Mercer County Library Blog

If a book has magic, dragons, and dangerous adventures, I’m probably going to read it. Something about fantasy has simply always appealed to me. I love jumping into new worlds and immersing myself in new magic systems, flying on the backs of dragons, and going on thrilling adventures. Here are some of my top Fantasy book recommendations: Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones Jones’s writing has always been cozy and charming to me, long before cozy fantasies were a buzzword in the literary world. Howl’s Moving Castle follows Sophie, the eldest of three daughters who has already resigned herself to a spinster’s life working in her father’s hat shop, until the day she’s cursed by the Witch of the Waste and has to seek help breaking the curse before her family starts to worry. The best option is the Great Wizard Howl and his mysterious moving castle. She hires herself as his new cleaning lady and learns not only about the curse put on her, but secrets about herself as well. The ...

Mother's Day is a day to acknowledge the unique role that mothers, and those persons in our lives who have been instrumental, play in nurturing, guiding and supporting us. On this special occasion, family members show their love and appreciation for their mothers, grandmothers, and other motherly figures by giving them gifts, cards, and other nice things. It is celebrated on different days in many parts of the world, most commonly in March or May. In the United States, it's celebrated on the second Sunday of May to honor all mother figures and their hard work. In the United States, three women played an important role in establishing the tradition of Mother’s Day: Julia Ward Howe, Ann Reeves Jarvis, and Ann’s daughter, Anna M. Jarvis.  In 1872, Julia Ward Howe made the first known recommendation for Mother’s Day in the United States. She suggested that people observe Mother’s Day as a day dedicated to peace. Anne Jarvis began a campaign for a nationwide observance of Mother’s D...

Here are some of the events and programs from around the Mercer County Library System for the month of May. For a complete list of events at your local branch, visit the MCLS Events Calendar , and check out the flyers in this post! Mental Health Awareness and Meditation Month Breathe and give yourself permission to slow down. During May, our guided meditations offer easy on-ramps to stress relief and self-care, no prior experience needed. Join us virtually or in person and leave each session feeling lighter, clearer, and more connected. ​Also be sure to check out Headspace for guided meditations, breathing exercises, and everyday mental health tips along with our other health and wellness resources . For Adults Guided Meditation Monday, May 5, 4:00 pm Monday, May 19, 4:00 pm Virtual Program Guided Meditation and Sound Bowl Healing Thursday, May 22, 6:30 pm Robbinsville Branch Mindfulness to Reduce Stress Wednesday, May 21, 6:30 pm Virtual Program For Teens Ever-Unfoldi...

This past April was National Poetry Month. To celebrate, I read three books of poems and have another two checked out to read belatedly. Poetry and I do not have a long history, the way that novels and I do. I’ve been reading for as long as I can remember, and whether that be a family drama, a high fantasy, or surrealist horror, there’s always some novel I’ve been enjoying. Even nonfiction and I have had a relationship, as for the past few years I’ve been getting into reading memoirs and biographies, as well as the odd scientific or historical account. But it wasn’t until the past autumn that a poet friend convinced me to give poetry a go, and I was surprised how fast I’ve fallen in love. Classics like Emily Dickinson, contemporary award-winners like Jericho Brown, even relative unknowns like Sarah Gambito - these are all poets who have begun filling my “Favorite” lists on Goodreads. Chances are, though, that you are not reading any poets, ones I mentioned above or otherwise. You mi...

With the rise of streaming as entertainment, and actual plays of numerous available games, tabletop role-playing games (“TTRPGs”) have become quite popular, and easier to access by just about everyone. Perhaps you’ve seen one of those streams, or maybe you’ve happened across a group playing at school or the library. Regardless of where you discovered TTRPGs, you’ve decided to give them a try. The easiest way to do this is to run it yourself and become a Game Master or GM, the nonspecific title for the person who runs the game. Being a GM is fairly easy, a good way to socialize and learn math, all while improving your reading comprehension and acting skills. That being said, there are some things most people don’t consider when starting out, and a few nonobvious issues that will pop up. But don’t worry! Here are some tips and advice for some of the things you will encounter as a new GM. First things first: Getting yourself players. If you’re lucky, a number of your friends will be inte...

You know we have books, e-books, audiobooks, kids’ books, cook books. When it comes to books, you name it, we have it – and if we don’t, there’s even interlibrary loans to get it. But you may be surprised to learn what other interesting things we have to offer beyond the books! TECHNOLOGY Playaway Launchpads Playaway Launchpad is the first-ever secure, pre-loaded learning tablet in a circulation environment. Each Launchpad is pre-loaded with high-quality, ad-free learning apps grouped by age, grade level, subject area and theme. Learn more Circulating Tablets Need to borrow a mobile device? The Mercer County Library System lends tablet computers to patrons! These Android tablets come pre-loaded with many of our patrons’ favorite electronic resources, including Bluebird Languages, Headspace, the New York Times, and Kanopy. You can place a hold on a tablet through our online catalog, or ask at your local branch. Learn more Remote Printing Patrons who need to print a document or f...