Mercer County Library Blog

Did you know that New Jersey is a major center of the fragrance industry? I learned this recently when I took a workshop on fragrance. Three of the biggest companies in the “flavors and fragrance” industry have headquarters in New Jersey: Firmenich (close by in Plainsboro), Givaudan (East Hanover), and Symrise (Teterboro). According to the blog of Rutgers’ Master of Business and Science Degree, 125 flavor and fragrance companies are located in the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area. The workshop that I attended was led by a former marketing manager at one of these F&F companies. Despite not being a perfumer herself, she still had to pass a difficult test in which she recognized scents from an array of glass vials. During the workshop session, we smelled many things, including an array of lavender-scented products. On one end, the products smelled good, but smelled… purple. The workshop leader called them “fantasy lavender” – they were sweet and pleasant, but had little to do wi...

Here are some of the events and programs from around the Mercer County Library System for the month of August. For a complete list of events at your local branch, visit the MCLS Events Calendar , and check out the flyers in this post! Summer Events: Continuing to Color Your World Make the most of your August with our diverse collection of programs and services! This month brings together educational presentations, community resources, and fun entertainment for all ages. Create colorful crafts, dive into STEM activities, research your family history, or enjoy live music and performances with the family. We're here to support your learning, creativity, and community connections as summer draws to a close. For Kids Live Music with Summer Play Patrol Tuesday, August 5, 10:00 am Lawrence Branch Tie-Dye Tuesday, August 5, 2:30 pm Hollowbrook Branch Ana's World of Minis Tuesday, August 5, 2:30 pm Twin Rivers Branch Beach Party with Gina the Balloon Girl Wednesday, August...

If we went back to when I was eleven years old, I don’t think I would have thought I’d be a librarian as an adult. I liked the library as a child - going to craft programs and playing on the computer, but books weren’t really my friend. I struggled with comprehension a lot, so instead of reading being a pleasure, it was more of a task. One summer, my parents sent me to the library a couple days a week to read to a tutor. Again, I liked the library, so I’m glad I at least had to learn in that environment. I don’t remember much of the tutoring, but what I do remember is sitting with this woman – I wish I could remember her name, but I do remember her hair was white – and she gave me Junie B. Jones to read. The tutor told me I had to read a certain number of chapters when I got home, but I remember finishing the whole book. I loved Junie B. Jones and how imperfect she was! I felt like I had a new friend, and I felt proud of myself for finishing a book that I could comprehend. As an adu...

Librarians have many different roles in our branches, but one of my favorites is to create displays. It is a lot of fun to choose a theme and run with it: selecting materials, decorations, and the proper display space. Displays make the library feel more festive and fun. Here’s a little behind-the scenes info: we search for monthly, weekly, and special one-day events to highlight with displays and programming. System coordinators make sure librarians know these special dates months in advance so we can choose which to focus on in our branches. That’s when we start our display planning! At my branch (Hickory Corner), several staff members are responsible for creating displays of books and DVDs. We strive to follow the major monthly or weekly themes, but for smaller displays, we allow for a bit of whimsy. When I’m designing displays, sometimes I craft careful lists of books to fit a theme before selecting items—but just as often, I’ll find the applicable subject area of the library or s...

It’s July, and summer is ripe and inviting. A cool breeze dances around you as the sun's rays crisp the tips of your shoulders. The smell of salt and sand tickles your nose as you turn the next page of your book, until you realize…you forgot to put sunscreen on. Ouch! Instead of getting burned by the sun this summer, get swept away into the captivating flame of a “slow burn” romance novel! When it comes to romance novels, a lot of the spicy, romantic play happens quickly. The intrigue of a fast-paced romance allows the rush of passion to hit all at once and can be very exciting to read. However, it is also very fulfilling to be engulfed in the world of slow-burn romance. The tension between two characters gently grows, creating a push-and-pull dynamic that allows you to bond to the anticipated relationship in a way that would not be possible with a fast-paced romance. Each turn of the page creates a gripping excitement, making reading about the characters' relationship even mo...

