Mercer County Library Blog

Here are some of the events and programs from around the Mercer County Library System for the month of May. For a complete list of events at your local branch, visit the MCLS Events Calendar , and check out the flyers in this post! Mental Health Awareness and Meditation Month Breathe and give yourself permission to slow down. During May, our guided meditations offer easy on-ramps to stress relief and self-care, no prior experience needed. Join us virtually or in person and leave each session feeling lighter, clearer, and more connected. ​Also be sure to check out Headspace for guided meditations, breathing exercises, and everyday mental health tips along with our other health and wellness resources . For Adults Guided Meditation Monday, May 5, 4:00 pm Monday, May 19, 4:00 pm Virtual Program Guided Meditation and Sound Bowl Healing Thursday, May 22, 6:30 pm Robbinsville Branch Mindfulness to Reduce Stress Wednesday, May 21, 6:30 pm Virtual Program For Teens Ever-Unfoldi...

This past April was National Poetry Month. To celebrate, I read three books of poems and have another two checked out to read belatedly. Poetry and I do not have a long history, the way that novels and I do. I’ve been reading for as long as I can remember, and whether that be a family drama, a high fantasy, or surrealist horror, there’s always some novel I’ve been enjoying. Even nonfiction and I have had a relationship, as for the past few years I’ve been getting into reading memoirs and biographies, as well as the odd scientific or historical account. But it wasn’t until the past autumn that a poet friend convinced me to give poetry a go, and I was surprised how fast I’ve fallen in love. Classics like Emily Dickinson, contemporary award-winners like Jericho Brown, even relative unknowns like Sarah Gambito - these are all poets who have begun filling my “Favorite” lists on Goodreads. Chances are, though, that you are not reading any poets, ones I mentioned above or otherwise. You mi...

With the rise of streaming as entertainment, and actual plays of numerous available games, tabletop role-playing games (“TTRPGs”) have become quite popular, and easier to access by just about everyone. Perhaps you’ve seen one of those streams, or maybe you’ve happened across a group playing at school or the library. Regardless of where you discovered TTRPGs, you’ve decided to give them a try. The easiest way to do this is to run it yourself and become a Game Master or GM, the nonspecific title for the person who runs the game. Being a GM is fairly easy, a good way to socialize and learn math, all while improving your reading comprehension and acting skills. That being said, there are some things most people don’t consider when starting out, and a few nonobvious issues that will pop up. But don’t worry! Here are some tips and advice for some of the things you will encounter as a new GM. First things first: Getting yourself players. If you’re lucky, a number of your friends will be inte...

You know we have books, e-books, audiobooks, kids’ books, cook books. When it comes to books, you name it, we have it – and if we don’t, there’s even interlibrary loans to get it. But you may be surprised to learn what other interesting things we have to offer beyond the books! TECHNOLOGY Playaway Launchpads Playaway Launchpad is the first-ever secure, pre-loaded learning tablet in a circulation environment. Each Launchpad is pre-loaded with high-quality, ad-free learning apps grouped by age, grade level, subject area and theme. Learn more Circulating Tablets Need to borrow a mobile device? The Mercer County Library System lends tablet computers to patrons! These Android tablets come pre-loaded with many of our patrons’ favorite electronic resources, including Bluebird Languages, Headspace, the New York Times, and Kanopy. You can place a hold on a tablet through our online catalog, or ask at your local branch. Learn more Remote Printing Patrons who need to print a document or f...

Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of visiting Italy for the Bologna Children’s Book Fair – an annual festival that draws over 30,000 attendees from all over the world. The fair features children’s authors and illustrators from every corner of the Earth, highlighting some of the most recent and exciting books for young people. While not all of this work has been translated into English, the fair still provided an opportunity to learn more about the best of international children’s literature. The entrance to the Bologna Children’s Book Fair. Estonia, this year’s guest of honor. Each year, the Bologna Children’s Book Fair highlights a specific country as the guest of honor; this year, Estonia was placed in the spotlight – and published a list of the best Estonian children’s books of all time . Some of these titles have been translated into English – and are available to check out from the library!   ...