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Stop in and visit the library at Kids Expo next weekend!
Kids Expo is happening at the Alliant Energy Center November 14 and 15, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. The FREE event is a one-stop-shop for the community to learn about family-friendly events, businesses, nonprofit organizations, tourist destinations, programs, products and services. Two entertainment areas will feature performances by local dance, martial arts, gymnastics, and other groups. Kids Expo features exhibits, interactive spaces, demonstrations and hands-on activities for the entire family to enjoy.
Stop by our booth for library informational materials, a craft for kids of all ages, a prize drawing and more!
November 5th, 2009
Tana
The Alicia Ashman Branch of Madison Public Library was the backdrop of an October 27, 2009, press conference announcing grants totalling $1 million to Madison and Milwaukee for advancing their solar energy development programs . Mayor Cieslewicz, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, Governor Doyle, and Tehri Parker of Midwest Renewable Energy Association were in attendance. The Alicia Ashman Branch Library hosts one of the city’s solar power installations as part of the MadiSUN Solar Energy Program. Read more about the grant at Letter From Here’s Talking about sunny money on a rainy day, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Milwaukee, Madison awarded $1 million for solar expansion or WKOW-TV’s Federal dollars to develop Wis. solar energy, or learn more about the MadiSUN solar energy project. Photo by Peter Patau.
October 27th, 2009
Tana
It was a “bloody” good time at two Twilight-themed costume parties celebrating the upcoming November release of the “New Moon” movie. Teens joined other vampire fans for movie clips, trivia, food, and more. Winner sof “Best Costume” took home 4 tickets for the upcoming release of “New Moon,” and the “Twilight Trivia Stars” received a full set of Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight books!
Funding for Twilight costume parties was provided by the Friends of the Meadowridge Branch Library and the Friends of the Pinney Branch Library.
Tonight, Friday, October 23 at 7:00 p.m., young writers are invited to bring their poetry to the Alicia Ashman Library for an evening of reading, writing, and fun at a “Bad Poetry Nite.” Register online or call 824-1780 to reserve a spot onstage.
Teen Read Week is a national literacy initiative of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association. Teen Read Week will be celebrated at thousands of public and school libraries, classrooms, and bookstores across the country. Although teens realize the importance of reading, they have a huge menu of activities to choose from when deciding how to spend their free time, and reading often gets lost in the shuffle. Teen Read Week serves as a weeklong reminder to teens that reading for pleasure is fun, free, and can be done anywhere.
October 23rd, 2009
Tana
Join Mayor Cieslewicz and other city officials at noon on Sunday, September 27, at the official re-opening of the Monroe Street Branch Library. The library will be open special Sunday hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for an open house and a book sale as part of the Monroe Street Festival.
The remodel includes a fresh look for the popular neighborhood library, including new carpet and paint, a new ceiling, energy-efficient lighting, and new locally-purchased furniture and shelving. A revised floor plan features “open holds” shelving and a reconfigured and relocated service desk. The newly remodeled library also offers two additional computers for public use.
The book sale, hosted by the Monroe Street Library League, features hundreds of books for adults and children at bargain prices. The Monroe Street Festival is an annual fall celebration showcasing the businesses on Monroe Street, including bargains from many merchants and activities for the whole family. The Monroe Street Festival is held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information and pictures, see the Monroe Street Branch page or the Monroe Street Festival site.
September 22nd, 2009
Tana
Anyone who’s worked on a construction project knows that even with the best planning, delays sometimes happen. We are grateful to the patience of the Monroe Street area residents who continue to wait to use their newly-remodeled neighborhood library.
As of today, we are waiting for our new desk to be finished and installed. You can see pictures of the progress last week on our Flickr account. If you would like to be notified when the library reopens, please sign up, or follow the library on Facebook or Twitter.
Plans of the new Monroe Street library (though some modifications have been made since these were printed).
September 16th, 2009
Tana
Each year our librarians spend hours preparing for, conducting, and evaluating our Summer Library Program. Why do we do it? Research shows us that summer is a time of learning loss for many students who don’t have access to summer learning opportunities. By providing Madison students with a no-cost, self-paced program based on reading incentives, we’re encouraging students to continue learning and practicing their reading skills throughout the summer. This is central to our mission as a library.
