COMPILED BY BARBARA ROLEK

Times Features Writer

brolek@nwitimes.com

219.933.3256

APRIL BOOKreMARKS | Lake County

April is the perfect time to read and discuss "Pomegranate Soup: A Novel" by Marsha Mehran. Mix together an Irish hamlet, three Iranian sisters fleeing the revolution and a kindly Italian widow and you have "Pomegranate Soup." To join the discussion, send an e-mail to remarks@lakeco.lib.in.us.

FYI: (219) 769-3541, ext. 317, or www.lakeco.lib.in.us/remarks.htm

MYSTERY BOOK DISCUSSION | Gary

"Hex" by Maggie Estep at 12:30 p.m. Monday at The Forty-First Branch Library, 3491 W. 41st Ave.

FYI: (219) 980-5180

TUESDAY BOOK DISCUSSION | Highland

"Confederates in the Attic" at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Highland Branch Library, 2841 Jewett St. Register.

FYI: (219) 838-2394

NICHOL & ROSE LITERARY CIRCLE | Winfield

"The Beekeeper's Apprentice" by Laurie R. King at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Winfield Branch Library, 10645 Randolph St.

FYI: Barb Houk (219) 663-0270

AUTHOR DISCUSSION | Michigan City

Joel Gibbons will be at the Michigan City Public Library, 100 E. Fourth St., at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday to discuss his book "Rethinking the Headlines."

FYI: (219) 873-3049

MORNING BOOK DISCUSSIONS | Whiting

"Giraffe" by J.M. Ledgard from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday in the Meeting Room of the Whiting Public Library, 1735 Oliver St.

FYI: (219) 473-4700, ext. 10

CIRCLE OF READERS | Merrillville

"The March" by E.L. Doctorow at 6:15 p.m. Thursday at the Lake County Public Library, 1919 W. 81st Ave. Register.

FYI: (219) 769-3541, ext. 340

NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK | Merrillville

The Lake County Public Library, 1919 W. 81st Ave. (U.S. 30), will celebrate National Library Week Thursday through April 21. Throughout the week, patrons will be able to come into the library and submit an entry for a chance to win a Reader's Gift Basket, which will include a $25 gift certificate for a local bookstore. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 21, there will be a reception in the meeting rooms and the grand prize drawing will take place at the end of the day. The winner does not have to be present.

FYI: (219) 769-3541, ext. 317

NICHOL & ROSE LITERARY CIRCLE | Crown Point

"The History of Love" by Nichole Kraus at 1 p.m. April 16 at the Crown Point Public Library, 214 S. Court St.

FYI: Barb Houk (219) 663-0270

AMERICAN DRAMA AND THE FAMILY | Hammond

Barbara Goodman, professor at Calumet College of St. Joseph, leads discussions at the Hammond Public Library's E. B. Hayward Branch, 1212 172nd St., at 10 a.m. on these Tuesdays:

* April 17: "A Raisin in the Sun" by Lorraine Hansberry

* May 1: "Buried Child" by Sam Shepard

* May 15: "Brighton Beach Memoirs" by Neil Simon

Register.

FYI: (219) 844-2668

BOOK DISCUSSION | Griffith

"The Canopy" by Angela Hunt at 7 p.m. April 18 at the Griffith Branch Library, 940 N. Broad St.

FYI: (219) 838-2825

BOOKS & CHAT | Cedar Lake

"Gilead" by Marilynne Robinson at 6:30 p.m. April 18 at the Cedar Lake Branch Library, 10010 E. 133rd Ave.

FYI: (219) 374-7121

INSPIRATIONAL BOOK DISCUSSION

"The Negotiator" by Dee Henderson at 2 p.m. April 19 at the Highland Public Library, 2841 Jewett St.

FYI: (219) 838-2394

BOOK SALE | Crown Point

The Crown Point Public Library will hold a spring book sale during library hours April 23 through April 25. Members of the Friends of the Crown Point Library can enjoy a special "Members Only Preview Sale" from 1 to 3 p.m. April 22.

FYI: Barb Houk (219) 663-0270

E-MAIL SERVICE | Lake County

Lake County Public Library has announced the introduction of a new e-mail book newsletter service called Next Reads. No library card is necessary -- just an e-mail address -- for library Web site visitors and patrons to subscribe to any of the 20 different subject and genre newsletters. List topics range from Biography and Memoir to Fantasy and are sent on a monthly or every-other-month basis, and include up to 15 titles. Subscribers can link directly to the library catalog from books of interest on the lists, and place a "hold" or request a title immediately. Even those library patrons without e-mail addresses can take advantage of the lists by viewing them online, either at the library or from any Internet access point. Visit the Lake County Public Library in person or online to sign up for "next Reads.

FYI: (219) 769-3541 or www.lakeco.lib.in.us

NEW DATABASE | Hammond

Hammond Public Library users now need not wait for "Antiques Roadshow" to come to town to get real market-based information about their antiques, artwork and family treasures. The library has now subscribed to the p4A Antiques Reference database and is making it available free of charge at all Hammond Public Library locations through its Web site.

The p4A Antiques Reference is used by most leading appraisers. Antiques are organized into 1,280 different classifications on subjects including furniture, glass, pottery and porcelain, paintings, prints, clocks, toys, dolls, advertising collectibles, books, autographs, lamps, silver, firearms and historical documents.

The database is unique in having at least one color picture for every record. Library patrons can actually see if the item they are researching closely matches the one described in the database.

FYI: (219) 931-5100, ext. 310

notable items

BOLLYWOOD COLLECTION | Merrillville

The Lake County Public Library has a new Bollywood Film Collection available to patrons at the Central Library, 1919 W. 81st Ave., the Munster Branch, 8701 Calumet Ave., and the Dyer-Schererville Branch, 1001 W. Lincoln Highway. The DVDs are available to resident cardholders of the Lake County Public Library district for a 24-hour loan.

FYI: (219) 769-3541, ext. 317

CLEANING CLOSETS? | Hammond

The Friends of the Hammond Public Library's ongoing book sale and vending machine receipts pay for programs the library otherwise could not afford. Donations of gently used books, magazines, and videos may be brought to any Hammond Public Library location. Please do not use the book drop boxes for donated items. While most donated items are destined for the book sale, in 2005 nearly 3,900 donated items were added to the library's collection.

FYI: (219) 931-5100

WIFI AT THE LIBRARY | Calumet City

Wireless access to the Internet is now available at the Calumet City Public Library, 660 Manistee Ave. To access it, just bring in your portable computer that is equipped with a wireless card. Our system uses the 802.11G wireless access point standard. Users of our wireless Internet access will need to follow the rules and regulations of the Wireless Internet Use Policy that are posted around the library. If you have technical questions about wireless access, talk to Rich or Dave.

FYI: (708) 862-6220

WIRELESS ACCESS | Crown Point

The Crown Point Community Library, 214 S. Court St., now provides Internet access. Anyone with their own equipment that is compatible with the 802.11B or 802.11G wireless standard will be able to use it. Users are responsible for their own antivirus, security and privacy. To access wireless, users will have to get a token number at the reference desk. The token will be good for the day issued and the hours that the library is open that day.

FYI: Barb Houk (219) 663-0270

CONFINED TO HOME? | Hammond

If you're a Hammond resident confined to home due to injury or illness, you can receive books through the mail from the Hammond Public Library. Please call the Homebound Outreach Coordinator for details.

FYI: (219) 931-5100, ext. 307