Mercer County Library Blog

I held my first children’s STEAM program at the Hickory Corner Branch last July. It was a hot, summer afternoon and the library was having programs outside at the time. I set up tables in the shade under trees in the parking lot and children arrived for a “Habitat Exploration” program. We read Listen to Our World by Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Sampson, and then discussed different habitats and what animals live in each one. We talked about the forest, jungle, ocean, desert, arctic, and wetlands. I tasked the children with creating their own animal and explaining what it is, what habitat it lives in, and what unique features it has that allows it to live there. Children drew unicorns with gills that could live underwater and hybrid animals that had wheels for legs to travel quickly through the desert. My own animal was a furry sea turtle with blubber that could live in the cold temperatures of the arctic. STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, ...

For me, eating a handful of sun-ripened blueberries right off of the bush is a cherished summer experience. July is National Blueberry Month, and New Jersey celebrates blueberries in style! The blueberry is New Jersey’s official state fruit, with good reason. Blueberries were New Jersey’s number one crop in 2020, and the state’s farms harvested 46 million pounds of blueberries on 9,300 acres. [i] In 1916, Elizabeth Coleman White, working with Frederick Coville, was able to grow cultivated blueberries on the edge of her cranberry bog in New Jersey’s Pine Barrens, marking the first time that blueberries were cultivated in the U.S., and most likely in the world. [ii] There are many blueberry festivals in the state during the summer, including one at the historic Whitesbog Village (Elizabeth White’s home) and another in Hammonton, NJ, which is known as the “blueberry capital of the world.” There are a number of locations for picking your own blueberries ...

Did you know that blueberries were first cultivated in New Jersey? Yes, that’s true! They are a native fruit (along with our Thanksgiving favorite, the cranberry). About 100 years ago, Elizabeth Coleman White along with her husband owned land in the Pine Barrens (what is now Whitesbog Historic Village). Seeing interest in the fruit by government botanists, she put her mind to working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to cultivate the wild berries. The researchers and growers created blueberry bushes that produced large and uniform fruit that could travel well to markets. Today blueberries are grown across the globe and are a dietary darling. U-Pick farms It’s easy enough to pick up a pint or two at the grocery store, but while they are locally in season, you can easily find a U-Pick farm to gather up your own fresh blueberries. Before heading out, be sure to click on the farm’s website for their hours and to ensure that blueberries are still available. Terhune Orchards , Lawre...

The world is full of mediocre bands. It’s full of bands that make music for the lowest common denominator and that barely have anything original to say. The Smiths, formed in 1982 and disbanded in 1987, are one of the few truly revolutionary and original bands. The vocals, lyrics, and Morrissey, combined with the guitar work of Johnny Marr, gave the music world intelligent, challenging and brilliant songs that spoke to common people, but never spoke down to them. They were an inclusive band that will provide you with enough literary references for a lifetime. I once went to a Morrissey concert and was pleased when between songs he asked the crowd, “Does anybody have anything intelligent to say?” Nobody said anything, but I appreciated the offer. There is a reason fans rush the stage to hug Morrissey during performances. In this post I have ranked The Smiths’ four studio albums. NUMBER ONE Meat Is Murder is the second album released by the band, and it is my #1 choice when ranking th...

Have you seen a small, quarter to half-inch long insect, black with bright white spots, in your yard? It could be the invasive insect that is plaguing our region, the spotted lanternfly, lycorma delicatura. Why should we be concerned? As they eat the sap from over 70 different plant species (likely some in your yard), their voracious appetite damages the plant. Their wastes, also known as “honeydew,” can attract other insects, and promote the growth of the sooty mold fungus. All this won’t kill the plants outright, but can cause significant damage and greatly weaken them. It’s not just the plants in your yard, either; these bugs enjoy commercially important ones like grapes, apples, and hardwoods. While at the moment they are just small and agile (cannot fly, but can leap relatively great distances), in a month or so they change into their adult form. The young ones (nymphs) go through a few different “instars” where they molt as they grow larger. The final instar looks black to mos...

Before coming to public libraries, I worked as an academic librarian. Our summers were quiet, and a time to plan for the upcoming academic year. That is NOT the case in the world of public libraries. Summers bring oodles of activity to the branches for everyone. As I write my post, I sit at the reference desk, which has been transformed by staff into a massive pirate ship in line with this year’s Summer Reading Program theme, Oceans of Possibilities. There are really three parts to the MCLS Summer Reading Program: 1) encouraging reading/learning; 2) offering programs and activities; and 3) highlighting our collection – all in line with the Oceans of Possibilities theme. Many of our younger readers take part in the Summer Reading Program, which involves logging books read throughout the summer to win prizes. However, I cannot emphasize enough that all ages - preschool through adult - are invited to participate in the Summer Reading Program. Registration opened on Tuesday, June 21, but i...

International Joke Day is upon us on July 1. Where would any of us be without a daily dose of laughter to brighten the day? Since I was a kid, I have had a soft spot for puns and dad jokes . Back then, my friends and I would crack ourselves up recording our own comedy radio show on a handheld cassette player. My friend and I listened to one of these tapes recently, and this gem stood out: Why did the jelly roll? Because it saw the apple turnover! Fifth grade us thought we were hilarious. Don’t worry, I won’t mind if you use it. As the saying goes, laughter is the best medicine. Scientists have been studying laughter, and the data has supported both the short- and long-term benefits of laughter. Laughter is a positive sensation, and seems to be a useful and healthy way to overcome stress. A 2017 study in the Korean Journal of Adult Nursing looked at the effects of laughter therapy on patients in long-term care facilities. It showed tha...