December 2011

Holiday Closings

Tuesday, December 13	Close at 5:00 pm	Staff Christmas Party
Saturday, December 24	CLOSED	Christmas Eve
Monday, December 26	CLOSED	Christmas Day Observance
Saturday, December 31	Close at 12 noon	New Year’s Eve
Monday, January 2	CLOSED	New Year’s Day Observance

Library Food Drive - December 2011

Please join our library staff as we help the local Food Pantry restock their shelves this month.   Items collected will be given to the C.A.L.L. food pantry.  C.A.L.L. stands for Community Action Life Line and serves all Mercer County residences in need of assistance.  Any and all non-perishable food items and paper products are appreciated.  The pantry specifically is in need of the following items:  Cake Mixes, Canned Meats, Canned Pastas, Ketchup, Pastas, Peanut Butter, Soups and Personal Care Items.  Next time you're coming to the library, bring a non-perishable item with you and drop it in the box by the front desk.  Thank you for your help.

Winter Computer Classes Scheduled

The Mercer County District Library has been offering free computer classes to the public for over 15 years. There is absolutely no charge to attend, and anyone is welcome. Sign-up at the circulation desk or by calling the library, there is a limit of the first 7 people in the class. The classes are hands on in a computer lab setting. The Winter 2011/2012 schedule is as follows:

Computer Class Schedule Mercer County District Library
Date	Time	Class
Tuesday, December 6	6:00 pm	Computer Basics
Friday, December 9	1:00 pm	Computer Basics
Tuesday, January 10	6:00 pm	Internet Basics
Friday, January 13	1:00 pm	Internet Basics
Tuesday, February 7	6:00 pm	Advanced Internet
Friday, February 10	1:00 pm	Advanced Internet

Additional Internet Computers now available

Due to high user demand, the Mercer County District Library has added three new Internet Workstations and two Laptops for library patrons to use.   This brings the total number of computers available to library users to15!  Anyone interested in using the Internet computers need only a valid library card.  The computers can be used one hour per day. Adult patrons can also gain access to the Internet using one of the library laptops. Stop by the circulation desk for more information or to sign up for one of the computers.

Princess Party with Snow White!!

Come join a real live Snow White who will host a lovely tea-time with your little princess on Saturday, December 10th from 11:00 am  to 1:00 pm! Girls ages 4-9 are invited to play games, make a craft and enjoy music and dancing. Your little lady may also wear a princess costume if she chooses, but it is not a must. Space is limited to 15 girls, and registration is required. Sign-Up begins on Friday, December 2nd.

Santa is coming...

Come to the library on Thursday, December 15th  at 7:00 pm to see Santa. He will be coming for the monthy Pajama Time.  Children of all ages are invited to come in their pajamas and listen to nersery rhymes, finger plays, and bedtime stories.  Teddy bear buddies, blankets & cuddlies are welcome too.  Cookies and milk will be served.  Don't forget your list for Santa, see you there!

Family Movie Night

Come to the library on Friday, December 16th from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm for Family Movie Night.  The feature movie will be Elf starring Will Ferrell.  All ages are invited to come and discover their inner elf.  Pizza, Popcorn, and juice will be provided.  Registration is required and a Parent or guardian must attend with children.

Sadly, the Mercer County District Library said good-bye to one of its own on November 25th.  Janet Schmackers had been the Head Librarian of the Zahn-Marion Branch for the past 30 years.  She was a long-time friend and co-worker, and her ever present smile and enthusiasm will be sorely missed. 

For more information, visit our website http://www.mercer.lib.oh.us/ 

November 2011

  

The library will be CLOSED Thursday, November 24 for Thanksgiving Day. We will reopen Friday, November 25th at 9am. We hope everyone has a happy and safe Thanksgiving!!

                                                                                                          

Looking for NEW books?

The Mercer County Library has many New Book Lists available.  Both Fiction and Non-Ficiton titles that have just been released as well as what will be released in the coming months.  Now you can pick up a copy of New Christian Ficiton titles.  This month's list of New Christian Fiction includes:

Allan, Christa.  The Edge of Grace.  Unable to cope with her brother's news that he is gaty, Caryn Becsker rejects him.  But when David is attacked and nearly killed, Caryn is forced to make hard choices about family, fatih, andher own future; choices that take her to the very edge of grace.

Byrd, Sandra.  To Die For.  To Die For is the story of Meg Wyatt pledged forever as the best friend to Anne Boleyn since their childhoods on neighboring manors in Kent.

Girzone, Joseph F. The Homeless Bishop.  Carlo Brunini is an Italian bishop who wants to understand why Jesus loved the poor.  He takes an 18-month sabbatical and moves to New York City to live among them and as one of them.

Gunn, Robin Jones.  Canary Island Song.  Carolyn, a fifty something widow in this stand-alone by Gunn ("Sisterchicks"), has not been the same since she losst her husband seven years ago.

To see the rest of the titles on the list or to pick up a copy of the other Monthy New Book Lists, stop by the library.  All of the lists are available at the circulation desk and by the New Book Shelf.  Place your request now for these new and soon to be released books.
                                                                                                           

Upcoming Children's Programs

@ The Mercer County District Library 

Thanksgiving Story & Craft

  

Saturday, November 12

10am - 12pm

It's a repeat of our ever-popular Charlie Brown Thanksgiving party! This event is for families. Pre-registration is required. We'll have crafts and games as well as the famous Charlie Brown Thanksgiving "dinner"! Lots of fun for all! Sign up begins Friday, November 4th and we'll reserve by groups of two or more and a parent or guardian must attend with children. Call 419-586-4442 to sign up.

Princess Party with Cinderella

Saturday, November 19

12noon - 2pm

Come join a real live Cinderella who will host a lovely tea-time with your little princess! Girls ages 4-9 are invited to play games, make a craft and enjoy music and dancing. Your little lady may also wear a princess costume if she chooses, but it is not a must. Space is limited to 15 girls, and registration is required. Sign-Up begins on Friday, November 11th.

Pajama Time

Thursday, November 17th

7:00pm - 7:30pm

All preschool age children are invited to come in their pajamas and listen to nursery rhymes and bedtime stories. Cookies and Milk served. 
Teddy bears and blankies are welcome. 

Wii Gaming Night

Friday, November 11

5:30 to 7:30

Kids ages 8 to 13 are invited to come to the library and challenge your friends in Mario Kart and snacks will be served.  Pre-registration is required.  Sign-up begins November 1st.





For more information, visit our website www.mercer.lib.oh.us

                                                                                                             

October 2011

Amazon Kindle, NOW Compatible

We are pleased to announce that Amazon Kindle is now compatible with your library's eBook collection. All browsing, searching, and checkout of eBook titles can be accessed through the library's iDownloads page. When a user checks out a Kindle Book, a "Get for Kindle" link will be presented that opens a new window (or tab) at Amazon prompting the user to login to their Amazon account. Fulfillment will occur at Amazon's website so you will need an Amazon account to access the library eBook in the Kindle format. No purchase or credit card is required to create an Amazon Kindle account. Once signed in, select which Kindle device or free Kindle app you want to deliver the title to. At launch, browse, check out, and fulfillment of Kindle Books from your library can be completed from we browsers on PC and Mac, iPad, and numerous other tablet devices.

Learn Skills with LearningExpress & your library card

LearningExpress offers a wice variety of practice tests (ACT, College Prep, Civil Service, Occupational Practice, ASVAB, etc.), exercises, skill-building courses, eBooks, and information you need to achieve the results you want—at school, at work, or in life. Looking to land a job? Find resume and job skill help too! Find it at http://www.ohioweblibrary.org/. Look for the LearningExpress A+ icon at the bottom of the page.

