Mercer County Library Blog

Humans don’t have quite the close relationship with reptiles that we do with dogs and cats (with a few exceptions). We don’t hear as much about conservation of reptiles as we do about the bumbling giant panda or the clever orangutan. I’m even willing to bet that the average person doesn’t think about lizards on a daily basis. But humans are connected to nature in ways we don’t often expect, in ways that we might not ever realize. Over the years, reptiles have inspired a number of scientific advancements. You may have seen Ozempic and Wegovy in the news; originally used to treat diabetes, the semaglutide series of drugs are now making record profits as a weight-loss implement. What you may not have known is that the active compound in these drugs was originally discovered in the venom of Gila monsters and then synthesized after decades of research. Studying the mechanics of reptile scales has led to breakthroughs in adhesive and gripping technology, as well as an ultra-slippery stee...

Growing up, I didn’t spend a lot of time outdoors. I wasn’t a fan of heat, humidity, or sweating, and my parents understood that. I preferred my hobbies indoors with air conditioning and, with the heat of a Texas summer, they knew where I was coming from. However, there was one thing that could pull me from my precious A/C and that was our backyard garden. My mom was a horticulturist and an educator, so she was intent on making sure my sister and I understood the value of plants. Despite my reluctance to embrace the Texan weather I endured it in the face of my determined mom. I would kneel on a yellow butterfly outdoor cushion next to her as she pointed out weeds and how to pull them and not leave the roots behind. I learned to check for bugs hiding on the bottom side of leaves to make sure they didn’t eat the plant. My fingers were in the ground beside hers as I learned to test the dryness of the soil. She showed the pink worms to me, so I would know the difference between them...

Is something out there? Summer is here and with it comes the time for camping, s’mores, and spooky stories told around a campfire. One of my favorite genres of scary stories to listen to and read about is cryptids. Whether you believe in them or not, it can be fun to speculate. For those who are not familiar with the term, cryptids are creatures that have not been proven to exist, but numerous people claim to have seen them. Cryptid sightings have occurred all around the world and over the centuries, even though the term “cryptid” was only coined in the 1980s. Though cryptozoology is not recognized by mainstream science, cryptozoologists and others define cryptids as being animals that could possibly exist in nature. This means that their biology could align with known animals. This differentiates them from mythological creatures, gods/demons, spirits, and supernatural beings. Think Bigfoot, the chupacabra, and the Yeti. Popular culture and folklore often group these unknown creatures...

Do you remember the first time you saw a picture of a dinosaur? This year's Summer Reading theme is "Unearth a Story" and features the "formidable lizards" in its' prehistoric aesthetic. I coordinate the Adult Summer Reading Program at the Hickory Corner Branch, and have been doing a considerable amount of unearthing of my own while planning--searching through boxes upon boxes of books in search of summer reading prizes, digging through dinosaur-themed titles for our promotional materials, and looking for some below ground titles for this very blog post. Come along as we "unearth" some books from our catalog and crack open this planet's cellar door: Strata: Stories from Deep Time Burrow into the world of geologists and uncover 4.54 billion years of history in Strata: Stories from Deep Time . This book is split into four geological events: the rise of oxygen, the ice age, the introduction of mud, and the "hothouse" of the Mesozoic er...

As the weather warms and we recover from a very cold and snowy winter, adults and children alike are excited to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors. Warmer weather means playing, exploring, and enjoying the amazing natural world around us. Going for walks, digging in the garden, and smelling the flowers help kids engage with nature and each other. Whether your child loves getting muddy in the backyard or prefers looking for flowers, there are so many ways to encourage a love of the outdoors. Children can get messy, smell the breeze, and explore the sensory feast of a backyard walk while sparking their curiosity. Whether you plan to stick close by or go further afield, Mercer County Library System can get your family’s outdoor experiences jump-started at your local branch. Books like  The Wildest Thing  by Emily Winfield Martin celebrate children who love the wild and immersing themselves in wild exploration.  Fairy Walk  by Gaia Cornwall offers a story of whol...

The fuzzy needles of the dark purple-green pine tree behind my computer screen sweep up and out across the silver-framed window panels beyond the scope of my vision. Flexible branches of this tree and all healthy trees point up and out on most non-weeping varieties. As trees make pine cones, fruit, leaves, seeds, flowers, bark, needles, twigs, and sticks, the air around them improves. The buds formed in the fall now widen. "Can we be flexible palm trees?" my friend asked her children. Can we be steady and stalwart like a tulip tree? During storms, the tulip tree, ten feet from my back door, drops lichen-heavy limbs. Spiky seedpods from his good friend, a Sweetgum, create a further hazard. I look at the trees, and ideas form. Some people must work without the sight of a tree. I wonder whether they mind. Lichens are also fun to look at and think about. Rare in urban areas and often found on tombstones, Golden Moonglow lichen is a thin, dusty-green, fluttering lichen with a ro...

Hatching chicks is a special, fascinating experience! Anticipation and excitement build for approximately three weeks, and then… “cheep! cheep!” the baby chicks peck their way out! For the next two weeks, you watch their adorable antics as they figure out the world, interact with each other, double in size, and start getting feathers. The West Windsor Branch has been able to share this experience for four years now, once a year starting in 2023, and it’s something that patrons and staff look forward to each spring. For those who haven’t been able to observe each stage or for those who want to know more, read on for an overview of the process, some interesting facts about chickens, and a book list of kids’ non-fiction titles for more information, pictures, and activities. The Process Various companies and farms offer chick-raising experiences. The company we have used is Rent the Chicken. They deliver all the supplies and instructions needed for a 5-week hatching experience and then ta...