Mercer County Library Blog

Now that the weather is getting cooler, maybe you want to get into baking bread! In December 2020, I wrote a blog post about the sourdough bread craze during the Covid pandemic and included some tips and cookbooks. Do you know how many different types of bread there are? Too many to list!  Bread usually starts with four basic ingredients you may have at home: some kind of flour, water, salt, and a leavening agent. Depending on the recipe, the leavening agent can be yeast or baking powder or baking soda to make the bread rise. Do you have a favorite bread? I love quick and easy bread like banana bread (don’t forget to add chocolate chips, nuts, or both!), pumpkin bread in the fall, or corn bread to go with chili.  It’s fun to take a few different recipes and modify them to your taste. Do you have a favorite baking cookbook? I love good cookbooks and new recipes!  Here are some fun facts about bread: The government banned sliced bread for 2 months during World War II in 194...

It’s October, and that means we’re thinking about witches, goblins, ghosts, and ghouls. Another popular symbol that comes to mind during this time of year is the black cat. Black cats have been surrounded by harmful superstitions for centuries. These beliefs can be traced back to the Middle Ages, when folklore associated black cats with death, misfortune, witches, and other supernatural beings. One of the most common superstitions is that if a black cat crosses your path, it means bad luck. Unfortunately, these tales and misconceptions can affect black cats’ chances of being adopted. Black cats are often reported to spend longer in shelters than cats of other colors, and concerns have also been raised about their risk of euthanasia. Every cat deserves a chance to find a loving home, regardless of the color of its fur. It’s a shame that these beautiful cats have such a horrible reputation. I have had two black cats throughout my life, and I have yet to experience any bad luck with eithe...

If you aren’t already on the eBook and eAudiobook bandwagon, here’s what you should know: In addition to our physical collection in each of our branches, MCLS has a virtual branch where you can find all of the digital materials you have access to with your MCLS card! We’ve got everything from cooking classes to movies and TV , and, of course, eBooks and eAudiobooks . But, if you’ve ever looked into our digital book collections before, you may have been surprised to see that they have waitlists. Sometimes, very long waitlists. This may have leftyou wondering, why in the world is there a waitlist for eBooks and eAudiobooks? Worry not, fellow library lover. I’m here to answer your questions.  Why don’t eBooks and eAudiobooks work like Kanopy, where everyone can watch the same movie at the same time? When the library puts an eBook or eAudiobook in our collection, we don’t actually own it. Rather, we own a (usually temporary) license for our patrons to access the book. The majority of ...

 With Autumn in the air and on my mind, I long to slow down, enjoy the changing leaves, and pick up a mystery classic: to become an armchair detective myself. Maybe it’s the start of the school year that conjures up tweed and smoking pipes? Whatever it is, Fall seems like the perfect time to examine commonly used themes or tropes in the Mystery genre.   Join me as I continue my exploration of genre tropes considered in literature, film, and music, which I began with Romance and Historical Fiction earlier this year.  First, what is a trope?  A trope is a storytelling device that is characteristic of certain genres or types of stories.  Read on to discover five of the many tropes commonly utilized by mystery writers of different kinds of media.  Amateur Detective: This theme casts an everyday person taking on the role of sleuth to solve the mystery.   Book: The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman: “In a peaceful retirement village, four u...

The subject of death may be somewhat macabre to speak about in casual company, and it can loom heavy over all of us as an unavoidable fact of human life. Especially as we near Halloween, people are thinking about all things spooky. While some people prefer mysteries, others may enjoy reading about death as a concept more generally. Reading about death can provide answers to unusual questions, provide comfort after a loved one has passed, or simply offer an alternate perspective on a subject that can be rather taboo.  Nonfiction books about death cover many different topics, such as what happens to people’s bodies after they die from the perspective of a mortician ( Smoke Gets in Your Eyes by Caitlin Doughty), musings about the afterlife ( Spook by Mary Roach), reflections on end-of-life care ( Being Mortal by Atul Gawande), coming to terms with one’s own terminal illness or death ( When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi, Gratitude by Oliver Sacks), dealing with the grief aft...

This November, MCLS offers opportunities to celebrate cultural heritage, explore history, and connect with our community. Discover programs recognizing Diwali, Native American Heritage Month, and Thanksgiving, along with events focused on Alzheimer’s Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers Month. As we continue commemorating the 2 50th anniversary of American independence , join us for more programs exploring our nation’s history and the diverse stories that shape our communities. Below are selected events and programs taking place throughout the Mercer County Library System in November. For a complete list of events at your local branch, visit the MCLS Events Calendar . T hanksgiving Events Programs for Kids  Story & Snack: Turkeys Friday, November 13, 10:30 am   Hickory Corner Branch No-Bake Pumpkin Energy Bites Saturday, November 14, 1:30 pm   Monday, November 23, 6:15 pm   West Windsor Branch Thanksgiving Bingo Wednesday, November 18, 4:30 pm   Hi...