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When I was a kid my father would take me on drives in our car. We lived in the suburbs and he would takeme through the seediest places in Chicago, Uptown, Downtown, ghettos on the west and south sides of Chicago. He'd tell me stories about growing up in the city and show me places where notorious crimes took place.

As a boy these stories and trips were both horrifying and spectacular, but most importantly they told me his story. He passed ten years ago and I find myself doing similar things with my kids. One of these days I will write down my stories for my kids and later grandkids to know me better.

Getting started is the hardest part. Whether you just want to put some memories on paper or if you want to write and publish a memoir the library can help in several ways.

In September we are bringing back Older Men's Legacies, a six-week memoir writing workshop of men aged 60 and up. Each week members will be prompted to write stories and share them with the group. At the culmination each will receive a printed anthology. Later this fall a women's group will launch as well.

If you need help the library has books on writing with prompts and how-to advice, genealogy resources, old news articles and historic photos to conjure memories. Some books to help get started are: