebrate the International Day of Peace by making origami cranes. Come learn how to contribute paper cranes to the display by learning and practicing how to fold your own origami paper cranes.

Wednesday, September 4, 2019, 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. in the Main Library Multipurpose Room.

Girls Who Code 

For students in sixth through twelfth grade.

Join our club and use computer science to solve a problem that you care about in our community by working on a Computer Science Impact Project where you'll learn to use computer science to create a mobile app, design a website or program a robot. This program is designed for all levels of computer science experience.

Mondays, September 9, 2019 – November 25, 2019 and Mondays, January 6, 2020 – March 23, 2020, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. in the Main Library Learning Lab.

International Dot Day was created to encourage students to explore their creativity. The inspiration behind the event is the children’s book "The Dot" by Peter H. Reynolds. It tells the story of a teacher who motivates a doubting student to trust in her own abilities and from a dot on a page the child goes on to make her mark. The book "The Dot" has been translated into over 25 languages, including Braille. Since the first Dot Day in 2009, the number of involved students in both schools and libraries around the globe has skyrocketed. It has grown to a world-wide celebration with children from 181 countries expected to participate in 2019.

Discuss world affairs with friends, neighbors and experts during Great Decisions, America’s largest discussion program on world affairs. Every year the Foreign Policy Association highlights eight critical foreign policy challenges facing the United States. Each discussion will focus on one of the policy challenges, featuring a thirty minute video and an expert-led discussion.

Dear Lakewood,

Thank you for helping our youth Read to the moon and back during the summer of 2019!

Thank you to parents, grandparents and caregivers who encouraged summer reading and registered their family members to participate at the Library. Thank you also to the 1,027 adult readers who set a stellar example for our young people by participating in the adult summer reading program. Monday, May 13, 2019 began a reading journey at the Lakewood Public Library. The annual summer reading club themed “A Universe of Stories” attracted 1,768 youth. Over a twelve week time period, 743 youth readers met the goal of 30 books, 30 chapters or 30 hours of reading by Monday, August 5, 2019! We should all be proud of our Lakewood readers. They couldn’t have done it without you!

How far will a mother go for her children? Two local authors have written books examining that very question, one a memoir and the other a biography of her mother-in-law.

Friday, August 23, 2019 at 7:00 p.m.
Front Porch Concert Series Presented by LakewoodAlive
Main Library Front Porch
The Front Porch Concert Series adds vibrancy and an enhanced sense of community to Lakewood’s urban core. Concerts, which take place on the Library’s front porch, are sponsored by Bentley Wealth Management of Raymond James and are presented by LakewoodAlive. Tonight we welcome Drumplay.

Healthy living is built upon ideas, best practices, and thoughtful intentions. Broaden your knowledge of healthy living with the Functional Medicine Mini-Series this September.

Fall is nearly upon us, which means it’s time to take a break from raking those leaves and come on down to the Lakewood Public Library for some creative inspiration with our fall art programs.

Kidical Mass Bike Ride and Storytime

For the Whole Family

The Lakewood Public Library, Bike Lakewood and Beat Cycles invites the whole family to enjoy a fun morning bicycle ride around the neighborhood. The event includes bicycle safety instruction, a story time, an art project and a refreshment to end the event. No registration is required.

Sunday, August 25, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. at Lakewood Park Solstice Steps.

International Day of Peace - Origami Paper Crane Folding Tutorial

For All Ages

Celebrate the International Day of Peace by making origami cranes. Come learn how to contribute paper cranes to the display by learning and practicing how to fold your own origami paper cranes.

Wednesday, September 4, 2019, 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. in the Main Library Multipurpose Room.

Burlesque. The word brings up images of early 20th century stages with scantily clad women dancing and telling bawdy jokes in front of raucous audiences. Photographer Bob Perkoski and writer Erin O’Brien decided to bring that image up to date with the release of their book, “Rust Belt Burlesque: The Softer Side of a Heavy Metal Town.”

Thursday, August 8, 2019
Nonfiction Book Club
Main Library Meeting Room
Come and join the conversation with our newest book club. There are sure to be serious and thought-provoking discussions about many subjects inspired by these non-fiction works. Tonight we will discuss Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover.

