It's fitting on Valentines day to remember Erich Segal, a Yale classics professor turned popular writer whose first novel, "Love Story," became a staggering commercial success if not quite a critical one when it appeared in 1970.

As the New York Times reported, Segal died last month at his home in London. He was 72.

Published by Harper & Row, "Love Story" was the novelization of a yet-to-be-produced screenplay by Segal. It chronicled the fate of star-crossed lovers, the highborn Oliver Barrett IV and the working-class Jennifer Cavilleri, who meet at Harvard, fall in love and, over the strenuous objections of Oliver's family, marry. She dies, he cries and the story ends.

The novel spent more than a year on the New York Times hardcover best-seller list. It sold tens of millions of copies and was translated into many languages.

Released to great fanfare on the book's coattails, the movie, starring Ryan O'Neal and Ali MacGraw, appeared at the end of 1970. In a 2000 article, Variety called it "the first of the modern-day blockbusters. It grossed more than $200 million dollars."

"Love Story" received seven Academy Award nominations, including one for Segal's screenplay; it won the Oscar for best original score.

Along with the music, several of Segal's lines are etched in public memory. They include the novel's opening -- "What can you say about a 25-year-old girl who died?" -- and, in particular, as the film put it, "Love means never having to say you're sorry," an aphorism that inspired decades of permutations and parodies. In the novel, the line was "Love means not ever having to say you're sorry."

In early 1971, after "Love Story" was submitted for consideration for a National Book Award, the fiction jury threatened to resign in a body unless the novel was removed from contention. It was.

The Hays Public Library has many of Segal's novels available for your enjoyment. Stop in today and check one out. To learn what activities we have on the calendar, go to www.hayspublib.org.

Special acting workshop for teens

As part of their Hays Arts Council engagement on its national tour performing "The Little Engine that Could," the Omaha Theater Company will conduct a free acting workshop for teens from 3:45 to 4:45 p.m. Friday in the gallery of the library.

Friends of the Hays Public Library

Bookstore

Books, Etc, the bookstore of the Friends of the Hays Public Library, is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Monday and Tuesday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Members of the Friends continue to receive a 10-percent discount on all book purchases from the store.

Children's department

Story hours

Parents can enroll their children in one of the following sessions by calling the library at (785) 625-5916. The schedule is as follows:

* 3- to 6-year-olds: 10 to 10:30 a.m. Mondays and Thursdays; 7 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays.

* 2-year-olds: 10:45 to 11:05 a.m. Mondays and Tuesdays; 7 to 7:20 p.m. Tuesdays.

* Toddlers -- under the age of 2: 10:45 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays.

* All ages -- 2 to 2:30 p.m. Thursdays.

Wii Game Days

At 4 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, come and show off your Wii skills.

Special Moments Through the Ages

Fridays at 10 a.m. Children must register to attend; limit 20 participants.

Chess lessons

Children can learn to play or improve their chess game during lessons at 4 p.m. Fridays in the children's department. Randy Brull will be the instructor. Register to attend.

Adult department

Feed and Film

The films begin at 12:05 p.m. Wednesdays in the library's main floor gallery. They last about an hour. Bring your lunch and a cup -- coffee is provided. This week, join us for "Astrospies."

Herb Study Group

At 5 p.m. Tuesday in the library gallery to explore eucalyptus.

Gallery exhibit

American Democracy poster display is available for viewing starting Tuesday through Friday.

Weekly programs

All start at 3:30 p.m.

* Mondays -- STAGE Drama Club, board games and snacks.

* PS2 and Wii Tuesdays.

* Wavering Wednesdays -- something different each week.

* Make and Take Thursdays -- crafts and more.

* Friday -- movies and snacks.

Kansas Room

In February, we will celebrate Black History Month with a book display on blacks in Kansas. The display cases will have a display on Buffalo Soldiers and on African-American Baseball in Kansas.

Eric Norris is the adult department librarian at the Hays Public Library.