Friends of the Library Fall Author Program - Karen Harper

Sign-up NOW and JOIN US FOR AN EVENING
WITH OHIO AUTHOR
Karen Harper
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2011
7:00 P.M.
RICHARDSON-BRETZ BUILDING

Karen's books have been published in a variety of foreign languages including most recently Japanese and Greek. Two have appeared in Good Housekeeping Magazine, and many are in large print and audio books. Her MIRA novel, Karen's Amish novel, DARK ANGEL, won the Mary Higgins Clark Award, and she is currently writing a new romantic suspense trilogy set in Amish country. A New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author, Karen writes both contemporary novels and historical novels, the latter mostly set in Tudor England. These include MISTRESS SHAKESPEARE, THE QUEEN'S GOVERNESS, THE LAST BOLEYN and THE FIRST PRINCESS OF WALES. THE IRISH PRINCESS will be out in Feb. 2011, in time for St. Patrick's day. Though she is now a full-time writer, Karen still loves to teach by giving writing workshops and talks about getting published.

Below is an interview with Karen Harper at the Ohioana Book Festival

Halloween Story & Craft Hour

Saturday, October 22 @ 10am

Come join the Halloween fun on October 22nd from 10-11 as we make a craft, play games and listen to a spooky story. Come in your Halloween costume too! Kids ages 6 to 10 are invited. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. Sign-up begins Friday, October 14th.

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Family Day!
Saturday, November 12

10am til 12 noon

It's a repeat of our ever-popluar Charlie Brown Thanksgiving family day. This event is open for families and requires advanced registration. We'll have a craft, games and the famous Charlie Brown Thanksgiving "dinner"! Lots of fun for all! Sign-up begins Friday, November 4 and we will reserve by groups of two or more and a parent or guardian must attend with their child/ren.
Call 419-586-4442 to sign-up!

Don't forget to post your comments, questions and thoughts below.

Become one of our followers and "Friend" us on Facebook.

For more information, visit our website www.mercer.lib.oh.us

September 2011

Winter Hours to begin on September 6th

As the days get shorter, the library will be opened longer! Starting Tuesday, September 6, the library will be on Winter Hours. The library will be open:

Monday	9:00 am to 8:00 pm
Tuesday	9:00 am to 8:00 pm
Wednesday	9:00 am to 8:00 pm
Thursday	9:00 am to 8:00 pm
Friday	9:00 am to 8:00 pm
Saturday	9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sunday	CLOSED

Fall Author Program

Pat Nekola will be returning to the library for the Friend's of the Library's author program to share her chocolate creative ideas! She will be demonstrating new and amazing dishes using chocolate on Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at 6:30 in the Richardson-Bretz building behind the library. Space is limited, so please pre-register by calling 419-586-4442 or stopping by the circulation desk. Have you attended one of her programs? Please share your thoughts and comment below!

Mercer County Library goes Web 2.0 

To keep up with the ever-changing virtual world, new features have been added to the library website! The website now has handy new links to make finding information about your favorite library easy and fun, including this blog designed to make the monthly newsletter easily accessible. Also, the Good Reads book club and the Based on the Book discussion group now have blogs to keep you up to date on the monthly choices and discussion times. Access the blogs by clicking on the "Book Discussion" tab on our home page and selecting which group to gain access. Also, like our page on Facebook to keep current with what's going on at the library. 

More Wii Games Added

Several new Wii games have been added to the library's collection. Wii games go out for a week at a time to patrons 18 years and older and there is a limit of two per household.  Stop by the library and get in on the fun! Here are just a few of the NEW games available:
The $1,000,000 pyramid
Chuck E. Cheese's sports games
Just dance 2
Minute to win it
Are you smarter than a 5th grader game time
Squeeballs party
Fishing master. World Tour
Hot wheels battle force 5
Sonic Colors

@ Your Library

Mango Language teaches courses in French, German, Japanese, ESL and more!  It's a virtual classroom that works with your schedule and at your speed.  Find it at http://www.ohioweblibrary.org/.  Look for the Mango icon at the bottom of the page.  Watch the tutorial to learn more about Mango Language:

Final Thought
With all of the new technologies available today, do you think traditional books are on their way to becoming obsolete?  Is there a place for books in your life?  Post your thoughts below.

