Madison Public Library

South Dakota Titles To Go News!

2012-02-15T16:59:00.001-06:00

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Looking for help?

The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) has been replaced with Digital Help

The new Digital Help includes newlywritten help articles that cover everything you need to know to enjoy eBooksand audiobooks from the South Dakota Titles To Go collection. There are several ways to find theinformation you are looking for.

Search – search for information.
Get Started With… - find informationto get started with a specific device.
Most Popular Articles - see the articles that are most read.
Recent Searches – see what other users are searching for.
Recently Added Articles – locate new information about the service such as software updates and newfeatures.

The Digital Help can be accessed from the South Dakota Titles To Go site from the Getting Started menu.

As always, you can call us at 605-256-7525

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February Book Discussions

2012-01-24T09:57:00.000-06:00

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Book discussion clubs continue to meet in the afternoon and evening of the third Thursday of each month. In February the afternoon group will discuss Miss Timmins' School for Girls. The evening group will be discussing Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. You are invited to attend either or both of these discussions.

We have a limited number of the books to be discussed available for check out. Ask for them at the circulation desk.

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New eReader?

2012-01-23T10:05:00.002-06:00

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Did you receive a Nook or Kindle as a gift for Christmas? Want to know how to borrow free ebooks from South Dakota Titles To Go online library?

Melanie has posted instructions for downloading Overdrive ebooks.

Kindle download instructions

Nook and other eReaders

Still have questions? Contact Melanie Argo at 256-7525.

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Winter Book Discussion Schedule

2012-01-06T13:07:00.004-06:00

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It's time to get back into the Madison Public Library's reading and discussion schedule. We will continue to meet in the afternoon and evening of the third Thursday of each month. This month the afternoon discussion will center on the book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, and the evening group will discuss Wesley the Owl. You are invited to come to either or both of the discussions.

We have a limited number of the books to be discussed available to check out. Ask for them at the circulation desk.

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E-Reader, Now What?

2011-12-28T19:54:00.002-06:00

Did you receive a Nook or Kindle as a gift for Christmas? Want to know how to borrow FREE e-books from South Dakota Titles To Go online library?

http://southdakota.lib.overdrive.com/

Then join us January 3rd or 5th where we’ll give you tips on searching, checking out, and transferring e-books to your Kindle or Nook for your enjoyment!

Have a laptop? Bring it with and follow along!

Kindle Sessions
Tuesday, January 3rd 1:30pm to 4:30pm
Thursday, January 5th 6:30pm to 8:30pm

Nook Sessions
Tuesday, January 3rd 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Thursday, January 5th 1:30pm to 4:30pm

Questions? Contact Melanie Argo at 256-7525

Book Signing - December 28th

2011-12-19T16:21:00.010-06:00

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Please join us for a special book signing event...

Madison Public Library

4pm - 6pm

Wednesday, Dec. 28th, 2011

Local author, Linda Cundy, will be here to sign copies of her new book, She Acts Very Different.

In the book Linda recounts her daughter April's story in rhymes. April was born with a genetic disorder called Angelman Syndrome. The book tells her story as a lesson in loving and accepting our differences.* Copies will be available for purchase.

*Read more about Linda Cundy and her new book on madisonet.com .

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Wii Week Extravaganza!

2011-12-19T16:11:00.000-06:00

Preschool Boys!

2011-12-06T10:46:00.004-06:00

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Cars Christmas Party

Monday, December 19th

@ 6:30 & 7:00 pm

Boys ages 3-5 are welcome.

Call the Madison Public Library at 256-7525 to make reservations.

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2011-11-30T14:55:00.002-06:00

Fancy Nancy

Splendiferous Christmas Party!

Monday, December 12th

@ 6:30 & 7:00

Girls ages 3-5 are welcome.

Call the Madison Public Library at 256-7525 to make reservations.

Attention eBooks Fans

2011-11-29T15:17:00.002-06:00

We are adding more eBooks titles to the South Dakota Titles To Go collection. Kindle owners, please note that our downloadable eBooks system now supports your device.

South Dakota Titles To Go is powered by Overdrive and features bestselling downloadable audio and eBooks titles for adults and children. Haven't set up an account yet? You will need the barcode number from your library card and use your last name as the PIN. Need help? Call the Madison Public Library for assistance at 256-7525.

