*Members of the Friends will have a special pre-sale Wednesday, September 28 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Become a member for only $3.00!

Homework Help for Parents
Wednesday, September 28 at 7:00 p.m in the downstairs Adult computer lab. Join us for a crash course in doing homework at the library. Learn how we can help with those last minute assignments and endless reports, even when the library is closed. Make the computer work for you and help your child earn those A's. For parents of children in grades K-12. Registration begins Monday, September 19. Please call 330-688-3295 to register.

Shadow Box Art Classes
Local artist Sandy Lin will present the techniques involved in constructing Shadow Boxes during these special fall art classes. Select from several different designs and create your own Shadow Box to take home. These classes are free, but frames and prints will need to be purchased from the instructor (checks should be made out to: Yifang Sandy Lin). Bring an Exacto knife with extra blades and a small cutting mat to class. Participants should be 16 years of age or older.

Classes will be held on the following Mondays from 3:45 to 5:30 p.m.

To register, contact Cheryl Nelson at 330-688-3295 or e-mail nelsonch@oplin.org. Please include class dates, your name, phone number, and e-mail address. Registration is limited.

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Adult Summer Reading Program
Read, Dream, Imagine! the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library's Adult Summer Reading Program, concluded August 15 with a total of 234 participants.

During August there were 407 entries, making a total of 1,332 entries for the summer. Weekly winners during August were Michelle Henderson and Sara Lumley (Cleveland Museum of Natural History passes), Yu-Ling Yeh and Kathy Francini (Western Reserve Historical Society passes), Anna Hale and Evan Yoak (Books on CD), Rhonda McGill, Betty Nellis, and Yvonne Siegferth (canvas bags with goodies). Grand Prize Winner Jenn Richards received a "Read" book bag containing four Cleveland Botanical Garden passes, and four Great Lakes Science Center passes.

Evening Book Discussions
The evening book discussion group with Amy Garrett meets the fourth Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m. September through April. Because of the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, discussions in November and December will be the second Thursday of the month. The discussion group will resume in September.

Alternates:

Copies of the books will be available approximately four to five weeks before the date of discussion and will be held at the Information Desk. If we do not own enough copies of a book, we will try to Interlibrary Loan the material. Please call Amy Garrett at 330-688-3295 for more information.

Morning Book Discussions
The morning book discussion group with Chris Caccamo meets the second Friday of the month at 10:00 a.m. There will be no morning book discussion in September. Book discussions for the 2005-2006 season will begin Friday, October 14.

As always, sign up is not required. Books for the October 14 discussion should be available at the Information Desk by the week of September 26.

Due to the large size of the morning book discussion group, Chris is offering a second discussion option. If you prefer a smaller group setting, you may come to an afternoon session at 2:00 p.m. on the same day. To attend the afternoon session you must register by calling the Information Desk at 330-688-3295. Registration for the afternoon session will begin Monday, September 26. This session is limited to 15 participants. The same book will be discussed at both sessions. The option is yours! If you have any questions, please call Chris Caccamo at 330-688-3295, or you may email her at stowpr@yahoo.com.

Computer Use
Computers for use by adult and teen patrons are in very high demand! This is a reminder that you can reserve a computer ahead of time. Just call the Information Desk at 330-688-3295 to reserve a computer for a one-hour time limit. Computers may be reserved up to one week in advance. All adult patron compuers are now available by reservation only.

Computer Training
The library offers classes for beginning computer users and more advanced users. They include Introduction to Computers, Introduction to the Internet, and training in Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel. Classes are offered both day and evening at no charge. The computer class schedule for October will be released Monday, September 26 at 9:00 a.m. The class calendar can be viewed at www.smfpl.org/calendar.htm. Please call 330-688-3295 if you have any questions.

Computer Volunteer
Computer volunteer Tom Labbe is available to help patrons with computer questions during the following hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1:00 - 2:30. He is available at the Adult Information Desk.

Local History
The Local History Room is looking for "a few good people." Volunteers are needed to staff the Room on afternoons or evenings once a week. The Local History Room is a unique resource for the community, providing access to Stow's 200-year history via books, maps, news clippings, photo albums and more. Volunteers will welcome visitors and help them find information, as well as perform tasks to further organize the collection. If you are at least 18 and like to sleuth out the occasional mystery, please call Bridget Hair at 330-688-3295.

Teen Summer Reading Program
Congratulations to Ameer Ghouse, winner of the grand prize of a digigal music player in the Teen Summer Reading Program. Ameer was one of 128 teens who read 853 books during the seven week summer program.

Yu-Gi-Oh
Saturday, September 10 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Chess Club
Tuesday, September 27 at 6:30 p.m.

For further information on Teen programs please go to the Teen Services web page at www.smfpl.org./TS.htm.

Congratulations to the 1,250 children who read 13,505 hours for the Children's Summer Reading Program. We are proud of all who participated!

Storytimes
Registration has begun for Children's Storytimes, which begin the week of September 12. Please call 330-688-3295 for times and registration.

Art and Artists
Learn about the lives of the great artists from Dali to Degas and create your own work of art in the style of the masters. This program is for children in grades two through five. Dates are Saturdays September 17, October 15, November 19, and December 17 from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Please call the Children's Department at 330-688-3295 to register.

To see a complete list of Children's programming, please go to the Children's Department web page at www.smfpl.org/CS.htm. For further information please call 330-688-3295.

