Madison Public Library

06/13/2026

Join in on summer fun with the 2026 WE READ Youth Voices Writing Contest— open now until June 30!

The annual contest, receiving submissions until June 30, is hosted in collaboration with Forward Madison FC and the Wisconsin Book Festival. This year's theme is "Community in Action," chosen by Youth Ambassador and City of Madison, Wisconsin Government Youth Poet Laureate Octavia Ikard. Submissions are accepted in all shapes and sizes—short stories, poems, comics, graphic novels, and more. Open to ages 18 and under.

The top 50 submissions will be published in the WE READ Youth Voices Anthology, with additional cash prizes and recognition at a Forward Madison FC game for the top three winners. More information can be found on our website madpl.org/youthvoices, as well as at WE READ displays in several library locations.

06/13/2026

If you'll be at the Farmer's Market next weekend, stop by Central Library for a little bit of fun food education with a new storytime called Tasty Tales!

On June 20, from 10:30-11:30am, we'll be celebrating a seasonal vegetable from the market. We'll start by sharing some themed stories during storytime, then do an art activity connected to the vegetable, try a recipe featuring the veggie, and send your family home with a recipe, too!

Kids can practice early literacy skills by following the steps in sequence and reading along with the recipe when you make it at home.

No registration required - just stop in to the Children's Area on the lower level of Central Library next Sat, June 20 at 10:30am.

06/13/2026

Eager to know what the inside of the Imagination Center at Reindahl Park will look like?

We interviewed Robin Strobel, the founder of InteriorLOGIC, a Madison-based interior design firm that has been working diligently on the project since 2023 to bring their concept of "A Walk in the Park" to life.

"In both the Library and the Pavilion, things like the large expanses of windows, JLA's roof design, and Saiki Design's landscape design, provided an opportunity to incorporate elements within the interior that mimic natural elements outside while maintaining the park views. We were inspired by Saiki Design's approach to the site, including the importance and focus on the many trees on the site, as well as the other elements they introduced. To reinforce the concept, the design of the carpet is reminiscent of grass and water throughout, and is used to highlight certain areas. The circulation desk at the entrance is softly rounded and welcoming, with a design element over the desk evocative of a tree canopy. A leafy tile pattern is used as the backsplash over the serving areas in the Pavilion."

Read the full interview here: https://bit.ly/4exZ6Hp and sign up for the Imagination Center at Reindahl Park newsletter at madpl.org/imaginationcenter

Madison Public Library Foundation
Madison Parks

06/12/2026

Polka! Press is a collective of artists and designers working alongside one another in a shared makerspace to produce a diverse mixture of original printed artworks.

The Print's Alive show - up at Pinney Library now and curated by one of the Polka! Press members, Jinx King, features a variety of mediums, including screen printing, relief printing, letterpress, or a combination of mediums. Works were created by seven participating artists and highlight how individual or collective voices can be used to make the world a brighter place.

Learn more about the show and read artist bios at madpl.org/polkapress

The Print's Alive exhibition will be through the end of June. Be sure to stop by and see this impactful group show at Pinney Library before it's gone!

06/11/2026

Do you have a story to tell? Let Madison Writing Assistance help you tell it!

Their Celebration of Writing begins this weekend with the first of two storytelling workshops at Goodman South Madison Library, designed to help you develop, write, and practice telling a 5-minute true story about your life.

Workshop 1 is this Saturday, June 13 from 3-4:30pm and will focus on finding your story, while the following week's workshop (Sat, June 20), will hone in on tips for telling your story. Everything culminates with the final Story Slam on Sat, June 27 from 2-4pm, where you can sign up to tell your story live, enjoy mini writing workshops on various topics, and join in a community reception with cake!

Learn more and register for workshops at madpl.org/mwa

06/11/2026

*IMPORTANT* for tonight's session! Rescheduled until July 16

Due to the possibility of severe weather, tonight's Budget Engagement Session has been rescheduled. The new date will be Thursday, July 16.

Madison Public Library

https://www.cityofmadison.com/mayor/events/2026-07-16/city-budget-engagement-public-facilities-services

06/11/2026

The Autism Society of Wisconsin - Madison came to present to our staff a few months ago and we followed up with them to work on creating a resource we thought would be helpful to use at the desk with patrons.

Choice boards are designed to support communication and decision-making, resulting in more inclusive experiences for Library visitors. Our staff now have choice boards in English and Spanish that they can use at the desks with patrons as needed or requested. (This resources is not designed for individual use).

Learn about other accessibility resources or request accommodations at madpl.org/accessibility

06/10/2026

Don't forget! We're hosting a Juneteenth screening of the horror/comedy film The Blackening (2022) in partnership with Sherman Church this Friday, June 12.

The screening will begin at 5:30pm and a discussion will follow the screening. This horror/comedy follows seven black friends who reunite for a Juneteenth weekend getaway, only to find themselves trapped in a cabin with a killer who has a vendetta. Will their street smarts and knowledge of horror movies help them stay alive? Probably not.

This film is rated R. No registration is required.

06/10/2026

This Saturday, June 13 is Worldwide Knit in Public Day!

The knitting group at Sequoya Library has been celebrating for years, and you're welcome to join them in the community room between 1-4pm.

Our own fiber arts whiz and Youth Services Librarian, Ruth S., will create a "take-and-make" project that you can opt into that day or bring your own project to work on. We'll have some supplies available on a first-come, first-served basis for those looking to try it out. Crocheters and other fiber artists are also welcome! After all, the motto of the day is World Wide Knit in Public Day: Better Living Through Stitching Together!

We can't wait to see you there, and in the meantime, we hope you enjoy Ruth's latest reading buddy project - an adorable pirate for the children's area!

06/10/2026

Vince Tripi is a passionate advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, dedicated to preserving its history and promoting a sense of belonging. He serves on the board of directors of Milwaukee Pride, Inc., received the Distinguished Service Award from UW–Milwaukee's LGBT Resource Center, and was named Advocate of the Year by the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce.

We're excited to have Vince lead a workshop at Pinney Library this Thurs, June 11 called The Power Here Is You: Lessons from Milwaukee’s Grassroots Response to AIDS, where he'll use Milwaukee’s historic response to the AIDS crisis as a roadmap to draw connections between past and present, identifying how lessons from AIDS activism remain urgent for today’s movements. The workshop will be an incredible deep-dive into local history, while also going beyond theory to provide actionable tools for navigating culture, influencing stakeholders, and building resilience.

No registration is required! Join us at 6:30pm this Thurs, June 11 at Pinney Library.

This workshop is made possible thanks to Beyond the Page, National Endowment for the Humanities and Madison Community Foundation.