Central Library BIG 150th Anniversary Party

Attend a party in the library this May. Our first location opened on May 31, 1875, and we're ringing in 150 years of library service in Madison with birthday cake, giveaways, and interactive activities for every age at all nine ......More

Attend a party in the library this May. Our first location opened on May 31, 1875, and we're ringing in 150 years of library service in Madison with birthday cake, giveaways, and interactive activities for every age at all nine locations!  At Central Library, you'll be able to:  NEW! 9:45am: Meet at The Forum at the top of State Street for a mini-parade with Forward Marching Band from Capitol Square to Central Library via Mifflin St. led by Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and Library Director Tana Elias.10-10:15am: Hear speeches from Mayor Satya Rhodes Conway, Library Director Tana Elias, and more10:30-11:30am: Enjoy a special all-ages storytime11am and 12pm: Take a tour of the library and learn about our history (multiple languages available)11:30am - 1pm: Be a library architect with building materials from Legos to Superspace TilesTake a commemorative photo with our Book Arch (and historic Wildflower sculpture)Get paired with the perfect book by browsing read-alikes, chatting with librarians, and checking out a fun book caféEnjoy a new art exhibition highlighting work made by library patrons and past Pinney artist-in-residence Phil Hassett showcasing Words For Now: Letterpress Prints from our CommunityUsing Madison Public Library's new letterpress kit, print your own commemorative special edition 150th Celebration Print to take homeStep into our imaginative cake land in the Bubbler Room to create with unexpected materials and explore CAKES as vessels for rich storytellingPick up a WE READ Map and bag to start your summer reading journeyCompete in 150th Anniversary trivia for prizesShare your first library memory, what you love about the library, and your hopes for the library of the future by adding candles to our non-edible cake created by Artist-in-Residence National VelvetGet a library card We invite you to attend our neighborhood library celebrations, too! 150th Anniversary Parties are made possible thanks to the Madison Public Library Foundation. View this event at https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/spaces/events/central-library-big-150th-anniversary-party-28530

Central Library - Meeting Rooms 301 and 302 Combined

One-on-One Computer Assistance

Get help brushing up on essential computer skills, safely browsing the internet, creating and using an email address, filling out online applications, or even writing resumes and cover letters. Sign up for a one-hour one-on-one appointment by stopping into the Central......More

Get help brushing up on essential computer skills, safely browsing the internet, creating and using an email address, filling out online applications, or even writing resumes and cover letters. Sign up for a one-hour one-on-one appointment by stopping into the Central Library or calling the reference desk at 608-266-6350. View this event at https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/spaces/events/one-one-computer-assistance-21335

Central Library - Study Room 211

Personal Archiving Lab: Drop-In Tutorials

The Personal Archiving Lab at Central Library is a collection of equipment that can be used to digitize at-risk analog materials like home movies video tapes audio cassettes photographs and more. Stop by the Central Library on Mondays, 2-4pm for a tutorial on how to us......More

The Personal Archiving Lab at Central Library is a collection of equipment that can be used to digitize at-risk analog materials like home movies video tapes audio cassettes photographs and more. Stop by the Central Library on Mondays, 2-4pm for a tutorial on how to use the library's Personal Archiving Lab. Tutorial duration is approximately 20-30 minutes. The instructor may not be able to accommodate those who arrive after 3:40pm. Following the tutorial, you will be able to make an appointment during library hours to use the equipment - up to 3 hours per day - for your personal archiving project. The Personal Archiving Lab supports the following formats: VHS and VHS-C tapes DVDs (not BluRay); audio cassettes; MiniDV; photographs (including negatives and slides) and other paper-based documents. It does not support 8 or 16mm reel-to-reel film or audio tape. We are unable to offer digitization for Hi-8 tapes at this time. Patrons who use the lab must bring some form of external storage — a portable hard drive, or a thumb drive — on which digital files can be stored. Call 608-266-6350 for more information. View this event at https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/spaces/events/personal-archiving-lab-drop-tutorials-21336

Central Library - Media Lab

Bubbler Room Closed 12-3pm

Youth group workshop. View this event at https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/spaces/events/bubbler-room-closed-12-3pm-28504

Central Library - Bubbler

Central Cinema Cinesthesia presents The Tree of Life (2011)

