Madison Public Library 150th Anniversary Celebration

Madison’s first public library opened in 1875. A century and a half later, there are nine branch libraries (with a tenth in the works), and each is hosting a party to mark the sesquicentennial. Still to come on May 31 are branch library celebrations featuring art activities, music and more, at Monroe Street (9-11 a.m.), Pinney (11 a.m-1 p.m.), Lakeview (1-3 p.m.), and Hawthorne (3-5 p.m.). Find an updated schedule at madpl.org/150yearparties. 

media release: The community is invited to attend 150th Anniversary parties at all nine Madison Public Library locations during three Saturdays in May: May 10, May 17, and May 31.

May 10

• Alicia Ashman Library, 9-11am
• Meadowridge Library 11am - 1pm
• Sequoya Library 1-3pm
• Goodman South Madison Library 3-5pm

May 17

Central Library, 10am - 2pm

Saturday, May 31 

Monroe Street Library 9-11am | 1705 Monroe Street

• Create an art project led by local artist Deckard Salm 

• Make your own button 

Pinney Library (Celebrating 5 Years!) 11am - 1pm | 516 Cottage Grove Rd

• 11-11:45am: History of East Side Branch Libraries and Shopping Centers - Growing up Together. Learn about east side history during a panel featuring Sarah White and guests. 

• 12-1pm: Jam to live music thanks to Yid Vicious 

• 11am - 12:30pm: Get your face painted 

• Meet Ellie Braun, the 2025 Pinney Studio Artist-in-Residence 

Lakeview Library 1-3pm | 2845 N Sherman Ave

• Make art with a local artist in the community room 

• Make your own button 

Hawthorne Library 3-5pm | 2707 E Washington Ave

• Decorate a mini pot and plant a seed 

• Get your face painted 

“The first Madison Public Library opened with just two rooms and 5,000 books on May 31, 1875, so it’s only fitting that during the month of May - 150 years later - we would commemorate Madison’s early commitment to literacy and lifelong learning, thank our many community supporters over the years, and celebrate this momentous anniversary while looking forward to the future of library service in the City of Madison,” said Library Director Tana Elias. 

Each celebration will include a slideshow of historic photos, the opportunity to compete in a fun trivia game to win gift bundles, and an invitation to sign up for a Madison Public Library card. Attendees can enjoy birthday cake and coffee at each library location and have the opportunity to reflect on what Madison’s libraries have meant to them with a colorful art cake created by new Central Library Artist-in-Residence National Velvet. The art cakes are interactive ways to collect stories and include candle-shaped prompts asking people to share their first library memory, their favorite thing about the library now, and their hopes for the library of the future.  

Kids and families will also be able to pick up their WE READ materials, including a refreshed WE READ bag design and this year’s summer reading initiative, the WE READ Map, which lets families set creative reading goals and collect stories from their reading journey all summer long. 

Each 150th party will offer something unique, with special activities reflecting that library’s character and neighborhood. Alicia Ashman and Pinney Libraries are both celebrating special hallmarks this year in addition to the 150th Anniversary, as well. 

Alicia Ashman Library is the most recent completely new library to be added to the Madison Public Library system, opening in its current location on the far west side and becoming the ninth library in 2000. Longtime Madison alder, civic activist, namesake, and former Library Board president Alicia Ashman cut the ribbon at the grand opening of Alicia Ashman Library on October 11th, 25 years ago. 

Pinney Library, too, is celebrating its fifth year in a new building, as the current location on Cottage Grove Road was opened just days before the Covid-19 pandemic forced closures of the entire Madison Public Library system. 

The biggest celebration, though, will be at Central Library, where Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, Library Director Tana Elias, Madison Public Library Foundation Executive Director Conor Moran, and several others will speak to the theme of the year-long observance: Celebrating the Past; Inspiring the Future. 

“I encourage everyone to attend the 150th anniversary party at Central Library, in addition to the celebrations at your neighborhood library,” said Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway. “These events are an opportunity to get a library card, learn about the history of libraries in Madison, and be part of shaping and inspiring the future of library service over the next 150 years.” 

Those plans include Madison Public Library’s new library – the Imagination Center at Reindahl Park – which will be breaking ground for construction this spring and is anticipated to be completed by fall of 2026.  

“The Imagination Center at Reindahl Park will help set the scene for how libraries operate in Madison as we head into the future,” said Madison Public Library Foundation Executive Director Conor Moran. “As the tenth Madison Public Library, it will connect residents on the northeast side of the city to resources, technology, services, and community gathering spaces and equip residents with the tools needed to thrive.” 

Here are a few more ways to engage in the 150th Anniversary celebrations anytime:

150 Items Challenge: Check out 150 items in 2025 and receive a commemorative gift in the form of a branded drawstring bag - perfect for carrying home library books, movies, or materials from the Library of Things. Pick up a tracking sheet at any library location or download one from our website(link is external). Explore the collection and share what you check out on social media by tagging @madisonpubliclibrary on Facebook and Instagram.

Book Arch Selfies: Stop in at Central Library to take photos with the book arch. This special library resource will be available throughout the year for visitors to browse themed local history displays, take selfies, and show off what they’re checking out. Look for it on the 1st floor behind the display tables from January - April, 2025. The first display features photos and stories on Madison Public Library’s 80-year tradition of celebrating Black History Month.

Historic Timeline: Find pop-up timeline displays in all nine libraries that link to a more robust interactive timeline online where visitors can learn fun facts about the opening of their favorite library location, see how the Bubbler got its start, and unearth other impactful moments from Madison Public Library’s history.

Outreach Events: Look for library ambassadors at events across Madison. Visit the Madison Public Library table to sign up for a library card or email newsletter, share a testimonial, and learn more about what's happening for the 150th Anniversary. Plus, visitors can receive a commemorative gift when they sign up for a library card at these special events.

Past, Present, Future: Share your first library memory or your vision for the libraries of the future. Fill out the form online or find us at outreach events throughout the year, where upcoming Bubbler Artist-in-Residence, National Velvet, has created a unique way to collect these testimonials.

Additional events and activities to celebrate the 150th Anniversary will be announced later in the year. Follow along with the journey at madpl.org/150years