Book Signing - September 23rd

2011-09-16T10:38:00.005-05:00

Join us at the Madison Public Library on Friday, September 23rd, at 3:00pm for a book signing by author and native South Dakotan, Amanda Radke. Of her children's book, Levi's Lost Calf, Radke says, "Readers will get to experience a real-life cowboy adventure, complete with horses, cattle and a new understanding of where our food comes from."

Radke, now a freelance writer and motivational speaker, grew up on a family-owned cattle ranch in South Dakota. Her work focuses on agricultural issues. This event is sponsored by the SD Cattlemen's Auxillary and Beef Check Dollars. More information about Amanda Radke and Levi's Lost Calf can be found at https://www.createspace.com/3612406.

2011-08-26T11:52:00.004-05:00

BOOK CLUBS AT MPL
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The Madison Public Library currently has two book clubs that meet monthly. Anyone interested is welcome to join at any time. Contact the library at 256-7525 for more information.
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2011-08-26T00:00:00.000-05:00

SEPTEMBER BOOK DISCUSSIONS
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Madison Public Library book discussion groups will meet on Thursday, September 15th. Anyone is welcome to attend. The afternoon group will be discussing The Good Son by bestselling author Michael Gruber. Meeting time is set for 1:30 in the meeting room of the library.

At 7:00 pm the evening group will meet to discuss Erik Larson's latest nonfiction book, In the Garden of Beasts. Copies of both of these books are available at the circulation desk. Please call the library at 256-7525 to be added to the mailing list for future book discussion announcements.
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One World Many Stories ~ * Book Fair *

2011-07-29T14:12:00.002-05:00

The Summer Reading Program has come to an end. For those of you summer readers who have completed ALL 8 weeks of the program, the Book Fair is now OPEN!

Come in, pick up your certificate, and choose your FREE book from the fair!

Fair is open until August 13th.

Any questions call us @ 256-7525

Go Figure!

2011-05-07T15:04:00.002-05:00

The Go Figure! exhibit transforms charming children's books into a kids-sized world where children and adults delight in exploring math and books. The exhibit, sponsored by the Hands-On Partnership for Science, Literature and Art in South Dakota, will be at the Public Library during the month of May.

South Dakota Titles to Go

2011-03-28T09:57:00.001-05:00

Download Audiobooks & eBooks
from your computer, cell phone, iPod, or eBook reader. Registered patrons of Madison Public Library can access the library's online collection and download titles. To get started, visit:
http://southdakota.lib.overdrive.com/

12 Ways Libraries Are Good for the Country | American Libraries Magazine

2011-02-24T19:54:00.000-06:00

12 Ways Libraries Are Good for the Country | American Libraries Magazine

Annual Report

2011-02-11T11:16:00.002-06:00

“Perhaps no place in any community is so totally democratic as the town library. The only entrance requirement is interest.” Lady Bird Johnson

After over 100 years in the take-out business, the Madison Public Library continues to provide the community with access to information and entertainment. Public libraries are an investment made by communities. Using the money allotted to the Public Library by the city of Madison, the library’s Board of Trustees maintains the library building, buys the books and other material, implements programs like storytime and book discussions, and provides for the technology to carry out the library’s mission. For their annual investment in the Public Library taxpayers in Madison receive access to thousands of books, magazines, movies, recorded books. All that is required, as Lady Bird Johnson said, is interest.

And there was no lack of interest in 2010. The total number of items checked out of the library increased by 6% in 2010. While this increase was noticed in every area of the library’s collection, the DVDs had the largest percentage increase in 2010. Circulation of DVDs in 2010 was up 36%. Contributing to this increase is the expanded and more up-to-date movie selections in the library’s DVD collection, and the economic downturn which has encouraged more people to reach for a library card rather than a credit card or a wallet when selecting a movie or documentary to watch. Although it is not as dramatic an increase, more books were checked out in 2010, too, along with more audiobooks and videocassettes.

Growth was not confined to circulation. More children took part in storytimes and the summer reading program. The attendance at the book discussion groups increased, and, in general, the meeting room at the library was used more often.