Tail Waggin’ Tutors

Re-live the glory days of Ol’ Blue Eyes and the Rat Pack when Sinatra CLE takes the stage at the Main Library Auditorium at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 11, 2019. One of Cleveland’s premier Frank Sinatra tribute acts, Sinatra CLE was founded by vocalist Patrick Lynch. In addition to performing iconic songs of Ol’ Blue Eyes, Sinatra CLE also performs the hits of Dean Martin, Michael Buble, and Elvis. This iconic jazz ensemble will take you back in time to the great Rat Pack performances of the ‘50s and ‘60s.

Summer of Space: Solar System Bead Activity

Murder. Intrigue. Family dynamics. Lottery winnings. Food. Mystery novels can be centered around many things. Two local authors who have successfully launched careers in writing, Vivien Chien and Annie Hogsett, will appear at Lakewood Main Library to discuss their books and their techniques for navigating the fast-paced and cutthroat mystery genre.

Chien started her writing life in elementary school, making up simple stories about adventures with her classmates. She attempted to write her first novel at the age of sixteen and in 2018 published her first book, “Death by Dumpling.”  This was quickly followed by “Dim Sum of All Fears.” Chien’s protagonist is Lana Lee, manager of her family’s Chinese restaurant, who enters Cleveland’s Best Noodle Contest in “Murder Lo Mein.” Part of a popular genre known as cozy mysteries, the Noodle Shop Mysteries have been praised as charming and fun. The books not only take the reader along to solve a mystery, but explore evolving relationships as well.

Hogsett takes a different tack with her series, "Somebody’s Bound to Wind Up Dead." “Murder to the Metal,” the second book in the series, revolves around a part-time librarian and a blind college professor living large in Bratenahl due to an infusion of cash from a winning lottery ticket. They are carrying on a steamy love affair while also taking on jobs for the T&A Detective Agency. Their first case, which starts out as a search for a missing man, leads eventually to organized crime, drug addiction, larceny and murder. Hogsett, originally from a small West Virginia town, now lives on the shore of Lake Erie in Cleveland. She spent years writing advertising copy before publishing her first novel in 2017.

To accompany the 2019 Lakewood Arts Festival, the Friends of Lakewood Public Library are hosting the Friends’ Arts Festival Book Sale on Saturday, August 3, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Friends Book Sale area of the Main Lakewood Public Library, located at 15425 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, Ohio.

The volunteer Friends of Lakewood Public Library raise funds for Library programs and services. Book Sale proceeds support Lakewood Public Library’s free lectures, concerts, films, and youth programs throughout the year.

In keeping with the Arts Festival theme, the Book Sale will feature special art books in the entrance area. Proceeding through the Friends Book Sale Room, you will discover bestsellers, classics, poetry, cookbooks, mysteries, gardening books, self-help and religious books, an amazing selection of Children’s books, magazines, vinyl LP records, VHS tapes, CDs, DVDs and jigsaw puzzles. As with every Arts Festival book sale, there is no preview sale.

Take a break from the heat and enjoy the air conditioning as you browse the Friends’ Book Sale. Although the sale runs from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., plan to get there as early as possible for the best selection.

Wednesday, July 17, 2019 at 7:00 p.m.
Citizenship Workshop
Presented by Tri-C ASPIRE
Main Library Multipurpose Room
The second session of our two-week workshop showing participants how to become a U.S. citizen through the process of naturalization. Registration is required. Register by calling (216) 226-8275, ext. 127.

Thursday, July 18, 2019 at 7:00 p.m.
Booked for Murder Book Club
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. Tonight we will discuss In Farleigh Field: A Novel of World War II by Rhys Bowen.

Friday, July 19, 2019 at 7:00 p.m.
Front Porch Concert Series Presented by LakewoodAlive
Main Library Front Porch
The Front Porch Concert Series adds vibrancy and an enhanced sense of community to Lakewood’s urban core. Concerts take place on the Library’s front porch, are sponsored by Bentley Wealth Management of Raymond James and are presented by LakewoodAlive. Tonight we welcome Diana Chittester.