Special thanks to this year’s sponsors for their financial or in-kind support: Madison Public Library Foundation, Friends of the Madison Public Library, Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Overture Center for the Arts, Rocky Rococo’s Pizza, Noodles & Company, Madison Mallards Baseball, Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (MMoCA), EdVest, KnowHow2GoWisconsin, and the South Central Library System. Thanks also the 6,064 participants for their enthusiasm, to parents, teachers and caregivers for their encouragement, and to our many community partners.
For more about this year’s Summer Library Program in Madison, read Samara Kalk Derby’s Capital Times recent article For love of books: Reading program aids kids.
Photo by Peter Patau.
September 15th, 2009
Tana
September is Library Card Sign-Up Month, and Madison Public Library wants to make sure that Madisonians have the smartest card of all - a free library card. A library card gives you access to the library’s many materials and resources, including computer access, research databases, job and business resources, free movies and music, and much more. During the month of September, Madison Public Library will be giving a small gift to everyone who signs up for a new library card, adults and children alike. Madisonians are encouraged to take advantage of the many free resources offered at their public library, and will receive a fun reminder thanking them for using the smartest card around. For more information on signing up for a library card, visit one of Madison’s nine public libraries or visit us online. Read more.
September 2nd, 2009
Tana
The Monroe Street Branch of Madison Public Library will close to the public at 5 p.m. on Saturday, August 22 for remodeling. The book drop will also be closed during the remodeling.
The branch is anticipated to reopen on Tuesday, September 15 at 10 a.m.
Holds regularly picked up at the Monroe Street Library will be rerouted to the Sequoya Branch Library during the two weeks of renovation. Library customers may also choose to make their active holds inactive during this time, without losing their place on waiting lists for popular materials. Summer Library Program participants may go to any other Madison Public Library location to pick up their final prizes by August 31.
Included in the remodel is a reconfigured and relocated service desk, a new ceiling, updated lighting, fresh carpet and paint, and furniture upgrades including comfortable reading chairs and new computer tables.
This remodel is being funded by Madison Public Library/City of Madison, the Madison Public Library Foundation, the Monroe Street Library League, neighborhood associations and individual donors.
“This unique library is a valued part of the neighborhood that enjoys wonderful support from its community,” said Mary Burton, Monroe Street Branch Supervisor.
View updates about the project and photos online.
August 7th, 2009
Tana
On Thursday, August 6, Common Council members will hear a presentation by Hammel, Green & Abrahamson on possibilities for a renovated Central Library. The Common Council Discussion features a tour at 6 p.m. for Council Members, followed by a presentation at 6:30.
Opening remarks by Alder Tim Bruer, Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, and Tripp Widder, Library Board President will be followed by the presentation. Members of the public are welcome to attend the meeting portion beginning at 6:30, though there are no opportunities for public speaking.
View the full agenda, or renovation images provided by Hammel, Green & Abrahamson.
August 4th, 2009
Tana
If you’ve been to the Pinney Branch Library lately, you may have noticed a new addition to the landscape: micro rain gardens. Join us on Thursday, August 13 at 7:00 p.m. for an outdoor christening of the Grace Schmid Rain Gardens and a presentation on their many benefits.
Named in memory of a long-time patron and supporter of Pinney and other local libraries, these demonstration gardens were funded by the Friends of the Pinney Branch Library and were also made possible with support from Madison’s City Engineering department. Design and installation work was done by Earth & Water Works, LLC. Ellen Rulseh, President of Earth & Water Works, will be presenting “Rain Gardens and Their Rewards” as a part of Pinney’s Sustainable Living program series. Rulseh’s presentation will enumerate and illustrate the benefits of rain gardens: reducing polluted stormwater from going into our urban lakes (Monona and Mendota) and streams; recharging groundwater; promoting biodiversity by attracting native birds, butterflies, bees and other beneficial insects; and adding beauty, interest and value to home, business and municipal property.
Thanks to a generous grant from the Madison Community Foundation, Pinney is expanding its collection of materials on sustainable living and providing programming and events emphasizing ways in which everyone can contribute to sustainable living for our future. See our Green Page for more information about the ways in which the Madison Public Library is contributing to sustainable living for our future. Not able to come to the presentation? See photos of the gardens on Flickr.
July 30th, 2009
Tana
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