Mercer County (NJ) Library News And Press Releases

Mercer County Library System Earns Highest Rating Among Nation’s Public Libraries For The Fourth Straight Year

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 09:08:00 +0200

Library Journal, a monthly publication for library professionals, recently released its 2011 ratings for the nation’s public libraries and ranked the Mercer County Library System among the nation’s best libraries for the fourth straight year.
The publication, called “America’s Star Libraries,” rated 7,513 public libraries using a variety of data and only 262 received a rating of five, four or three stars. The Mercer County Library System earned a five-star rating, maintaining the prestigious rating it earned for the first time in 2008 then again in 2009 and 2010.
The Mercer County Library System was one of just three libraries in New Jersey to receive this top honor, and placed sixth out of 30 libraries nationwide in its budget category.
“I’m very pleased that our comprehensive library system in Mercer County is once again being recognized with this honor,” said Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes. “Our library system works hard to provide the best service and the most diverse programs to our residents and their families. It is one of the jewels of Mercer County.”
The criteria for ranking the libraries were measures that indicate public service — per capita circulation, visits, program attendance, and public Internet use. The Mercer County Library System received the highest score possible in each of these categories.
“Receiving a five-star rating from a publication such as Library Journal is an honor and means that we are nationally recognized as a public library that delivers high service, quality, and excellence to our patrons. We are all very proud to be able to offer these types of services to our communities during a time of such economic need,” said Library Director Ellen Brown.
The Mercer County Library System, made up of nine conveniently-located branches, is committed to providing the materials and services that satisfy the educational, informational, recreational, and cultural needs of its diverse community and strives to encourage a lifelong interest in reading.
For information about the programs and services offered by the MCLS, please visit your local branch or www.mcl.org.

Mercer County Library System Now Offers New Audio-Reading Kiosk

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 14:22:00 +0200

COUNTY OF MERCER
McDADE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
640 SOUTH BROAD STREET
P.O. BOX 8068
TRENTON, NEW JERSEY 08650-8068
BRIAN M. HUGHES, COUNTY EXECUTIVE
TAKE READING TO THE NEXT LEVEL WITH E-BOOKS FROM THE MERCER COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM
DATE: April 1, 2011 MEDIA CONTACT: Julie Willmot (609) 278-7137
MERCER COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM NOW OFFERS NEW AUDIO-READING KIOSK

TRENTON, N.J.—The Mercer County Library System is pleased to announce an exciting new addition — a kiosk that offers thousands of audiobooks, audio magazines and audio news feed to select residents who have trouble reading.
The free new service, called “Outspoken Library”, is available now and is located at a kiosk inside the Lawrence Headquarters Branch of the Mercer County Library System.
Mercer County is one of 42 libraries in the state selected to participate in the initiative offered by The New State Library Talking Book & Braille Center (TBBC). The “Outspoken Library” expands services to veterans and residents who have impaired vision, a physical disability that makes it difficult to hold a book, or a learning disability.
Once registered for the program with TBBC, users will be able to download 3,000 audiobooks, which they can play on free listening devices. The “Outspoken Library” kiosk offers a link to TBBC’s Audiovision Newspaper Reading Service with its 24-hour broadcast schedule and the National Federation for the Blind’s Newsline with more than 300 newspapers, magazines, and wireless service. Eligible users will also have access to the National Library Services Braille and Audio Reading (BARD) Program from home. The BARD Program service offers more than 18,000 downloadable audiobooks and 42 magazines. The Outspoken Library Kiosk is free to eligible users.
The Library staff will demonstrate how the kiosk works, explain the eligibility, and provide applications to interested residents. Once certified by TBBC, users will receive a login ID and password to access BARD at home. Users will receive a free digital player, provided by the Library of Congress, which reads the book out loud. New Jersey teens that are registered will be able to participate in a pilot program where TBBC will provide a smaller player the size of a cell phone.
For more information, call the Lawrence Headquarters Branch of the Mercer County Library System at (609) 989-6922 or stop in to learn more about the Outspoken Library Kiosk.

Announcing NextReads

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:26:00 +0200

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E-Books at the Mercer County Library System

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 09:19:00 +0200

COUNTY OF MERCER
McDADE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
640 SOUTH BROAD STREET
P.O. BOX 8068
TRENTON, NEW JERSEY 08650-8068
BRIAN M. HUGHES, COUNTY EXECUTIVE
TAKE READING TO THE NEXT LEVEL WITH E-BOOKS FROM THE MERCER COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM
Users have 24-7 access to books compatible with popular e-reading devices