Central Cinema Cinesthesia presents The Tree of Life (2011). 'Four decades into an already legendary career, Terrence Malick realized his most rapturous vision to date, tracing a story of childhood, wonder, and grief to the outer limits of time and space. Reaching bac......More

Central Cinema Cinesthesia presents The Tree of Life (2011). 'Four decades into an already legendary career, Terrence Malick realized his most rapturous vision to date, tracing a story of childhood, wonder, and grief to the outer limits of time and space. Reaching back to the dawn of creation, Malick sets a story of boyhood memories on a universal scale, charting the coming of age of an awestruck child (newcomer Hunter McCracken) in Texas in the 1950s, as he learns to navigate the extremes of nature and grace represented by his bitter, often tyrannical father (Brad Pitt) and his ethereal, nurturing mother (Jessica Chastain, in her breakout role)' (Criterion). Hosted by Jason Fuhrman, Cinesthesia is an adventurous, eclectic series of classic and contemporary films that focuses on the complex relationship between literature and cinema. Cinesthesia strives to foster constructive dialogue, while breathing new life into controversial works, neglected masterpieces, and titles in the margins of film history. View this event at https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/spaces/events/central-cinema-cinesthesia-presents-tree-life-2011-21337

Central Library - Meeting Room 302

Podcasting kit tutorial

Curious about podcasting? Join us for a demo of the Library Podcasting Kit and learn about the basics of recording and sound editing. The kit consists of one audio interface box that takes the input from two microphones and feeds into a laptop. We will work on a small......More

Curious about podcasting? Join us for a demo of the Library Podcasting Kit and learn about the basics of recording and sound editing. The kit consists of one audio interface box that takes the input from two microphones and feeds into a laptop. We will work on a small recording project in teams. The kit is compatible with PC or Apple laptops - you can bring your own or use a library laptop. Registration required. Registration for this session opens on Wednesday 5/7/25. View this event at https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/spaces/events/podcasting-kit-tutorial-28618

Central Library - Media Lab

Book Discussion of Master Slave Husband Wife:

an Epic Journey from Slavery to Freedom by Ilyon Woo Escaping slavery in Georgia, Ellen Craft, who could pass for white, disguised herself as wealthy invalid man, and her husband William Craft played the role of the man’s slave. By steamboat, stagecoach and train, the......More

an Epic Journey from Slavery to Freedom by Ilyon Woo Escaping slavery in Georgia, Ellen Craft, who could pass for white, disguised herself as wealthy invalid man, and her husband William Craft played the role of the man’s slave. By steamboat, stagecoach and train, they escaped to the North and became part of the Abolitionist speaking circuit, only to be hunted again by slave hunters after the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. Woo used archival texts and the Crafts’ own published work about their journey to create this nonfiction book about their lives. Join us for discussion and sometimes dessert. Newcomers warmly welcomed. View this event at https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/spaces/events/book-discussion-master-slave-husband-wife-21338

Central Library - Conference Room 104

Bubbler Room Closed 9am-12pm

Youth group workshop View this event at https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/spaces/events/bubbler-room-closed-9am-12pm-28505

Central Library - Bubbler

Free Mending

We’re here to mend anything you need for the colder months, including clothing, coats, and any other fabric-related repairs, except for zippers. Sewers from the Sewing Machine Project will be available to mend your things for free every Thursday of the month. View th......More

We’re here to mend anything you need for the colder months, including clothing, coats, and any other fabric-related repairs, except for zippers. Sewers from the Sewing Machine Project will be available to mend your things for free every Thursday of the month. View this event at https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/spaces/events/free-mending-21339

Central Library - Study Room 211

Podcasting kit tutorial

Curious about podcasting? Join us for a demo of the Library Podcasting Kit and learn about the basics of recording and sound editing. We will work on a small recording project in teams. The kit is compatible with PC or Apple laptops - you can bring your own or use a l......More

Curious about podcasting? Join us for a demo of the Library Podcasting Kit and learn about the basics of recording and sound editing. We will work on a small recording project in teams. The kit is compatible with PC or Apple laptops - you can bring your own or use a library laptop.  Registration required. Registration for this session opens Saturday, 5/10/25. View this event at https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/spaces/events/podcasting-kit-tutorial-28619

Central Library - Media Lab

Library closed for Memorial Day

Library closed for Memorial Day All Libraries

All Libraries