The Heart and Soul of Mercer: Photo Walk with Artist in Residence Christina Myers
2025-07-24 15:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago)
Join photographer Christina Myers on a scenic photo walk through Mercer on Thursday, July 24 from 3:00-5:00pm. On the walk, we’ll explore classic Mercer sites while delving into the unique iconography of Northern Wisconsin. We’ll meet at the library, and then explore nearby photo spots, chat about area history, and check out contemporary sights. Christina will be available to field your photography questions on the walk, as well as share tips on storytelling through environmental portraiture. Come for a structured outing or a casual exploration of the community for a meaningful creative social experience. All ages and cameras are welcome.
Space is limited to 10 people and registration is required in advanced. Please call the Mercer Public Library at 715-476-2366 to sign up for the class. Thanks to a sponsorship from the Friends of the Mercer Public Library, this is event is free to attend.

A Conversation with Sara Rath
2025-07-24 18:00 - 19:00
Join author Sara Rath for a discussion of the novel and the true story of Hurley’s 100-year old unsolved “Lady of the Evening” murder around which her novel resolves. Rath will share how she wove Northwoods history through her modern-day suspense story that centers at “The Last Resort” on a fictitious Star Lake. Much of the setting for her novel was inspired by the summer cabin her family visits each year near Mercer.
About the author: “Accidental Summer” is the third in the Star Lake series of novels by award-winning author Sara Lindsay Rath. A native of Manawa, Wis., Rath earned her undergraduate degree in English from UW-Madison and has an MFA in writing from Vermont College. She is the recipient of fellowships from the Wisconsin Arts Board, the MacDowell Colony, and the Ucross Foundation. She still visits the family cabin near Mercer, where generational ties familiarized her with the natural world of the Northwoods. Married for over 32 years to Del Lamont, their combined family embraces six children, 13 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Learn more at www.sararath.com.
For more information about all of our 2025 summer programs, please click here or call the Mercer Public Library at 715-476-2366. Thanks to a sponsorship by the Friends of the Mercer Public Library, all summer programs are FREE and open to the public.

AA Open Meeting
2025-07-24 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-07-27 18:00 - 19:00, 2025-07-31 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-08-03 18:00 - 19:00, 2025-08-07 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-08-10 18:00 - 19:00, 2025-08-14 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-08-17 18:00 - 19:00 and 4 more dates
The “Never Had It So Good” group holds twice-weekly AA meetings at the Mercer Library.

Thursday night meetings are an Open Meeting and are held at 7:00 p.m. from November through April and at 7:30 p.m. from May through October.
Sunday meetings are an Open Big Book Study and are held at 6:00 p.m. year-round.

Where Things 'Usta' Be History Walk
2025-07-30 15:30 - 16:30
Join Library Assistant Blaze on Wednesday July 30 at 3:30pm on the grounds of the Mercer Depot for a walk around the downtown area. The walk will showcase the historic locations and buildings and tell some of the stories associated with them.
In the event of inclement weather, the presentation will be held inside the Library. For more information, please call the Mercer Public Library at 715-476-2366; this event is free and open to the public and no registration is required.

Turtle River Pickers
2025-07-30 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-08-13 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-08-20 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-08-27 19:00 - 20:30
Looking for a place to play your acoustic instrument with some friends? Bring your instrument (guitar, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, what else have you got?) and join the Turtle River Pickers for a jam session. We’ll play old time, bluegrass, and folk songs. Bring your instrument, a tuner, and a couple of songs to lead. Three-chord songs are best!
The Turtle River Pickers will meet at the Minocqua Public Library on the first Wednesday from 5:00-6:50pm. All other weeks, the Pickers will meet at the Mercer Public Library on Wednesday from 7:00pm-8:30pm.
This event is free and open to the public; no registration needed. For more information, please call the Library at 715-476-2366.

