MercerMe

ESL Conversation Group
2025-04-22 14:00, 2025-04-29 14:00, 2025-05-06 14:00 (America/New_York) | Hopewell Branch Library – MCL, 245 Pennington-Titusville Road, Pennington, 08534, United States
Hosted on Tuesdays at 2:00 pm at the Hopewell Branch Library at 245 Pennington-Titusville Road, Pennington, NJ 08534
Come to the Hopewell Branch for relaxed conversation in English. This program is ideal for speakers with Intermediate proficiency in English, though all are welcome. Join TESOL-certified librarian Chip McAuley to practice spoken English in a supportive, friendly environment. Registration is requested. Please call 609.737.2610 or email hopeprogs@mcl.org to register.

The Time to Hear is Here
2025-09-04 18:00 | NJ
Discover the surprising prevalence of hearing loss among the elderly and learn about the latest options available to help those affected. Join Ron Gottardi from the non-profit organization “The Time to Hear is Here” for an enlightening discussion on hearing health on Thursday, September 4, 6pm. Ron will explore why Medicare should cover hearing aids, advances in hearing technology, helpful cell phone apps, shopping tips, and more. Please visit events.mcl.org to register to receive the link to the program.

Clear the Clutter
2025-09-09 11:00 | Mercer County Library – Hopewell Branch, 245 Pennington Titusville Road, Pennington, NJ, United States
A challenge for many homeowners is going through their “stuff” at home, deciding what to do with everything, and finding the motivation to get through this dreaded process. Join Olga St. Pierre to talk about common clutter misconceptions, make an action plan to get and stay motivated, and even get the family and kids involved! Registration is requested.

The History of Public Education in Lawrence Township
2025-09-17 19:00 | NJ
What Did We Learn and When Did We Learn It?:
The History of Public Education in Lawrence Township
Wednesday, September 17, 7:00 pm

Two hundred years ago the world of Lawrence Township school children was nothing like it is today. But many of the education questions their parents faced sound familiar: where should schooling happen, who should be educated, and who should pay for it? Learn how different generations of Lawrence citizens answered these questions and how our public schools coped with rapid suburbanization and a changing society.
Plus, you’ll take a visual tour of all of the schools, past and present. Presented by Dennis Waters, former Lawrence Township historian and current member of the Mercer County Library Commission. Please visit events.mcl.org to register to receive the link to the program.

MCLS Book Festival: Keynote Speaker Alicia Ostriker
2025-09-27 12:00 | Mercer County Library – Lawrence Branch, 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrenceville, NJ, United States
Saturday, September 27, 12:00 pm

Lawrence Headquarters Branch

2751 Brunswick Pike

Lawrenceville, NJ 08648

609-883-8292

Join us for a rare opportunity to hear acclaimed poet and scholar Alicia Ostriker at the inaugural MCLS Book Festival. With 19 poetry collections to her name—including her latest, The Holy and Broken Bliss: Poems in Plague Time—Ostriker brings a voice both urgent and timeless. Twice nominated for the National Book Award and a former New York State Poet Laureate, she will read from her new work and sign books following the presentation. Don’t miss this profound literary moment with one of America’s most resonant poetic voices. Registration is requested.

Queer Figures in New Jersey
2025-10-07 19:00 | NJ
Tuesday, October 7, 7:00 pm

October is LGBTQ+ History Month! Join us for a special program to discover queer figures in New Jersey history! Rutgers professor Kristyn Scorsone will focus on key, queer figures in New Jersey that might have been missed in other history lessons. They will highlight queer figures in New Jersey and explore their impact on NJ history. Please visit events.mcl.org to register to receive the link to the program.

Artists’ Choice Art Show
2025-10-09 15:00 - 17:00 | Mercer County Library – Hopewell Branch, 245 Pennington Titusville Road, Pennington, NJ, United States
Thursday, October 9, 3:00 – 5:00 pm

Join us for the opening of the Artists’ Choice Art Show. Tour the beautiful art painted by members of Artists’ Choice, a Hopewell Valley senior art group. You’ll have the opportunity to mingle with artists, as well as community members. Refreshments are provided by Brandywine Living in Pennington. Paintings will remain in the library on exhibit for the month of October. Registration is not required.

