Mercer Public Library

AA Open Meeting
2026-07-26 18:00 - 19:00, 2026-07-30 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-08-02 18:00 - 19:00, 2026-08-06 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-08-09 18:00 - 19:00, 2026-08-13 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-08-16 18:00 - 19:00, 2026-08-20 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) and 9 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.

Dinosaur Dimensions
2026-07-31 10:30 - 11:30
Don’t miss out because July 31 at 10:30am is your chance to “meet the dinosaurs”! Dinosaur Dimensions with Strutz Entertainment brings a collection of realistic puppets to create a unique experience like no other. With four different dinosaurs in the herd, you won’t want to miss this.
For more information about all of our 2026 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.

Annual Used Book Sale
2026-08-04 08:00 - 15:00
The Friends of the Mercer Library will sponsor a USED BOOK SALE on Tuesday August 4 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 and events, materials, 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 27 through August 1 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We do not accept textbooks, encyclopedias, magazines, outdated medical or legal books, and “condensed” books.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, have strong odors, or have insect or rodent damage due to the risk of spreading those problems to other books at the library. Thank you!

Library Closed
2026-08-05
The Library will be closed on Wednesday, August 5 for Loon Day.

Friends @ Loon Day
2026-08-05 09:00 - 16:00
Stop by and say hi to the Friends of the Mercer Library at the 2026 Loon Day on August 5!
Stay tuned for more information coming soon!

Kid's Yoga with Rooted Soul Yoga Studio
2026-08-06 11:00 - 12:00
Join us on August 6 at 11am for a kids’ yoga class with Amanda from Rooted Soul Yoga Studio! Amanda will lead the class through a story, incorporating physical poses, breath work, and mindfulness.
For more information about all of our 2026 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.
Rooted Soul Yoga and Wellness Studio is based in Mercer, WI. Rooted Soul is a place to gather and connect with yourself and others in a warm, caring atmosphere, exploring movement and breath, embracing self healing and finding mind, body connection.

Mid-Month Movie Matinee with the Mercer Senior Center
2026-08-12 12:15 - 14:00, 2026-09-09 12:15 - 14:00
Join us on the second Wednesday of each month at the Northwoods Hub (previously the Mercer Senior Center) for a free screening of different movies. The movies will start at 12:15pm following the lunch service.

Public Screening: "Soul of a People: Writing America's Story"
2026-08-12 15:30 - 17:30
Join us on August 12 from 3:30pm-5:30pm for a free screening of the 2009 documentary “Soul of a People: Writing America’s Story”. This screening is a part of the 2026-2027 recognition of artist Mietzi “Marie” Bleck, who created works that have hung in the Library since 1937 as a part of the WPA-Federal Arts Project. Thanks to a sponsorship by the Friends of the Mercer Library, the Artist in Residence program is free for all who wish to participate and enjoy our local artists’ work. For questions or additional details, please contact the Library at 715-476-2366.
Synopsis (from the American Library Association)
The film shows a spectacular range—from New York to the West Coast, from Chicago to the Deep South. The stories of the writers and the people they chronicled take viewers beyond stock images of the Depression into the trials and fragile joys of people’s lives. The Writers’ Project workers were assembling guides and interviews, but they were also knitting together the cultural fabric torn apart by the national crisis.
For this sweeping subject, the film uses a broad palette of archival film and audio from the 1920s and ’30s, murals from the arts project, FSA photographs, live-action footage and spellbinding interview commentary shot in High Definition. Interviews with surviving Project workers Stetson Kennedy in Florida and Studs Terkel in Chicago (one of his last interviews) provide riveting stories that help anchor the narrative. A diverse group of leading authors, poets and historians provide witty and heartbreaking insights on an extraordinary vision of the America we never knew. Rarely seen footage from early social documentarians from the 1930s reinforce the immediacy of these perspectives.
The soundtrack features a collection of original field recordings made by Writers’ Project workers on acetate disk, using a massive machine the size of a coffee table, which was lugged along to interview sites. Newly restored by the Library of Congress, this recording device is shown “in action” in the film. Sound elements include Cuban and gospel songs, audio of Zora Neale Hurston singing and collecting stories in Florida, street vendors in New York and folk songs of the West. A number of commissioned musical works by artists such as Taj Mahal, the Gypsy Kings and Peter Ostrushko, and a musical score by Joseph Vitarelli, highlights the range of cultures the Writers’ Project set out to capture. The film also draws upon a rich reservoir of radio broadcasts, including a passionate defense of the WPA arts projects (in the face of scrutiny by the Dies Committee) from a young Richard Wright in 1939.
The film shows the most chaotic publishing venture in history and the remarkable national biography it produced. It reveals how out-of-work Americans, young and old, found hope in the country’s darkest days and created a legacy for American culture. Viewers will leave with a deep feeling of how that legacy has renewed meaning today.
Major funding for the documentary Soul of a People: Writing America’s Story was provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the state humanities councils of Illinois, Nebraska, Idaho, Maryland, Texas and Wisconsin. Produced in association with the Library of Congress, the documentary will be broadcast in HD on the Smithsonian Network.
A companion book, Soul of a People: The WPA Writers’ Project Uncovers Depression America, by documentary co-producer and writer, David Taylor, was published by Wiley and Sons in February 2009.