Saturday, July 20, 2019 at 6:00 p.m.
Film - "The Decoy Bride" (2011)
Presented by Barbara Steffek-Hill Directed by Sheree Folkson

It was mostly demolished by 1931. Luna Park, known as “Cleveland’s fairyland of pleasure,” was a 35-acre amusement park which opened the spring of 1905 in the Woodhill Road, East 110th, Woodland and Mt. Carmel section on Cleveland’s eastside. It beckoned thrill-seekers and beer drinkers alike with roller coasters and a dance hall until Prohibition and the Great Depression took their toll, forcing the park to close its gates for good.

Dave Buehler, who founded the popular Templar Motors collection at the Erie Screw Factory, will serve as tour guide to the once booming Luna Park as part of our Lakewood Historical Society programming on Wednesday, July 24, 2019 at 7:00 p.m.

Cleveland’s Luna Park was part of an international amusement park chain that was known for its wildly exotic architecture. The midway was an amazing spectacle illuminated by one thousand incandescent lamps. It boasted a seventy-two-horse carousel, a roller rink and a 20,000-seat stadium, nicknamed the Luna Bowl, which was home field to the Cleveland Bulldogs and Cleveland Panthers professional football teams as well as the Negro league baseball teams: the Cleveland Stars, the Cleveland Giants, and the Cleveland Red Sox.

From the streets where it once stood, Luna Park has gone without a trace. Join Dave Buehler as he brings back memories of this long-forgotten summertime destination. The program takes place in the Main Lower Level Auditorium.

Bubbles are fun! Bubbles are funny! Bubbles are coming to the Lakewood Public Library! Come witness Sue Durante (aka The Bubble Lady) as she inflates tiny bubbles, long bubbles, giant bubbles, and a remarkable square bubble. Sue searches her home for everyday household items that become the tools for producing remarkable frothy creations. Will she bring a hula hoop, a rope, a mesh strawberry basket, or even a Croc shoe? Whatever she brings will be dipped into a special concoction of soap, water, and glycerin to enable her to blow marvelous, magnificent sudsy balloons. An afternoon of family fun is guaranteed!

While working as a park ranger at the Grand Canyon National Park, Scott Kraynak was thinking about Cleveland; the tough, resilient town was the center of an underappreciated community of artists and both needed to be celebrated. Nearly 2000 miles away, "The HeART of Cleveland" was born.

Kraynak is taking a break from his day job to visit Lakewood Public Library on Thursday, July 11, 2019 at 7 p.m. to discuss "The HeART of Cleveland" and the city’s dynamic art scene. Joining book editor Scott Kraynak will be featured artists John W. Carlson, Gary Dumm, Laura Dumm, Ron Hill, Leslie Edwards Humez, George Kocar, Ray McNiece, James Quarles, William Scheele and Pam Spremulli. 

The work and personal city-reflections of our special guests are showcased in The HeART of Cleveland along with 70 artists, both past and present.

Doan Brook Trio is a woodwind ensemble featuring oboist Martin Neubert, clarinetist Alix Reinhardt, and bassoonist Ian Hoy. Taking its name from Doan Brook, one of the five greater bluestone brooks found in Cuyahoga County, the trio was founded in 2018 by Ian Hoy. The trio’s mission is to raise awareness of social justice issues through enriching programs which are fact-based and which have a personal connection.

The Doan Brook Trio brings a special concert entitled “My Family Immigration Story” to the Lakewood Main Library on Sunday, July 14, 2019. The inspiration for Sunday’s performance stems from Hoy’s own family immigration story. A family letter was sent to France from New York on the occasion of the inauguration of the Statue of Liberty in 1886.

Thursday, July 4, 2019
Library Closed
Library closed in observance of Independence Day.

Friday, July 5, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. 
Front Porch Concert Series Presented by LakewoodAlive 
Main Library Front Porch 
The Front Porch Concert Series adds vibrancy and an enhanced sense of community to Lakewood’s urban core. Concerts take place on the Library’s front porch, are sponsored by Bentley Wealth Management of Raymond James, and are presented by LakewoodAlive. Tonight we welcome The Robin Blake Sound Experiment.

Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 6:00 p.m.
Film - "Gas Food Lodging" (1992)
Directed by Allison Anders
Main Library Auditorium
In the boring New Mexico town of Laramie, Nora (Brooke Adams) is a truck-stop waitress living in a trailer park where she is raising her two teenaged daughters, Trudi (Ione Skye) and Shade (Fairuza Balk). Free-spirited Trudi is the opposite of Shade, who dreams about having a normal family. The film follows all three women in their attempts at love and their struggles of living day to day. This film continues our series highlighting woman directors. 

