Main Calendar

Grades 6-12 How well do you know your money? See if you can match the denomination of money with the famous American that appears on the coin or paper currency. Turn in a completed entry form before the end of February. If your entry is drawn as the winner, you’ll receive gift certificates to Cinemark. 

Auditions for boys and girls 18 years and younger will be held at the Mansfield Playhouse on Tues. and Wed. at 6:00. Please come prepared to sing a short song, read from the script, and have fun!

Are You A 
Friend of the Library?
You Can Be –
It’s Easy & Important!
The Friends of the Library are a dedicated group of volunteers who come together to support the Library. They are an important part of Library operations. Becoming a Friend of the Library – FOL – is easy. You can sign up at a book sale, or ask at any Library location. The benefits are big, the membership dues are small!
($3 for an individual or $5.00 for a family for a year membership)

Evergreen Book Shop

33 N. Walnut Street

This is an on going weekly event. There is now a $5 monthly charge. This event occurs every Thursday evening as long as there is an interest. Participants are welcome to come anytime between 5pm and 8pm. Adults & Teens - Your Excuse to Paint! Every Thursday from 5 - 8pm! If you can never find time to paint at home, then this is for you! Take some time for yourself and your art. You deserve it! Bring whatever your working on or a project you want to start. There is no instructor, the group will help and encourage each other. All mediums welcome. If you plan to come after 6pm please call ahead: 419-522-4401 Only $5 for an entire month. Come join the fun!

Great way to start the New Year! Eat to Lose is simple strategies for a healthy lifestyle.

Please wear workout clothes for the classes.  Presenters are from Antonelli’s Fitness.-Sign up is required.  This program was originally scheduled for 1/19/12.

Summer Book Sales

Evergreen Book Shop

33 N. Walnut Street

Dig that unfinished project out of your closet and join us at the Lexington Branch for an afternoon of enjoyment, encouragement and great company.  Share your ideas while completing your project and gather new ideas from our craft books.

Come dine and shop in Downtown Mansfield.

Sat. Feb. 4 The Red Tent 
by Anita Diamant - Sign up is required.

Summer Book Sales

Evergreen Book Shop

33 N. Walnut Street

Grades 6-12 Like to read? Like to talk about what you read? Grab a copy of the book and join in with other teens as we discuss Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer.-Sign up is required.

Playwright Norman Corwin's riveting recreation of the Lincoln-Douglas debates over slavery and the American concept of freedom. A collaboration with the Renaissance, Children's Theatre Foundation, OSU Mansfield, the Mansfield City Schools and the Kennedy Center Partners in Education Program. This production of The Rivalry features Robert Parsons, who starred in the acclaimed production of The Rivalry at Ford's Theatre in Washington last year and who will recreate the role of Abraham Lincoln. He has been seen in the films Black August and Almost Famous and on television in Nash Bridges. Parsons' stage appearances include roles around the globe - from New York to Sydney. Stephen Douglas will be played by the fine television and film actor Josh Clark who has a long list of roles in Heroes, Star Trek: Voyager, Pretty Little Liars, and All My Children. His films include Big, Ragtime, Little Nikita and others. Over one hundred and fifty years ago, Americans struggled with issues of slavery, race, freedom, equality, states' rights, and America's future. In the 1858 Illinois Senate race, as the country steamrolled towards an enormous and costly civil war, Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas embarked on a series of debates. Their epic clash of ideas and oratory forged a future President and a nation. Without access to television, bloggers, and podcasts, the debates were witnessed live by thousands along with written reports transported by railroad and telegraph across the country. A local race quickly became the focus of a divided country, whose future was on the line. The Renaissance also invites the public to attend a panel discussion "THE DEBATE: THEN AND NOW" on Tuesday, January 24th at Mansfield Senior High School. Leaders from the area will for this event to tackle the most difficult challenges of our society from yesterday to today. Panelists will include Pastor Aaren Williams, Sr., Mansfield native and historian Loretta Hilliard, OSU History Department Faculty member Dr. Dan Amsterdam and Attorney Roeliff Harper will delve into topics that deal with race, social and economic inequities, and the role of the federal government in the lives of its citizens. These issues will be addressed from the historical perspective relative to the Lincoln vs. Douglas debates. The first 100 people to attend will receive a free ticket to LA Theatreworks production of The Rivalry at the Renaissance Theatre on Saturday, February 4th. The Mansfield Senior High School Culinary Department will provide light refreshments in the cafeteria at the High School at 5:30 pm. The panel discussion will begin in the auditorium at 6:00 pm. The event is free of charge and open to the public. "THE DEBATE: THEN AND NOW" is presented as part of Black History Month at The Ohio State University Mansfield campus, North Central State College, and the Ashland University College of Nursing. This event is presented in partnership with the Renaissance Theatre, Mansfield City Schools, and the Children's Theatre Foundation.