For more information or to search the catalog, visit our website http://www.mercer.lib.oh.us/

August 2011

NEW DATABASE Now Available

Chilton ® products have set the standard for reference sources for Do-It-Yourself automotive enthusiasts and professionals. The online database, with more than 45 years of information on auto tear-downs provided in step-by-step procedures, engine, chassis, electrical, drive train, routine maintenance, suspension work and more is made easier for mechanics of any experience level. Photos, illustrations and repair procedures help to simplify even the most arduous tasks. This new database is provided to patrons by the SEO Library Consortium. To gain access, just follow the link on the library’s website (www.mercer.lib.oh.us) and then enter your Library Card Number.

Adult Summer Reading

The 2011 Adult Summer Reading Program will come to an end on Friday, August 27th. There will be a small reception at 12:00 noon with light refreshments. The final drawings will be held including the winner of the grand prize, a NOOK eReader.

Throughout the summer, for every five books patrons read or listened to patrons could fill out an entry form and have a chance to win prizes in the bi-weekly drawings. The more patrons have read the better the chances to win great prizes. 

Children and Young Adult

Even though the Children’s Summer Reading Program is over, don’t forget to visit the library for books and more throughout the year.The children’s department is always adding new items to its collection in many formats (books, audio, video). Preschool Story Hour is held every Tuesday and Thursday at 10:30 am, all year long. Outreach is available for schools, preschools and other groups. In addition, special events and Holiday story & craft hours are also planned. Stop in to learn more.

One to One Computer Tutoring

Continuing until August 31st, the Mercer County District Library is offering FREE one hour tutoring sessions to help patrons with today’s ever-changing world of computers & technology. Choose from 12 topics or request an additional subject. The sessions will be held during regular library hours. Contact the library today to schedule your personalized tutoring session. 

A Final Thought

Gaming in the Library.  We have a couple of people who love to play the Wii (or dance to the themes).  Anyone have any thoughts?  Should we start Gaming in the library?

July 2011

JULY 2011 

PLAYAWAYS are Ready-to-go Audio

Playaways are the newest addition to the world of audio books. They come fully loaded with your favorite book titles, so there is no downloading required! Just plug your earphones into the universal jack, press play, and enjoy! Playaways are easy to use. The press of a button allows you to navigate chapters, fast forward, rewind, pause, stop, control the volume, and even adjust the voice speed! Playaways are lightweight and can easily fit into your pocket, making them the most portable of all audio book options. So, bring a Playaway along in the car, to the gym, at the beach, or just when you need to relax. The new Playaway Digital Audio System is a book lover's best friend!

Friends of the Library Book Sale

The Friends of the Library will be hosting the annual Lake Festival book sale on Friday, July 22nd from 9am to 6pm and Saturday, July 23rd from 9am to 5pm. While enjoying to Celina Lake Festival be sure to stop by the library to browse through the recent donations and withdrawn books. All items will be $1.00 per bag starting at noon on Saturday. 

Suggested books to read from our FACEBOOK Friends

Our Facebook friends are reading these books this summer, join the discussions @ Facebook.com/MercerCountyLibrary

Unbillable Hours by Ian Graham

A true story about a teenager wrongfully charged with murder

Warrior Woman by Dark Rain Thom and James Alexander Thom

The exceptional Life story of Nonhelema, Shawnee Indian Woman Chief

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

The astounding story of a man that said that he would stop the motor of the world—and did.

In the Long Run: a father, a son, and unintentional lessons in happiness by Jim Axelrod

A well-written, honest memoir about a son at a crossroads. He is inspired by a note discovered after his father's death describing his experience running a marathon.


