Posts filed under 'City Connection'
Mayor Cieslewicz remains committed to reimagining the Central Library despite a disappointing end to negotiations with Fiore Companies and Irgens Development Group for a new Central Library and the redevelopment of Block 66. The Mayor says “Library Board President Tripp Widder and I will ask the board and the Common Council to go with a rebuilding of the library on its current site.” [Building a New Library, 3/18/10]
Check back with the Central Library Project page for updates on upcoming Library Board and Common Council meetings discussing the future of the Central Library or to read recent news stories about the library project.
March 19th, 2010
Tana
Earlier today, Mayor Dave Cieslewicz e-mailed City Council members with information regarding the City’s negotiations with Fiore Company, partly in response to an open records request. In this email, he outlines four main issues that are currently being negotiated between the city and the Fiore/Irgens team. To read the full letter from the Mayor, see the Laptop City Hall post on these recent developments.
March 16th, 2010
Alicia
Do you remember getting ready to set out into the world on your own? Going to college, moving away from home, looking for a job? Jonathan Davis, a Special Education-Transition Teacher at Madison West High School, offers an opportunity for his students to experiment with budgeting and spending money, banking, and planning for apartment renting and buying a car, in preparation for entering the wider world as financially literate citizens. In the class, called “Living on Your Own”, students have the opportunity to earn money by participating in class and by working in the school-based business West International Cafe; with the money they earn, they pay rent for their classroom seat and have to fill out a rental application and sign a lease.
Davis is currently seeking donations of other items, such as gift cards, for students to purchase with their earnings. “This could be a more powerful and rewarding experience if they could purchase other goods and services with their money,” he says. Please contact Jonathan Davis directly with questions about the project, and ideas for donating materials, by calling 516-9512, or emailing jidavis@madison.k12.wi.us
We have partnered with West High School in the past for Career Fairs, helping to educate students about the opportunities and resources available to young job seekers through the Library. Looking for more information on personal finances for teens? Check out the Teen Finance Series, with information about savings, credit, debt, finding money for college, and more.
March 15th, 2010
Alicia
In celebration of the launch of Porchlight’s Madison Cares Campaign, the Madison Public Library has joined forces with Porchlight for a community read of The Soloist: A Lost Dream, an Unlikely Friendship, and the Redemptive Power of Music by Steve Lopez.
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.
- Saturday, April 17, 1:30 p.m. at the South Madison Branch
- Film screening with Porchlight-led discussion to follow on Friday, May 14, 6:30 p.m. at the Alicia Ashman Branch - Register online or call 824-1780
- Tuesday, May 25, 7:00 p.m. at the Pinney Branch
- Wednesday, June 2, 6:30 p.m. at the Meadowridge Branch
- Wednesday, June 16, 7 p.m. at the Sequoya Branch
- Wednesday, July 14, 7 p.m. at the Central Library
- Wednesday, July 21, 6 p.m. at the Hawthorne Branch
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.
March 12th, 2010
Tana
Apple Pie: Symbols of Americana in the permanent collection at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (MMoCA) features more than 80 paintings, photographs, prints, and objects that address American identity through imagery ranging from big cars and hamburger joints to cowboys and fields of corn. Books from the Madison Public Library - about art and the American spirit - are currently on display in the MMoCA Kids Learning Center, and available for families to use while viewing the display. The exhibit will be on display through Sunday, April 11.
Looking for more books about American art? Check out our Americana companion booklist for the exhibit. See more children’s programs at MMoCA.
March 9th, 2010
Alicia
The Madison Public Library is pleased to welcome ensembles from the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras (WYSO) in three performances at Madison Libraries during February and March.
WYSO provides young musicians in southern Wisconsin with opportunities in musical excellence; musical groups include three full orchestras and a string orchestra, a chamber music program, a harp program, a percussion ensemble, and a brass choir program. To supplement the educational experience of its orchestra members. WYSO also offers a number of opportunities for members to participate in small ensembles. Chamber music ensembles will be appearing at these three Madison Public Library locations for free performances of classical music, open to the public.
Join us and the WYSO Ambassadors for an afternoon of beautiful music!
February 4th, 2010
Alicia
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!
January 28th, 2010
Tana
The League of Women Voters of Dane County, a non-partisan, community-based organization committed to “reconnecting citizens with government, enhancing voter participation, including all voices in civic life, and strengthening the democratic process through reform” has just released their 2010 Spring Election Candidates’ Answers. The League of Women Voters of Dane County is not printing Candidates’ Answers for the Primary Spring 2010 election. Read up on the primary election (February 16) candidates at the LWVDC web site.
January 28th, 2010
Alicia
Is one of your intentions this year to work on a healthier you? SELF Magazine places Madison at #8 out of 100 in its November article, The Healthiest Places for Women. Madison was noted for having one of the lowest average body mass indexes, and cancer and disease mortality rates are about 15 percent lower than the national average. In addition, Madison women reported spending more time getting fit than any other city in the country.
Start 2010 off right and get fit by taking advantage of the City of Madison’s many beautiful cross country ski trails. Thirty kilometers of groomed trails await skiers in 6 Madison park locations. Trail difficulties range from easy to advanced. Don’t have your own skis? Rental skis are available at Elver Park and Odana Golf Course on the weekends.
A ski pass is required to use the facilities at Elver and Odana Golf Course. Fees are $6 for a daily pass and $24 for an annual pass. These passes are also good on Dane County Park trails. No pass is required at Owen Conservation Park, Turville Conservation Park, Monona Golf Course and South Cherokee Conservation Park, so you can ski for free at these locations.
Complete listings of ice skating, skiiing and sledding information are available online. Find more information about Madison winter fun in the latest issues of Madison Parks News and Madison Parks Magazine, and view a winter activities photography slideshow on flickr.
January 14th, 2010
Molly
at the Central Library! Launched in May 2004 by local poet Shoshauna Shy, Poetry Jumps off the Shelf takes poetry out of the libraries, bookstores and classrooms and into the public arena. A display featuring new postcards released this fall can be found on the first floor of the Central Library. Pick up a free postcard and send a poem to a friend!
This latest project titled “Lines in the Sand” features poems that reach across territorial, cultural and interpersonal boundaries. Paired with the abstract art of Sarah Spencer and produced on postcards, they made their debut at the first Lorine Niedecker Poetry Festival in Fort Atkinson and at the Harambee-South Madison Health & Family Center in October.
January 12th, 2010
Molly
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