The Soloist is the remarkable story of the bond between a journalist and a mentally ill, homeless, classically trained musician in Los Angeles. “The Soloist is a great read,” says Porchlight executive director Steve Schooler. “More importantly, the main characters - Nathaniel and Steve - help us understand the intertwined issues of homelessness and mental health and inspire us to care more about the people who live in our midst.”
The Soloist is available both as a book and as a major motion picture starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Foxx. Community members can get involved by either reading or viewing The Soloist. Porchlight and Madison Public Library have developed an online Community Read Tool Kit that is available to all book clubs and individuals, and prepared book club kits with multiple copies of the book which are available for checkout from the library. Members of the community are invited to read the book, see the movie, and join a discussion—either at home with friends or at the library.
We will be holding seven book discussions at libraries around the city. Please join us for a conversation about this “unique yet universal” story.
Porchlight provides emergency shelter, food, employment services, counseling, and affordable transitional and permanent housing to homeless people in the Dane County area. Porchlight’s services are designed to foster independence and the transition into permanent housing and employment. For more information, visit their website.
Attention all college-bound high school seniors & families! Do you need money for college?
The Urban League of Greater Madison and Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation are sponsoring a free hands-on workshop where you can receive help as you complete the online Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). No matter where you go to college, the FAFSA is the key to unlocking money for college-including federal grants (FREE money!) and low interest federal student loans. Don’t miss out!!
To fill out your FAFSA, you’ll need to bring your:
* Social Security number (or alien registration card)
* Driver’s license or equivalent
* 2009 federal tax returns (yours or your parents)
* 2008 federal tax returns if 2009 returns are not complete (yours or your parents)
* 2009 untaxed income record (yours or your parents)
* 2009 bank statements (yours or your parents)
* 2009 business and investment records (yours or your parents)
If you don’t have everything, bring what you can
Hosted by: Urban League of Greater Madison and Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation.
Seating is limited–please RSVP to Erin Broome at the contact information below.
When:
Wednesday, February 17
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Where:
Urban League of Greater Madison
2222 South Park Street, Madison
2nd Floor, Madison Community Foundation Training Room
For more information contact Erin Broome, 608-729-1214, ebroome@ulgm.org
Find resources at the library about African American history as well as featured programs and activities on our African American History Month page. You will also find local historical resources on the internet, tips on researching African American topics and local information pertaining to Madison and Dane County.
Madison Public Library will have a booth at Wisconsin Youth Company’s annual Celebrating Youth event at the Monona Terrace on Sunday, January 31. The event takes place from 11am - 5pm and is free to the public though donations are welcome.
Stop by to find out about upcoming library programs and pick up a Library Kidspages program flyer and a library tattoo or put your name in a drawing for a $25 gift certificate to Barnes and Noble bookstores and a Madison Public Library “Lilly” book bag. Hope to see you there!
Meet award-winning author/illustrator team Kevin Henkes and Laura Dronzek at the Sequoya Branch Library on Sunday, January 24 at 1 p.m., where they will discuss writing and illustrating children’s picture books. Their most recent picture book, Birds(2009), delightfully bridges the gap between concept books and longer narrative stories for children, and was recently named a 2010 Charlotte Zolotow Honor Book. Henkes is the author of more than 25 books for children, including Caldecott Medal winner Kitten’s First Full Moon (2005) and several books featuring Lilly and other mouse characters, including Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse(1996) and Julius, the Baby of the World (1989). Dronzek is a painter whose work has been exhibited nationally and an award-winning children’s book illustrator who previously collaborated with her husband on Oh!(1999).
This is an adult event, but older children are welcome to listen. The event is the last in a series of author events in support of the Sequoya Endowment Campaign through the Madison Public Library Foundation with assistance from the Madison Community Foundation. Through the establishment of the Sequoya Branch Endowment, Madison Public Library Foundation will be able to give earnings on the endowment to the Sequoya Branch Library on an ongoing basis for programs and resources.
The Sequoya Branch is also a recipient of a three-year Madison Community Foundation library collection grant dedicated to the Art of the Picture Book. In addition to adding to Sequoya’s fine collection of picture books (including Caldecott and other medal winners and honor books), a series of programs celebrating picture book art and artists are scheduled for this winter.
Art of the Picture Book: Making pictures in the style of Denise Fleming.
Children ages 5 and up use paper-making techniques to create pictures.
Lakeview Library, January 22, 2-3 p.m. - call 246-4547 to register.
The Art of the Picture Book: Making pictures in the style of Eric Carle (two parts).
Kids age 5 and up will use paint to prepare papers (part one) that will be used to create the Eric Carle-style pictures (part two).
Sequoya Branch
Part One, February 13, 10-11 a.m. and Part Two, February 15, 3:30-4:30 p.m. - Call 266-6385 or register online beginning 1/30 for both parts.
Alicia Ashman Branch
Part One, March 30, 1-2 p.m. and Part Two, March 31, 1-2 p.m. - Call 824-1780 or register online beginning 3/16 to register for both parts.