The library’s public access computers are heavily used, and in 2010, we replaced three of the computers with newer models and increased the bandwidth of the Internet connection to provide faster connections for staff and patrons.

The wear and tear on the library’s furnishings is another indicator of how much the library is used. In 2010, the carpeting in the entry area and around the circulation desk was replaced. The foot traffic of the last fifteen years had worn it out. The upholstery on some of the chairs is being replaced for the very same reason--after fifteen years of nearly constant use, they are threadbare.

We are planning new services for 2011 including downloadable audiobooks and e-books. Once in place, this service will make it possible for library patrons to access a shared collection of books to download to their personal listening and/or reading devices anytime, day or night. Libraries have come a long way from their beginnings when the books were literally chained to the shelves and were available to only select few.

The Board of Trustees and the staff of the Madison Public Library invite and encourage everyone to take advantage of the services offered at the library.

Happy 50th Anniversary*

2010-07-30T10:16:00.002-05:00

To Kill a Mockingbird

Harper Lee's classic American novel was published 50 years ago on July 11, 1960. To mark this literary milestone, Dr. John S. Nelson, Associate Professor of English, Dakota State University, will lead a discussion of To Kill a Mockingbird at the Madison Public Library on Thursday, August 19, at 7:00 p.m. Copies of the book are available at the Public Library.

*To Kill a Mockingbird is this year's featured book in the National Endowment for the Arts The Big Read program. Find more interesting information about this book, the author, and educational resources, on the link above.

Good books encourage great conversation.

2010-04-22T13:28:00.000-05:00

What difference can one person make? More than you can imagine. Think of Greg Mortenson and the difference he is making in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The focus he brings to building schools is nothing short of intense.

Less well known, but equally intense, Dr. Paul Farmer has made it his mission to provide quality medical treatment for some of the poorest populations in the world. In the process he has helped raise the standard of health care in underdeveloped areas of the world. Dr. Farmer is a physician and an anthropologist, and according to at least one of his former patients in Haiti, he's a god.

Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder is Dr. Farmer's story. Reviewers have said it will restore your faith in the ability of one person to make a difference. Read it for yourself and then join a discussion of the book at the Madison Public Library. Rev. Sandra Larson, First Presbyterian Church, will lead the discussion on Tuesday, May 25, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Copies of this book are available to check out at the Public Library. Inquire at the circulation desk.

Animals as Architects exhibit now closed.

2010-03-19T11:38:00.002-05:00

Thank you to all of those individuals and school groups who attended the Animals as Architects exhibit in February and March. Please note that exhibit has now moved on to another South Dakota library.

Animals as Architects

2010-02-24T18:47:00.010-06:00

Now showing at the Madison Public Library:

Animals as Architects is an interactive exhibit exploring the unique, natural homes built by animals. Come in and build a bird's nest, create a spider web, peer inside a termite mound, and many other interactive activities. Don't miss this opportunity to experience this exhibit sponsored by the Hands-On Partnership for Science, Literature and Art in South Dakota.

Jose & Mark - photos by Melanie Argo

Food for Fines

2010-02-02T13:50:00.006-06:00

During the month of February, bring in non-perishable food donations and your library fines will be forgiven.*

All donations benefit the Food Pantry.

*We ask that the value of your donations approximates the amount of your library fines.

Back to School

2009-09-08T14:41:00.001-05:00

Even for those of us without a direct connection to schools, the beginning of a school year changes the rhythm of our lives. At the Public Library, evenings and weekends get busier. Groups that have not met in the library’s meeting room all summer begin calling to reserve meeting dates and times. Gardening books are checked out less and craft books are checked out more. I start to think about all those books on the recommended reading lists that I haven’t read. It’s an interesting phenomenon.

One of the back-to-school changes at the library is a change in hours. During the school year, the Public Library is open on Saturday afternoons. Beginning September 12, the library’s hours are 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The library is closed on Sunday.

Back to school means back to preschool storytime at the Public Library. Storytime is a 30-minute program of stories, songs, fingerplays, and crafts for children ages 3 to 6 that meets Monday evenings and Tuesday mornings. The first storytimes for this fall will be on September 14 and 15. Contact the children’s librarian, Dana Neu, for more information.

