Winter Reading Program

The Adult Winter Reading program has started off with 15 people signing up for "Read a Latte" at the Library. The program has you read 10 books between now and April 15 and rate the book on a bookmark placed in the book. After April 15, if you have read and rated 10 books and gotten a punch on your punch card, you will be awarded a coffee mug filled with all kinds of goodies you can use in the mug. Come in, get registered, and get awarded for your reading.

Magic & Illusion at Madison Library

This year's Summer Reading program hosted a show featuring magic and books presented by Robert & Lynn Halbrook. Many children and adults enjoyed the retelling of the Cinderella story and learned many interesting facts about the uses of peanuts. Robert pulled a dove out of tissue paper and transported her into the future leaving behind a real live rabbit. Robert talked about many childrens books including the Secret Garden, Cinderella, Series of Unfortunate Events and what to do if you find a dinosaur in your bed. At the end of the program everyone was encouraged to come meet the couple and pet the animals. Following is an excerpt from his show.

Adult Winter Reading Program Starts

In January 2009 the annual Adult Winter Reading program started at the Madison Library. This years theme is Discover a real treasure, READ! Each patron is required to read 10 books between January 14 and April 14, rate the books they read, have their reading record stamped and read, read, read. The reward for finishing the program is a book bag containing a mug, things that fit in a mug and other surprises. This is an annual reading program for adults. Not all the Pioneerland Libraries participate in this program, ask the librarian in your library how to sign up.

Maud Hart Lovelace Visit

Ms Laurie Johnson from the Minnesota History Center in St Paul Minnesota was the featured artist portraying Maud Hart Lovelace at the Madison Public Library on Saturday February 7, 2009. The children and adults who attended the presentation learned about Her childhood in Mankato and what it was like to grow up in Minnesota 100 years ago. They learned how Maud's
friends and family helped her pursue her dream of being a writer. She showed how technology changed everyday life at the turn of the last century. She compared how she wrote..with a typewriter vs. a computer, how excited they were to ride in the first "horseless carriage"; how plumbing and running water eliminated cold trips to the outhouse, and using a chamber pot in the middle of the night. She started the presentation with rousing music played on a gramaphone and showed pictures of the streets of Mankato when she was growing up. We learned how here daughter inspired her to write stories of her childhood because her daughter said her friends had the same problems as the children in the books.

We had a wonderful, fun and inspiring afternoon with Maud Hart Lovelace. This presentation was a prize drawing won by Kathie at the Minnesota Library Convention. A very fantastic gift!!!.

Successful Summer Reading Program

Library Kids read over 800 hours in the Summer Reading Program for 2008. "Look What's Cookin' At Your Library" was the theme for the 2008 Summer Reading Program which was inspired by Debra Frasier's book "A Birthday Cake is No Ordinary Cake" . The ages of eligible children ranged from age 4 through grade 6. Some highlights of this y ears program were a visit by Mary Ann Anderson who helped celebrate Minnesota's 150th Birthday and presented an informative program of the history of Minnesota; a visit from Magician Chef Roberto and his assistant Lynn who cooked and made rabbits and birds disappear. There were 105 children registered for the program with 31 who completed the program by reading at least 10 hours for the summer. Many prizes were donated by local businesses and the programming. Pictured are some of the top readers. These children read over 20 hours each.

Chef Roberto Creates Magic

Chef Roberto Visits the Library

Chef Roberto's Magic Show was held at the Madison Public Library on July 29, 2008 to an audience of 65 children and adults. The program was chock full of Crazy Cookery, Unbelievable Magic, and Terrific Books. Robert and Lynn Halbrook presented a fun program as he talked about how he started learning Magic from books he borrowed from the Public Library. He previewed about 12 books and helped promote reading and the summer reading program. Each child was greeted as they came in the door and he visited with as many as possible before the program started. He turned a dove into a rabbit, makes the rabbit disappear, and cooks a cake. Acting as the Chef's Assistant, helpers will magically discover amazing results from this myriad of mishaps in the kitchen. After the program the everyone was invited to pet the magic animals and taste a piece of magic candy. This was a fun and entertaining hour enjoyed by adults and children

Sesquicentiennial Banner

The Madison Library was host to the States 150th year statehood banner in March of 2008. This banner is one of two official Sesquicentennial banners that are on tour, making stops at libraries across the state. It began its journey on May 11, 2007 and will return to St. Paul on May 11, 2008 for the 150th anniversary of statehood. Visitors at each library were encouraged to write their thoughts about Minnesota and the Sesquicentennial in the journal that accompanied the banner. The banners and the journal will be presented to the Governor at Statehood Weekend next May, and eventually will find a new home with the Minnesota Historical Society. The banner is intended to drum up interest in the Sesquicentennial and highlight the importance of public libraries in Minnesotans' daily lives.

Adult Winter "Reading Winterland" Program 2008

The Adult Winter Reading Program, theme "Reading Winterland" started January 14, 2008 and runs through April 14, 2008. We already have 20 adults signed up to read for these cold winter months. There is no better way to spend those days when confined to the house because of the cold or snow than with a good book and relaxing music. In order to qualify for a bag of prizes, each reader must read a total of 10 books in 14 weeks, fill out an evaluation form for the books they read and have their reading card punched. This is a great way for our readers to share their thoughts and opinions of the books they read. Books that are being read are new, old, fiction and non-fiction. There is a wonderful variety of books to choose from on the shelves now. New books will be arriving periodically throughout the year. Be sure to come in and see what is available.

