Events Calendar

READ and PLAY with your favorite baby or toddler! Reading, singing, talking and playing with your baby from the beginning is important because the roots of language are developing in a baby’s…

Central Library Madison and the American Red Cross are hosting an upcoming blood drive.

Come to give blood April 30th and get an exclusive Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last.…

READ and PLAY together with children 5 & under! Stories, songs, and rhymes for about 20 minutes, followed by playtime and an art project. 

Engaging with books, songs, and playful…

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…

We'll provide the art supplies, you provide the kiddos.  Messy play and maybe some art making will happen!  If the weather is pleasant, we'll make art outside, so dress for mess and…

Do you have clothing or other fabric items that need mending? 

Volunteers from the Sewing Machine Project are offering free mending at Hawthorne Neighborhood Library every other…

Utilize a variety of materials from past workshops to make a truly unique creation. Materials may include; paint markets, cardboard, washi tape, wooden shapes, glass jars, stones, paper, LED…

Central Cinema Cinesthesia presents Deep Cover (1992).

Hosted by Jason Fuhrman, Cinesthesia is an adventurous, eclectic series of classic and contemporary films that focuses on the complex…

A sweeping and trenchant exploration of the history of Native American boarding schools in the U.S., and the legacy of abuse wrought by systemic attempts to use education as a tool through which…

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…

Join the Alicia Ashman book club for lively, thoughtful discussions every first Thursday of the month (excluding December). Everyone is welcome and books are available at the Checkout Desk week of…

The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert

Directed by Stephan Elliott.  Performances by Terence Stamp, Hugo Weaving, Guy Pearce, Bill Hunter, Sarah Chadwick.  Metro-Goldwyn-…

This event has been canceled.

The Madison Writing Assistance (MWA) program offers free, one-to-one writing support for community members at library branches…

This event has been canceled.

The Madison Writing Assistance (MWA) program offers free, one-to-one writing support for community members at library branches…

This event has been canceled.

The Madison Writing Assistance (MWA) program offers free, one-to-one writing support for community members at library branches…

The 2025 undergraduate and graduate creative writing awards ceremony. Presented in partnership with The UW Program in Creative Writing.

Featured author TBA.

The Hawthorne Anime Club was created to give people a place to gather, watch, and talk about Japanese animation.  The club is intended for adults and older teens. All screenings will be in…

Come for a short storytime filled with rhymes, songs and bounces designed especially for little ones. Then stay to play and connect with other caregivers and babies.

Recommended ages…

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.…

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.…

In partnership with the City of Madison and Madison Public Library, the African Center for Community Development provides in-person assistance* to help offset housing costs by assisting residents…

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…

Free hour-long one-on-one computer and tech assistance.

Marcus can help you with:

• Becoming comfortable with your laptop, cellphone or tablet 
• computer basics…

Free hour-long one-on-one computer and tech assistance.

Marcus can help you with:

• Becoming comfortable with your laptop, cellphone or tablet 
• computer basics…