Hopewell Branch

245 Pennington-Titusville Road

Pennington, NJ 08534

609-737-2610

Art Talk: Is it Manet or Monet?
2025-10-15 19:00 - 20:00 | Pennington Public Library, 30 North Main Street, Pennington, NJ, 08534, United States
October 15 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm via Zoom

Is it Manet or Monet?
Presenter: Janet Mandel, Arts Educator
October 15 and October 22, 2025 @ 7 PM via Zoom

Registration required: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ViPpjxO2StWna-diel-1Ww
What a difference a vowel makes! Édouard Manet and Claude Monet were two giants of the 19th Century avant-garde who influenced each other in profound ways. However, many aspects of their personal lives, artistic technique, and even philosophical ambitions were radically distinct. In this two-part talk, we will examine these likenesses and differences through the lens of their remarkable works, and you will become an expert in the comparison! Manet in Part 1 and Monet and a quiz in Part 2! Bring a pencil!
Please note that this program is two parts. You need only register once to join both sessions. You may also choose to attend only one session, though it is meant to be a two-part experience. Thanks!
Sponsored by the Friends of the Pennington Public Library and the Hopewell Valley Arts Council.
About Our Presenter: Janet Mandel taught in New Jersey’s public schools for 32 years, the last eighteen of which were at Columbia High School in Maplewood, where she taught English, art history, and World Languages and Cultures. Now retired, Janet presents illustrated talks on a variety of art history topics at adult schools, libraries, museums, senior centers, community centers, and similar venues.
Pennington Public Library
30 N Main Street, Pennington, NJ 08534
609-737-0404

Caring for the Whole Self: Chronic Illness and Emotional Well-Being
2025-10-16 18:30 | NJ
Thursday, October 16, 6:30 pm
Living with a chronic illness such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, or arthritis can affect more than just the body—it can also significantly impact emotional well-being. Kara Buda, PhD, clinical health psychologist specializing in psychosocial oncology, will discuss why feelings such as fear, sadness, and uncertainty are common and how therapy can provide practical tools, encouragement, and strategies. Discover ways to strengthen your resilience, take an active role in your well-being, and enhance your overall quality of life while navigating the challenges of chronic illness. Presented as part of the Penn Medicine Princeton Health Community Wellness Program. Please visit events.mcl.org to register to receive the link to the program.

Finding the Right Fit: Exploring Senior Living Choices
2025-10-21 14:00 - 15:00 | NJ
Tuesday, October 21, 2:00 pm
It’s never too early to start preparing for your future or your parent’s future. Join this workshop to explore a range of living options, including independent and assisted living communities, 50+ communities, and aging in place. You’ll gain valuable insights into these choices and learn key factors to consider as you plan for the next chapter. Please visit events.mcl.org to register to receive the link to the program.