Families with Children We be showing family – G or PG – movies. Call or drop in to your local library to find out what’s playing.-Sign up is required.

Computer Lab-Main Library When you’re tired of 500,000 hits of nothing but sales pitches and dubious blogs, learn how to get where Google can’t go. The deep web is filled with the information you need; we’ll show you how to plumb its depths.-Sign up is required.

Cheryl Welch, Ph.D. from the Sylvan Learning Center will present an overview of how to raise ACT/SAT test scores. You'll find out whether it is wise to leave questions blank, how to best guess, how to ace hard reading problems even when you are stuck in a difficult passage, and how to turn a tricky algebra problem into simple arithmetic. Find out what the differences are in the ACT and SAT and how to decide which one you should take. Parents are encouraged to attend with their student.-Sign up is required.

This is the time to learn the “in’s and out’s” of couponing to achieve maximum savings.-Sign up is required.

This event takes place every Tuesday from January 10 through March 27 from 6:00pm-7:30pm. Join us for infant thru Kindergarten Open Gym this winter at Discovery School which is located at 855 Millsboro Road. Open gym takes place on Tuesdays from 6:00pm-7:30pm from January 10 through the end of March. Take advantage of this great opportunity to play with your kids on our climbers and play houses, join in on adult conversation, and do something interactive with your child. A parent or caregiver must stay with their child at all times. A donation of $3 is suggested.

Grades 6-12 We’re gaming at Lucas Branch. Show off your skills or maybe try your hand at something new. - Sign up is required.

Lisa Antonelli from Antonelli’s Fitness will share simple strategies for a healthy lifestyle.

Small changes can make a big difference!-Sign up is required.

Grades 6-12 You’ll be wearing your heart on your sleeve when you leave this program. Cut out hearts or other shapes using our “shrinky dink” plastic and then use your imagination to create your own colorful and unique designs. Make a Valentine’s treat for yourself or give it as a gift. Remind that special someone that, unlike these hearts, your love will never shrink.-Sign up is required.

Share your favorites! - Sign up is required.

In Concert: Wednesday February 8, 2012 Time: 7:30pm Where: All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church, 25 Church St., Bellville, OH 44813 Tickets: $12 advance $15 Day of Show. Paid reservations strongly suggested Beppe Gambetta is increasingly known as one of the true live master innovators of the acoustic guitar. While Beppe still lives in his native Genova, he travels to North America at least three times each year. With America in his heart and his roots in the sun and the olive trees of the Mediterranean sea, he naturally and seamlessly bridges the shores of the two continents, creating in spite of the interposed ocean a musical "koiné" (fusion) where American root music and Ligurian tradition, emigration songs and folk ballads, steel string guitars and vintage harp guitars not only co-exist but interact, weaving a deep dialog unaware of any rigid classification. www.beppegambetta.com “This was such exciting, varied, satisfying and just downright musical music that I wanted more, particularly of Gambetta in florid Italianate style...” (Brian Miller, BBC RADIO Scotland) “His incredible versatility combined with his charm and engaging stage presence make Beppe’s concerts evenings of high quality music and relaxed entertainment. Over-riding all else, however, is the brilliance of his talent...” (Cornish Guardian)

Families We be showing family – G or PG – movies. Call or drop in to your local library to find out what’s playing.-Sign up is required.

Grades 6-12 Drop into this program and we’ll show you how to turn dice, colorful beads and elastic cord into a one-of-a-kind bracelet. Show your friends “how you roll” with this unique fashion accessory.-Sign up is required.

Computer Lab-Main Library Learn how to create a presentation using text and pictures. Students should possess basic Windows skills. - Sign up is required.

Shirley Wolf proprietor of “Stitches in Time” will show her collection of aprons while sharing stories of the different uses aprons had through history.-Sign up is required.

Children of all ages Calling all detectives! The library has a mystery on its hands and we need your help.  Bring your best sleuthing skills to the library and help us solve this Valentine mystery.-Sign up is required.

All Ages-Children under 9 years must be accompanied by an adult
Join us for Board Game Night at the Ontario Branch. We'll supply the games and you supply the fun.

