Mercer County Library Blog

Ever since I started hiking, I have thought about what it might be like to do a thru-hike of the entire Appalachian Trail, which stretches from Georgia through Maine and is the world’s longest hiking path. I have hiked sections in New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont, but like many people, I’ve never had the time to hike the entire trail. Several times when I have hiked a part of the Appalachian Trail in Vermont, I’ve met thru-hikers at the trailhead who had nearly finished their journey hitch-hiking a ride to town. They had usually started on the trail in the southern Appalachians in March and were looking forward to finishing their hike in Maine. It sounded like a wonderful adventure. But a several month trek across nearly 2,200 miles on foot is not something to be undertaken lightly. So, it’s worth doing some research. If you are interested in trying a thru-hike sometime in the future, or if you just want to find out some more about the Appalachian Trail and the best ...

Did you know that March is Social Work Month? First celebrated in 1963, it is meant to build public support for the profession and raise awareness of all the wonderful things that social workers do. Every year, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), the main professional organization for the field, picks a theme for Social Work Month that represents the current climate. This year they have designated the theme as “ Social Workers Uplift. Defend. Transform.” This captures the many different ways that social workers help people and improve their communities. Qualification to be a Social Worker What makes someone a social worker? Social worker is a professional title that designates anyone who has received a degree in the field. There are three levels of social work degrees: Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)/Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW), Master of Social Work (MSW), and Doctor of Social Work (DSW). Social work education focuses on how different systems (social experi...

The Mercer County Library System Teen Advisory Board is fueled by creative, book-loving teens who craft social media posts, write zines, and share reviews on the library’s Goodreads page. Meet Jason—TAB member, devoted stargazer, and fan of fast-paced mythological adventures. Enjoy his latest book review. The Red Pyramid , the first book in The Kane Chronicles trilogy by Rick Riordan, weaves together Egyptian mythology, adventure, and humor to create a fast-paced story that appeals to readers of all ages.  The two protagonists, siblings Carter and Sadie Kane, have spent most of their lives apart ever since their mother’s death years ago. But on their yearly Christmas Eve reunion, their lives are changed forever when their father brings them to visit the British Museum. In an attempt to summon the Egyptian god Osiris and resurrect their mother, he blows up the Rosetta Stone and releases four other gods. One of them is the evil god Set who banishes their father to the Underworld....

Have you ever found yourself in a “reading rut"? Finished one book and can’t move on to the next? This can happen to readers of any age, and I am currently in a reading slump right now. Try as I might, I cannot get interested in a book enough to want to read it. This is a common problem that can happen to both readers and non-readers alike. I find it especially difficult for my non-reading children to get out of it. When reading is a struggle to begin with, it can be hard to figure out what to read next after finishing a book or series. Maybe they finished a favorite series and aren’t excited to read anything else. Or maybe reading is just always a struggle. I’ve dealt with both situations as a parent and a librarian, and it can be frustrating in any circumstance.   Here are some ideas if your child (or yourself!) needs help breaking through a reading slump… Browse New Books At the Lawrence Branch, our new books are very easy to browse. Most are facing out so you can check ...