Hello, library friends --

It's time for our annual Friends of the Library Fall Celebration! It's the Friends' biggest event of the year, and it's always a great time. We know that there's a lot happening in town this weekend, but we hope you'll stop by this Saturday, September 9th, between 2pm and 5pm to have a drink with us and enjoy some of the fun. More details are below.

This month we're welcoming our first-ever Artist in Residence, Sandra Cashman. We've also been planning a lot of other events for the coming weeks, including some fun events leading up to the October 14 annular solar eclipse, spooky events for October, and our annual Halloween celebration.

The best way to support your library is to use it, of course, so be sure to stop by for some fall reading, plan to join us an some upcoming events, and check out our many digital offerings.

Sorry this email will be a bit long -- we just have so much to share. Thanks for reading!

Teresa Schmidt

director@mercerpubliclibrary.org | 715-476-2366

Fall Celebration this Saturday, Sept 9

The Friends of the Mercer Public Library will hold their annual Fall Celebration on Saturday, September 9th at 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.

The event will feature delicious hors d’oeuvres; desserts; beer, wine, and soda; Book Basket raffles; a silent auction; and the very popular “Dine Around” gift certificate pull. We’ll also enjoy live music by Chris Skinner.

There’s no cost to attend and the event is open to everyone in the community. Feel free to stop in for a quick visit or stay all afternoon!

Many thanks to our "Shakespeare" sponsor, Mercer United Methodist Church; our "Best Seller" sponsor, The Blue Bayou Inn; and all of our sponsors and donors to the event.

All proceeds from the auction, raffles, Dine Around, and donations will benefit the Friends of the Mercer Library, who support library programs, equipment, and special projects throughout the year. Visit our website for a list of all the sponsors, donors, and activities happening at the celebration.

Hope we'll see you there!

Book Basket Raffles

Get your tickets for our always-popular Book Basket Raffles! This year we have eight baskets donated by area businesses and individuals. Tickets are $2 each or 6/$10 and are available at the library or at the Fall Celebration.

Winners will be drawn on Friday, September 15th. You don't have to be present to win, and we plan to do the drawings live on Facebook so you can listen to your librarian ramble for a bit as you watch to see who the big winners are! :)

Many thanks to our 2023 Book Basket donors:

• Loony Paddlers Basket donated by The Loony Paddlers
• Relax & Rejuvenate Basket donated by Rooted Soul Yoga Studio
• Bear Hug Basket donated by The Wampum Shop
• Thanksgiving Basket donated by Louise Minisan
• Country Christmas Basket donated by Chelley & Linn Beck
• Upgrade Your Kitchen Basket donated by Ann & Brian Myrland
• Garden Basket donated by the Woods & Bloons Garden Club
• “Mooshka: a Quilt Story” Basket donated by Cynthia Jencen, Sue Loeffler, and Bonnie Maelock-Hill

Artist in Residence Sandra Cashman

We're pleased to welcome our first-ever Artist in Residence, oil painter Sandra Cashman!

Sandra's work is featured in an exhibit at the library now through the end of 2023. Stop by during our normal hours to take a look! You can meet the artist and hear more about her creative process at an Opening Reception on Tuesday, September 19.

Sandra will also host two public workshops during her residency. Adults can join us for an Introduction to Landscape Oil Painting on October 17, while children ages 7 and older and an accompanying adult can participate in a Miniature Paintings in Acrylic workshop on November 4. Space in both workshops is limited, so please register in advance.

The Mercer Library Artist in Residence is a new program sponsored by the Friends of the Mercer Public Library. Each quarter, we will welcome a new artist for an exhibit, public workshops, and more. The library will open an application process later this year for artists interested in being featured in 2024, so please stay tuned for more information.

September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month

You already know what a bargain your library card is. Where else can you get free access to hundreds of thousands of books through the Northern Waters Library Network, a Library of Things that includes useful items like wireless hotspots and Pickleball paddles, digital books and streaming video, events for all ages, and so much more... all for free?

Help spread the word about your library during National Library Card Sign-Up Month. Stop in and show us your library card OR sign up for a new library card and you can get a free vinyl sticker to help others discover all the good things at your library.

Solar Stargazing

Join us for a little "Solar Stargazing" with the Northwoods Explorers of Space and Astronomy on Saturday, September 30th at 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. We'll be looking at the sun through a Hydrogen-alpha sun telescope, learning about the upcoming solar eclipses in the United States, and more. You may even be able to grab a pair of eclipse glasses to safely view the upcoming events.

This program will be fun for all ages, so bring the family! In case of cloudy skies, this event will be moved to October 7.

September Digital special: extra Kanopy credits

To help you make the most of your digital access, Northern Waters Library Service has increased your number of Kanopy credits from 5 to 8 per user for the month of September. This means more movies, foreign films, and television series, plus the same terrific access to Great Courses and Kanopy Kids for everyone.

Check it out through the link on our digital services page, where you'll learn about all the many things you can access for free with your library card.

Halloween 2023

We've begun making plans for Halloween, and you're invited!

Mercer's Halloween celebration will be on October 31st, with indoor activities at the library from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. and trick-or-treating at downtown businesses from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. If you or a business or organization you work with would like to set up a table inside the library to hand out candy or offer a Halloween activity for kids, please call the library at 715-476-2366 so we can save a space for you.

Other October events preview

October will be a big month at the Mercer Library. Here's a preview of a few more coming attractions to mark on your calendar:

• October 2: Author visit with Wendy Webb, "The Queen of Northern Gothic" and author of books like The Keepers of Metsan Velo and Daughters of the Lake
• October 14: Partial annular eclipse visible in Mercer -- stay tuned for viewing opportunities at the library!
• October 23: Moonshine in the Northwoods with Jim Bokern of the Manitowish Waters Historical Society

Mercer Public Library | 715-476-2366 | director@mercerpubliclibrary.org | mercerpubliclibrary.org

Winter hours: Mon, Wed, Fri 9-5 -- Tue, Thu 9-6 -- Sat 9-12