Families with Children-Each month will feature a different topic at this evening storytime just right for working families.

Dec. 8: Reindeer Games
Jan. 12: Dinomite Dinosaurs!
Feb. 9: Go, Dogs, Go!

Mamma Mia, it's the greatest Abba tribute band in the world!! Hailed by critics as "the best ABBA show since the real ABBA", you be singing along with the hits, Dancing Queen, Waterloo, Fernando, I Do I Do I Do I Do, SOS, Honey Honey, Super Trouper and, of course, Mamma Mia!

Where: All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church, 25 Church St., Bellville, OH 44813 Tickets: $15 advance or $20 day of show. Purchase from Highlands of Ohio Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas "Fraser, one of the most respected of all exponents of the Scots fiddle, would look long and hard to find a more appropriate cellist as a partner. Haas can switch just as effortlessly as Fraser from a gentle singing tone to driving, dancing melody. A positive joy." —The Scotsman The musical partnership between Alasdair Fraser, long regarded as Scotland’s premier fiddle ambassador, and the sizzlingly-talented young California cellist Natalie Haas may not seem an obvious one. Fraser, acclaimed by the San Francisco Examiner as “the Michael Jordan of Scottish fiddling,” has a concert and recording career spanning 30 years, with a long list of awards, accolades, television credits, and feature performances on top movie soundtracks (Last of the Mohicans,Titanic). Fraser has been sponsored by the British Council to represent Scotland’s music internationally, and received the Scottish Heritage Center Service Award for outstanding contributions to Scottish culture and traditions.

Dig that unfinished project out of your closet and join us at the Butler Branch for an afternoon of enjoyment, encouragement and great company.  Share your ideas while completing your project and gather new ideas from our craft books.

Age 5 & younger; siblings welcome Come join story time, geared especially for little ones. We’ll read stories, sing songs, learn finger plays, and do crafts. Moms and dads can meet other parents and children can meet new friends. Siblings are also welcome to join us for this story time. - Sign up is required.

Dec. 10: Birds of a Feather
Jan. 14: Mice Are Nice
Feb. 11: Hats & Mittens

Grades 6-12 Yet another use for multi-purpose duct tape. We’ll show you how to use our tape to make a bouquet of colorful roses. They may not fool the garden club, but they will surprise your Mom or brighten up your room. All supplies will be provided. Thorns not included!-Sign up is required.

Community Room-Main Library If you were a cat, would you be dead? Are you that person who wonders, “How does this work?” Join Jerry Francl for a workshop on the computer programming language Scratch. Whether you like the engineering challenge of making something work, or the artistic challenge of designing the thing that shows the world the inside of your head, you can Scratch that itch here at the Library.-Sign up is required. 

Grades 6-12 Drop-in and make something for your valentine—or just for yourself. Choose between 3 easy-to-make papercraft projects. All materials will be provided.-Sign up is required.

Hemlock Falls is a very romantic 80 foot waterfall. Bring your Sweetheart and join us for a guided hike to the falls. A wine/beverage and cheese reception will follow in the Mohican Outdoor School Environmental Learning Center. The hikes will leave at 3:00 PM from the Hemlock Falls center located at 5391 Bunker Hill North Road, Butler, OH. Alcoholic beverages will not be served to persons under the age of 21 years. The cost is $12.00 per person: all proceeds will benefit Mohican Outdoor School. Call us at 419-938-6671 or E-mail info@mohicanoutdoorschool.org for ticket information.

Enjoy a morning of bowling using a Wii video game console. Wii Sports Bowling has been proven to improve physical and mental agility, without lifting a bowling ball – all in the comfort of your Library! Adults only – come give it a try!

Grades 6–12 See if you can become Crestview's fastest “Stacker.” Stop in anytime during the week and try your hand at Speed Stacking; the fastest stacker wins a prize!

Children age 5 & older Celebrate Valentine’s Day with these easy to make beaded crafts.-Sign up is required.

Children of all ages Stop by and make a Love Bug for the ones you love!-Sign up is required.

Children Age 5 & older Come learn and explore with us! Experience a different hands-on adventure each week.  We will feature non-fiction books, group activities, experiments and craft stations – every Monday is something new!-Sign up is required.