The Lakewood Public Library invites you to an entertaining program full of mixed-up magic with Nicholas, a graduate of the St. Ignatius Circus Club. An early interest in the world of magic led Nicholas to create a one-of-a-kind show that will be fun for all ages. You’ll be in awe as Nicholas blends magic with balloons and juggling into one show. His hilarious antics will keep you laughing, making this a performance you won’t want to miss. His award-winning act is coming to the Lakewood Public Library, so bring the whole family for a magical and amazing afternoon. This program will take place on Friday, July 12, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. in the Main Library Multipurpose Room.

Bharathanatyam may be an unpronounceable word to you, but to Sujatha Srinivasan, it is her life’s work. Srinivasan is an accomplished dancer, choreographer, and teacher of Bharathanatyam in North America who began Shri Kalaa Mandir (Center for Indian Performing Arts) in 1993. The dance troupe she founded will perform as part of Lakewood Public Library’s celebration of immigrant voices going on this spring and summer.

Thursday, June 20, 2019 at 7:00 p.m.
Author Event - "We Celebrate our Mother and Father"
by Joseph Meissner
Main Library Auditorium
We Celebrate our Mother and Father relates stories about Joseph Meissner’s family from the perspectives of his, brothers, sisters and himself. Stories shared include how his father went to work in the fields at seven years old, his mother’s story of immigration from Ireland, and other anecdotes like his mother pestering them on her final day with the question, “Is the kitchen floor clean?” Books will be available for sale and signing at this event.

Thursday, June 20, 2019 at 7:00 p.m.
Booked for Murder Book Club
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. Tonight we will discuss "The Woman in Cabin 10: A Novel" by Ruth Ware.

Jungle Terry is a busy man. He has over one hundred animals requiring care, attention, and twice daily feedings. Despite his full schedule, he seems barely able to contain his energy and enthusiasm for his work as an animal trainer, naturalist, educator, and entertainer.

Make Music with Boomwhackers

There is a lot to be learned from an ordinary life, particularly one that has survived more than a century of the stuff. In "We Celebrate our Mother and Father," author Joseph Meissner describes the ordinary lives of his parents, which turn out to have had an extraordinary effect on the lives of their children. Meissner will visit Lakewood Public Library on Thursday, June 20, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. to share.

Co-authored with his four siblings, this collection of letters, emails, photos and “I Remembers” feels like pulling up a chair to the Meissners’ kitchen table. The stories of their seven-year-old father having to drop out of school to work in the fields or their mother’s immigration from Ireland are realistic pictures of our collective past, making "We Celebrate our Mother and Father" both a personal record and a history of Ohio, describing life in the Buckeye State during the last century.

Most of all, the book is a labor of love, a parting gift to beloved parents, reminding us on every page how an ordinary life can affect generations. This Meet the Author event takes place in the Main Lower Level Auditorium. Books will be available for sale and signing.

Tail Waggin’ Tutors

Wednesday, June 5, 2019 at 6:30 p.m.
Forum – Wastewater and the West Side: What are the Issues?
Main Library Auditorium
Tens of billions of gallons of wastewater are processed every year through Cleveland’s three water treatment plants. Northeast Ohio’s geographical proximity to Lake Erie keeps conservation at the forefront of community concern and planning initiatives. Join the League of Women Voters of Greater Cleveland to hear from area experts on the process and issues surrounding wastewater treatment on the West Side. Panelists will be Frank Greenland, NEORSD Director of Watershed Programs, Janine Rybka, Director of Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District, and Lakewood Mayor Michael Summers. Professor Howard E. Katz will moderate the discussion.

The United States naturalization process can be overwhelming. Are you ready to become a U.S. citizen? Do you need help navigating the paperwork involved? Would you like more information on how to study for the English and civics tests? Learn how to get started in the naturalization process with the assistance of Tri-C Aspire.