Author Talk: Courtly Intrigue & Whispers as Weapons with Historical Fiction Queen Philippa Gregory
2025-10-29 14:00 - 15:00 | Zoom Online
Coined as the “queen of British historical fiction,” Philippa Gregory returns to the infamous Tudor Court with a tale that is both timely and timeless. We invite you to sit down with us for an intriguing conversation with Gregory about her newest novel Boleyn Traitor.
Jane Boleyn watches from the shadows of the Tudor Court, where secrets are currency, every choice is dangerous, and even the faintest whisper can seal the fate of queens. For Jane, survival demands playing every role required of her: a loving wife who conceals her doubts, a devoted sister to Anne Boleyn at the height of her power, and an obedient spy who carefully wields her words. But in a court ruled by ambition and a tyrant’s sword, Jane must rely on her sharp wit and skillful maneuvering to outthink those around her, knowing that one wrong move could cost her everything.
With a rich tapestry of new historical insights and lyrical language honed over decades of writing, Gregory’s return to the Tudors is a new definition of this most fascinating era. As the world becomes more extreme and unpredictable, Jane’s story of survival and ingenuity offers a compelling parallel, serving as both a powerful historical narrative and an echo of the challenges we face. This is a riveting tale of loyalty and betrayal, ambition and love—one that should not be missed by readers this fall.
About the Author: Dr. Philippa Gregory is one of the world’s foremost historical novelists. She wrote her first ever novel, Wideacre, when she was completing her PhD in eighteenth-century literature and it sold worldwide, heralding a new era for historical fiction. Her flair for blending history and imagination developed into a signature style and Philippa went on to write many bestselling novels, including The Other Boleyn Girl and The White Queen.
Dr. Gregory studied history at the University of Sussex and was awarded a PhD by the University of Edinburgh where she is a Regent and was made Alumna of the Year in 2009. She holds an honorary degree from Teesside University, and is a fellow of the Universities of Sussex and Cardiff. Philippa is a member of the Society of Authors and in 2016, was presented with the Outstanding Contribution to Historical Fiction Award by the Historical Writers’ Association. In 2018, she was awarded an Honorary Platinum Award by Neilsen for achieving significant lifetime sales across her entire book output. In 2021, she was awarded a CBE for services to literature and to her charity Gardens for the Gambia, and was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.

Literary Figures in Princeton
2025-10-29 18:30 | NJ
Wednesday, October 29, 6:30 pm

For more than two centuries, Princeton has attracted some of the most important voices in American literature, whose work has shaped both the local community and the broader landscape. This program highlights a selection of writers who lived or worked in Princeton, including F. Scott Fitzgerald, T.S. Eliot, Anne M. Martin, Toni Morrison, Joyce Carol Oates, Eugene O’Neil, and Thornton Wilder. Presented by Eve Mandel, Director of Education and Outreach, Historical Society of Princeton. Please visit events.mcl.org to register to receive the link to the program.

Our Lenape Heritage
2025-11-03 19:00 - 20:00 | NJ
Monday, November 3, 7:00 pm

This presentation reviews the history of the original people of the area we now call New Jersey, giving an overview of life and culture before and during the settlement of Europeans. It reviews names of places that still exist today and Lenape words that are included in everyday communication. The historic records show land transactions, paths and trails that have become our modern highway system, and communities that are still in existence. Presented by Claire Garland, Director of Sand Hill Indian Historical Association and member of the New Jersey American Indian Affairs Commission. Please visit events.mcl.org to register to receive the link to the program.

Protecting Your Financial Future: Investor Education & Fraud Prevention
2025-11-06 14:30 | NJ
Thursday, November 6, 2:30 pm
This interactive presentation, hosted by law students from Seton Hall University School of Law’s FINRA Investor Advocacy Program, provides practical tools to help individuals make informed financial decisions. Participants will learn how to spot red flags of investment fraud, understand their rights as investors, and overall, how to improve their financial literacy. The session runs 30–45 minutes with a Q&A to follow. Please visit events.mcl.org to register to receive the link to the program.

Understanding Memory & Communication in Aging
2025-11-10 19:00 | NJ
Monday, November 10, 7:00 pm

Aging can bring changes in memory, speech, and communication that affect daily life and relationships. This program explores those age-related common challenges that often emerge over time and offers practical strategies to support cognitive health, stay socially connected, and communicate more effectively. Ideal for caregivers, professionals, and older adults. Led by Erin Coulter, Lead Speech Language Pathologist with Penn Medicine. Presented as part of the Penn Medicine Princeton Health Community Wellness Program. Please visit events.mcl.org to register to receive the link to the program.

