Mercer County Library Blog

For as long as I can remember, my parents have been finding ways to give back to their community, from leading food and clothing drives to opening their own home to recently arrived refugees. When we were kids, they made sure to involve me and my brothers in this work whenever possible. My mom helped to start an after-school club at my elementary school called “Roving Readers,” where we would visit nursing homes and read to the seniors there. Each year, we would collect pledges from friends and family to join a CROP Hunger Walk , with the donated money going to fight hunger. Much of our family service work was done through our temple—we would bring tzedakah donations of money and canned goods to religious school each week. We hosted unhoused families at the temple on a rotating basis with other local religious institutions through the Interfaith Hospitality Network (now HOME of Somerset County ), and host families would take turns staying at the temple overnight with the guests and se...

Is something out there? Summer is here and with it comes the time for camping, s’mores, and spooky stories told around a campfire. One of my favorite genres of scary stories to listen to and read about is cryptids. Whether you believe in them or not, it can be fun to speculate. For those who are not familiar with the term, cryptids are creatures that have not been proven to exist, but numerous people claim to have seen them. Cryptid sightings have occurred all around the world and over the centuries, even though the term “cryptid” was only coined in the 1980s. Though cryptozoology is not recognized by mainstream science, cryptozoologists and others define cryptids as being animals that could possibly exist in nature. This means that their biology could align with known animals. This differentiates them from mythological creatures, gods/demons, spirits, and supernatural beings. Think Bigfoot, the chupacabra, and the Yeti. Popular culture and folklore often group these unknown creatures...

When I stepped into a new country and made the United States my home, little did I know that living overseas would bring challenges. The biggest challenge of them all: taking care of our parents and being so far away from them. Fast forward, as we settled abroad, our parents’ age caught up and they needed our help. While working in the library, I saw my coworkers rushing to their parent’s house, helping them out, and coming right back to work. For me, it’s a twenty-four-hour flight halfway across the world. Since my dad passed away, my mom was aging as the years went by and was unable to take care of herself all alone. Caregiving is a challenging role physically, emotionally and financially. Whether you need regular or occasional help, finding the right caregiver requires careful planning and research. I started noting my mom’s requirements and interviewed and sent emails to various organizations. Since she is in India, my work was more intense via emails and WhatsApp calls. Of cours...

Do you know what a parallel novel is? You may have heard it called a “re-imagining.” Typically, a parallel novel is a piece of fiction that takes place within or during another piece of fiction or tells a story derived from a separate piece of fiction. Parallel novels pay homage to the fiction they are borrowing from, as opposed to a parody whose purpose is to mock the original piece of fiction. What fascinates me about parallel novels is the conversation they open between old and new. Often, people who author parallel novels do it from the point of view of a minor character or even a maligned one. These novels force the audience to question whose story gets told and whose does not. One of the more popular parallel novels is Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire. Gregory Maguire is known for his re-imaginings of fairy tales. He has written novels of Cinderella ( Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister ) , Snow White ( Mirror, Mirror ), The Nutcracker...

Overshadowed by the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence this year is the 150th anniversary of another turning point in American history, the Battle of the Little Bighorn, in which George Armstrong Custer’s 7th Cavalry Regiment was defeated by rebellious Sioux and Cheyenne led by Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull. The battle took place on June 25th, 1876 in the valley of the Little Bighorn river in what is now the state of Montana. Custer had divided his regiment in the face of a superior enemy, and when he attacked, all the men under his direct command were killed. In comparison with the Civil War battles of just a few years before, Little Bighorn was not particularly large in terms of the numbers engaged and lives lost. But it has loomed large in the American popular imagination ever since, particularly in regards to the larger-than-life personalities of Custer, Sitting Bull, and Crazy Horse. When I was growing up, I saw Hollywood films about the battle lik...

Do you remember the first time you saw a picture of a dinosaur? This year's Summer Reading theme is "Unearth a Story" and features the "formidable lizards" in its' prehistoric aesthetic. I coordinate the Adult Summer Reading Program at the Hickory Corner Branch, and have been doing a considerable amount of unearthing of my own while planning--searching through boxes upon boxes of books in search of summer reading prizes, digging through dinosaur-themed titles for our promotional materials, and looking for some below ground titles for this very blog post. Come along as we "unearth" some books from our catalog and crack open this planet's cellar door: Strata: Stories from Deep Time Burrow into the world of geologists and uncover 4.54 billion years of history in Strata: Stories from Deep Time . This book is split into four geological events: the rise of oxygen, the ice age, the introduction of mud, and the "hothouse" of the Mesozoic er...

What's Happening at MCLS: June 2026 Here are some of the events and programs from around the Mercer County Library System for the month of June. For a complete list of events at your local branch, visit the MCLS Events Calendar . June Kicks Off Summer Reading and Celebrates Pride, Fathers, and the Great Outdoors This June, MCLS branches kick off the 2026 Summer Reading Program: Unearth a Story , with dinosaurs, fossils, and discovery taking center stage. Programming also includes events for Father's Day, Pride Month, Great Outdoors Month, Juneteenth, and continuing programs commemorating the 250th anniversary of American independence . Join us for storytimes, crafts, book clubs, history talks, scavenger hunts, and outdoor activities throughout the month. For Kids Rainbow Scavenger Hunt All month long, during library hours Ewing Branch Outdoor Toddler Rock Tuesday, June 2, 10:30 am Tuesday, June 9, 10:30 am Tuesday, June 16, 10:30 am Tuesday, June 23, 10:30 am Hopew...

As the weather warms and we recover from a very cold and snowy winter, adults and children alike are excited to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors. Warmer weather means playing, exploring, and enjoying the amazing natural world around us. Going for walks, digging in the garden, and smelling the flowers help kids engage with nature and each other. Whether your child loves getting muddy in the backyard or prefers looking for flowers, there are so many ways to encourage a love of the outdoors. Children can get messy, smell the breeze, and explore the sensory feast of a backyard walk while sparking their curiosity. Whether you plan to stick close by or go further afield, Mercer County Library System can get your family’s outdoor experiences jump-started at your local branch. Books like  The Wildest Thing  by Emily Winfield Martin celebrate children who love the wild and immersing themselves in wild exploration.  Fairy Walk  by Gaia Cornwall offers a story of whol...