Hello, library friends --
I haven't sent a library newsletter since July, and that feels like a lifetime ago. I hope you've all been staying well and taking care of each other out there. We're into my favorite time of year, the beautiful but unpredictable days of September, wondering each day if we need a parka or sunscreen.
We're not ready to hold library events in person just yet, so we've scheduled some online events to help keep you connected to your community and learning new things this fall. Read on for details and keep an eye on our website for more events as they are announced. If you don't have good internet access at home, remember that you can always head to the library to use our high-speed wifi or use one of our computers to participate in these programs.
I'd also love to hear from you: What would you like to do or learn this fall? Perhaps you took a fantastic trip a few years ago -- we could offer some "Armchair Travel" programs online if we have people who would like to share their adventures. Are there skills you'd like your employees to learn to make your business run more smoothly? Maybe the library could help. We could offer more computer and technology classes, bring in some guest speakers or other presenters, or anything else you might think of. Send me an email, give me a call, or stop by to share your ideas.
Take care,
Teresa Schmidt
Library director
715-476-2366
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The Library is OPEN
Masks are required for all visitors ages 5 and older. The library is providing disposable masks to those who need them for their library visit.
To meet the needs of families and our Mercer kids who have returned to school this month, we're resuming our regular fall hours, including Saturdays.
Fall library hours are:
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Tuesday & Thursday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Saturday 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
If you can't wear a mask or are not able to be inside the library for any reason, we're happy to provide curbside services or make other accommodations to get you the services you need. Call us at 715-476-2366 or email director@mercerpubliclibrary.org. We can find library books, movies, games, puzzles, and other materials for you; answer reference questions; and help provide copy, fax, notary, and printing services.
Another option for those in a hurry is to use the Merlin online catalog to request your items in advance. Give us a day or so to process your request, and then we'll have them ready for you at the front desk or to pickup by curbside if you prefer.
For those who are homebound for medical reasons or lack transportation, our library system also offers a Mail-a-Book program. Sign up and you can receive library materials delivered right to your doorstep. Materials can be returned by mail (you pay the postage) or dropped off at our library or many other libraries in the area. Visit the Northern Waters website for more information, or give us a call and we'll be happy to help you register for the service.
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Fall Book Clubs
Our Book Clubs will meet virtually this month. New members are always welcome to join us! Copies of the books will be available at the library. If you have any suggestions for future reading titles, please bring them to the meetings so we can set up our fall and winter schedules.
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Monday, September 28 at 1:00 p.m. - Afternoon book club reads The Long Flight Home by Alan Hlad. From BookPage: "Alan Hlad tells a dramatic, fictionalized story about the real use of pigeons during World War II. British intelligence hoped that the pigeons, dropped by the thousands into Nazi-occupied France, would be found by resistance fighters and used to return messages containing vital reconnaissance."
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Tuesday, September 29 at 6:00 p.m. - Evening book club reads Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. From Publishers Weekly: "With deep compassion and graceful prose, botanist and professor of plant ecology Kimmerer (Gathering Moss) encourages readers to consider the ways that our lives and language weave through the natural world."
Visit our online events calendar for more information and links to the online meetings. (Just click on the program listing in the calendar.)
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Garden programs with Darrin Kimbler
Extension Iron County horticulture specialist Darrin Kimbler will present two programs for gardeners later this month: Growing Garlic on September 24, and Preparing Your Garden for Winter on September 30, both at 10:00 a.m. Darrin will give a short presentation and then be available to answer your questions about the week's topic or northern gardening in general.
Kimbler serves as Iron County's part-time Agriculture Educator. He and his wife, Eva, also own Taiga Farm, a small family farm near Lake Superior focusing on sustainable pasture-raised animals for fiber and meat, heirloom vegetable varieties, and five varieties of grapes selected to tolerate the short growing season of the Northern Great Lakes region.
Both programs will be held using the Zoom online meeting platform. Please visit our online events calendar and click on the events to find the registration link. Once you've registered for the programs, the login information will be emailed to you.
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Coming Attractions
The Friends of the Library were unable to hold their usual book sales this year, so they'll be holding a Mystery Bag Book Sale this month instead! They'll be packing up grab bags of books, labeling them with their genre (mystery, biography, etc.) and selling them to you for a low, low price. They plan to begin the sale next Thursday, September 17.
Later this month the library will also begin offering craft kits for kids and teens/adults! We'll have kits containing the materials you need, and post an instruction video on our website so you can follow along. These kits will be free, while supplies last. Stay tuned for announcements on their availability.
The Discovery Center was scheduled to present one of their "Knowledge at Noon" programs here back in April, but that had to be cancelled due to the pandemic. Instead, they've generously offered to present an online program for our library next month. Watch for details about a bat program with Licia Johnson coming in October.
Keep an eye on our website or on our Facebook page for updates on all of these activities and other library news.
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Tech Tuesday by appointment
Librarian Teresa Schmidt is here to help you with your tech questions! We'll be doing Tech Tuesday by appointment this fall. Keep an eye on our online events calendar to see what days the librarian is available, and call us at 715-476-2366 to make an appointment. If you are not available on Tuesdays, we may be able to find another time.
This service is available at no charge to all residents and visitors in the Mercer area. We can help you better understand how to use your laptop, smartphone, e-reader, or other tech gadget; Microsoft Office and other software; social media and website platforms for your organization or business; online resources for learning and reference; and more.
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Online Classes available
Fe University is a program started by the Iron County Aging-Friendly Communities Coalition to give older adults the opportunity to keep their minds active and stay connected to the community. To keep us all engaged during this pandemic, Fe University has moved to an online schedule of classes this fall. In addition to two free online programs with the Discovery Center, Fe University is offering a class on Native American Literature with poet and author Beth Tornes starting next month.
Your librarian will also be teaching a free, 4-session course on information literacy in the context of the pandemic and the upcoming national elections. We'll explore the history and nature of misinformation in the media; discuss the role of fake news in the real world; examine the skills needed to identify fake news and to combat it; learn about the research process; and examine some online tools to find quality sources to inform your decisions. Like all Fe University classes, there will be no tests - we'll focus on lectures, discussion, and short reading assignments to explore this topic. The course will be held online via Zoom beginning September 18, and is free and open to anyone. Please visit the Fe University website to register in advance.
And don't forget about Gale Courses, too! This collection of high-quality online classes is available to you completely free as a library card holder. There are hundreds of course offerings on all kinds of topics, including business, computer applications, healthcare, languages, art, writing, personal development, and much more. Take a Gale Course to learn a new skill for work or your business, as continuing education for your professional license, or for personal enrichment. Classes start on or around the 15th of each month and typically last for 6 weeks. Sign up now for classes starting on September 16th!
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Fall/winter hours: Mon, Wed, Fri 9am-5pm; Tues, Thurs 9am - 6pm; Sat 9am-12pm
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