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We had so much fun at our Halloween event this year. Thank you to Beth, Cooky, Martha, Hedda, Julia, and Blaze for your help and to the Friends of the Library for sponsoring the event. And thank you to all the Mercer kiddos and their families who came out for the fun!
The weather is getting colder, we're getting ready to 'fall back' our clocks this weekend, and it's time to shift gears into the coming holiday season. I have to admit that I'm one of those people... On November 1st you could find me reading under a blanket, sipping tea, and listening to holiday music. What about you?
This month, we're looking forward to selecting a class of 2024 Artists in Residence, so read on for details about that. We're also collecting food donations for the Be Kind Be Nice Food Drive, collecting holiday lights for recycling, hosting geocachers and painters, and much more. Stop in to see what we're up to, or keep tabs on us by checking out our website events calendar for all the latest details.
Happy November,
Teresa Schmidt
director@mercerpubliclibrary.org | 715-476-2366
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Be Kind Be Nice Food Drive
Be Kind Be Nice is sponsoring a holiday food drive, and the library is one of the drop-off locations. Bring in your donations for the local food pantry before November 17th.
They are particularly looking for items that aren't often donated to the pantry, including spices (including salt and pepper), baking supplies (flour, sugar, cake mixes, etc.), coffee, peanut butter and jelly, condiments (mayo, ketchup, mustard, etc.), canned beans, pasta and sauce, instant mashed potatoes, Rice Krispies, and other niceties. Your donations will help support local families this holiday season!
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More than just a book drop...
The library is a great collection point for local organizations. In addition to the BKBN Food Drive, here are some of the things you can drop off at the library right now:
The Mercer Lions and Habitat for Humanity of Wausau will be collecting stringed lights for recycling this holiday season. Drop off your working or non-working lights at the library between November 10 and January 8.
Mercer School is still collecting receipts from Snow's Family Market as part of the Register Tapes for Education project. Save your Snow's receipts from September 1 through March 31 and drop them in the box in our entryway.
The Springstead community is also still collecting plastic bags and film for recycling through the NexTrex Recycling Challenge. Recycle your plastic shopping bags, bread bags, bubble wrap, case overwrap, and more using the box near our front door. (Please pay attention to the guidelines -- the project cannot take plastics that are dirty, pet food bags, potting soil bags, etc.)
Finally, the Mercer Lions Club have a dropbox for used eyeglasses for the Lions Recycle for Sight program. We're told they will also accept hearing aids and empty printer ink cartridges.
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Now accepting applications for 2024 Artists in Residence
The Friends of the Mercer Public Library are sponsoring a new Artist in Residence program to support artists in the Northwoods community, provide engaging exhibits for our patrons to enjoy, and increase the number of arts programs available at the library.
Artists selected to participate will receive a stipend and exhibit space in the library for a three-month term. In return, we ask our Artists in Residence to share their work through their exhibit, an opening reception, and at workshops for the public. It's a great opportunity for an artist to gain visibility in the community.
We welcome any artists in the region, professional or hobbyist, to apply to be a 2024 Artist in Residence. Applications are now open and will be accepted through November 30, 2023. Visit our website for more information.
Please share this information with any artists you know!
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Acrylic Painting for Kids (and their adult)
Our current Artist in Residence, oil painter Sandra Cashman, will be teaching Miniature Paintings in Acrylic, a free child/adult workshop on Saturday, November 4. That's tomorrow!
Each child aged 7 and older and their accompanying adult will complete a miniature painting to take home, while learning the basics of using a color wheel, mixing colors, and using a limited color palette. There are still a couple of spots left, so call 715-476-3366 to register if you'd like to participate.
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Curious about Geocaching?
There are millions of geocaches hidden in the world. In fact, there's probably one near you right now! Want to learn more about this unique hobby?
Join the library and local geocachers for a screening of the 2023 Geocaching International Film Festival finalists on Friday, November 17th at 1:00 p.m. You'll get to watch some of the funny (and often weird) videos submitted for this annual event, enjoy snacks, and chat with local geocachers about the hobby. All are welcome, even if you're a muggle*!
*That's geo-speak for someone who's never gone geocaching.
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StoryWalk® at MECCA Trail
We invite you to enjoy reading and the outdoors through our first StoryWalk® installed at MECCA Trails thanks to funding from the Friends of the Library. A StoryWalk® places pages from a picture book in signs along a path, so participants can have fun reading aloud together as they walk.
We've installed our StoryWalk® on MECCA's quarter mile “Warm-Up Loop” trail, which begins directly behind the MECCA Chalet at 4686N Fierick Road, Mercer. The children’s book Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman is the featured story.
The StoryWalk® will only be installed at MECCA trails for about two more weekends. Get out there and enjoy it if you can, and stay tuned for announcements about the StoryWalk's next location coming soon!
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Book Club reads Nora Roberts
The library's book club will meet on the third Thursday of the month at 4:00 p.m. On November 16th, we're reading Nora Roberts' The Witness. Stop by the library to get a copy of the book, or visit our online catalog to request a copy.
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Elder Benefits assistance at the library
Have questions about Medicare, housing, Food Share, Senior Care prescription drug coverage, or other Elder Benefits? Jerri Sokol, Elder Benefit Specialist with the ADRC of the North, will be holding weekly outreach hours at the Mercer Public Library, just in time for the Medicare open enrollment period.
Jerri can assist you directly with many elder benefits, and can direct you to others that might help with topics outside her expertise. Drop in on Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. through December, or schedule an appointment by calling 715-561-2108 ext. 5.
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Make it a crafty holiday season
Your library card gives you access to CreativeBug, a collection of high-quality craft instruction videos on everything from cooking to quilting to papercraft. This month, CreativeBug is highlighting a series of videos called "From my kitchen to yours: a month of giftable goods & recipes." Check it out for some great ideas for personal and inexpensive gift giving!
The first time you access CreativeBug you'll need to create a free account and log in with your library card number. Log in to your account each time you visit, so CreativeBug can help you keep track of your progress through different series. You may periodically be asked to re-enter your library card number to verify your access. If you have any trouble getting in, don't hesitate to ask at the library -- we're happy to help!
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