Events Calendar

Join We Read Bubbler Artist Kati Fernandez Lambert of Coyote Fire Arts each Thursday morning at Central library to explore, interact and connect with Nature through art. We'll follow the moon cycles of the summer with a variety of open ended projects, different each week, made with foraged materials. 

Ages 5 and up with their grown ups encouraged to join in too! Younger siblings welcome, but will need help from their adult. 

All library programs are free and open to the public. 

READ and PLAY together with children ages 5 and under! Engaging with books, songs and playful experiences all help children develop communication skills, patience, empathy, and pre-reading skills. It also helps to build a lifelong love of reading. Library programs are always free. Siblings and childcare groups are welcome.

Thursdays, June 20 - August 15, 10:30am

Note: No storytime on Thursday, July 4.

Come play in the children's area while local musician, Tina, plays a variety of songs on her violin. This is informal music, meant to be enjoyed while playing, drawing, or reading in the children's area! ​For families/all ages.

Looking for a way to let off some STEAM? Drop in to Meadowridge Library to play, make and learn fun STEAM themed activities. Best suited for ages 5 and up with some support encouraged. 

This week we will explore cardboard construction.

Read the book and join the discussion of "You Don’t Know Us Negroes and Other Essays" by Zora Neale Hurston. New members always welcome!

"Spanning more than three decades and penned during the backdrop of the birth of the Harlem Renaissance, Montgomery bus boycott, desegregation of the military, and school integration, Hurston’s writing articulates the beauty and authenticity of Black life as only she could. Collectively, these essays showcase the roles enslavement and Jim Crow have played in intensifying Black people’s inner lives and culture rather than destroying it. She argues that in the process of surviving, Black people re-interpreted every aspect of American culture—"modif[ying] the language, mode of food preparation, practice of medicine, and most certainly religion.”White supremacy prevents the world from seeing or completely recognizing Black people in their full humanity and Hurston made it her job to lift the veil and reveal the heart and soul of the race. These pages reflect Hurston as the controversial figure she was—someone who stated that feminism is a mirage and that the integration of schools did not necessarily improve the education of Black students. Also covered is the sensational trial of Ruby McCollum, a wealthy Black woman convicted in 1952 for killing her lover, a white doctor." -- Amazon.com

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 Making & Learning Intern Yaritza at Dream Bus and Parks Alive stops this summer for a fun, maker activity! While you're there, explore Madison Public Library's summer reading program WE READ: 

• Pick up your WE READ Card Game
• Fill your WE READ tote bag with books from the library collection
• Answer the Share Your Voice question of the week to earn a prize

Yaritza is bilingual in English and Spanish and will offer art and making programs throughout the summer. Learn more about Yaritza. 

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 Making & Learning Intern Yaritza at Dream Bus and Parks Alive stops this summer for a fun, maker activity! While you're there, explore Madison Public Library's summer reading program WE READ: 

• Pick up your WE READ Card Game
• Fill your WE READ tote bag with books from the library collection
• Answer the Share Your Voice question of the week to earn a prize

Yaritza is bilingual in English and Spanish and will offer art and making programs throughout the summer. Learn more about Yaritza. 

The Beekeeper

Directed by David Ayer.  Performances by Jason Statham, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Bobby Naderi, Josh Hutcherson, Jeremy Irons.  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 2024.  101 min.  Rated R.   Action / Crime / Thriller

Expose the corruption. Protect the hive. Watch the trailer for #TheBeekeeper, directed by David Ayer and starring Jason Statham. Only in theaters January 12. In The Beekeeper, one man’s brutal campaign for vengeance takes on national stakes after he is revealed to be a former operative of a powerful and clandestine organization known as “Beekeepers.” 

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 Making & Learning Intern Yaritza at Dream Bus and Parks Alive stops this summer for a fun, maker activity! While you're there, explore Madison Public Library's summer reading program WE READ: 

• Pick up your WE READ Card Game
• Fill your WE READ tote bag with books from the library collection
• Answer the Share Your Voice question of the week to earn a prize

Yaritza is bilingual in English and Spanish and will offer art and making programs throughout the summer. Learn more about Yaritza. 

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

The THINK LIKE A DJ: Varsity Program uses the four core elements of Hip-Hop culture (DJing, MCing, Breakdancing, Graffiti) to teach financial literacy, artistic independence and entrepreneurship to youth. In one hour kids will be inspired and empowered to use their artistic gifts to achieve their dreams. Join us for DJing, a rap game and a graffiti contest! Contest winners will earn prizes and all participants will receive a copy of the Think Like A DJ coloring book.

Young people, ages 6-17 years old, are invited to cook with Chef Lily at Hawthorne Library! Participants will prepare and enjoy a wide variety of recipes, while learning about meal planning, following recipes, and using kitchen gadgets and tools.

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.

Participants will learn English communication skills at the beginner or intermediate level.  

Los participantes aprenderán a comunicarse en inglés en los niveles principiantes o intermedio.

For more information, contact Literacy Network (608) 268-6425 bex@litnetwork.org

 Para más información, contactar a Literacy Newtork (608) 268-6425 bex@litnetwork.org

Thursdays 6-7:30pm May 30 - August 15 

 los jueves 6-7:30pm 30 de mayo-15 de agosto

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.

Goodman South Madison is excited to begin our Dungeons & Dragons program for youth. While this campaign is currently full, we will happily put people on our waitlist for our next campaign. Please email youth librarian, Rachel (rlavender@madisonpubliclibrary.org), for more information and/or to be put on the waitlist.

About D&D: Dungeons and Dragons is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game that allows each player to create their own character to play. These characters embark upon imaginary adventures within a fantasy setting. A Dungeon Master (DM) serves as the game's referee and storyteller, while maintaining the setting in which the adventures occur.

Join Chef Paul to learn the envelope-forming technique to make fresh spring rolls—a perfect way to enjoy the produce of the season! Demonstration only.

Limited space; registration is required. This program is currently full. Contact Lakeview Library at (608) 246-4547 or email lakeview@madisonpubliclibrary.org to be added to the waitlist.

Presented in partnership with Willy Street Co-Op.

About the Presenter

Paul grew up in Taiwan surrounded by fresh hanging foods in the market, but he didn’t have an appreciation for Taiwanese or Chinese ingredients until attending culinary school in Chicago where he developed a love for cooking. After serving in many kitchens over the years, he wanted to share the skills he learned with others which led him to teach. He says about teaching, "Cooking and sharing what I have learned is my passion. Teaching a cooking class gives me a chance to share my knowledge about the differences and uniquenesses of foods that people overlook. I want to show people how to be respectful, creative, and economical about food. To feel delighted when they learn an easy cooking technique using just a couple of simple fresh ingredients. The food is the real star, we are just the facilitators."

This workshop is a chance to see our local parks in a different way. Nature walks can help us be present in our daily lives. By taking a moment to notice how environments need each individual organism to fulfill its purpose for the ecosystem to thrive, we can see how our actions impact the local ecosystem we interact with daily.

Meet to attend this event at 1202 Olin-Turville Ct, Madison, WI 53715

Space is limited for this event; registration is required. Registration will open two weeks before the event, on Thursday, July 25.

Part of the MPL Naturalist-in-Residence. For more information visit madpl.org/naturalist. The Naturalist-in-Residence is made possible in part by generous support of Nancy Leff and Kenneth Lerner, and in partnership with Madison Parks.