Two book discussion groups meet at the library year around. The next discussions will take place on October 15. On that date the group meeting at 1:30 will be talking about Still Alice and the group meeting in the evening will discuss The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Interested readers are welcome to pick up a copy of the book at the library and join us to discuss what we’ve read.

Six boxes of new books just arrived at the library. Watch the shelves for the new titles.

Incredible Loot

2009-09-01T18:34:00.001-05:00

The richest person in the world - in fact all the riches in the world - couldn't provide you with anything like the endless, incredible loot available at your local library. ~Malcolm Forbes

Incredible loot—I like that description of the library. It makes me think about all the stuff available here. Books, for example. We have thousands of them on practically every subject imaginable. Are you updating a resume or writing a letter of application? There are books at the Madison Public Library to help with both. Thinking about attempting to repair a lawn mower, small appliance or car? Again, there are books here that will give you essential information. There are books on ways to conserve energy, new cookbooks, and stories to entertain you.

Books come in a variety of formats now. The book with paper pages and a cover is still the preferred format, but you can also listen to books. The library has a large collection of books on cassette tape and books on CD. Lots of folks like to take audiobooks to listen to when driving or flying or doing some household chore. The time does seem to go faster when your mind is occupied by a good story. The latest option for listening is called a playaway. It is very compact—3 1\2 inches by 2 inches—and fits easily into a pocket. All you need is a pair of headphones or earbuds.

Good stories are always part of the program at the Preschool Storytime sessions. Storytime is offered on Monday evenings and Tuesday mornings and is open to preschool children who are at least three years old. Each thirty-minute program includes stories, songs and other activities designed to capture the interest and imagination of youngsters.

Free access to the Internet is available both on the library’s computers and through the library’s wireless Internet connection. Finding information on the Internet is a little like shopping at a flea market. There are some treasures, but there is also a lot of junk. The South Dakota Library Network, the State Library and the Madison Public Library all subscribe to databases that are available via the Internet. Some of these can be accessed from your home computer. World Book Encyclopedia is one of the databases you can use from your home. Others are only accessible at the library. If you are thinking about car repair, check out the Mitchell Manuals online at the public library.

Browse through the videocassettes and DVDs at the library for both entertainment and information. History, civics, exercise, do-it-yourself projects, classic movies and recent film releases are all part of the video and DVD collection.

The Madison Public Library also subscribes to popular magazines and newspapers.

And the best part—admission to the library and its “loot” is free. Please take advantage of everything the library has to offer.

Coming in August...

2009-07-16T15:18:00.012-05:00

How would you describe creatures that have dominated the earth for over 300 million years? Despite their small size and individual insignificance, insects have a huge impact on planet Earth and human life.

Visitors to Bug’s Eye View will enter an outdoor world of larger-than-life models that demonstrate the advanced adaptations of typical insects: sleek wings, heavy-duty armor, specialized appendages, and highly sensitive detectors. Bug’s Eye View contains information on many levels, beginning with basic identification and classification. Find out why spiders, ticks, sow bugs, centipedes, and millipedes are not classified as insects. Work with an assortment of different legs, body parts, antennae and wings to make insects, spiders, and centipedes.

The overall exhibit is geared for Pre- 6th grade children, parents, caregivers and teachers.

Included with the exhibit:

♦ Interactive Design – a complete turnkey program to enrich learning opportunities in your community.
♦ Exhibit Manual – with descriptions, fact sheets, activities, and suggested resources.
♦ Experts in the Field – Resources including recommended scholars, artists and other experts who could conduct more in-depth programming.

♦ Educational Kits – Science kit includes experiments and supplies. The art kit provides instructions and supplies for conducting art and art appreciation activities. The literature kit includes books, color sheets, crayons and games.

Bug's Eye View is sponsored by the HOP program.

Reverend Sandra Larson Hosts Book Discussion at MPL

2009-04-28T13:24:00.005-05:00

Thousands of readers have read The Shack by William P. Young. It has been on the New York Times Best Sellers List for over 30 weeks and continues to be popular because readers keep talking about it. The Madison Public Library and Reverend Sandra Larson offer an opportunity for readers to talk about this book on May 12 and 19.

Reverend Sandra Larson, First Presbyterian Church in Madison, will lead a two-part discussion of The Shack at the Madison Public Library on Tuesday May 12 and May 19 beginning at 7:oo p.m. in the library's meeting room.

