“Halloween was confusing. All my life my parents said, 'Never take candy from strangers.' And then they dressed me up and said, 'Go beg for it.'” - Rita Rudner
If you have trick-or-treaters in your life, make a stop at the library on Sunday between 1 and 3 p.m. for our Trunk or Treat. If you rather give than receive, come on over to hand out treats that afternoon! See below for details.
Join us to hear from some of our community members next week, too. We have a local author, P.K. Perry, visiting on Thursday and our first Community Chat on Friday. We have the usual computer classes, book clubs, and other events on the schedule, plus an Art & Craft Supply swap on the 12th. And we'll offer another free kids craft kit on November 19. There are so many ways to get to know others in the Mercer community at the library - it's my favorite part of librarianing! ("Librarianing" - is that a word?)
Stay tuned for announcements about our "Library of Things," too. We've been cataloging all the various equipment and unique items that you can borrow from us, including A/V equipment for your next event, canning pots, our telescope, and more. We're setting up a display that will help all of our library visitors know what's available and will be sharing more about that soon.
We'll be closed on November 25 and 26 for Thanksgiving, so plan ahead and pick up some books for your long weekend or some puzzles and games to play with the family. Hope we'll see you at the library soon!
Teresa Schmidt
Library director
715-476-2366
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Halloween Trunk or Treat
Mercer-area businesses, organizations, and residents are invited to set up in the Library and Community Center parking lot for our annual Halloween Trunk or Treat. Wear a costume and decorate your vehicle if you wish, and share Halloween goodies with Mercer kids! No RSVP is required: just arrive early to be set up by about 12:45. We estimate that we had between 150 and 200 trick-or-treaters visit the event in 2020.
Kids and families are invited to visit the library for Trick or Treat this Sunday, October 31 at 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. and downtown businesses will be welcoming trick-or-treaters at the same time. Hope we'll see you on Halloween!
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Computer Classes
Passwords -- I know you hate them, but you have to learn to live with them! Get some tips and learn why good passwords really are the best protection for your online accounts. We'll hold a free class on Password Management this Monday, November 1 at 10:00 a.m.
On Monday, November 22 at 10:00 a.m., join us for an Introduction to Google Drive. Google Drive is a powerful suite of software with file sharing features and is free to anyone with a Google account. More and more businesses and organizations are using Google Drive for collaboration. We'll review the essential features and what you need to know to get started using this useful tool.
We're still offering one-on-one tech help by appointment, too. Give us a call to schedule a time to ask your questions and learn more about your devices.
All are welcome and no registration is required. Bring your computer/tablet/smartphone if you have one and bring your questions!
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Local Author P.K. Perry visits November 4
Local author P.K. Perry will visit the Mercer Library this Thursday, November 4 at 1:00 p.m. She'll be talking about her young readers novel Melancholy Until the Mountain, and all are welcome to attend. Learn more on our website.
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Community Chat with NorthLakes Clinic
The guest at our first Community Chat will be Charlotte VanderVenter from the NorthLakes Clinic. Join us on Friday, November 5 at 10:00 a.m.
NorthLakes recently opened a clinic in Hurley, and offers "a variety of services based on the needs of the communities that we serve, including primary medical, dental, and behavioral health." Come and learn more about the NorthLakes Clinic and about what it means to offer community health services in the 21st century.
Community Chats are informal, friendly conversations between members of the community and various government, civic, and nonprofit organizations in the community. Representatives from different organizations will explain more about the work they do and answer your questions. All are welcome to attend!
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Art & Craft Swap
Do you have more craft supplies than you know what to do with? Want to try something new but don't want to invest in a lot of materials? Need to de-stash and make room for new things? Well, mark your calendars, crafty friends!
The library will be holding an Art & Craft Swap on Friday, November 12 at 1:00 p.m. Bring your unneeded art and craft supplies to share. Pick up some extra supplies from others. There are no rules – this is a free, “bring what you have, take what you will use” event. Anything left at the end of the day will be donated to a resale shop or disposed of. Don't have anything to contribute? That's 100% OK! You are welcome to come and take anything you can use from others.
Start cleaning out your studio now and join us on the 12th!
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November Book Club schedule
Our two Book Clubs each meet once a month, and new members are always welcome to join us! Copies of the books are available to borrow from the library.
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Fe University upcoming classes
Fe University continues to provide a fantastic schedule of classes for older adults and adults of all ages. Upcoming courses include:
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Civil Discourse series with Jane Banning - Jane will offer a guide to managing stressful encounters, conversing cordially with those who have differing opinions, and having deep, meaningful conversations with others. This series begins on November 8 and will be offered virtually through Zoom.
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Economics for Everyday Living - Dr. Richard Shreve will present an introduction to the concepts of economics that will help improve personal satisfaction and advance your understanding of how economic forces shape daily life. This course will also be offered on Zoom beginning on November 30.
For details on these and other Fe University courses or to register for a class, visit www.feuniversity.org.
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Library Covid policies
Following the latest recommendations from the CDC, masks are recommended for all library visitors.
Please do not enter the library if you are exhibiting any symptoms of concern, including cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, fever or chills, fatigue, muscle aches, or a new loss of taste or smell. Please do not visit the library if you have been instructed by your doctor or public health officials to isolate or quarantine due to covid exposure.
Our WiFi network is available 24/7 and is accessible from the parking lot and our outdoor seating area. Curbside service is also available to anyone by request. Just call us at 715-476-2366 to let us know what you need, and we'll be happy to help.
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Winter hours: Mon, Wed, Fri 9am-5pm; Tue, Thu 9am-6pm; Sat 9am-12pm
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