MCLS Virtual Programs & Events
 
April 2026
Guest Speakers
The Declaration of Independence:
America's Birth Certificate from Conception to Celebration
Monday, April 6, 7:00 pm
Historian Joel Farkas explores the roots of the U.S. Constitution, from the Magna Carta (1215) to today. He is a U.S. Army officer, a National Park Service docent at Washington’s Headquarters in Morristown and a lecturer at Rutgers and Fairleigh Dickinson Universities. Sponsored by the Friends of the Hickory Corner Library.
Renoir: His Friends and Models
Monday, April 13, 7:00 pm
Discover how Renoir’s friends, models, and family influenced the work of one of the most celebrated painters of the Impressionist era. Presented by Jeanne Johnson, docent at the Princeton University Art Museum and Morven Museum & Gardens.
The Gambler, the Writer, and Zelda:
The History Behind The Girl in the Green Dress
Monday, April 20, 6:30 pm
Author Mariah Fredericks discusses her new mystery inspired by the unsolved 1920 murder of Joseph Elwell. Using images and historical insight, she explores how the real-life stories of Elwell, Morris Markey, and Zelda Fitzgerald shaped her novel The Girl in the Green Dress.
Introduction to the Art of Arabic Calligraphy
Tuesday, April 28, 6:30 pm
 Celebrate Arab American Heritage Month with calligrapher Elinor A. Holland. Learn about Arabic script, its history, styles, and tools, and watch a live calligraphy demonstration of this timeless art.
Staff-Led Programs 
Teen Advisory Board 
Friday, April 10, 3:30 pm
All teens are welcome to join! Come be a part of the MCLS Teen Advisory Board.  There are opportunities to enhance your leadership skills, earn community service hours, help run library programs, and write book reviews. New members always welcome!!
 
Guided Meditation
Mondays, April 13 & 27, 4:00 pm
Relax, refocus, and rejuvenate. Take a moment to regain the peace lost during our busy days. Facilitated by staff member, Leena, who is a longtime practitioner of Rajyoga meditation. Please visit the MCLS Event Calendar to register for sessions in April.
A Poetry Happening: Mercer Poets Read
Wednesday, April 29, 7:00 pm
Poetry comes alive! Celebrate National Poetry Month with local poets reading their own work and favorite published poems. Enjoy an evening of inspiration, creativity, and the joy of words.
 
 
CALL FOR POEMS -- If you would like to submit either a poem of your own or a favorite published poem to read, please submit your poem of choice, citing the author, by Wednesday, April 22. More information available at https://mcl.org/call-for-poems/
Author Talks
Enjoy a range of talks from bestselling authors and thought leaders.
Brought to you in partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium.

On a Mission: The History of US Women Astronauts with Smithsonian Curator Emerita Valerie Neal
Thursday, April 2, 2:00 pm
Join us for an exhilarating journey through the history of US women astronauts with Valerie Neal, emerita curator from the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum and expert on human spaceflight.
On Writing Action-Packed and Suspenseful Spycraft with Brad Taylor
Tuesday, April 14, 7:00 pm
Join us in conversation with acclaimed author Brad Taylor on his latest work, Shadow Strike, book 20 (yes, you read that right!) of the bestselling Pike Logan series. 
How Exploration, Uncertainty, and Risk Help Us Find Meaning with Author Alex Hutchinson
Thursday, April 16, 2:00 pm
In The Explorer’s Gene: Why We Seek Big Challenges, New Flavors, and the Blank Spots on the Map, Alex Hutchinson dives headfirst into a fascinating and provocative new field of research, examining how exploration is a fundamental part of what makes us human.
Lush Lyricism and Intimate Confessions with Miranda Cowley Heller
Wednesday, April 22, 2:00 pm
Award-winning and bestselling author Miranda Cowley Heller takes us on an intimate journey through the life stages of a woman in her new poetry collection, What the Deep Water Knows. Delicate, yet exceedingly raw, these poems will transport you as vividly as any work of fiction. 
Bittersweet: Exploring the Five Tastes of Dessert with Thalia Ho
Thursday, April 23, 7:00 pm
Thalia Ho, creator of the award-winning blog "Butter and Brioche" and author of Wild Sweetness, explores the five tastes of dessert and beyond in her new book, Bittersweet: The Five Tastes of Dessert and Beyond.
Library Chef Workshops
MCLS offers a delicious addition to our virtual program offerings: Library Chef! This unique culinary journey offers you the chance to enhance your kitchen skills with expert-led classes, all from the comfort of your home.
 
Check out Library Chef classes this April and explore cooking, wellness, and sustainable living -- available to attend with your library card.

Compost This! Easy Steps to Reduce Waste and Help the Planet
Wednesday, April 8, 7:30 pm
Turn kitchen scraps into treasure and learn easy composting steps that help the planet. No experience needed – just curiosity and a desire to live greener.
Classic Chicken Francese –
Rosemary Lemon Twist
Wednesday, April 15, 7:30 pm
Cook tender chicken cutlets with a bright, zesty rosemary lemon sauce in this fresh Italian favorite. Simple techniques, big flavor – perfect for all skill levels.
Asian Ginger Soy Soft-Boiled Eggs
Wednesday, April 22, 6:00 pm
Master soft-boiled eggs with a rich, jammy center and savory ginger-soy flavor. Quick, delicious, and great for beginners or seasoned home cooks.
The Basics of Meditation with Melissa
Wednesday, April 22, 7:30 pm
Learn easy mindfulness techniques to reduce stress and improve focus. 
Click here for a full list of programs

In this Issue
Guest Speakers
Staff-Led Programs
Author Talks
Library Chef Workshops
Featured Titles for Poetry Month
Featured Titles for Poetry Month
Making the Best of What's Left: When We're Too Old to Get the Chairs Reupholstered by Judith Viorst
Making the Best of What's Left: When We're Too Old to Get the Chairs Reupholstered
Truth Is: A Novel in Verse by Hannah V. Sawyerr
Truth Is: A Novel in Verse
What Remains: The Collected Poems of Hannah Arendt by Hannah Arendt
What Remains: The Collected Poems of Hannah Arendt
My Weird School Special: I'm a Poet and I Know It! by Dan Gutman
My Weird School Special: I'm a Poet and I Know It!
A Century of Poetry in the New Yorker: 1925-2025 by New Yorker Magazine Inc
A Century of Poetry in the New Yorker: 1925-2025
Love and Need: The Life of Robert Frost's Poetry by Adam Plunkett
Love and Need: The Life of Robert Frost's Poetry
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Mercer County Library System
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Lawrence Township, New Jersey 08648
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