Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Mercer library prepares for summer of fun, games, reading

By MEGAN HUGHES

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Mercer — The Mercer Public Library is preparing for an exciting summer, according to Library Director Teresa Schmidt.

“We have a lot planned,” she said, “as we always do at the Mercer Library.”

From June 20 through mid-August, the library will offer children’s programming, ranging from nature programs to touring theater groups.

“We are going to have weekly fun things happening for kids, most of which will be happening on Thursdays, maybe Fridays,” said Schmidt.

The library also will offer programming for adults, such as a showing of the film “Hundreds of Beavers,” which was filmed in Wisconsin and is a silent-film era comedy about a man battling hundreds of beavers.

“It is a wild and wacky thing that we are excited to have permission to show here,” said Schmidt. “We are going to show it on the afternoon of June 28.”

That date also will mark the library’s Beaver Bonanza because, in addition to the showing of the film, it will feature area beaver trappers coming to tell stories and naturalists speaking about beaver habitats. There is no official time set for the events, but they will be announced by the library on a later date.

Historical re-enactor Jessica Michna will perform at the library on July 28 with her presentation of the historical figure Molly Brown, known as “the unsinkable Molly Brown.”

Author Lauren Fox will be at the library on Aug. 18 for a talk about her book “Send with Me.” This event is in conjunction with the Winchester Public Library and is free to the public.

“We will be doing at both libraries some book discussions in advance of her being here,” said Schmidt.

The Mercer Public Library also is kicking off its summer reading program in June alongside weekly programming, according to Schmidt.

She said the library is encouraging children to set goals for themselves, whether that be a certain number of words or a certain number of books.

“We try to do things that are engaging for people,” said Schmidt. “It takes a good portion of our year to plan out the summer. It’s a lot of fun and is a great reason for people to visit the library during the summer months.”

For more information about the Mercer Public Library, visit: mercerpubliclibrary.org.