According to Reverend Larson The Shack will surprise, shock and inspire readers. The story begins with a family's tragedy. What follows is a spiritual adventure that gives a fresh and thought-provoking perspective on who is God; why am I here; and how to cope with tragedy. "This book's deep emotion and spiritual wisdom will nudge you to reflect on what you believe and what you value," states Reverend Larson.

Copies of The Shack are available at the Shepherd Shop and Books and More. Madison Public Library has several copies that are currently spoken for, however interested patrons may have their names added to the reserve list for future reading.

All interested readers are invited to join this discussion. Please contact the Public Library, 256-7525, if you plan to attend.

Something for Everyone

2009-04-25T19:21:00.000-05:00

Back in January, everyone at the Public Library ordered books from sales representatives who visited us. Boxes of books have been arriving at the library since then—it’s been sort of like Christmas.

Most of the books are nonfiction, but with all of us choosing books, I think we have something to appeal to every interest. Keep checking the new book shelves.

Some of the new titles now available are:
Do It For Less! Weddings by Denise Vivaldo contains more than 500 cost-saving tips, ideas, and professional advice on all aspects of planning an unforgettable wedding on an affordable budget.

When Our Mothers Went to War by Margaret Regis documents the challenges faced by women on the home front and in the battle zone during World War II.

Outside the Not So Big House by Julie Moir Messervy offers practical advice for designing outdoor spaces for modern lifestyles.

Street Gang by Michael Davis is the complete history of Sesame Street.

The New Mediterranean Diet Cookbook by Nancy Harmon Jenkins provides recipes and the latest information about the nutritional benefits of one of the world’s healthiest cuisines.

Special Guest

2009-03-25T19:45:00.007-05:00

During a lazy day of fishing, a father asked his young son a seemingly harmless question, "Do you know where this water goes?" Several years later, the boy, his brother, and two friends set off on a 1,400 mile journey to find out.

That fishing trip planted an idea that eventually led four Iowa lads on a two-and-a-half month canoeing voyage from Minnesota to the fabled Hudson Bay. Three decades later, their inspiring adventure has been captured in This Water Goes North, a new book by Dennis Weidemann.

The young travelers met while working at a pizza parlor, the typical job for college students. Short of money and experience, they opted to make the trip on their own terms, rather than to seek sponsorships to purchase the gear they would have liked.

On a bone-chilling May 8. 1979, they pushed off in two beat-up canoes, one of them a square-back Grumman purchased at at garage sale, still painted with red, white and blue markings from a bicentennial parade. On the bottom was a name--"Lucky." And it was.

Just three days into the trip, the intrepid explorers had their first brush with near death, when two of the young men capsized and found themselves pinned under a fallen tree in fast water. There were still treacherous rapids and hundreds of miles of unpopulated wilderness to come, but close calls would be just a part of a rich adventure filled with tales of bootleggers, friendship, a polar bear, and humorous escapades with local characters.

The foursome spent the first three weeks snaking down the Otter Tail River and Red River to Canada, camping at farms along the way. Leaving civilization behind, they battled Lake Winnipeg, a frigid 300-mile beast with a bad temper. Following old fur trading routes they passed through another 400 moles of untamed backcountry to the remote York Factory outpost on Hudson Bay.

Why did they go? Thirty years later the somewhat older explorers respond as they did in 1979, citing a song by Pablo Cruise. "The time has come to cast away and sail into the sun. We wanna' be worlds away."

"The spirit of adventure is universal," says Weidemann, who hopes that the book will help others appreciate the value of an adventure of youth. "Everyone dreams of going somewhere, but often life gets in the way. I hope that for at least a moment, This Water Goes North will take readers to wherever they wanted to go. Maybe one day, they too will be worlds away."

Author Dennis Weideman will present a slide show of this amazing story at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 13, at the Madison Public Library. Books will be aviable for purchase; signing follows.

The ballots have been cast new library card...

2009-02-26T20:29:00.012-06:00

Below are the finalists from our contest to find a new image for the Madison Public Library's new card.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Click here to see the results of our online and library polls.

Interested in joining a book club?