Banned Book Week

Banned Book Week
Banned book Week this year is From September 29 through October 6, 2007.Come to the library during Banned Book week and check out some of the books that patrons have deemed unacceptable for a library. Some of the titles can be viewed on the American Library Assiciation website:
http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/bannedbooksweek/challengedbanned/challengedbanned.htm

Yes, "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" is still on the list as is "Where the Wild Things Are" and "1984". How many of these books have you read. I was amazed by how many I have read and could find no reason to challenge them. Can you figure out why they might have been challenged? Some of the reasons could be; sexual content, religion, violence, homosexual theme, occult, language, unsuitable age group. Which themes can you pick out for some on the list. For an indepth look at some of the titles listed over the last few years take a look at the Google search for titles listed below.

http://books.google.com/googlebooks/banned/

Reflect on your freedom to read, cherish it, and, by all means, read what you want to read. As the author of Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury, said, "You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them.

Mary Ann Goes Bananas at the Library

On August 14, 2007, Mary Ann Anderson, the 4-H Program Coordinator, went "bananas" at the Madison Library. Mary Ann presented a lesson on bananas telling all the library kids what an important food bananas are for good health. She also taught them how to say the word banana in different languages. The children created three different banana and monkey crafts which they took home to share with their families. She closed the afternoon with a dried banana snack as a treat. Mary Ann's visit to the library was the final event for the library's "Go Bananas" Summer Reading program. Thank you Mary Ann for going "bananas" at the library this year!

Bramble Park Zoo Visits Library

The Bramble Park Zoo visited the Madison Library on June 25, 2007. Jaime Stricker, zoo educator, gave a presentation on many different animals and their habitats. The children had to decide if the animals lived in a forest habitat or a jungle habitat. Jaime and Kristi Wietzema, the education assistant, showed the library audience creatures ranging from the Madagascar hissing cockroach, rococo toad, leopard gecko, to different snakes like the boa constrictor and birds such as the blue-fronted Amazon parrot. All the animals were shown throughout the crowd and were invited to touch them, except for the birds which can bite.

Klein Bank of Madison sponsored the Bramble Park Zoo visit to the Madison Library. All those in attendance enjoyed seeing the variety of animals that Jaime and Kristi presented. The zoo presentation was the kick-off for the 2007 summer reading program "Go Bananas at Your Library." All area children were invited to take part in the reading program which runs until August 18, 2007.

Library Book Sale

Another successful book sale was held in the downstairs of the Madison Library on July 18, 2007. Since we no longer have a yard or shade at the library, we decided to have the book sale in the basement of the library this year. This worked very nicely, as we didn't have so far to carry the books and we were in air conditioning all day instead of the heat. The buyers liked having the books at table level, and being in the cool atmosphere. This also got many people in the library who wouldn't normally have seen the inside of the building.

The summer children's reading program will soon come to a close and we look forward to the Adult winter reading program. The teen center is starting to come together as the furniture arrives. Everyone is getting excited about the newly decorated area.

Go Bananas At Your Library

Come to the library this summer for the "Go Bananas At Your Library" summer reading program. All children from ages 4 through Grade 6 are eligable to participate. The program starts June 11 through August 18, 2007. All you have to do is read every day and when you get up to two hours, you get a prize. Just have your parents sign your coupon and bring it to the librarian to show your reading times. Preschoolers may have their books read to them. All the books must be from the library. You may register anytime after school is out for the summer.

Pioneerland Library System Annual Awards Dinner

Pioneerland's Annual Awards Dinner was held this year in Maynard at the Community Center, on April 19, 2007. The speaker was Les Heen, president & general manager of PBS radio station. The dinner was hosted by the Maynard Public Library with Head Librarian, Gloria Sims in charge of the festivities, dinner, door prizes, and speaker. Many librarians received years in service pins and 2 librarians were awarded Hall of Fame Awards.

The hall of fame awards are presented to individuals or organizations who have had a significant role in improving public libraries or in strengthening regional library service.

The Head Librarian, Kathie Behrens, from combined libraries Madison and Canby was presented an award for her special achievements for the Canby Library. Canby and Madison are Pioneerland's first combined medium-sized libraries. In nominating Kathie for this award, Canby's City Administrator and PLS Board Member, Barbara Hoyhtya stated that Kathie has turned the Canby Library around 180 degrees. She has opened up the library to children and young adults through programming and in decorating the library; she has extended outreach to the community through her cooperative work with schools and she has provided greater training opportunities for library staff.

Winter Reading Program

The adult winter reading program has come to a close for the year 2007. The theme for this year was "Relax with a Good Book". We had 25 participants this year with 20 finishing and being awarded their prize for participating. The requirements were to read 10 books in a three month period, fill out a short book report, and have their book recorded on their book mark. We had many good books reviewed and a few marked as duds. Sharing their opinions of the books is what the program is all about. This helps readers who don't know what to choose next to make a choice. If you missed the program this year, join us in 2008.

National Library Week

The Madison Library celebrated National Library week April 15-21, 2007 by decorating the library with the theme of "Get Carried Away at the Library." We decorated the library with balloons, tiny hot air balloons with condolas on the bottom, kites, and airplanes. These things could carry you away. Small prizes were given to all the patrons who visited the library that week. During that week, Pioneerland had their Awards ceremony and two of the Madison staff were honored. Lynette Nelson received recognition for completing the Minnesota Library Voluntary Certification Program and received her 15 year pin. Kathie Behrens, head librarian, received her 20 year pin and received a Hall of Fame award for achievements in Canby.

Getting Started

Good Morning Everyone,

This will be the start of the Madison Library blog. Our plan is to keep everyone updated about the happenings of the library. We will post our upcoming programs, post pictures of children during storytime and summer reading program, displays, and all our new books.