Pick 5 Bestsellers Club
How would you like to automatically be placed on the reserve list for five of your favorite popular authors? Join our Bestsellers Club and that's exactly what will happen! Just pick up a form at the Circulation Desk and join over 300 satisfied members. Are you already a member, but would like to change an author or two? Ask for an "add/delete" form at the circulation desk. It's just that easy!

Honorees
Arabica gift certificates have been awarded to the following patrons visiting Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library recently: Barbara Jones, the 450,000th checkout of 2005, Jody Frank, the 15,000th window checkout of 2005, Tamra Walker, the 16,000th window checkout, Stephen Ayers, the 17,000th window checkout, Martine McHale, the 3,500th new registration of 2005, and Christopher Igielinski, the 4,000th new registration of 2005.

Cardholders have their privileges at Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library!

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Corner Gallery
During September the Corner Gallery features the watercolors of Jack Mulhollen. Jack is affiliated with numerous art groups and is a signature member of the Ohio Watercolor Society and the Whiskey Painters of America. He has been awarded over 15 Best of Shows and First awards. He has been teaching workshops, classes, jurying shows and doing painting demonstrations for more than 15 years.

Jack finds the medium of watercolor both elusive and rewarding. His paintings reflect his fondness for the outdoors and the nostalgia of the rustic past. He is represented by several galleries and his paintings may be viewed by contacting him at 330-928-7235 or by e-mail at jackmulhollen@msn.com.

The display case in the Corner Gallery will highlight the American Sewing Guild in honor of National Sewing Month in September.

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The Friends, one of the largest organizations in Stow, is a citizen support group for Library services and activities. They sponsor booksales as well as the annual Needlework Show and other activities. Friends meet the third Tuesday of every month (except December and July) at 2:00 p.m. in the upstairs meeting room. Friends membership is currently at 450 members.

If you are interested in joining Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library Friends of the Library you may call the library at 330-688-3295 for further information, or you may go to the Friends page on the library website (www.smfpl.org/friends.htm) for an online application.

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    Septmber's spotlight shines on Back to School. Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library is here to help you get the school year off to the right start. Students of all ages will find print materials and online resources available at the library.

The Teen section, located on the first floor next to the videos, now contains circulating non-fiction books for Young Adults. Seventh through twelfth graders will find books focusing on teen issues and interests, such as Safe Teen, Powerful Alternatives to Violence by Anita Roberts, Everything You Need to Know About Peer Mediation by Nancy N. Rue, Motley Fool Investment Guide for Teens: Eight Steps to Having More Money Than Your Parents Ever Dreamed Of by David and Tom Gardner with Selena Maranjian, Coping With Being Adopted by Shari Cohen, and Skateboarding Streetstyle by Joel Shoemaker.

     Titles in this area also include those on topics for school reports, such as The Ethics of Human Cloning, William Dudley, editor, Egyptian Mythology by Rachel Storm, Global Warming; Opposing Viewpoints, James Haley, editor, and The Forgotten Arts and Crafts: Skills From Bygone Days by John Seymour. Biographies for teen readers are also new to this area and are located next to the non-fiction books. Students looking for English reading assignment books will find them on the Classic Paperback rack next to the Information Desk. Cliff's Notes for over 100 titles are also in the Teen section. www.cliffsnotes.com and www.sparknotes.com both provide free online literature study guides, as well as other resources and tools for students. SparkNotes, for example, contains free reference tools, a style guide, and film notes. Both have college prep and test information.

     Students have access to Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library's online learning resources from home if they have a Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library card. Databases (www.smfpl.org/databases.htm) include Infotrac, Grolier Online, EbscoHost, Encylopaedia Britannica, and many more. New to our library is the OPLIN database, LearningExpressLibrary. LearningExpressLibrary is perfect for students wanting to improve their skills, or study practice tests. Sections are devoted to Middle Schools Skills Improvement, Reading Skills Improvement, Advanced Placement, College Entrance Exams, and Math and Spanish Improvement. LearningExpressLibrary also provides study information for Adult Learners, such as Civil Service, Cosmetology, Military, and GED. This database also includes Resume and Interviewing Success Skills and Business Writing Success Skills. To access this database via the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library website (www.smfpl.org), click on Adult Services, then click Databases. Click on OneSearch and scroll down the list to the LearningExpressLibrary link. You must register a username and password. Don't forget to use Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library's own Homework Help page (http://www.smfpl.org/homework.htm containing links to databases, homework websites, and internet search tools.

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September's staff pick is Jamie by Lori Foster, recommended by the Head of Adult Services, Amy Garrett. Jamie continues the story in Foster's Visitation series (after Say No to Joe?, Secret Life of Bryan, When Bruce Met Cyn---, and Just a Hint - Clint). Jamie Creed is a "hermit" with lots of secrets and a bit of mystery surrounding him. Prompted by her psychic daughter, Faith Owen has come to town to track this reclusive psychic, but what is her real motive? Is she there to help or hurt this hunk? Come, take a trip to Visitation, get reacquainted with old friends and learn all about Jamie as his secrets are revealed!

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September's website is One Bag at www.onebag.com. This website teaches you how to travel with only one carry-on bag. Learn what to pack, how to pack it, and what to pack it in if you wish to travel light! Recommended by PC Magazine and Expedia.com, this site also includes a resource section and links to travel industry sites, such as hotels and airlines.

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