Events and Programs

Earth Day is Wednesday, April 22

Founded in 1970 by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson, Earth Day promotes environmental awareness and activism. Join us at your local library for these fun and informative events about recycling and composting, nature, and more!

Events

Nature's Music: The Sounds Animals Make and Why
Saturday, April 4, 2:00 p.m. at Pinney Branch - Register online or call 224-7100
Join David Stokes as he shares the secrets of nature's music. He'll bring live animals to illustrate their music, so be sure to bring a camera! For all ages.

Junk Band
Friday, April 10, 2:00 p.m. at Pinney Branch - Register online or call 224-7100
Take some plastic bottles, metal lids, cereal boxes and rubber bands, mix in a few other odds and ends and you can make beautiful music in a junk band! The library will provide the junk, but you’re welcome to bring extra supplies from your recycling bin if something in there inspires you. Let your creativity lead the way! For children in grades 1-8.

Book Discussion of Silent Spring by Rachel Carson
Tuesday, April 14, 7:00 p.m. at Alicia Ashman Branch
"Silent Spring, released in 1962, offered the first shattering look at widespread ecological degradation and touched off an environmental awareness that still exists. Rachel Carson's book focused on the poisons from insecticides, weed killers, and other common products as well as the use of sprays in agriculture, a practice that led to dangerous chemicals to the food source. Carson argued that those chemicals were more dangerous than radiation and that for the first time in history, humans were exposed to chemicals that stayed in their systems from birth to death. Presented with thorough documentation, the book opened more than a few eyes about the dangers of the modern world and stands today as a landmark work." - Amazon.com

Family Movie Matinee "WALL-E"
Saturday, April 25, 2:00 p.m. at Hawthorne Branch
Bring your family and friends and come watch "WALL-E" at the library! Follow the last robot on Earth, Wall-E, as he flies across the galaxy with his pet cockroach and gang of misfit robots. Popcorn and juice provided! Can't make it? Find a copy at your library.

Composting Class with George Dreckmann
Saturday, April 25, 11:00 a.m. at Hawthorne Branch
Saturday, May 2, 11:00 a.m. at Sequoya Branch
Saturday, May 2, 1:00 p.m. at Meadowridge Branch - Register online or call 288-6160
Come and learn about the fine art of composting with City of Madison Recycling Coordinator, George Dreckmann. Learn how to cut your household's waste by 25%. Find out what material you can compost. Get the low down on how often you should turn your compost pile. Learn all about the bugss in a compost pile. See if you can really raise worms for fishing in a compost bin. Pick up brochures and plans for building your own compost bin. One lucky student will win an Earth Machine home compost bin.

Frog Frenzy and Toad Overload
Saturday, May 2, 1:30 p.m. at Hawthorne Branch
Hop in to the library and join Randy Korb, DNR naturalist and environmental educator, and his amphibian friends to find out just how cool frogs and toads really are. Enjoy a frog-tastic time holding, feeding and listening to these croaking creatures.

Book Discussion of See You in a Hundred Years: Four Seasons in Forgotten America by Logan Ward
Wednesday, May 20, 7:00 p.m. at Central Branch
Ward and his family leave New York City for rural Virginia and attempt to live as they would have 100 years ago. Amid the challenges of not really being able to escape modern life (Japanese beetles, for example), their relationships with each other and the outside world change as well. Join us for discussion and dessert!

Troy Gardens
Saturday, May 23, 2:00 p.m. at Lakeview Branch
A world-class organization right in our backyard, Troy Gardens contains community gardens, a farm, co-housing, natural areas, kids’ gardens, and is profiled by Marge Pitts, of the Board of Directors, in another of our series of Library birthday programs for the neighborhood.