2009-02-26T10:38:00.001-06:00

There are two book clubs meeting at the Madison Public Library, and new readers are always welcome.

One of the groups meets in the afternoon. Their next meeting is Thursday, March 5, at 1:30 p.m. at the Public Library. The book we have chosen to read and discuss is Little Heathens by Mildred Armstrong Kalish. This book is Mildred Kalish’s story of growing up on her grandparents’ Iowa farm during the Great Depression. Copies of the book are available at the library if you would care to join the discussion on March 5.

The second book club meets in the evening and is scheduled to meet again on Thursday, April 2, at 7:00 p.m. This group will be discussing Louise Erdrich’s novel The Master Butcher’s Singing Club. Copies of this book will also be available at the library.

In addition to hosting two book clubs, the Public Library is making available Book Club Bags. The bags contain multiple copies of a given book along with a description of the story and discussion questions. Only a few of these are currently available, but the number will grow as the book clubs continue to meet. Check at the library to find out what is available.

'Tis the Season

2008-12-18T11:31:00.001-06:00

Find Holiday Inspiration at the MPL

We've got ideas for holiday crafts, decorations, recipes and music in our non-fiction collection. Take a break and watch a Christmas movie from our DVD and VHS collection. Below are a few of the newest titles from our non-fiction books. Click here to find Christmas video titles and more book ideas.

Gooseberry Patch Christmas
Simply Sparkling Christmas Beading
Quick & Clever Christmas Cards
Holiday Quilts
A Cross-Stitch Christmas
Ultimate Christmas Book
Mary Engelbreit's 'tis the Season Holiday Cookbook
Holiday & Celebrations Cookbook 2007
The Ultimate Christmas Guitar Songbook
The Christian Christmas Songbook

Dates in Fiction

2008-10-29T18:12:00.002-05:00

Dates in fiction, or a collection of events that didn’t really happen…

October 29—Rosemary finds out that she is pregnant in Rosemary’s Baby by Ira Levin

October 31—Jean Louise Finch (Scout) meets Mr. Arthur (Boo) Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

November 4—Alice goes through the looking glass in Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll

November 10—Dorian Gray’s birthday in The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

December 3—The Soviet submarine Red October begins its voyage in The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy

December 20—The ice skating race occurs in Hans Brinker by Mary Dodge

December 25—The Pequod sails from Nantucket in Moby Dick by Herman Melville

December 26—Sam McGee dies in The Cremation of Sam McGee by Robert W. Service

Join the Madison Public Library's Reading and Discussion Group

2008-10-13T11:58:00.002-05:00

Good books bring people together. Consider all the people who have come together to read and discuss the books promoted by Oprah's Book Club, or all the people here in Madison who read Fahrenheit 451 for the Big Read in April.

October is National Reading Group Month. Its expressed goals are to celebrate the joys of shared reading, strengthen the community of the book, and promote a more literate, engaged community.

Naturally, the Madison Public Library shares those goals. So, there could be no better time to invite all interested readers to participate in a reading and discussion group at the Public Library. If this invitation appeals to you, let me know. I'm in the process of collecting titles for discussion and arranging a schedule. All suggestions, comments, and ideas are welcome. You can sign up at the Library, or reply to this blog. Please include your name, address, and a telephone number.

I think it would be great to have such an overwhelming response that we had to have two or three groups to accommodate everyone who is interested.

Banned Books

2008-10-08T15:34:00.001-05:00

September 29 through October 6 was Banned Books Week. This annual event reminds us Americans not to take the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one’s opinion for granted.

I’ve read banned books, and I bet you have, too. The list of banned books includes classics like Huckleberry Finn and To Kill a Mockingbird. Like me, you probably had no idea that there were any ideas so objectionable in those books that we needed to be protected from them. Obviously, someone saw something that I did not, and that difference of opinion is the very basis of the intellectual freedom we Americans enjoy.

We each have the right to hold any opinion on any subject, and we can communicate those opinions through a variety of means. Providing access to ideas and information of all kinds is the Public Library’s mission. Librarians everywhere adhere to the opinion of Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas that “Restriction of free thought and free speech is the most dangerous of all subversions. It is the one un-American act that could most easily defeat us.”