Author Talk: The Search for Truth & the Persistence of Love Across Time with Novelist Amanda Peters
2025-11-13 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom Online
Join us in an online conversation with acclaimed writer Amanda Peters as we discuss her instant bestselling novel, The Berry Pickers, as well as her tender short fiction collection, Waiting for the Long Night Moon: Stories.
Influenced by Peters’ own Mi’kmaq heritage, The Berry Pickers is a riveting exploration of family, grief, and the bonds we share.
July 1962. A Mi’kmaq family from Nova Scotia arrives in Maine to pick blueberries for the summer. Weeks later, four-year-old Ruthie, the family’s youngest child, vanishes. She is last seen by her six-year-old brother, Joe, sitting on a favorite rock at the edge of a berry field. Joe will remain distraught by his sister’s disappearance for years to come.
In Maine, a young girl named Norma grows up as the only child of an affluent family. Her father is emotionally distant, her mother frustratingly overprotective. Norma is often troubled by recurring dreams and visions that seem more like memories than imagination. As she grows older, Norma slowly comes to realize there is something her parents aren’t telling her. Unwilling to abandon her intuition, she will spend decades trying to uncover this family secret.
About the Author: Amanda Peters is a mixed-race woman of Mi’kmaq and European ancestry, born and raised in the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia. Her short fiction and non-fiction have been published in The Antigonish Review, Grain Magazine, The Alaska Quarterly Review, The Dalhousie Review, and Filling Station Magazine.
Amanda’s first novel, The Berry Pickers, was a finalist for the Atwood Gibson Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize in Canada, and won the Barnes and Noble Discover Prize and the Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction in the US. The Berry Pickers won the Dartmouth Book Award and the Crime Writers of Canada First Crime Novel Award, and has been translated into sixteen languages around the world. Her most recent book of short fiction, Waiting for the Long Night Moon, was published August, 2024 to critical acclaim.

Sweden Holiday Traditions & Today
2025-11-20 18:00 | NJ
Thursday, November 20, 6:00 pm

What do you know about Sweden? Get a glimpse into life in Sweden today and learn about the traditions that are special to this Nordic nation. Join us as we explore Swedish culture, technology, environmentalism, and holiday celebrations, including a special look into Christmas and the December Lucia festival. 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. Please visit events.mcl.org to register to receive the link to the program.

Snow Much Fun Cookie Decorating
2025-12-03 10:30 - 12:00 | Mercer County Library – Hopewell Branch, 245 Pennington Titusville Road, Pennington, NJ, United States
Come and decorate cookies with sprinkles, frosting, and more! We’ll bring the supplies; you bring the imagination. Space is limited. Registration is required.

Through the Eyes of the Artist: Norman Rockwell
2025-12-04 19:00 | Zoom Online
Art Historian Felicia Z. Stadelman showcases the life and works of Norman Rockwell — not the image he presents in his pictures, but his much more complex life filled with twists and turns. Few people really know very much about the man who tells stories in his paintings. Sponsored by Friends of the West Windsor Library. Please visit events.mcl.org to register to receive the link to the program.

Robotics Team Demo
2026-01-03 14:00 - 15:00 | Mercer County Library – Lawrence Branch, 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrenceville, NJ, United States
Come see the robot created by Hopewell Valley Central High School Robotics Team and do some hands-on activities! For kids ages 8 years old and up. Sponsored by Friends of the Lawrence Library. Registration is required.

Princeton and the American Revolution: The Ten Crucial Days
2026-01-08 19:00 - 20:00 | NJ
This is the story of the desperate hours at the end of 1776 when the American Revolution seemed lost. Struggling through unimaginable difficulties, the Continental Army crossed the Delaware River on Christmas, winning three battles in 10 days, culminating in the Battle of Princeton on January 3, 1777. These victories changed the course of history and enabled the birth of our free nation. Presented by Barry Singer, Princeton Historical Society. Please visit events.mcl.org to register to receive the link to the program.

Cézanne: True to the Essence of His Subjects
2026-01-14 08:00 - 17:00 | NJ
Virtual program hosted by the Mercer County Library SystemMonday, February 9, 2026, at 7:00 p.m.
This virtual lecture, hosted by the Mercer County Library System, examines the life and legacy of Paul Cézanne (1839–1906), one of the most influential artists in the history of modern painting. From his early years in Aix-en-Provence and initial study of law to his lasting impact on generations of artists, Cézanne’s relationships, inspirations, and working methods offer fascinating insight into his art.
The program is presented by Jeanne Johnson, docent at the Princeton University Art Museum and Morven Museum and Gardens.
Registration is required. Visit events.mcl.org to receive the virtual program link.

