Mercer County Library Blog

  Get your cameras ready… The annual Amateur Photo Contest has started! Beginning August 10, the Mercer County Library System invites photographers of all ages to capture this year's theme: A Moment in Our Story. Entries will be accepted at all branches through Monday, September 14, 2026. This year's theme encourages reflection on those important moments that shape our lives and communities. Whether it's a cherished family tradition, a community celebration, a personal milestone, or a meaningful everyday experience, photographers are invited to tell a story through a single image.  This contest is a fun one for both patrons and staff! Photographers of all ages bring their best themed pictures to share at the library, and we get to hear all the interesting and fun stories. It’s one of our favorite programs every year!  Photographs are displayed at each branch before final judging. A system-wide photo show will be at the Hickory Corner Branch in East Windsor, starting with ...

 Yup – I am reusing the title of my very first blog because I’m talking about trees again. In that 2018 post, I talked about the Dawn Redwood (or Metasequoia) in my back yard. This species is considered a living fossil and was thought to be extinct until a few were discovered in China in the 1940’s.  It is an unusual conifer in that it is deciduous (loses its needles in the fall). More than once I have had people tell me it’s a shame the big tree is dead – I momentarily panic and then explain that this is normal and it will have new needles in the spring.  Back in 2018 it was 101 inches around. Now, about 8 years later, it is 114 inches!  That means that the diameter is just over 3 feet wide – almost the exact size of the tables in the YA section here in the West Windsor Branch. The estimated height is 75 to 100 feet tall - probably in the middle of that range based on its location. It’s a big tree! But there is also a small tree – I have grown seeds harvested from m...

 Emerging adulthood is the developmental stage between adolescence and adulthood, when 18- to 29-year-olds go through critical periods of self-identity, romantic/platonic exchanges, career path choices, and the possibilities of prospective opportunities. This stage is arguably one of the most exciting, impactful, and experimental times in one’s life. Conversely, it can also be one of the most mentally challenging due to socioeconomic pressures which include, but are not limited to, familial conflict, educational status, financial instability, and demographic/social stigma.  Throughout July 2026, I interviewed seven Mercer County Library System staff members who currently fit the emerging adulthood age bracket. The interviews allowed me to collect unfiltered and deeply authentic responses from my colleagues, who each have transparent and objective points of view on real-world challenges that many have navigated at different times in their lives. Without further ado, let us jump...

In a world where it can be extraordinarily difficult to figure out where organizations are getting their money from or what they are spending it on, one service exists that helps nonprofit organizations be more, well, candid. The Candid platform, which is available for in-library use at any of the Mercer County Library System branches, is the prime destination for information about nonprofits’ financial information, programs, boards of directors, and grants received and distributed. A few things to note before we go forward talking about nonprofits: • Nonprofit, in this case, refers to an organization that is classified by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) public charity. These organizations are tax-exempt, must not serve any private interests, and must fit at least one of the charitable purposes designated by the IRS. They also can’t engage in much political activity, especially lobbying, but that is a discussion for another day. If you’re interested in the exact language used to determine wha...

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 . This August, MCLS celebrates the final weeks of the 2026 Summer Reading Program: Unearth a Story , with special events, creative activities, and opportunities for discovery before the program concludes on August 8. Summer fun continues throughout the month with programs for all ages, including science and nature experiences, crafts, performances, history talks, wellness programs, and engaging presentations. Join us as we continue celebrating summer, exploring new interests, and commemorating the 250th anniversary of American independence with stories and events that connect us to our shared history. Foam Invasion Party! Saturday, August 1, 1:00 pm https://events.mcl.org/event/17113210 West Windsor Branch Beaded Glitter Sunglasses Tuesday, August 4, 6:30 pm https://events.mcl.org/event/1717332...

Recently, some friends and I were sharing memories of our childhood summer camp experiences. Even after many years, we could still recall the songs we sang, the crafts we made, and other camp memories. Time at a summer camp is something that many of us share and still remember fondly. You might say that it is a quintessential part of many American childhoods. I grew up in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Beginning with 7 th grade in the 1970s, I went to a sleep-away camp at 4-H Camp Shehaqua in Hickory Run State Park . I loved it so much that by the time I was in high school, I was returning as a camp counselor. I’m delighted to learn that the camp is still there and welcoming campers! When my daughters were old enough, we offered them the chance to attend overnight summer camps. They went to YMCA Camp of the Pines in the South Jersey Pinelands, where they got to swim, canoe, make crafts, do high ropes courses, put on plays, roast marshmallows around campfires, and many other fun thing...

Hi! My name is Hannah, and I’m a college intern at the West Windsor Branch for summer 2026. As I helped in the children’s and teen areas, I was asked frequently for graphic novels, and saw different reactions to them: mostly eagerness or disdain. This observation ties into some of my coursework and the question: Are graphic novels intellectual, a gateway, or both? This past spring, I took a course titled Reading Teens: Learning from Young Adult Literature . One of the books I read was Flamer by Mike Curato.  We discussed graphic novels, why some teachers like them, and why some teachers don’t. There’s a claim of a lack of close reading, a focus on the pictures, and, overall, an idea that reading graphic novels is “less intellectual” than reading a prose novel. In reality, reading a graphic novel brings in skills that reading a prose novel does not, and can be of help to students who are otherwise struggling with traditional prose novels.  One skill that graphic novels foster ...