News

05 22, 2019

A Military History of the American Revolution

By admin|2019-05-22T06:00:40-04:00May 22, 2019|

Our resident historian Dr. John Foster continues his year-long series on the American Revolution by discussing the military history of the Revolutionary War.

Learn:

how the colonists defeated the preeminent empire of the era
why George Washington was selected to lead the army
how the support of other colonial powers like France proved decisive.

This program is the second in a 4-part series about the American Revolution. The first was on the geopolitical and intellectual origins of the Revolutionary War. If you missed it in March, you can watch it now online.

Foster’s series will continue at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 25, with a program on the making of the US Constitution.

In addition to being a reference librarian, Foster has a doctorate degree in history. He has taught history at both high school and college levels. Previously, he has led series on the Battles of World War II and US Presidents of the 20th Century.

Finally, if you’re interested, most of Foster’s previous historical talks can be viewed in their entirety on our YouTube channel.

05 18, 2019

The 14th Amendment: Reinventing Freedom

By admin|2019-05-18T06:00:45-04:00May 18, 2019|

Our nation has few inconsequential constitutional amendments – maybe the one we repealed – but few, if any, were as revolutionary as the 14th amendment, which addressed citizenship rights and equal protection of the law following the Civil War.

Our series on the legacies and leaders of the Civil War continues with a closer look at this amendment. The experts from the James A. Garfield National Historic Site discuss:

what the amendment entails
why President Andrew Johnson repeatedly tried to block it
how it ended up a vital part of corporate (as well as civil rights) law.

Our Civil War series continues at noon on Wednesday, June 12, at our Main Branch. We’ll learn about Juneteenth. As always, the talk is free and open to all.

By the way, if you’re interested in Civil War history, several talks in our Civil War series can be viewed online in their entirety, including:

05 7, 2019

Use the CLEVNET app to find what you’re looking for

By admin|2019-05-07T06:00:12-04:00May 7, 2019|

Download the CLEVNET app and always have access to the combined collection of 46 library systems.

The old Mentor Library app is no longer functional.

That’s because, starting now, you can use the CLEVNET app (available at the Google Play and App Store) to search for more than 12 million items across 46 library systems, including our own.

The app lets you:

Search the CLEVNET collection (including ebooks and e-audiobooks through OverDrive), place holds and manage your account
Access family members’ linked accounts
Find directions and contact information for the nearest library with its Nearest Library feature
Display a virtual library card for your primary account and linked accounts.

04 24, 2019

The Life & Legacy of Laura Ingalls Wilder

By admin|2019-04-24T06:00:49-04:00April 24, 2019|

Even if you watched Little House on the Prairie or read the books that inspired the show, how well do you know their author, Laura Ingalls Wilder?

Because her life is – well, wilder – than anything in her phenomenal fiction.

Travel back to the Pioneer Years with your tour guide, MPL Reference Librarian Meredith Tomeo. Learn:

which stories from Wilder’s life didn’t make it into her books
all about Rose Wilder, Laura Ingalls Wilder’s headstrong daughter who was instrumental in getting her mother published
how a Missouri library was duped out of the right to the Little House books.

By the way, several of Wilder’s books (including her letters and autobiography) are available in our collection. Feel free to read (or re-read) them, if you wish. It’s a fun way to visit Wilder’s world before the program.

Author Kelly Kathleen Ferguson on Laura Ingalls Wilder

04 21, 2019

The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln

By admin|2019-04-21T06:00:08-04:00April 21, 2019|

No presidential assassination is inconsequential, but Abraham Lincoln’s murder was a pivotal moment in our nation’s history. It set the tone for the lengthy and contentious Reconstruction Era – though perhaps not the way in which his assassin, John Wilkes Booth, and co-conspirators intended.

Learn all about Booth, his conspiracy to behead the Union, and Lincoln’s final hours from the experts at James A. Garfield National Historic Site. You’ll discover:

how Booth was able to target and kill Lincoln so easily
the story of the first woman ever executed by the US government
the surprising connection between Edwin Booth (the assassin’s brother) and Robert Lincoln (the president’s son.)

Our Civil War series continues at noon on Wednesday, May 8, at our Main Branch. We’ll learn about the Fourteenth Amendment. As always, the talk is free and open to all.

By the way, if you’re interested in Civil War history, several talks in our Civil War series can be viewed online in their entirety, including:

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