Hello, library friends --
Although we have a lot less snow than usual, it's beginning to feel like the holiday season out there! As we enter the final month of 2020, I want to thank all of you for your support during this very unusual year. It's been a weird one, for sure, but I've been bolstered by the kind words from our library patrons, the fun conversations we have at book clubs and other online meetings, and the support we continue to receive from this community. Thank you for all you do for our library.
I hope to see some of you at the Candy Cane Parade this weekend. Thanks to the generous work of a library supporter, the Mercer Library will have a parade entry for the first time in my tenure as your librarian. I look forward to seeing the community there.
Take care out there, everyone, and enjoy the season!
Teresa Schmidt
Library director
715-476-2366
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Holiday Trivia Contest - December 15
Trivia | Music | Prizes
Play by yourself or with a team!
Tuesday, December 15 at 6:00 p.m.
The Mercer Library is teaming up with the Koller Memorial Library in Manitowish Waters for an ONLINE Holiday Trivia Contest. Join us on 12/15 for an evening of trivia, music, and holiday fun!
Test your holiday wits with trivia you can play alone or with a team. There's no charge to play, and we'll have door prizes, too.
Here's how it will work:
- Decide whether you'll play alone or with a team. If you want to play with a team that isn't already in your household, you'll need to figure out a way to chat with them during the program. Ask your team members what they are comfortable with: maybe Facebook Messenger, group text, Whatsapp, or another group chat app will work. (We don't recommend using another video chat app, because you'll need your bandwidth for the Zoom program.)
- Log into the Zoom meeting for our trivia program to hear the program and trivia questions.
- Don't cheat! We're using the honor system here. Don't Google it - just rely on what's in your own brain!
- Grab a piece of paper and record your answers.
- Grade your own work. We'll give bragging rights to the highest scores, but all prizes will be "door prizes" given away through a random drawing of all the people who stick around to the end of the program.
- Enjoy holiday music carefully selected for you by your librarians! Sarah from Manitowish Waters PROMISES that Teresa won't make you listen to classical music the whole time.
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Curbside and online services
The library is open to the public, with masks required for all visitors ages 5 and older. If you are keeping yourself isolated to avoid the pandemic or can't wear a mask for any reason, we offer curbside delivery for all library materials and many other services. Just call us at 715-476-2366 to let us know what you need, and we'll be happy to help.
You can also take advantage of our online services with your library card number. Visit our website at www.mercerpubliclibrary.org for links to our digital collection of e-books and audiobooks, Gale Courses, Ancestry Library Edition, and Badgerlink resources.
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December Craft Kits
Our FREE craft kits have been popular so far! Each kit contains instructions and the materials needed to put together a fun craft at home. All ages are welcome to take a kit, including adults.
Kits are available at no charge thanks to support from the Friends of the Library. Pick them up beginning at noon on their "release date" and while supplies last.
- December 4 - Craft stick catapults
- December 18 - Holiday ornament kits
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Holiday Stories @ Your Library
We're missing our Grown-Up Story Hour and other programs here at the library. Since it's not yet safe for us to hold in-person events, we thought we'd try some virtual stories this month instead. Keep an eye out for a series of story readings from your friends in the Mercer community. We'll be posting them on our website and our Facebook page later this month!
We are in need of some volunteer readers! Would you like to read a holiday or winter story for the community? Contact librarian Teresa Schmidt at 715-476-2366 or email [email protected] for details.
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Book Clubs
Our book clubs are meeting virtually. Copies of the book will be available to borrow at the library, and new members are always welcome to join us!
Visit our online events calendar for more information and links to the online meetings. (Just click on the program listing in the calendar.)
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Computer classes
File Management 101: Whether you’re a home computer user just typing up your holiday letters or a club secretary with dozens of files to sort through, good file management skills will save you time and frustration. Learn the basics of file management for your Windows or Mac computer in a FREE online class with librarian Teresa Schmidt. We'll talk about some tips for good password management, too. Due to a scheduling conflict, this class has been rescheduled for Thursday, December 3 at 11:00 a.m. Click here for the meeting link.
Tech Tuesday: Schmidt will also hold Tech Tuesdays by appointment to provide one-on-one help with your technology questions at the library. Appointments are available on December 1, 8, and 22. If you are not available on Tuesdays, we may be able to find another time. Call us at 715-476-2366 for more info.
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Support your library this holiday season
Want to support your library during this holiday shopping season? Here are two tips:
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Shop local! Our local businesses and their employees pay taxes that fund our library, so a great way to support us is to support them! Pick up your holiday gifts at one of our Mercer-area retail shops, get takeout or buy gift certificates from our local restaurants, and hire local service providers for your household and business needs.
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If you're shopping online for things you can't get locally, consider using Amazon Smile. Tell Amazon that you want to support the Friends of the Mercer Library, and a portion of your purchase will be donated to our library at no extra cost to you.
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Library Schedule
The library will be CLOSED on December 24 and 25, and on January 1. We will close at 12:00 p.m. on December 31. Normal library hours are:
- Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9am to 5pm
- Tuesday and Thursday 9am to 6pm
- Saturday 9am to noon
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Did you know...
...that the Mercer Library has a jigsaw puzzle exchange? Bring in your puzzles to share with others and take home some new ones to complete. We love puzzles of all sizes, but please only bring puzzles in good condition and not missing any pieces. We don't "check out" puzzles so there's no time limit. Just bring some back when you're ready for a new one. Don't have any puzzles to exchange? That's OK - just limit yourself to taking one or two at a time and bring them back next time.
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Fall/winter hours: Mon, Wed, Fri 9am-5pm; Tues, Thurs 9am - 6pm; Sat 9am-12pm
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