Mercer County Library Blog

One joy of being a reference librarian is the unique questions asked at the reference desk. I have been asked for a map of the nuclear power plants in the United States, the number of petals on roses, and once, someone asked me how to spell M.T.A. After some thought, I said, “M as in Metropolitan, T as in Transit, A as in Authority.” Many questions are not unique, of course. We’re often asked – and happy to answer – familiar questions about library services, finding books, and using our computers. And sometimes a patron asks a question that comes from a misunderstanding about the library. I’m going to list some of the most frequent misunderstandings below with the intention of clearing them up and illustrating what reference librarians can do for our patrons. I want to be clear about what I mean: ask questions at the library. Even if you are unsure how to state it, the librarian will help you get to the bottom of what you need, whether it is research help, a reading recommendation, p...

A few months ago, a movie premiered. You may have heard of it… Oppenheimer. I was very interested in seeing this movie because I’ve looked at a lot of information about the Trinity tests and the after effects of the bombs. I say I’ve “looked at” information – it hasn’t gone to the level of research, more being curious and seeing where my searches lead me. One of the first reasons for my curiosity was wondering if it was possible to visit Los Alamos and the site of the testing. It might sound a little offbeat, but the idea grew from visiting another atomic site – the EBR-1 (Experimental Breeder Reactor-1) near Arco, Idaho – “the first city in the world to be lit by atomic power.” I found out there was a tour at the site many years ago from an old reference book that listed factory and industrial tours across the United States. It was an interesting trip, to say the least. I loved the look of the town, the landscape, visiting the site, and then visiting otherworldly Craters of the Moo...

Greetings! The spooky season is officially in full swing, which means there are ghosts, ghouls, and goblins lurking behind every corner! While the prospect of werewolves howling, witches cackling, and zombies growling may send chills down your spine, I can offer you an escape: the library. Well, at least, the virtual library, where the things you’ll find lurking behind every corner are far more benign. I am talking about the hidden haunts in our online resources - learning tools that you likely would not expect from the seemingly mundane “database.” These online resources are available for free with your MCLS library card, and can be accessed from anywhere with an Internet connection. Throughout my travels in the land of online resources, I have discovered many spellbinding features and tools, five of which I would like to share with you. Keep reading to unveil some of these hidden haunts! American Sign Language , Pronunciator Pronunciator is one of our language-learning online reso...

Discovering Excellent Diverse Youth Literature from Picture to Young Adult Books Have you ever wanted to discover a book that represented a specific group of people? Maybe it was Black History Month; maybe your in-laws hail from another country; maybe you are looking for a book that can make you or your kid feel seen; or maybe you are a reader who wants to expand your own horizons or possibly those of your children, too. Whatever the case, there most likely is a literary award that can help you find noteworthy books in whatever category you are looking for!  As a library associate and a graduate student, I often find myself checking these awards for book recommendations and my own course work. Currently, I am enrolled in a Master of Information program concentrating on Library and Information Science. While I already possess a Master’s in English, a graduate degree in library science is a requirement to work as a librarian in New Jersey....

So many of us have heard the story, but what are the actual facts? In the shadowy, needle-floored wilderness of the Pine Barrens, does a creature with horns, glowing red eyes, a horse-like face, clawed hands, hoofed hind legs, bat like wings, and a forked tail terrorize hapless souls? While outlandish sounding to most, these claimed encounters with the Jersey Devil persist, and must be read to be believed (or disbelieved). Not limited to the South Jersey wilderness or to the storied “birthplace” of Leeds Point, the famous 1909 incidents include many in Burlington County and even two in Mercer County (detailed in McCloy and Miller, The Jersey Devil,  listed below). Also called the Leeds Devil (though let’s be honest, when an ice hockey team gets named for something, that’s the name that sticks), the creature has inspired folklore, fiction, film, academic investigation, and treasured local culture. William McMahon writes in Pine Barrens Legends, Lore, and Lies that the Jersey...

It turns out that October is more about sweets than I ever realized. In addition to Halloween, and National Chocolate Day, there is National Dessert Day, celebrated on October 14 th ! Since calories don’t count on this day, what a great excuse to indulge in your favorite desserts guilt free! According to the Oxford English Dictionary, second edition, the word “dessert” comes from the French word “desservir,” which translates to “remove what has been served, to clear (the table).” After a large meal, dried fruits were served. Throughout history, this has morphed into what we now consider “dessert,” i.e. cakes, pies, cookies, and more. Lucky for us! [Image 1] If you’re interested in reading more about the history of dessert, author Michael Krondl has written an entire book on its origin, entitled Sweet Invention: A History of Dessert , which you may find in our catalog . While National Dessert Day is October 14 th , any day is a great day to share...

Perhaps Wreck-it Ralph , the Disney tour de force available in both DVD and Blu-Ray formats at the Mercer County Library System, contains what might be the greatest, if somewhat ambivalent, self-acceptance mantra of our time: “I’m bad, and that’s good. I will never be good, and that’s not bad. There’s no one I’d rather be than me.” Maybe not the mantra for everyone – but still a fascinating concept. As someone once said “The villain is the hero of his own story.” Is this the case with Wreck-it Ralph ? By day Ralph is the enemy in the video game Fix It Felix, where Ralph breaks things and the hero Felix, well, fixes them. But, in his off hours, Ralph is a good-natured fellow. Ralph wants to be a hero – but he is programmed to be the exact opposite. In fact, he’s just fulfilling that programming until he gets off work and he can, then, be himself. How can Ralph become the hero he wants to become instead of the nemesis he was programmed to be? The question at hand: can you be an enemy...

"The greatest thing by far is to be a master of metaphor.” - Aristotle in Poetics “Similes and metaphors are both figures of speech that are used to make a comparison between two things that are not alike. The difference is that similes make the comparison by saying that something is  like  something else but metaphors make the comparison by saying that something  is  something else. A  simile  says that one thing "is like" or "is as … as" another thing. A  metaphor  says that one thing "is" another thing. Metaphors do not use the words "like" or "as" in their comparisons.” - Britannica’s Ask the Editor Page There was a time, long ago, when I didn’t have much respect for the simile. To me, it was just something heard in English class when your teacher introduced you to the concept with something along the lines of, “ He is fast like a cheetah. ” Such examples are hardly inspiring. I...

At one time or another, all of us hit a stressful point in our lives that leaves us un-focused and un- settled. Doesn’t matter if it’s happy stress or horrible stress – the effect is the same, we need something to make us feel better. Something that will let us shove the stress related thinking to the back of our brains and give us a respite. Frequently people talk about comfort food – and that has its place – but stress is not something you can eat your way out of. You can still obsess and worry while chewing. No, the real answer is reading! Of course. For some people the comfort read is a beloved book, frequently one that brings a bit of emotional catharsis: Jane Eyre for example. Others go for something light: P. G Wodehouse’s Jeeves is always my father’s choice. For me the ideal choice is a series – preferably one I have lost track of and now has new installments I haven’t read. This gives me the excuse of going back and rereading from the beginning - it is easier to lose one...