The Mercer County District Library loves Facebook.  How many of you are on Facebook?  How often do you login to your Facebook account?



June 2011

New Hours 

We are now on our shortened summer hours:

Monday – 9am to 6pm

Tuesday – 9am to 6pm

Wednesday – 9am to 8pm

Thursday – 9am to 6pm

Friday – 9am to 6pm

Saturday – 9am to 5pm

Sunday – CLOSED

Wii

Wii love gaming @ the library.  Beginning in June the Mercer County Library will addWii games to the collection. Patrons 18 years of age and older can check out two Wii games for one week.  The Wii games will be kept with the DVDs and Blu-rays.  The collection includes many popular titles like Sonic Colors, Jeopardy, and Mario Super Star Baseball. 

Adult Summer Reading

The 2011 Adult summer Reading program will begin on June 20th. Read or listen to 5 books for each entry. Turn in your completed entry for a prize while supplies last. Bi-weekly prize drawings will begin July 1. The grand prize is a Nook donated by the Friends of the Library. A wrap-up reception and grand prize drawing will be held Friday, August 26 at 12 noon. Refreshments will be served

Children's Summer Reading Program

School is out but don’t stop reading. This year’s summer reading program starts on June 6. Our friend Ronald McDonald will be here on June 10 at 10am to help kick off the program! We will be having weekly prizes this year, so the more books you read, the better your chances are of winning. Our GRAND prizes this year are 2 bikes so make sure you read, read, read!!! The story & craft hours begin June 15 with the sign-up beginning June 8. Space is limited to the first 30 kids to sign up. Call or stop by for more information for various special events throughout the summer!

Computer Tutoring

This summer the Mercer County District Library is offering FREE one hour tutoring sessions to help patrons with today’s ever-changing world of computers and technology. Choose from 12 topics or request an additional subject. The sessions will be held during regular library hours.Contact the library today to schedule your personalized tutoring session!

For more information, visit our website www.mercer.lib.oh.us

May 2011

Closings and New Hours

The library will be CLOSED on May 30th for Memorial Day! We will reopen Tuesday, May 31st on our summer hours. The summer hours will be: 

Monday – 9am to 6pm

Tuesday – 9am to 6pm

Wednesday – 9am to 8pm

Thursday – 9am to 6pm

Friday – 9am to 6pm

Saturday – 9am to 5pm

Sunday – CLOSED

Know it Now

Know it Now is a live online information service provided free of charge for the citizens of Ohio by the State Library and The Mercer County Library. You can now text your question to a librarian 24/7 to 66746. You are welcome to ask any kind of question you like; however, questions that have short, factual answers are most effectively handled through texting. KnowItNow24x7 does not charge for this service; however, your phone carrier's regular text message and data rates apply.

Kindle

Amazon says its Kindle e-reader will get the ability to load e-books from public libraries later this year. They are currently working with OverDrive Inc. to make the system compatible with the Kindle

Staff Monthly Picks

Janie’s pick this month is “The Good Daughters” by Joyce Maynard. Ruth is sensitive and artistic and can’t seem to understand her farmer father and cold mother. Dana, who grows up to be a scientist, is constantly seeking grounding and stability, thanks to her flighty parents and her loosey-goosey childhood. The girls are friends of a sort, mainly 

thrust together in the “isn’t-itcute-they-share-a-birthday” sense. They each have intricate, complicated relationships with Ruth’s father and with Dana’s brother. As they grow up and find their places in the world, family secrets come to light and their worlds slowly begin to make sense

What's Next?

Are you trying to remember the name of the third Redemption Series book? What about the second Agatha Raisen book or the fourth Alex Cross book? The Kent District Library has been doing this for years by publishing their What’s Next?: Books in Series for over 10 years. This includes a version for youth books. Their website is free. The majority of the website is text only which should make mobile access easier to access than other sources.

Access the website at: http://ww2.kdl.org/libcat/whatsnext.asp

For more information, visit our website www.mercer.lib.oh.us