Come one, come all! Bring your family to the Lakewood Public Library to enjoy the Gentleman Joe Variety Show. This versatile performer is a veteran of the Ringling Brothers Circus. Get ready for eye-popping balancing stunts, juggling, musical entertainment and more. All ages will be delighted with this captivating show that combines humor, clowning and magic. Prepare to laugh and get ready to be amazed! It will be an afternoon to remember—one that will live in your child’s memory for years to come. This event will take place on Friday, June 14, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. in the Main Library Multipurpose Room, which is located in Children’s and Youth Services. The show is free and open to the public and no registration is required.

Magistrate Barbara Greenberg returns to the Main Library for another of her informative series; this time, she will be discussing immigration. Since the inception of US history, immigration has been a hotly debated issue. Discover the cases which shaped U.S. immigration legislation in a four-part series led by Magistrate Greenberg.

During this four-week series, participants will learn about and then discuss the cases, laws, and public policy which made immigration legislation what it is today. Magistrate Greenberg, a dynamic and articulate speaker, will present the case law and legislation and will then open up the room for debate and discussion. The first class takes place on Tuesday, June 4, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. in the Main Library Multipurpose Room. Subsequent classes will be held in the Main Library Multipurpose Room at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 11, 2019, Tuesday, June 18, 2019, and Tuesday, June 25, 2019.

Thursday, May 23, 2019 at 7:00 p.m.
Author Event - "Cleveland Then and Now"
by Laura DeMarco
Main Library Auditorium
"Cleveland Then and Now" matches rare archive images with specially-commissioned contemporary color photos of the same scenes to reveal the past and present of Cleveland. It concentrates on landmarks that have stayed intact and adapted to survive. Tradition amid change is the story of Cleveland, then and now. Laura DeMarco is an arts and culture reporter for the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Books will be available for sale and signing at this event.

If you have ever wondered what kind of historical information can be found at the Cuyahoga County Archives, now is your chance to learn from Northeast Ohio’s expert on the subject. Judith G. Cetina, PhD, who has an incredible 42 years of experience at the archives, will be visiting Lakewood Public Library on Wednesday, May 29, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. to discuss what can be discovered in the collection.

The Cuyahoga County Archives was created in 1975 to save important records: estate files, birth and death certificates, naturalization records, plat books, tax records and marriage certificates. Up to that point, these valuable documents were vulnerable to decay and loss from being stored with inconsistent standards in different buildings around the Greater Cleveland area. 

In 1977, two years after its founding, Dr. Cetina began her career at the archives where she saw the scattered pieces of the collection come together and eventually find a safe place at the Rhodes House on Franklin Avenue in 1985, the same year she became the new director. Great efforts were made to organize, record, preserve and make these valuable documents available to the public. In 2018 the archives were moved once again to their new home at 3951 Perkins Ave. 

As a hometown, Cleveland holds a special place in residents’ hearts. They love to talk about the city’s history and their own memories of it. Author Laura DeMarco tapped into that nostalgia with her first book, “Lost Cleveland,” in 2017. Now she’s back with “Cleveland Then and Now,” which matches historic images of Cleveland landmarks with contemporary color photos of the same scenes.

You can meet DeMarco on Thursday, May 23, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. in the Main Library Auditorium to see and hear images and stories of historic and contemporary Cleveland.

Located in a prime location for industrial success, Cleveland prospered in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, with both great wealth and the inevitable pollution and poverty that follow industrialization. By the early 1900s, the prosperity generated from the steel mills, factories and railroads resulted in a number of substantial civic and commercial buildings, monuments, bridges and mansions. By the 1920s, Cleveland was America’s fifth largest city, with almost a million people. When the city started to falter in the 1960s, buildings were left to molder and people began to leave. Many of the city’s landmarks remained.

“Cleveland Then and Now” explores those landmarks with 150 photos on 144 pages. DeMarco describes each scene, detailing the history and development of each landmark over time. She worked with photographer Karl Mondon, who examined the historical photographs and attempted to recreate the same scene, from the same angle and time of day. Each pair of photos reveals fascinating differences or similarities.

Kidical Mass Bike Ride and Story Time

For the Whole Family

The Lakewood Public Library, Bike Lakewood and Beat Cycles invites the whole family to enjoy a fun morning bicycle ride around the neighborhood. The event includes bicycle safety instruction, a story time, an art project and a refreshment to end the event. No registration is required.

Sunday, May 26, 2019, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Madison Park Bike Racks.