LAWRENCE, N.J.—Mercer County Library System has expanded its download collection with the addition of eBooks at www.listennj.com or www.mcl.org. From the comfort of home, card holders can browse the collection, check out, and download eBooks and more anytime, anywhere.
eBooks can be read on a PC or Mac® using free reader software called Adobe® Digital Editions. eBooks can also be transferred to popular e-reading devices like the Sony® Reader and the Barnes & Noble nook™. Many eBooks feature re-flowable text which allows a user to resize the text and alter the display to fit any screen size. The Sony Reader and the nook are designed to look and feel like a book and are great for users on the go. The devices feature E INK technology, a screen that reads like paper so it’s easy on the reader’s eyes. “eBooks are growing in popularity and we are excited to offer this new format in addition to thousands of audiobooks and videos currently available,” said Library Director Ellen Brown. “We have purchased hundreds of best-selling and classic titles, all of which can be read on your computer or compatible portable reading device.”
Mercer County Library System’s opening collection features 422 titles including fiction from James Patterson, Charlaine Harris, and Robert Parker plus non-fiction titles such as Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers. Additional titles will be added each month.
To check out eBooks or downloadable audiobooks, users need a valid library card, computer, and Internet connection. Once downloaded, digital media can be enjoyed on a computer or transferred to popular devices such as MP3 players, iPods®, Smartphones, and more. At the end of the lending period, titles automatically expire and are returned to the collection. Users may return eBooks early.
Mercer County Library System partners with OverDrive, Inc. (www.overdrive.com), a global leader in digital media services, and the ListenNJ partnership of New Jersey libraries to offer the ListenNJ download service.

Mercer County Library System Earns Highest Rating Among Nation’s Public Librarie ... Again

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 11:35:00 +0200

COUNTY OF MERCER
McDADE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
640 SOUTH BROAD STREET
P.O. BOX 8068
TRENTON, NEW JERSEY 08650-8068
BRIAN M. HUGHES, COUNTY EXECUTIVE
MERCER COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM EARNS HIGHEST RATING AMONG NATION’S PUBLIC LIBRARIES ... AGAIN
LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J.—The Library Journal, a monthly publication for library professionals, recently published its Second Index of Public Library Service and again ranked the Mercer County Library System among the nation’s best libraries.
“Our extensive library system in Mercer County is one of the foremost reasons why Mercer is a great place to live and raise a family,” said Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes. “With more visitors and more popular programs and services than ever, our libraries have earned this great distinction.”
The criteria for ranking the libraries were measures that indicate public service — per capita circulation, visits, program attendance, and public Internet use. The Mercer County Library System received the highest score possible in each of these categories.
“Receiving a five-star rating from a publication such as Library Journal is an honor and means that we are nationally recognized as a public library that delivers high service, quality, and excellence to our patrons. We are all very proud of this,” said Library Director Ellen Brown.
The Mercer County Library System, made up of nine conveniently located branches, recognizes that access to information empowers individuals with knowledge and opportunity. The Library System is committed to providing the materials and services that satisfy the educational, informational, recreational, and cultural needs of its diverse community and strives to encourage a lifelong interest in reading. For information about the programs and services offered by the MCLS, please visit your local branch or www.mcl.org.

ListenNJ.com Digital Audio Book Service

Fri, 03 Mar 2006 02:32:00 +0200

County Executive Brian M. Hughes has announced that www.ListenNJ.com, a digital audio-book site that allows library customers to checkout and download audio-books with their library cards from home, is now available from the Mercer County Library System website, webserver.mcl.org....

Instant Messaging Is Here!

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:19:00 +0200

NEW hours for this service, including weekends:
Monday-Thursday 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 9:30 a.m.to 4:30 p.m.
Sunday: 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Mercer County Library's Fine and Fee Schedule

Thu, 16 Feb 2006 11:02:00 +0200

MCL's Fine and Fee Schedule is available on the Library web site.

E-mail Notification Option for Requested Items and Overdues Now Available!

Thu, 19 Jan 2006 10:13:00 +0200

Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes is pleased to announce a new e-mail notification service, which will be offered to Mercer County Library System patrons beginning on Monday, January 16, 2006. Patrons of the Library System will now have the opportunity to be notified by e-mail about reserved items ready to be checked out, as well as items that are overdue. Library patrons who wish to be notified by e-mail, instead of by phone or regular mail, may sign up for the new service at any one of the Library's nine branches.

Wireless Hotspots at the Mercer County Library

Fri, 18 Nov 2005 15:31:00 +0200

The Mercer County Library System is pleased to announce that the Hopewell, Twin Rivers, West Windsor, Hickory Corner, Hightstown, Ewing, Washington and Lawrence Headquarters Branches now provide wireless internet service.

Notary Service at the Mercer County Library System

Fri, 18 Nov 2005 15:31:00 +0200

Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes and Library Director Ellen Brown are pleased to announce a new free notary public service that will be offered at eight of the nine branches of the Mercer County Library System, beginning March 1, 2005.

Mercer County Department of Human Services Newsletter

Tue, 05 Dec 2006 14:31:00 +0200

The November 2006 issue of the Mercer County Department of Human Services' newsletter is available.

MCL Launches RSS News Feeds!

Fri, 18 Nov 2005 15:31:00 +0200

Using an RSS reader, you can view data feeds from the Mercer County Library Site, including MCL's Latest News And Press Releases, MCL's Youth Services Programs and Events, and MCL's Adult Programs and Events.