Birds of Prey with Northwoods Wildlife Center
2025-07-31 10:00 - 11:00
Through our birds of prey educational program, you will learn about the unique and beautiful adaptations that help these fantastic birds hunt and survive. Our educators usually bring Tommi, an extraordinary and gorgeous Red-Tailed Hawk. On our education tour, you will see Peregrine Falcons, Great Horned Owls, Goshawks, and Red Tailed Hawks. You will also get to see a full-sized bald eagle nest, test your grip against some of the strongest grips in the animal kingdom and learn all sorts of great things about birds of prey.
The culmination of a dream of local veterinarian Dr. Rory Foster and his wife Linda, the Northwoods Wildlife Center was incorporated in 1979, and became a separate entity from his veterinarian clinic, Foster-Smith Animal Hospital in Minocqua, Wisconsin after a 2-day old fawn with a broken leg was admitted to his clinic. The Fosters were determined to help. Soon after the fawn arrived, the Fosters began treating multitudes of other wild animal species brought to the clinic by concerned citizens. It was then decided that the Fosters would form a non-profit organization dedicated to helping injured wildlife. The Northwoods Wildlife Center wildlife hospital was built next to the Foster-Smith Animal Hospital and was officially opened on June 19, 1982, becoming one of the first wildlife hospitals in the Midwest.
For more information about all of our 2025 summer programs, please click here or call the Mercer Public Library at 715-476-2366. Thanks to a sponsorship by the Friends of the Mercer Public Library, all summer programs are FREE and open to the public.

Storytelling through Pictures: Open Printing Studio with Artist in Residence Christina Myers
2025-08-04 15:00 - 17:00
The print lab is open! Join photographer Christina Myers for an immersive workshop on Monday August 4 from 3:00-5:00pm that blends the art of archival printing with the craft of storytelling. Participants will learn the technical process of creating high-quality, lasting prints—from file preparation to paper selection and final output. Then, we’ll dive into the narrative side of your work to unlock the story behind the image and craft a compelling artist’s blurb that brings your print to life through words. This workshop will help you preserve your vision and express the story behind it with clarity and purpose. Participants will leave the workshop with (1) large format archival print of a personal image of their choosing. All ages are welcome.
Space is limited to 10 people and registration is required in advanced. Please call the Mercer Public Library at 715-476-2366 to sign up for the class. Thanks to a sponsorship from the Friends of the Mercer Public Library, this is event is free to attend.

Annual Used Book Sale
2025-08-05 08:00 - 15:00
The Friends of the Mercer Library will sponsor a USED BOOK SALE on Tuesday August 5 from 8am-3pm. Our book sales offer great deals on books for all ages, jigsaw puzzles, DVDs, and more. The Book Sale is buy what you want and take what you want so feel free to stock up your bookshelves, early plan for holiday presents, or just take some time to browse what’s for sale.

All proceeds from the sale benefit the Friends of the Mercer Public Library who support programs, special events, materials, and new equipment and special items for the library. You can help by shopping at the sale or by donating used items for the sale — or both!
We need your donations for the sale!
While we accept small amounts of donations throughout the year, we will accept large quantities from July 28 through August 2 during normal library operations.
We love donations of good condition hardcover books, paperback books, children’s books, DVDs, and CDs. We also appreciate board games and puzzles if they are in good condition with all their pieces. We we can only accept workbooks like crossword puzzles, Sudoku, and coloring books if they are in new, unused condition.
We do not accept textbooks, encyclopedias, magazines, outdated medical or legal books, and “condensed” books. We also cannot accept any items that are moldy or water damaged, or have insect or rodent damage due to the risk of spreading those problems to other books at the library. Thank you!

Library Closed
2025-08-06
The Library will be closed on Wednesday August 6, 2025 for Loon Day.

Legends of the Loon with the Discovery Center
2025-08-07 14:00 - 15:00
Join us just after Loon Day for a program on the ‘Legends of the Loon’ with the North Lake Discovery Center. The program will be on Thursday August 7 from 2pm-3pm.
This lesson will explore the life history and behaviors of this mysterious bird of the north with a slide show presentation. A fund and interactive loon adaptation activity will leave one participant feeling ‘loony.’
NLDC is a nature-based education and community center. Our market is regional, appealing to people who live, own second homes, and vacation in Wisconsin’s Northwoods. An expanding market is organized groups interested in nature-recreation opportunities and programs. These include groups such as the Center for Conservation Leadership and WI Land+Water Youth Conservation Camp.
For more information about all of our 2025 summer programs, please click here or call the Mercer Public Library at 715-476-2366. Thanks to a sponsorship by the Friends of the Mercer Public Library, all summer programs are FREE and open to the public.