Today's news cycle is as changeable as the tides! If you want to monitor the tsunami of events of this turbulent time in history, Mercer County Library System is your trusty place for news. Print Newspapers. Each year, fewer and fewer newspapers are being printed, and newspaper distributors are limiting delivery to certain residential areas. But, you are in luck: MCLS continues to subscribe to the major papers so that you can sit, relax, and read the paper in your local branch. Feel free to make this ritual part of your daily routine. I read multiple papers each Wednesday morning in preparation for Current Events Chat, held weekly at Hickory Corner Branch. Sometimes you just want to hold the paper in your hands! Digital Newspapers. You also have the option to read newspapers online. Go to the library's  virtual branch and scroll down to select one of multiple online newspapers: Barron's , New York Times, Trenton Times, Trentonian, or Wall Street Journal. Or select P...

While putting together my latest gaming computer last week, I was struck by how intimidating all those components can seem to someone who's never looked inside a PC case. Have you ever wondered what's actually inside that computer humming away on your desk? Whether you're curious about technology, considering building your own PC, or just want to make more informed decisions about computers, understanding the hardware components is surprisingly accessible. Like learning any new subject, it starts with breaking down complex ideas into understandable pieces. A computer is basically a team of specialized parts. Each one has its own job, and when they work together, you get a functioning machine. Here's what's in there: The processor (CPU) - The brain The Central Processing Unit is truly the brain of your computer. It executes billions of calculations per second, processing every instruction from your software, and comprises the following: Cores : Think of these as i...

July is Graphic Novels in Libraries Month. To celebrate this occasion, we’re going to look at anime – which has many connections and crossovers into graphic novels. Stop by your local Mercer County Library System branch to see our great selection of anime and graphic novel materials, or check them out at mcl.org! The first anime I ever saw was Neon Genesis Evangelion . It was on a VHS tape from Blockbuster Video. I remember being captivated by the detailed visuals and the story of a boy my age that operated a giant robot and lived with a cool lady and a penguin. The fact that Evangelion was able to shift from dark and moody to absurd and light hearted isn’t lost on me – or any other anime fan. It’s a genre that is as varied as any other storytelling medium. There were a lot of ways to watch anime, but I personally liked getting up early and catching an episode of Dragon Ball Z before I went to school. It was a show about a group of friends who fought aliens and went on adventures. ...

Formula One racing has been growing in popularity in recent years, helped by the Netflix production Drive to Survive and the new Brad Pitt film F1: The Movie . What happens in the sport? Read on for an introduction to many things F1. The field of cars is made up of 10 teams, with two cars and two drivers per team. Even though the driver’s number is somewhere on the car, it can be difficult to tell who is who. Luckily each car has a “T-camera” (named thusly due to its shape) behind the driver’s head. The camera is either black or bright yellow, and this differentiator stays the same for the entire season. So, at a glance, you could tell that the particular red Ferrari you see is either Charles Leclerc (black camera) or Lewis Hamilton (yellow camera). Two other prominent roles are Team Principal and Race Engineer. The Team Principal is the boss of the team, sometimes he’ll get on the radio to the driver directly; usually he simply oversees all that goes on with the team. Some are more ...

Here are some of the events and programs from around the Mercer County Library System for the month of July. For a complete list of events at your local branch, visit the MCLS Events Calendar , and check out the flyers in this post! Summer Events: Color Your World Beat the heat with our lively summer programming! From magical shows and animal encounters to creative crafts and concerts, there's something colorful for everyone this July. Join us for hands-on activities, educational programs, and entertainment that will brighten your summer days. For Kids Pigments of Your Imagination Family Magic Show Thursday, July 10, 2025, 11:00 am Lawrence Branch Bluey Meet & Greet Friday, July 11, 2025, 10:30 am Hopewell Branch Bubble-ology: Bubble Science Show Monday, July 21, 2025, 10:00 am Monday, July 21, 2025, 11:00 am West Windsor Branch Unique Creatures Animal Show Tuesday, July 22, 2025, 7:00 pm Hickory Corner Branch Art Exploration Scandinavia Tuesday, July 29, 2025...