Poetry Reading & Open Mic: Judith McNally Thursday, November 13, 6:30 - 8:00 pmStep into a world of witty, poignant dialogue with Judith McNally’s “micrologues”— short poetic exchanges that blend jazz rhythms, Chinese linguistic nuance, and theatrical flair. Joined by her husband Kevin, Judith will read from her new collection WALKING Without WALKING, inviting you to inhabit characters both whimsical and profound. A celebrated poet, novelist, and playwright, Judith’s work has appeared in U.S.1 Worksheets and beyond. Come for the micrologues, stay for the open mic—bring your voice, your verse, and your curiosity. Sponsored by Friends of the Lawrence Library. Registration is appreciated.
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Counting to 17: A Haiku Writing WorkshopWednesday, November 19, 2:30 – 4:00 pmIf you can count to 17, you can write a haiku! Join published poet/writer Bill Waters at this hands-on workshop to explore the possibilities of syllable-count haiku – from the silly to the sublime. Sponsored by Friends of the Lawrence Library. Registration is appreciated.
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The Legacy of Sarah DashThursday, November 20, 2:00 - 4:00 pmFrom Trenton’s streets to global stages, Sarah Dash’s voice transcended genres and generations. In this heartfelt tribute, niece Danielle Miller-Winrow—arts educator and founder of Sprout U School of the Arts—shares Dash’s journey as a trailblazing member of Labelle, a collaborator with Keith Richards, and a mentor rooted in service. Danielle explores how Dash’s legacy shaped her own path in arts education and community empowerment, celebrating a life that fused music, activism, and hometown pride into lasting inspiration for future generations. This program is co-sponsored by the 60s Group. Registration is appreciated.
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Featured Youth Services Programs
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Los lunes a las 5:30 pm es Scrabble en español y Conversación en español para todas las edades en la Sala de Actividades Juveniles, todos los lunes de noviembre. Disfruta de discusiones sobre temas cotidianos mientras practicas formar palabras que te den la mayor cantidad de puntos. Sponsored by Friends of the Lawrence Library. Registration is required at www.mcl.org beginning 24 hours before program start time.
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K-Pop Demon Hunters Dance PartyFriday, November 7, 10:00 amWe're goin' up, up, up, it's our moment! Come celebrate the movie everyone's raving about, K-Pop Demon Hunters! We'll sing, dance, and craft! For kids of all ages, with a caregiver. Sponsored by Friends of the Lawrence Library. Registration is required at www.mcl.org beginning 24 hours before program start time.
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Printmaking: Personalized StationarySunday, November 30, 2:00 pmEtch a design into a foam block (a pen or pencil works fine—no sharp tools needed). Then, print it onto a set of notecards to create your own small set of personalized stationary! You’ll be glad to have it in the coming months when it’s time to write holiday cards and thank you notes. Matching envelopes will be included. Recommended for children and teens ages 5+, with an adult to supervise. Sponsored by Friends of the Lawrence Library. Registration is required at www.mcl.org beginning 24 hours before program start time.
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Featured Virtual Programs
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Our Lenape Heritage Monday, November 3, 7:00 pm Presented by Claire Garland, Director of Sand Hill Indian Historical Association and member of the New Jersey American Indian Affairs Commission.  Protecting Your Financial Future: Investor Education & Fraud Prevention Thursday, November 6, 2:30 pm Provided by law students from Seton Hall University School of Law’s FINRA Investor Advocacy Program. Understanding Memory & Communication in Aging Monday, November 10, 7:00 pm Led by Erin Coulter, Lead Speech Language Pathologist with Penn Medicine. Presented as part of the Penn Medicine Princeton Health Community Wellness Program. Sweden Holiday Traditions & Today Thursday, November 20, 6:00 pm Presented by the American Swedish Historical Museum of Philadelphia, which welcomes everyone to explore cultural identity through stories of Swedes and all Scandinavians, and to connect with a vibrant community dedicated to preserving and interpreting culture. Sponsored by Hightstown Library Association. The Lenape People: Life Before the Colonists Monday, November 24, 6:30 pm Presented by John Schneider, award-winning historian, author, teacher, and television host. Sponsored by Friends of the Hickory Corner Library.
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Featured Technology Instruction
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Spend a Saturday with Google Saturday, November 15 Google Sheets 10:00 – 11:00 am Google Drive 1:30 – 2:30 pm Google Docs 3:00 – 4:00 pm Learn how to use popular Google programs to create spreadsheets and documents, and save your files to the cloud. November Lab Series Open Lab/Northstar Monday, November 10, 2:00 – 3:30 pm Typing Lab Tuesday, November 18, 2:00 – 3:00 pm Open Lab/Northstar Tuesday, November 25, 2:00 – 3:30 pm Have a technology question and don’t know who to ask? Want to practice your skills with typing activities or Northstar Digital Literacy lessons? Come visit the Technology Instructors for a lab session.
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Reminiscence KitsReminiscence Kits are a wonderful new offering for families and caregivers. Each kit consists of a backpack filled with themed items (a DVD, photo/activity cards, busy bottle, and coloring kit) that can be used to ask questions and initiate conversations with loved ones affected by Alzheimer’s or other dementias. There are three available with themes of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. The kits are housed at the Hopewell Branch but may be placed on hold for pick up at any branch. Find them here in our catalog.
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Branch Holiday Hours Tuesday, November 4th - Election Day The Ewing, Hickory Corner, Lawrence and West Windsor branches will be open from 9:30am-5:00pm. All other branches are closed. Tuesday, November 11th - Veterans Day The Ewing, Hickory Corner, Lawrence and West Windsor branches will be open from 9:30am-5:00pm. All other branches are closed. Wednesday, November 26th - Thanksgiving Eve All branches will close at 5:00 pm. Thursday, November 27th - Thanksgiving All branches are closed. Friday, November 28th - The Day After Thanksgiving The Ewing, Hickory Corner, Lawrence and West Windsor branches will be open from 9:30am-5:00pm. All other branches are closed.
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Say Hello to Amber! We have a new face at the Circulation Desk! Stop by and say hello to Amber. "Since returning to New Jersey after living in Louisville, Kentucky for almost three years, the Mercer County Library System has rekindled my love for working in library systems as well as connecting with my local community,” said Amber. “When I attended the University of Louisville, I worked at Ekstrom Library and absolutely loved it! I feel a lot of the same energy from Ekstrom's Library at MCLS and have found it a pleasure to work at the Circulation Desk at the Lawrence Headquarters Branch! I love being able to make meaningful exchanges with our patrons every day and know I am a part of team that works together to make our community more connected through our programs and events."
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Friends of the Library
Our Friends of the Library groups generously support our programs all year long. Consider joining or donating to your branch's Friends group. Ask for more information in the branch or visit our website. |
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These are just this month's highlights, dozens of programs for adults and youth take place at our branch every month. View our full calendar for a complete list.
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Featured Titles for Native American Heritage Month
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Library Speakers Consortium - Virtual Author Talks
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Joseph Lee Community, Power, and the Search for Indigenous Identity Wednesday, Nov 5, 2:00 pm Amanda Berry The Search for Truth and the Persistence of Love Across Time Thursday, Nov 13, 7:00 pm Charles Duhigg Unlock the Secret Language of Connection Tuesday, Nov 18, 2:00 pm
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