Late January library and community news |
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Hello, library friends --
I thought I'd try a little something different with this library newsletter. Several area organizations have reached out to us recently because they recognize the library as a place where local residents go for accurate and timely information. I'm including a few of their updates below in the interest of helping spread the word about public services available to our Mercer and Iron County-area residents.
Rest assured, I won't fill up your inbox with community news on a regular basis, but I may share some of these community resources when they come to my attention and when I think they'll be of use to our library patrons.
I hope you'll join us in celebrating "Love Your Library" month in February! Read on for a teaser about what the Friends of the Library planning, along with other activities coming up at your library.
Take care out there!
Teresa Schmidt
Library director
715-476-2366
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February is Love Your Library Month!
We'd also love to hear from you! Why do you love your library? Use this Google Form to tell us your library story or submit a photo or video telling the world why you love the library. When you do, we'll send you one of our vinyl “Love Your Library” stickers to thank you for your time and support.
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Mercer Area Food Pantry updates
The Mercer Area Food Pantry continues to have weekly dairy and other food distributions. This week's delivery will offer milk, cheese, and ground turkey on Wednesday, January 27 at 10:30am. The dates and times vary each week depending on the delivery schedule, so follow the food pantry on Facebook or call 715-476-7655 for the next delivery date.
The pantry will also begin offering "stock boxes" in February for those who meet income guidelines. Call Louise at 715-476-7655 and she'll tell you what those guidelines are.
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COVID-19 vaccine updates from the Iron County Health Department
Wisconsin recently announced that residents ages 65 and older will qualify for the COVID-19 vaccine Phase 1B expected to begin today, January 25. There will be options for where you get your vaccine including through your regular health care provider, local health departments, places of employment, and mass vaccine clinics.
The Iron County Health Department reports that they have ordered vaccine and will schedule public clinics as soon as they can. If you would like to be on their list to receive a vaccine, call 715-561-2191.
The Health Department also wants to remind us that the distribution of this vaccine will be more complicated than other vaccines. Supplies have been limited so far, and this vaccine requires special handling that makes coordinating public clinics a little more challenging. The health department will be scheduling their first clinics in the Hurley area so that they are closer to their offices and can work out any logistical problems. They want me to assure our Mercer-area residents that they can attend those Hurley clinics when they are available, and that their department will be scheduling additional clinics in the southern part of the county as soon as they can. Our county health officials are working hard to ensure that we will have access to the vaccine as soon as it is available, and they have comprehensive plans for distributing those vaccines when they arrive.
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Hygge Craft Kits
The Mercer Library's FREE craft kits continue to be a hit! 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.
January 15 and January 29 : Hygge theme kits
Hygge (pronounced Hoo-gah) is a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being.
The "hygge kit" we released for teens and adults a couple of weeks ago has been popular! This week we're releasing a kit for younger kids with a simple snowflake craft and other cozy things, so stop by after noon on Friday to pick one up.
Kits are available at no charge thanks to support from the Friends of the Library.
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Tax forms available
Wisconsin income tax forms are now available at the library and federal tax forms will begin arriving soon.
Wisconsin Form 1 has been redesigned this year, so don't wait until the last minute to file your returns! We have forms and instructions for Form 1, Homestead Credit forms, and other state and federal forms. We can help you print other forms from the state and federal tax websites if necessary.
Before you pay for a tax preparation service, you may also want to check out the IRS Free File program to see if you can file without any additional cost. If you are eligible for a second federal stimulus payment and have not received it, you may also be eligible to file for a Recovery Rebate Credit.
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Book Clubs
Our book clubs are meeting virtually. Copies of the book are available to borrow at the library, and new members are always welcome to join us!
Visit our online events calendar for more information and to get the links for the online meetings. (Just click on the program listing in the calendar.)
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Tech Tip: Beware of tech support scams!
I often tell people, "If it seems too scary to be true, it probably isn't."
People are still getting popup messages telling them that they have a virus, security breach, pornography, or illegal material on their computer. These messages appear to lock out your computer and tell you to call Microsoft or some other company to fix it. DON'T DO IT! These are scams that will ask you to pay several hundred dollars to 'fix' problems that don't even exist. While the scammers are there, they'll install spyware and other malicious software, leaving you with lasting security and privacy risks.
If your computer locks up with a popup, the best thing to do is press Ctrl-Shift-Esc to open the Task Manager, then use the Task Manager to close your web browser. Restart your computer and then check out the "Add or Remove Programs" section of your computer's settings to look for and remove unknown programs. Be sure you have Windows Security running on your computer, and consider using another antivirus or anti-malware program to provide further protection.
Keeping your computer up to date will help you avoid these problems, too. Windows 7, Windows 8, and Internet Explorer are no longer supported by Microsoft. If you're still using these systems, upgrade to Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 and change your browser to Microsoft Edge or the latest version of Chrome or Firefox. Make sure you allow Windows to do regular updates, too. Running old software is a great way to end up with a virus.
Need more help?
Librarian Teresa Schmidt holds "Tech Tuesdays" to provide one-on-one help with your technology questions at the library. Appointments are available on most Tuesdays and on other days as necessary. Call us at 715-476-2366 for more info or to make an appointment.
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Curbside and online services
The library remains open to the public, with masks required for all visitors ages 5 and older. For those who cannot come inside, we will happily offer curbside delivery for library materials and many other services. Just call us at 715-476-2366 for assistance.
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 ebooks and audiobooks, Gale Courses, Ancestry Library Edition, and Badgerlink resources.
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Did you know...
...that our Merlin catalog lets you search for and request items owned by about 28 libraries in our Northern Waters service area?
You can place holds on popular titles and request items from other libraries. You can even search by location to find materials owned just by the Mercer Library. We'll grab them from the shelves so you can enjoy a quick pickup when you stop in or use curbside service.
You can search the catalog by author, title, subject and keyword for any items owned by our region's libraries, including books, movies, audiobooks, and other materials. I know, it's not the most user-friendly website right now. But we are planning a major upgrade soon, so stay tuned for a redesigned, easier-to-use catalog coming later this year!
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Winter hours: Mon, Wed, Fri 9am-5pm; Tues, Thurs 9am - 6pm; Sat 9am-12pm
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