Jan. 9: Explore the Shore
Jan. 16: Night Parrots, Tree Kangaroos, and Other Far Out Animals
Feb. 13: Unlikely Friendships
Feb. 20: Adventures in Outer Space

All Ages Get your whole body movin’ and start with your feet! Have a blood-pumpin’ good time as you dance to the beat! If you can giggle this Wii game is for you. All you need is a smile and some comfy clothes, too! -Sign up is required.

Tue. Feb. 14 The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Learn to play the ancient game of Mah Jongg. Beginners can learn the basics, while more advanced players can enjoy a relaxed game.

Children in Grades 1-5 Love building with Legos? Join the library Lego club! Bring your own bricks or create with ours. Each month will feature a different theme for building.-Sign up is required.

Dec. 13: Star Wars (with the Lego Star Wars Wii game!)
Jan. 10: Ocean Creatures
Feb. 14: Dragons & Dinos

Children of all ages Calling all detectives! The library has a mystery on its hands and we need your help.  Bring your best sleuthing skills to the library and help us solve this Valentine mystery.-Sign up is required.

Families with children Come celebrate Valentine’s Day at the library! Join us for some “love-ly” “heart”-felt stories, songs, and a sweet craft. We would “love” to see you!-Sign up is required.

Second Tuesday of the month We're a group of songwriters that meet to encourage, connect and study the art and craft of songwriting. MidOhio Songwriters open to anyone at any level of writing and any style of music. There is no fee to participate. We meet at Richland Academy on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7pm.

Join Ed Piatt and others who share their enjoyment of this stringed instrument. Musicians of all ages and abilities are welcome. Don’t know how to play? This is your golden opportunity!

Community Room - Main Library
Space is limited and registration is required. Please call ESOP at 419.989.6349 to register or for more information.
Are you behind on your mortgage or receiving unemployment benefits? If you answered yes to either of these questions ESOP might be able to help!  ESOP (Empowering and Strengthening Ohio’s People) is a local US Dept. of Housing and Urban development (HUD) counseling agency currently processing applications for Restoring Stability – a federal foreclosure prevention program that offers homeowners up to $15,000 in free mortgage assistance. Each workshop participant will have a laptop with Internet access and ESOP’s guidance through the application process.

Families with children Using discarded containers and a variety of embellishments, you will have a very unique treasure box to take home. All materials provided.-Sign up is required.

Join us at the Ontario Branch for Chess Night where the basics of the game will be taught to beginners, while more advanced players can enjoy a relaxed game. The emphasis is to have fun. Players of all ages and abilities are invited to attend.

Children in grade 3 & older Mysteries are on the menu for this evening featuring stories of strange events, curious happenings, and a missing friend or two.  Hear about some of our newest books as well as some old favorites.-Sign up is required.

All Ages  Get your whole body movin’ and start with your feet! Have a blood-pumpin’ good time as you dance to the beat! If you can giggle this Wii game is for you. All you need is a smile and some comfy clothes, too! -Sign up is required.

Grades 6–12 See if you can become Crestview's fastest “Stacker.” Stop in anytime during the week and try your hand at Speed Stacking; the fastest stacker wins a prize!

Lexington Branch Students attending this class will learn the essential functions of a web browser, how to search the Internet, and the basics of email. Call 419.521.3146-Sign up is required.

Families with children Several locations will be showing family – G or PG – movies.  Call or drop in to your local library to find out what’s playing.

Families with children Who me? Couldn’t be! Get off your couch and out of the house for some silly fun.  Bring home a potato friend of your design.-Sign up is required.

This date has been changed from Tuesday, January 31 to Monday, February 20. Dr. Cheryl Welch from the Sylvan Learning Center knows students learn in many different ways and by understanding your learning style you can personalize instruction and study habits. Come find out what your learning style is and some strategies that can lead to peak performance in school. A fun, interactive approach to learning styles! Best for middle and high school students and their parents.-Sign up is required.

Grades 6-12 Battle for the gold medal in many of your favorite winter sports as Mario or Sonic. Bring your friends and choose from real Olympic winter sports like alpine skiing, ice hockey, or speed skating to see which of you will end up on the top of the podium. No time trial qualifications required.-Sign up is required.

Grades 6-12 What Mardi Gras celebration would be complete without a one-of-a-kind mask? Bring your imagination and we'll provide the supplies to create a fun and fabulous mask.-Sign up is required.

Shirley Wolf, Proprietor of Stitches in Time, will present this program on the gowns of the First Ladies and hostesses.-Sign up is required.

Do you like to play Scrabble? Would you like to meet with other Scrabble players at the Library for a friendly game? Come Play!-Sign up is required.

