Mercer County Library Blog

Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land is the fifth album from alt-pop singer Marina, formerly Marina & the Diamonds, and it is available as part of the Mercer County Library System’s physical (as a CD) and digital collections (through hoopla). It is a short album, only ten tracks, but it is a great one. The first half is socio-political lyrics punctuated by energetic pop rock. The second half is soft and tender ballads about heartbreak and emotional intimacy. Like I said, it is a great album and I am going to take you through it, single by single, so we can really get a feel for why this work is so amazing. I hope you’re ready to self-actualize, save the planet, start a coven, and smash the patriarchy, because on this album Marina pulls no punches! Track number one is the title song “Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land.” Remember when I said you need to be ready to self-actualize? Well strap in, because Marina has transcended this Earthly body and is headed for the stars: “You don't hav...

Every summer since becoming a Youth Services Librarian, I have balanced my excitement of the Summer Reading Program with the search for new and captivating picture books about starting or going back to school. While children are still having fun in the sun, I’m planning a school-themed story time for some of our young patrons who will “graduate” from library story time and start pre-k or kindergarten in the fall. The topic of starting – or going back to – school is always interesting. It is filled with excitement, anticipation, and worry about the new and unexpected. And what do you do when faced with something new? Turn to a book! I’m a big believer in using books to help guide us through new experiences and emotions. Luckily all these feelings and experiences have been captured by creative authors and illustrators throughout the years. There are a variety of picture books in the Mercer County Library System that are great tools to use when discussing SCHOOL with your young child. Mis...

Who would think that the sandwich should have its own month dedicated to it? When you consider how long sandwiches have been around, the wide variety of sandwiches that exist and the fact that a significant portion of the world’s population (not to mention the USA) eats them at least once a day, why shouldn’t they? The word even has a verb form as to be sandwiched (placed or stuck) between two other items. Most people may have heard that they were invented by the Earl of Sandwich in the 18th century England, but he only popularized them. People have been eating meats and cheeses and vegetables either between two slices of bread or rolled up in one large piece of bread, such as pita or a falafel or the large round flatbreads common in the Middle East for millenia. Here is a website with a very brief history of ‘the sandwich’: https://www.history.com/news/the-story-of-the-sandwich The sandwich has about as many cultural varieties and variations as there are ethnic groups in the world. Ci...

One of the most successful New Wave genre rock bands to emerge out of the early 1980s music scene, with help from then-very-popular MTV, was the British band The Police. They were famous for pioneering an innovative mixture of Punk, Reggae, Jazz, and Rock & Roll. They have sold over 75 million records, won 6 Grammys and, in 2003, were inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Their music has always been highly regarded by fans, critics, and fellow musicians. They made Rolling Stone and VH1's lists of the “100 greatest artists of all time.” Jazz musician Pete Levin once told me after a concert I attended that he thought that Sting wrote “timeless” songs. They are my personal favorite rock band, and I have attended many of their concerts. The Police consisted of three members: Sting (most vocals, bass guitar), Andy Summers (guitar), and Stewart Copeland (drums). All three had musical backgrounds before joining the band. Sting (whose birth name is Gordon Sumner) spent time...

Over the years, you may have heard or read that the germiest thing in restaurants are its menus. While I don’t know how much truth there is to it, it has to at least be one of the germiest things—it is one of many items that go from customer to customer without a wipedown in-between. And now, due to the pandemic, restaurants need to find alternative ways to give out the menu while decreasing or eliminating the risk (which is one of those things that make me think Why didn’t we always do this? ). Recently, I’ve seen small food joints write their selection on a board above the cashier using a chalkboard or a digital sign. Others have laminated their menus (or have always had laminated menus) and now servers or busboys wipe them down with disinfectant after collecting them. The most chaotic I’ve seen are restaurants who throw out their menus after each customer—however, it's mostly done due to a rotating or seasonal menu that would not make sense to have laminated. And lastly, there a...

Years ago, I saw co-worker borrowing a graphic novel from the library where I was working. I had never really given graphic novels a chance, but I was intrigued. I asked him if I could take a look at it, and I was instantly hooked. After he was finished with it, I checked it out from the library and took it home. I soon found myself in that state of total absorption that you achieve when reading a really good book. That graphic novel still holds up well, but it has supernatural elements and it speaks to a younger version of myself. These days, I seek out titles that are more realistic and aimed at older audiences, so in this post, I will be focusing on graphic novels that can be enjoyed by adults. Do you think you’re too old for them? I know there is a stigma that graphic novels are just comic books and shouldn’t be taken seriously, but I can assure you that these are legitimate works of art. If you have never read them before, you will be surprised by their depth. When was the last ...

Some of you may be familiar with one of the big holidays next month, International Talk Like a Pirate Day, on September 19. But avast me hearties! This month is International Pirate Month, which I discovered in our Library’s copy of Chase’s Calendar of Events (both in Reference and Nonfiction, 529.3 CHA). This celebration is in its 6th year, and is sponsored by Rogues’ Armada , a loosely-organized group of performers who dress as pirates. While the holiday states “international” the organization caters specifically to the Northeast; the groups in the directory operating predominantly in the New England area. There is one “South West” group, catering to the interesting geographic locations of Northern Texas, Southern Oklahoma, and Southern New Hampshire. Migrating scallywags, perhaps? So, in the spirt of both holidays, let’s take a quick dive into some common pirate lore, the stereotypes, and misconceptions. For further reading, the branches of the Mercer County Library System keep mos...

In March 2021, Library Commission member and former Lawrence Township Historian, Dennis Waters, did a virtual talk on the role of coal in powering the Cunard Line of ships at the turn of the century.  His talk involved coal from Appalachia but coal can also be found not far away from our area in Pennsylvania. Two types of coal are mined in Pennsylvania – bituminous (“soft” coal) and anthracite (“hard” coal).   Soft and hard describe the structure of the coal – each coal is a different type of rock which have different levels of hardness, although both would feel hard to us.   Bituminous coal is used in electricity generation and metal production; anthracite for heating and metal production.   Bituminous coal is found in the Western part of the state; the anthracite fields are closer to us in the northeastern area of Pennsylvania.   Anthracite coal is mainly located in the counties of Schuylkill, Northumberland, and Luzerne.   I didn’t start out being in...