So the Madison Public Library has materials that frequently make the banned books lists, and the library will continue to make books like the Harry Potter series and others available to anyone who wants to read them. Frankly, if there isn’t something on the Public Library’s shelves that you disagree with, we’re not doing our job.

I find the exchange of ideas and discussion of differing viewpoints stimulating. It pushes me to consider the facts, weigh the information, and possibly draw some new conclusions. Take advantage of the Public Library’s open invitation to enjoy that kind of stimulation through books, magazines, newspapers, video, the Internet, and discussion.

Our Favorite Reads

2008-09-16T11:07:00.007-05:00

Did you follow the Democratic and Republican conventions? I wasn’t exactly glued to the coverage of the nominations, but I did find them interesting.

Being a book person, the focus on politics has made me think about some books that deal with politics. The first one that came to mind was Primary Colors which was published anonymously in the 1990’s. The novel follows the presidential primary campaign of a southern governor who is smart, inspirational, and surrounded by personal scandal. Sound familiar? Primary Colors is a smart, funny story with characters and events that you will probably recognize.

First published in 1946, All the King’s Men by Robert Penn Warren is possibly the best American political novel, and the one that I intend to read again this year. Loosely based on the life of Louisiana governor Huey Long, this Pulitzer Prize winning book centers on man’s continual search for knowledge with the end goal being self-knowledge. This complex novel raises a variety of issues from politics to religion.

Advice and Consent by Allen Drury and Washington, D.C. by Gore Vidal are a couple of other political novels of interest. Advice and Consent is a classic novel that deals with the nomination of a highly controversial person for the position of Secretary of State. The novel portrays Washington, D.C. in the 1950’s and 1960’s as a jungle of intrigue where anything goes in the struggle for power and position, but also as a city where idealism and principles have a place.

Washington, D.C. is set in the period from the New Deal to the McCarthy years. The primary characters, a powerful conservative Senator and his young assistant, both have presidential ambitions, and they are a study in contrasts—for the Senator to be dishonest is literally demoralizing; for his assistant nothing matters except winning. The importance of image and money in politics is part of the message of this novel.

I’m always looking for suggestions for good reading and would appreciate hearing about books that you enjoy. Please share you favorite reading with us.

Staff Picks--Click here to read more about our favorites

Pat: I, Witness: The Shocking Insider's Story of Jehovah's Witness by Daniel Clark
Dana: Grape Thief by Kristine Franklin
Bruce:The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Airborn by Kenneth Oppel
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Melanie: The Choice by Nicholas Sparks
Stephanie Plum Series by Janet Evanovich
Shawn: Dear American Airlines by Jonathan Miles
Saturday by Ian McEwan
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

Meet the Artist . . . Jackson Richards

2008-08-13T15:57:00.023-05:00

If you've been in the library in recent weeks you will have noticed the very colorful origami art in the display cases. This work was done by our very own patron, Jackson Richards.

The public is invited to attend a Meet the Artist reception for Jackson on Thursday, August 28, from 7-8 pm.

Jackson was kind enough to answer a few interview questions:

Tell us a little about yourself: I am 12 years old. I live just outside of the city limits in a big 1918 house. I have three dogs, six cats, and a horse. Me and my brother, Gabe, just recently bought ourselves a Wii game system. I love to play the piano and sing and play violin. I love animals, gardening, and flowers.
When did you get interested in origami and how long have you been doing this? When I was in the third grade my brother Gabe checked out a book about origami and did it for almost six months. In fifth grade I looked for the book but could not find it. I checked out another not-so-good book and lost interest. Just this spring, I checked out a great book, and have been doing it ever since. I have just recently gotten rather good at it.
What is you favorite source for origami patterns? Books. Particularly "Origami: The Complete Guide to the Art of Paperfolding".
Where do you get your materials? Usually at Michael's or Hobby Lobby.
What other interests do you have? All things. Music, tennis, papercraft, writing, reading, making graphs, playing frisbee, swimming, watching the Olympics, and skating.
Thank you. You're welcome.

From Nancy . . .

2008-08-08T13:08:00.004-05:00

Many thanks to everyone who has read and responded to our newsletter and blog. Your ideas and suggestions are great, and we intend to use them. However, the first order of business for the Public Library is a change in the software that runs the circulation, catalog and interlibrary loan.