All Madison Public Library locations will be closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, January 18. You can still use the library when we’re closed: place holds in LINKcat, return items to our bookdrops, or use our 24/7 online reference service, AskAway. See our web site for more information on area celebrations or on Martin Luther King, Jr. or discover our recommended resources for African American History Month in February.
Join others in celebration of the life of Dr. King at the 25th Annual Madison-Dane County King Holiday Observance at the Overture Center Capital Theater at 6 p.m. on Monday, January 18. Former SCLC Education Director, Dorothy Cotton, who served under Dr. King’s direct supervision, will bring her message of hope on her first visit to Madison. Sponsored by the King Coalition and the Urban League of Greater Madison; see more information on Cotton and other ULGM sponsored events.
All Madison Public Library locations are closed for Christmas on Thursday, December 24 and Friday, December 25. The Central and Sequoya Libraries will also be closed Sunday, December 27. You can still use the library when we’re closed: place holds in LINKcat, return items to our bookdrops, or use our 24/7 online reference service, AskAway.
You asked for it–you got it. Many of you have asked about the Summary Section from the print version of Morningstar Mutual Funds. You can now gain access to the most-current Summary Section via the “Fund Summary” link on the Morningstar Investment Research Center home page. Here is a little background on what value this addition brings to the database.
Commentary
The first several pages of the Summary Section contain the Commentary, written by our editors and analysts. Using in-house research, we delve into sometimes-controversial topics such as the importance of asset allocation to diversification, fund-company ethics, and investors’ rights. The commentaries contain some of the most innovative thinking in the mutual fund industry.
Leaders and Laggards
This section reveals at a glance whose returns are hot and whose are not. This section shows the top and bottom performers, based solely on total returns, for five time periods: year to date, one year, three years, five years, and 10 years. We also provide the fund’s Morningstar category, Morningstar Rating, Morningstar Style Box placement, and sales charges.
Quick Reference
The Quick Reference page contains keys to symbols we use throughout the publication, details of the Morningstar Style Boxes, our publication schedule, and a list of the Morningstar categories and their abbreviations.
Mutual Fund News, Views, and Research
In this section, we report on notable events in the fund industry and keep you up to date on the activities of fund companies. Whether it’s a manager change, the anticipated launch of a new fund, or a fund company merger, these are the events that shape the investment world.
Of course, if you are looking for the most current information on such things as fund prices, Analyst Reports, and performance, make sure to use Morningstar Investment Research Center’s fund data pages. These are updated on a daily basis and will be your best resource for the most up-to-date fund information.
Learn How to Rebalance Your Portfolio for 2010
In today’s economy, who couldn’t use a bit of re-balancing? Join Morningstar’s Director of Personal Finance, Christine Benz, as she guides you through the process Wednesday, December 16 at 3pm Central Time. Log on from home or anywhere you have access to a phone and internet connection. To register, send an e-mail to librarytraining@morningstar.com. And, when you do, please mention Madison Public Library.
When a winter storm is predicted, one question we get a lot is, “Are you open?”
Because we’re an essential city agency, we try to stay open no matter what. But we do occasionally close for severe weather. We expect to be open today for all regular working hours, but will be closed on Wednesday, December 9. We hope to be open regular working hours again on Thursday, December 10 but will post updates here, on Facebook, on Twitter, and on the City of Madison’s web site.
We recognize that returning library books or picking up holds are not top priority in winter storm weather. If you are unable to pick up a hold or return an item on time due to to unexpected library closures or extreme weather, please let us know. Our staff will do their best to credit any late charges or to replace lapsed holds - for today, tomorrow, and all days affected by exceptional weather.
And now is a good time to remind you that:
any item returned to any book drop before we open is considered returned the previous day.
you can renew most items online at http://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org (choose “LINKcat”) or via Telecirc at 242-4700. Items must be renewed by 10 p.m. on the day that they are due.
Madison Public Library has acquired an online subscription to the Value Line Investment Survey. Formerly available in paper at six of our nine libraries, the new online service is available at all nine Madison public libraries, as well as to city of Madison residents with valid library cards.
Value Line is best known for the Investment Survey, one of the most widely read investment services in the world. Value Line online offers the same one-sheet summary as the Investment Summary, but also includes more up to date information on the stocks covered, as well as stock screening, custom reports, industry information, historical data, and email alerts. Madison Public Library’s subscription also includes the Value Line Special Situations Service.
Madison Public Library chose to switch from paper to online access to Value Line after much public input from individual investors and local investment clubs. Paper access will continue for at least six months at most locations that currently subscribe, and you can call the Central Reference Desk to schedule a demo of the new service for yourself or your investment group.
Want to learn more? Visit our online tutorial web site, watch our YouTube video tutorial below, or just log on and get started! (Online help and investment advice is always available in the Education Section tab.
Madison Public Library will have a booth at Wisconsin Youth Company’s annual 
You asked for it–you got it. Many of you have asked about the Summary Section from the print version of Morningstar Mutual Funds. You can now gain access to the most-current Summary Section via the “Fund Summary” link on the 
When a winter storm is predicted, one question we get a lot is, “Are you open?”