Tom Wertman, from Mutual UFO Network of Ohio, will discuss how he became in involved in ufology, how to report a sighting and UFO cases.-Sign up is required.

Discussed will be traditional and not so traditional places to locate obituaries and how to use them in research and some key websites that will help.  Also tips on finding death dates using both free and subscription on-line services will be covered.

Kickoff breakfast and introduction of the Richland County Community Health Assessment. This report is filled with valuable information for citizens, businesses, churches, community organizations, non-profit and government agencies, schools and anyone else concerned about the health of Richland County. The kickoff will be at the Mid-Ohio Conference Center, 890 West Fourth Street, Mansfield, Ohio. Please RSVP by February 10 to 419-774-5387.

Come join this group of tatters-whether a novice or experienced-for an enjoyable morning of tatting and chatting.

Thu. Feb. 23 We Are All Welcome Here 
by Elizabeth Berg

Families with children Who me? Couldn’t be! Get off your couch and out of the house for some silly fun.  Bring home a potato friend of your design.-Sign up is required.

Friday and Saturday performances Feb. 24, 25 and March 2, 3 begin at 8:00pm. Sunday matinee on March 4 begins at 2:30pm. Neil Simon's funny play taken from the Book of Job - transferring the scene to a Long Island mansion where resides a tycoon, his wife, a prodigal son and a pair of kookie twins. Our modern Job won't renounce God, so a fire is sent to wipe him out - factory and home. Everything becomes a test of faith. This show is awesomely funny - It will make you laugh out loud!

Children in grades 1-5 If you love working with Legos, this club’s for you!  Each month will feature books and ideas to help you get creative.  We have the Legos, but bring a camera—only pictures of your creation go home!-Sign up is required.

2nd Floor Lobby Wallace Coleman is a traditional Blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter. A self-taught musician, Wallace joined Robert Lockwood Jr. band in 1987 and performed with them for 10 years. Leaving in 1997, the Wallace Coleman band was formed. In 2000 his own record label “Pinto Blue Music” was established. He will have CD’s available for purchase. www.wallacecoleman.com

 This concert is made possible by a generous donation from the Friends of the Library.

Adult Poetry Contest-Monday, February 27 - Thursday, March 22-All Locations
It's poetry time again! Get details at any library location.

Teen Poetry Project
Who: Any student currently in grades 6-8 or 9-12

What: Any one poem that you have written, 25 lines or less on any theme and cover art sized 3.5” x 2”

Where: Submit entries to any M/RCPL location

When: Entries accepted through Thursday, March 22, 2012
Prizes:  3 winners will be chosen in each grade category (6-8 grades and 9-12 grades).  Winners will each receive $25.00 and their poems will be published in miniature books. These books will be available at all M/RCPL locations by mid-April.
Judging will be done by the Library’s Teen Advisory Board Members.
Rules for Entering:
   
You may submit no more than one entry.
   
Entries must be legible.
   
Maximum length is 25 lines.
   
Attach a completed entry form to your poem and cover art.  (Art may be in color.)
Original digital art may be submitted for the cover.
 Sorry, poetry and cover art cannot be returned.
 Only winners will be notified.

Children of all ages Don’t be scared, these monsters don’t bite. Join us for silly monster stories and fun.-Sign up is required.

Children of all ages Cold outside? Not for a polar bear! Come and learn all about these beautiful bears!-Sign up is required.

Children in Grades 4-6 Do you have what it takes to be a Bookstack Ninja? Come to the Main Library to find out. Join us for special activities, crafts, and training, and get yourself ninja-fied!-Sign up is required.

Dec. 20: A Touch of Frost—Winter Paper Bag Trees
Jan. 24: Celebrate the Chinese New Year with Kites!
Feb. 28: Splat! How to Create Inkblot Art

Dec. 20:

Dec. 20:

Dec. 20:

Presenter Harold George will come in costume and share with you what life was like in the 1860s. The techniques used to recruit boys in the Union Army, uniforms, weapons and equipment, artillery shells; and care for the wounded and killed during the civil war will all be discussed.-Sign up is required.

Grades 6-12 How well do you know your money? See if you can match the denomination of money with the famous American that appears on the coin or paper currency. Turn in a completed entry form before the end of February. If your entry is drawn as the winner, you’ll receive gift certificates to Cinemark. 

Children of all ages Ready for a leaping good time? Come to the library to hear leap stories, make a leap craft, and find out what leap day is all about!-Sign up is required.