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November 2018 library news
Dear Library Friends --

Things have quieted down a bit in Mercer as we enter the off-season -- our summer visitors have mostly departed, but there's no snow on the ground for our snowmobiling, skiing, or snowshoeing friends yet. You'd think that would make it feel pretty slow at the library, and in some ways it does.

But believe it or not, your librarians are not sitting around idle! We're already scheduling next year's summer programs, planning ahead for more improvements around the library, and working on our winter projects. This is the time of year when we can get more things done, and I hope that this winter it means a new website to better connect you to our collections and digital services, some collaborative local history projects, finally getting our Memory Lab fully up and running, and as always, building our collections and services to help the community find what they need.

Read on for more info on our November activities, and as always, don't hesitate to ask if you have ideas for new programs you like to see at the library, or if you have something you want to share with your neighbors at a library program. We're always open to trying new things!

Teresa Schmidt
Library director
Gale Courses now available!
Access hundreds of FREE online classes with your library card

The Mercer Library is excited to announce that all Mercer Library cardholders now have access to  Gale Courses , a collection of hundreds of online courses developed and taught by experts in their fields. It's easy to use, you can sign up for courses year-round, and it's FREE to all Mercer Library users. 

Learn everything from Microsoft Office to QuickBooks, guitar to photography, and grammar to SAT prep. There are courses for building your work skills, becoming a better parent, and even getting continuing education hours for teachers, medical certificates, and more. This service is provided to all "Merlin" library card holders, including our Mercer Library patrons. Check it out!
Business Bites: Building an Online Marketplace

Ever think of starting your own online business or adding online sales or service to your existing business? Join us on November 14th at 12:00 p.m. in the Mercer Community Center as we kick off a series of short presentations to help area businesses and inspire those who may want to go into business.

November’s topic will be online marketplaces and how they can help grow your business. Roger Peck of Superior Lighthouse in Herbster, Wisconsin, will join us virtually to explain some of the many online platforms available to sell products and services to a much wider audience. Following Roger's presentation, Eva Furgason of Bessemer will be on hand to discuss her experience with Etsy and how this platform has been particularly helpful for artists and craftspeople.

“Business Bites” will continue in 2019 with programs on small business marketing, social media, and more. This program series is sponsored by the Mercer Chamber of Commerce, Mercer Public Library, and Iron County Development Zone. Lunch will be provided by the Friends of the Mercer Library with a suggested donation of $10. Please register for the program by November 9 by calling the Mercer Chamber of Commerce at 715-476-2389 or emailing info@mercercc.com.
CLOSED for Thanksgiving

The Mercer Library will be closed on Thursday, November 22 and Friday, November 23 for Thanksgiving. Our normal "winter" hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9am to 5pm; Tuesday and Thursday 9am to 6pm; and Saturday 9am to noon.

Don't forget that even if we're not open, your library card is your key to library services from home, 24/7. You can use your library card number to:

  • Download titles from our digital library of e-books and audio books for your e-reader, smartphone, or computer;
  • Access Badgerlink for newspapers, journals, magazines, and research resources; and
  • Sign up to learn something new with Gale Courses.
Other activities @ your library

  • Knitters' gathering: Join your fellow knitters for an informal gathering on Monday mornings at the library, 9am to noon on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Mondays of the month.
  • The Mercer Book Club will meet on Wednesday, November 14th to discuss The Dry by Jane Harper. New members are always welcome, and copies of the book are available at the library. In December, the group will discuss Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng.
  • Coffee & Coloring is a relaxing afternoon of coloring and paper crafts. Adults are welcome to join us on the second and last Fridays of the month at 2-4pm. We'll provide the coloring supplies, or bring your own paper projects to work on.
  • Tech Tuesday is your chance for one-on-one technology help with library director Teresa Schmidt. Drop in for help with basic problems or just learning to use your device on November 6 and November 13 at 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. If those times aren't convenient for you, call the library to schedule a 30-60 minute appointment at another time.
  • Movie Night on Monday, November 26th at 6:30 p.m. This month we'll be watching this summer's romantic comedy hit, "Crazy Rich Asians," rated PG-13, 120 minutes. It's free, and we'll provide the popcorn!

We also have regular meetings of AA on Thursday nights, a Bible study group on Tuesday mornings, and many other groups that use our room on a regular basis. The library's meeting room is available for anyone in the community to reserve for meetings and educational programs. Check out our meeting room policy to learn more, and give us a call at 715-476-2366 to reserve the room for your group.
Mercer Public Library | 715-476-2366 | director@mercerpubliclibrary.org | mercerpubliclibrary.org
Winter hours: Mon, Wed and Fri 9am-5pm; Tues & Thurs 9am-6pm; Saturday 9am-noon