August already?
I hope you all had a great Loon Day yesterday! Our USED BOOK SALE kicked off this morning and continues on Friday 8/5 and Saturday 8/6 during library hours. The Bag Sale begins Friday at noon - everything you can fit in a bag for just $2. Don't miss it!

We're in the home stretch of summer, but there are still some fantastic summer library programs to look forward to. Read on for what's coming up this month including storytelling, dinosaurs, poetry, and more.

Have a great month!

Teresa Schmidt
Library director
Summer Kids Programs

There are just two programs remaining in our summer 2022 kids' program series, but they're going to be good ones!

  • Thursday, August 11 at 11:00 AM – “This is the Sea” with storyteller Tracy Chipman
  • Tuesday, August 16 at 11:00 AM – “Dinosaur Dimensions” with Curt Strutz

Programs are free and open to everyone. Our summer kids programming is sponsored by the Friends of the Mercer Public Library.
It's Bike to the Library Month in Mercer!
Bike Rodeo coming up on August 13

In honor of our new bike repair station, the library is celebrating "Bike to the Library Month" in August. Ride your bike to the library anytime this month and you can enter to win one of two great bike-themed prize packages.

On Saturday, August 13 at 11:00am to 1:00pm, join us for a Bike Rodeo - it's going to be fun for all ages! Activities include:

  • The 906 Adventure Bike Club will provide skills training and a bike course to try. Bring your bicycle and a helmet!
  • WinMan Trails will demonstrate bicycle safety checks and basic bicycle maintenance using the Mercer Library’s bike repair station, with sessions at 11:30AM and 12:30PM. They will also share information about WinMan trails and mountain biking in the northwoods.
  • River’s Edge Outfitters will bring some eBikes and other bikes to try
  • Extension Iron County will bring their blender bike and share FoodWise nutrition education information. They’ll also have information about Iron County’s 4-H program.
  • ICORE (Iron County Outdoor Recreation Enthusiasts) will bring information about the Mercer and Heart of Vilas Bike Trails, the Hurley Non-Motorized Trail, and other silent sports opportunities in Iron County.
  • The Iron County Sheriff plans to attend and share bike safety information.
  • The Friends of the Mercer Public Library will provide goody bags while supplies last.

Call the library at 715-476-2366 for more information.
Poetry reading with Beth Tornes

We're pleased to welcome poet and author Elizabeth Tornes on Thursday, August 18 at 6:00 p.m. Tornes has published four award-winning poetry collections and a collection of Ojibwe oral histories, Memories of Lac du Flambeau Elders (2014, U of WI Press). Her poems have been published in many journals and anthologies. She has lived in Lac du Flambeau, home of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, for the past 26 years. I hope you'll join us for an evening of poetry and reading!
Eco-Printing on Paper

Learn how to print on paper with leaves and flowers! Artist Peggy Foehringer will present a free workshop on Eco-Printing on paper, Friday, August 26 at 10:00 a.m. You’ll complete the entire process of treating the paper, finding plant materials to print with, laying out your prints, and steaming the paper to create these beautiful natural prints. You can use the finished product for cards, crafts, bookmarks, collage, and much more.

Please register in advance for this program by calling the library at 715-476-2366.
Book Basket Raffle tickets on sale now!

The Friends of the Library are now selling tickets for their annual Book Basket Raffles! Stop by to view the baskets and get your tickets during normal library hours.

  • Family Game Night basket donated by Ann and Brian Myrland
  • Paddling Basket donated by the Loony Paddlers
  • Musky Lures Basket donated by Pete Meronek
  • Plumbing Basket donated by Schmidt & Sons
  • Loon Basket donated by the Wampum Shop
  • Wine Basket donated by Pete & Beth Wetzler
  • Kids Rule basket donated by the Mercer Lions
  • Garden Basket donated by the Woods & Blooms Garden Club

Tickets are $2 each or 6/$10, and all proceeds benefit the Mercer Library. Winners will be drawn on September 16.

Mark your calendar: Our annual Fall Celebration will be on Saturday, September 10 at 2-5pm, and our online auction begins on September 10 as well. These events are the biggest fundraisers of the year for our Friends group, and they go a long way towards supporting the events and activities we do at the library all year. Thank you for your support!
Library Covid policies

Masks are recommended but are not required in the library. Please do not visit if you are exhibiting any symptoms of concern or if you have been instructed by your doctor or public health officials to isolate or quarantine. If you are unable to come into the library for any reason, please give us a call at 715-476-2366 and request curbside service. We're happy to help!
Mercer Public Library | 715-476-2366 | director@mercerpubliclibrary.org | mercerpubliclibrary.org
Summer hours: Mon-Thu 9am-7pm; Fri 9am-5pm; Sat 9am-12pm