Monster Madness and screening of Lake Michigan Monster
2025-08-08 15:00 - 18:00
It’s campy horror… it’s absurd comedy… it’s nautical nonsense…it’s free popcorn… it’s not for small children! It’s a supernature adventure by Captain Seafield and a team of ‘specialists’ as they hunt and kill a murderous sea creature!
Monster Madness!
At 3:00pm, join us for a brief talk from Kelsey Prihoda, University of Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota Sea Grant Program for a presentation on the importance of the Great Lakes to the region, industry, and difficulties in navigating the Lakes. At 3:45pm, Library Assistant Blaze will give a short presentation on The Fedora, a shipwreck off the coast of Bayfield, WI.
A photo booth with props will be available, and door prizes include books on the hauntings of Lake Superior and Lake Michigan. The grand prize is a floating cooler in the shape of a pirate ship!
Free Screening of Lake Michigan Monsters!
Starting at 4:00pm, we’re hosting a free screening of Lake Michigan Monster, a film by Ryland Brickson Cole Tews and Mike Cheslik. Lake Michigan Monster follows Captain Seafield as he assembles a team of specialists to hunt the lake monster who killed his father.
Premiering at the Milwaukee Film Festival in 2018, Lake Michigan Monster has been billed as reminiscent of 1960s B-rated horror films. Richard Whittaker of The Austin chronicle praised the fill for its humor and throwback to low-budget 1980s and 1960s cinema with their “micro-budget, black and white whimsical voyage of wonderful waffling”. Others noted the “gloriously weird mash-up of genres and decades that revel in its low-budget strangeness and offbeat humor”

Memory Mondays: Sharing Mercer's history
2025-08-11 11:00 - 12:00
The library is seeking input on how we can help preserve, document, and display our community’s history. Join us for “Memory Mondays,” an engaging gathering where local history buffs, community enthusiasts, and curious minds come together to share insights stories and ideas about our local history.
If you have ideas, you are invited to attend! People with questions or personal projects are also invited to attend, ask questions about the library’s services and digitization equipment, and share information.
Memory Mondays will be held on the second Monday of the month from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. All are welcome! For more information, call the library at 715-476-2366.

Friends of the Library Regular Meeting
2025-08-12 10:00 - 12:00
The Friends of the Mercer Library meet every month on the second Tuesday at 10am. Join us to learn more about what the Friends do and how they support the Library.
If you’d like to attend by Zoom, please call the library at 715-476-2366 for the link.
The Friends of the Library are a registered 501(c)(3) organization that seeks to support the work of the Mercer Library. They assist with library events and fund programming, library materials, and special events that are not covered under the library’s operating budget. Attend a meeting to see how you can help!

Magic Morgan & Liliana
2025-08-14 10:00 - 11:00
Prepare to be astonished on August 14 from 10am-11am with Magic Morgan and Liliana!
Award-winning magicians Magic Morgan & Liliana provide an extraordinary blend of eye-popping illusions, dazzling balloon artistry, daring stunts with live animals, and mind-boggling tricks. Watch as the impossible unfolds before your eyes in a show that will have you laughing and gasp as you wonder, “How did they do that?”
Meet the Magicians
Matthew ‘Magic’ Morgan – The Deaf Magician Who’s Performed Worldwide!
Matthew “Magic” Morgan’s love for magic started at age six when his grandfather—a former carnival performer—taught him a simple coin trick. That small moment sparked a passion that would take him across the globe!
By age 11, he booked his first paid performance, using his earnings to invest in even more magic tricks. By 1992, he was already taking his magic beyond state lines. With over 30 years of experience, Matthew has performed in 50 states and 45 countries around the world, thrilling audiences with his spectacular illusions and sleight of hand. To date, he has performed over 10,000 live shows.

Liliana Morgan, a Stunning Fusion of Dance, Culture & Illusion!
Born in Russia, Liliana Morgan has captivated audiences across Europe with her breathtaking blend of magic, dance, and cultural artistry. Lilana’s love for magic began in her twenties, and she quickly became a rising star in the world of illusion.
But Liliana calls meeting Matthew her most magical moment! Their shared passion for wonder and illusion brought them together at one of Matthew’s shows in Russia. Today, they travel the world as a dynamic husband-and-wife magic duo who perform jaw-dropping tricks.
For more information about all of our 2025 summer programs, please click here or call the Mercer Public Library at 715-476-2366. Thanks to a sponsorship by the Friends of the Mercer Public Library, all summer programs are FREE and open to the public.

Grown Up Story Hour
2025-08-28 09:00 - 10:00
Why should kids have all the fun? Join us for Grown Up Story Hour at the Mercer Senior Center on the 4th Thursday of the month from 9am-10am. Sit back and relax while we read short stories, poetry, and essays to you!
We’re always looking for more story hour readers. If you are interested in reading a piece of short (5-15 minute) fiction or non-fiction, call the library at 715-476-2366 to let us know. If you’d like to read but don’t have a selection in mind, we can help you find one.

Library Closed
2025-09-01
The Library will be closed on Monday, September 1, 2025 for Labor Day.