New Jersey Homeschooling Basics
2026-01-14 19:00 - 20:00 | NJ
Join us for an overview of homeschooling in New Jersey and get answers to your questions. Are you considering homeschooling your child in NJ? Has your child asked to be homeschooled, but you don’t know where you would even start? A panel of experienced homeschooling parents will cover the basics of homeschooling in NJ, including homeschooling law, the range of approaches to homeschooling, resources and communities that support homeschooling (in-person and online), paths after homeschooling (high school, college, work, trades, etc.). A Q & A session will follow the presentation. Please visit events.mcl.org to register to receive the link to the program.

Token on the Freedman's Coat: The Story Behind Thomas Mundy Peterson's 1884 Voting Medal
2026-01-15 19:00 - 20:00 | NJ
Thomas Mundy Peterson is celebrated as the first African American to vote under the Fifteenth Amendment. Gordon Bond, independent historian and publisher of NJ history website Garden State Legacy, will discuss the story of Peterson and how, on May 30, 1884, citizens of Perth Amboy, NJ, pinned a gold medal to his coat in honor of his having done something that, in another part of the nation, a noose might have been put around his neck for daring. Based on Bond’s book, To Cast a Freedman’s Vote. Sponsored by Friends of the Ewing Library. Please visit events.mcl.org to register to receive the link to the program.

Introduction to Smart and Safe Investing
2026-01-20 18:30 - 19:30 | NJ
Chase Bertoldo, from the Seton Hall University School of Law FINRA Investor Advocacy Program, will cover a range of practical financial concepts, including budgeting and inflation, as well as different investment and savings products. Throughout the program, he’ll focus on smart and safe investment practices, illustrating the challenges facing every investor and how to avoid common pitfalls. Please visit events.mcl.org to register to receive the link to the program.

Islamic Contribution to Civilization
2026-01-27 19:00 - 20:00 | NJ
Muslims have been influenced by and contributed to other cultures in numerous ways. Particularly, during the medieval Golden Age of Islam, Muslims made major contributions in diverse fields, including art, architecture, music, mathematics, medicine, astronomy, philosophy, and literature, as well as in hygiene, cuisine, clothing, and furniture. Presented by Samina Sattar of the New Jersey Islamic Networks Group.

Abolition and the Underground Railroad in South Jersey
2026-02-03 18:00 - 19:00 | NJ
Virtual program hosted by the Mercer County Library SystemTuesday, February 3, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
This virtual presentation, hosted by the Mercer County Library System, explores Southern New Jersey during the Civil War era, when the region became a hotbed of fugitives from slavery, freedmen, and abolitionists. Activists such as Harriet Tubman, Abigail Goodwin, and Benjamin Sheppard assisted runaway slaves along the Underground Railroad through daring nighttime journeys in the Pine Barrens and coordinated signals from boats in the marshlands of Delaware Bay.
Author Ellen D. Alford will recount compelling narratives of abolition and the Underground Railroad in South Jersey.
Registration is required. Visit events.mcl.org to receive the virtual program link.

Frederick Douglass’ Birthday: Transcribe-a-thon
2026-02-13 12:00 - 15:00 | Hopewell Branch Library – MCL, 245 Pennington-Titusville Road, Pennington, 08534, United States
In-person program hosted by the Mercer County Library SystemFriday, February 13, 2026, from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m.
This in-person event, hosted by the Mercer County Library System at the Hopewell Branch, invites community members to celebrate the birthday of Frederick Douglass by helping make history more accessible. Participants are encouraged to drop in with a laptop to help transcribe historical documents related to Black history and culture, contributing to projects such as The Colored Conventions Project.
Attendees may also stop by to watch the DouglassDay.org livestream, featuring inspirational speeches and songs. Light refreshments will be served.
Location:Hopewell Branch Library245 Pennington–Titusville RoadPennington, NJ 08534609-737-2610
Registration is requested.