Beginning August 11, the upgrade process necessary to install the new software will begin. The process should be complete by the end of the week, and we ask for your patience in the meantime.

We will be able to check material out during the upgrade, however we will not have access to patron records. We will not be able to look up your name and find your barcode or let you know how many books you have out, or when the DVDs you checked out are due. We also will be unable to find your card in the system. If you plan to come to the library to check out material, be sure you have your library card with you. You won't be able to check anything out unless you have your library card with you.

The online catalog will also be unavailable during this process. As always the library staff will be happy to help you find the information or items you want, but it may take a little longer than usual as we will have to consult our own memories for the answers rather than the computer memory.

At the end of the upgrade, our new software will help us do our jobs better, faster, and more accurately than before. I tend to be a little skeptical about this, but we'll see . . .

Keep in touch.

MPL Hosts Book Signing for Donald Parker

2008-08-01T16:36:00.000-05:00

The public is invited to attend a book signing by former Madison resident, Donald Parker. The book signing reception will be held on Wednesday, August 20, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm.

Mr. Parker was born and raised in Madison and several of his books have references to this community. More about Mr. Parker's books can be found on his website at www.donaldjamesparker.com/

Welcome Madison Public Library Patrons!

2008-07-01T15:42:00.002-05:00

I've been thinking that we should have a trumpet fanfare when this site is opened at least for this first issue of the Madison Public Library's online newsletter and blog. There probably is a way to do that, but it's beyond me. I'm a novice blogger. Anyway, welcome to our newsletter and blog.

I hope that this will become an important communications link--that you will add this to your list of favorite sites and visit it often. The newsletter will contain up-to-date information about events taking place at the library, lists of the newest additions to the collection, and other features. In addition, I'm counting on you to respond with suggestions, comments, ideas, reviews, and opinions. I look forward to reading what you have to say.

There may be a few glitches along the way, but I expect this venture into cyberspace will be interesting and fun. Keep in touch.

Nancy Sabbe

Nancy wants to know: What features would you like to see in our upcoming newsletters? Post your comments on the "comments" link below.

Summer Reading Program Wrap-Up

2008-07-01T14:00:00.005-05:00

The Summer Reading Program has been in full swing and the end is getting near! But don't worry; it's never too late to join! We still have many prizes to give away and there's much fun to be had.

The program will officially end on July 19th. Those who have completed their reading logs for all 8 weeks of the program will then be eligible to choose a book from the library's book fair anytime between July 21st and August 2nd. We're very excited about our selection of books this year!

Friday, July 11th we will be showing Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and Friday, July 18th James and the Giant Peach will be on the big screen. These will be the last Friday Films for the summer and both will begin at 2:00 on those dates.

The Summer Storytime Session will continue through the week of July 14th for those who are 3, 4, & 5 years old. See the website or contact a staff member for more detailed information.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please do not hesitate to get hold of a staff member.

Dana Neu

Featured Reader

2008-07-01T13:00:00.003-05:00

Our Featured Reader is a familiar face to many area readers as both an avid reader and a librarian. Maxine Swanson has always been a reader and most recently was the librarian for the Madison Area School District.

The Public Library in her hometown of Cresbard, South Dakota, was in the basement of the Masonic Temple. Maxine remembers it as a cozy place where Mrs. Way, the librarian, helped her find books about the Bobbsey Twins, the Happy Hollisters, Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys.

Maxine says that Anne of Green Gables by L. L. Montgomery is still her favorite book. She rereads the books by L. L. Montgomery, author of Anne of Green Gables in the summer, but in the winter prefers the familiar tales by Louisa May Alcott. She lists Janet Evanovich's books featuring Stephanie Plum as some of her more recent favorites.

If you are out early in the morning, you might catch a glimpse of Maxine running past. Running is another of her passions, and with audiobooks, she can run and "read" at the same time. On summer evenings you can find her relaxing with a book on her deck. At any one time, Maxine is reading three different books--a traditional book, a book on cassette tape, and a book on CD.

Maxine encourages readers to check out the LibraryThing website at www.librarything.com. The site offers many options for bibliographies, and now that she is a retired person, Maxine intends to take advantage of them more often herself.

Maxine is always happy to talk about books--in person or online. Blog her on the comments link below.