'Unearth a Story' with magician Isaiah Foster
2026-08-13 11:00 - 12:00
‘Unearth a Story’ with magician Isaiah Foster on August 13 from 11am-12pm!
Unearth a Story is a 45-minute family magic show that brings books to life with wonder, laughter, and unforgettable moments. The show blends amazing magic, light juggling, whimsical puppetry, and clean, interactive comedy that keeps kids and adults engaged from start to finish. Each magical moment connects back to a book introduced by Isaiah and highlights the power of imagination and the joy of reading. Audience members don’t just watch the magic – they become part of it, helping to unlock hidden surprises, discover secrets within books, and “unearth” the treasurers of storytelling.
For more information about all of our 2026 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.
Isaiah Foster’s interest in magic began when he was given a trick at the age of 9. He learned it and used it to entertain family and friends. He started gathering more magic and sharing with more audiences who encouraged his love for entertainment.

A Conversation With Marnie O. Mamminga
2026-08-20 18:00 - 19:00
We’re pleased to host Marnie O. Mamminga and her presentation on “Return to Wake Robin: One Cabin in the Heydey of Northwoods Resorts” as a part of our A Conversation With… speakers’ series. Marnie will present on August 20 from 6pm-7pm and will be available for book signing and questions following.
Marnie O. Mamminga, award winning author and essayist, travels back in time in “Return to Wake Robin: One Cabin in the Heyday of Northwoods Resorts”. With 5 generations of memories, Mamminga reminisces on summers spent at Wake Robin, her family cabin on Big Spider Lake. She has also authored “On A Clear Night: Essays from the Heartland” and two Eric Hoffer awards for children’s books with her “Finding Wisdom in Nature” series.
Thanks to a sponsorship by the Friends of the Mercer Library, the events in the A Conversation With… speakers’ series are free and open to the public. Speakers receive an honorarium, reimbursements for mileage, and lodging. For more information, contact the Library Director, Julia Pusateri, at director@mercerpubliclibrary.org or by calling 715-476-2366.

Artist in Residence: Honoring Mietzi Bleck through Watercolor with Lisa Krueger
2026-08-24 15:30 - 17:30
Join the Mercer Library in celebrating the life, legacy, and art of Mietzi “Marie” Bleck through her watercolor painting. On Thursday, August 24, artist Lisa Krueger will host a beginner workshop on capturing the beauty of the Northwoods through this dynamic media. Space is limited to 12 participants and advanced registration is required. Reserve your space by calling the Mercer Library at 715-476-2366.
Thanks to a sponsorship by the Friends of the Mercer Library, all programs in the Artist in Residence series are free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Library Director, Julia Pusateri, at director@mercerpubliclibrary.org or by calling 715-476-2366.
Mercer Public Library has decided to posthumously recognize local artist Mietzi “Marie” Bleck as the 2026 Artist in Residence. Prints by Bleck have hung in the library since 1937 when they were donated by the Mercer Women’s Civic Club. With 89 years of history, the Mercer Library is proud to recognize her importance to Mercer history and welcome her home.

Grown Up Story Hour
2026-08-27 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
2026-09-07
The Library will be closed on Monday, September 7 for Labor Day.
