Events Calendar

Play & Learn is a fun and engaging program that is offered free-of-charge for children ages birth to 3+ and their caregivers who reside in the Madison Metropolitan School District.  Registration is required.  Contact Play & Learn staff members for more information and assistance with registering for Play & Learn sessions. 

English (608) 204-6784

Spanish (608) 204-7918

Hmong (608) 212-4683

Join other neighborhood families for a casual library playdate, featuring open-ended play materials and lots of books! For kids up to age 5 with their caregivers. Siblings welcome.

Vengan a reunirse con otras familias del barrio para jugar en el patio de la biblioteca, con juguetes abiertos y muchos libros. Para niños de hasta 5 años, con sus cuidadores. Hermanos/as son bienvenidos.

READ and PLAY together with children under age 5! Engaging with books, songs and playful experiences all help children develop communication skills, patience, empathy, and pre-reading skills​ and helps to build a lifelong love of reading.

Library programs are always free. Siblings and childcare groups are welcome.

Are you behind on your rent because of the pandemic, either directly or indirectly? You are not alone. Many people are experiencing financial hardship right now.

The African Center for Community Development will be at the Hawthorne Library on Mondays, 11:00 am - 6:00 pm, to help individuals and families who owe back rent apply for Dane CORE 2.0 assistance.  For questions about the program or to set up an appointment, please call African Center at (608) 957-5623 or (608) 294-0066. More info at https://africancentermadison.org/housing-support/ (link is external)

Create your own avatar by sketching in 2D on graph paper and then designing in 3D using Tinkercad! Your avatar will be a visual representation of your identity or a fictional character’s identity. When done, you can share images of your creation with your friends and family!

For ages 8 to 12.

Visit the Dream Bus to browse books and other library materials, place or pick up holds, and sign up for a library card.

Learn more at dreambus.org

A representative from the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center will be tabling in the front the library from 10am until 12pm to recruit for a research study. For more information on the open studies at Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, visit their website at https://www.adrc.wisc.edu/volunteer-study

Visit the Dream Bus to browse books and other library materials, place or pick up holds, and sign up for a library card.

Learn more at dreambus.org

Join us for this exciting Dungeons and Dragons campaign for kids ages 9 - 17! Set in the world of Krixth, The Dragon Queen Draco Vonet needs your aid. Travel to her keep and see what she needs. What adventure and mystery await you on the way? What will occur in this Ballad of Interesting Events?

This program is currently full and sign-ups are closed for the time being. Check back later for additional availability, or call (608) 288-6160 for more information.

Chess meets the 1st and 3rd Mondays of every month from 4-5:45 p.m. Come and learn chess basics in the library with a 30 minute introduction of the game and then play a friendly game of chess with an opponent. Lessons start promptly at 4 p.m., followed by an open game at 4:30 p.m. Chess club is open to all ages and skill levels. No Chess 1/2, 1/16, 6/19.

Masks are not required but recommended.

Visit the Dream Bus to browse books and other library materials, place or pick up holds, and sign up for a library card.

Learn more at dreambus.org

Play Minecraft in both survival and creative worlds!  There is a limited number of computers, so participants will take turns as needed.

Mondays January 9 - April 28, with no meeting on January 16, March 13th, or March 20th.

The Madison Writing Assistance (MWA) program offers free, one-to-one writing support for community members at library branches throughout the city. Our friendly, experienced writing coaches are happy to help with writing projects across a wide range of genres, including resumes, cover letters, application essays, grant proposals, fiction writing, memoirs, and more.

Schedule an appointment online with the link below, by phone, or in person.

MWA services are made possible through generous donations from the Evjue Foundation and UW Anonymous Fund, along with administrative and program support from the UW-Madison English Department, the UW-Madison Writing Center, and our Library and neighborhood center partners.

Visit the Dream Bus to browse books and other library materials, place or pick up holds, and sign up for a library card.

Learn more at dreambus.org

The Madison Writing Assistance (MWA) program offers free, one-to-one writing support for community members at library branches throughout the city. Our friendly, experienced writing coaches are happy to help with writing projects across a wide range of genres, including resumes, cover letters, application essays, grant proposals, fiction writing, memoirs, and more.

Schedule an appointment online with the link below, by phone, or in person.

MWA services are made possible through generous donations from the Evjue Foundation and UW Anonymous Fund, along with administrative and program support from the UW-Madison English Department, the UW-Madison Writing Center, and our Library and neighborhood center partners.

Tell Us! is a survey initiative that gives residents an opportunity to provide feedback to the library and share their visions for improvement for Madison's south and west side libraries. Library Planner Rynn K. will be on hand to facilitate and take notes as a small group of South side residents discuss the survey and provide feedback. 

Light refreshments provided. 

Registration required.

The Madison Writing Assistance (MWA) program offers free, one-to-one writing support for community members at library branches throughout the city. Our friendly, experienced writing coaches are happy to help with writing projects across a wide range of genres, including resumes, cover letters, application essays, grant proposals, fiction writing, memoirs, and more.

Schedule an appointment online with the link below, by phone, or in person.

MWA services are made possible through generous donations from the Evjue Foundation and UW Anonymous Fund, along with administrative and program support from the UW-Madison English Department, the UW-Madison Writing Center, and our Library and neighborhood center partners.