Blogs

This summer, teens at five HMCPL branches turned the amp up to 11 and participated in some rockin' programs at the library.

Rotary Club of Madison to create children’s garden at the Madison Public Library

The Madison Public Library will soon welcome a new addition to its state-of-the-art campus with a children’s learning garden. The Rotary Club of Madison, along with the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library announced plans for what they are describing as “a space for hands-on exploration of science and nature.”

It is that time of the year again! Summer reading has come to a close, but that doesn't mean we do not have some great picks for you as we get through the first week of school! Handpicked by our youth librarians, these books are great for young readers starting school!

Planet Kindergarten by Sue Ganz-Schmitt

In the fall of 1918, 16 year old Mary Shelley Black steps off a train in California and into a macabre adventure. Her story takes place as World War I rages, mutilated soldiers are shipped home from the front lines of the War to End All Wars, and Americans die in droves from the Spanish influenza. Death is a daily occurrence and Mary Shelley’s constant companion.

Each community has its unique cultural makeup. Some groups may be just arriving, and others may have lived in the area for decades. An example of this is the Mississippi Delta Chinese who migrated to the Mississippi River Delta over a century ago and prospered in the region by operating small grocery stores. The population grew as relatives of early migrants also joined them.  Their existence in Mississippi led to a mixture of both Chinese and Southern culture that can be seen in the cuisine and Southern accents of the Chinese who hail from that area.

My name is Kiran Badyal and I work as a library assistant at the Eleanor E. Murphy Branch in Huntsville. I greatly enjoy my work and particularly like helping patrons with their questions and research. My husband and I recently traveled to London on vacation. We spent time enjoying the customary tourist sights like the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey. We also visited the remarkable British Library. It was fascinating experience that I would like to share with our patrons.

Summertime at the library is exciting! We like to shake things up a little as the weather gets warmer and offer many entertainment, educational and cultural enrichment opportunities for our patrons. There is truly something for everyone at the library. 

Our librarians compiled a list of the top 10 reasons to visit your library this summer:

• Live music in the air conditioning..… Our indoor concert series is one of the most popular in town. And it happens every other Tuesday through September.

When you think about working in a library, you might picture a typical day filled with books and reading. While we are technically surrounded by books, the public library is really about people. Whether it’s connecting someone to their next great read or helping with a job application, the meaningful interactions are why I love coming to work every day. 

So when it’s time for a vacation, I like to get out in the wilderness. I recently spent a week hiking and camping in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Fall Creek Falls State Park, and South Cumberland State Park. I found some great trail guides here at the library that helped me plan the hikes.

The Huntsville-Madison County Public Library and the Alabama Humanities Foundation (AHF) are proud to announce a new book club to serve our veteran population called “Literature and the Veteran Experience,” a humanities-based reading and discussion program for area veterans.

For many veterans, humanities can play an important role in expressing their unique issues and concerns that may arise from their experiences. The program’s goal is to create an opportunity for veterans to connect with one another, build relationships and reflect upon those issues through literature.

The Huntsville-Madison County Public Library system is proving our 2018 summer reading theme, "Libraries Rock," is very true. Starting June 4, we are kicking off two months of engaging activities and programs, while encouraging every child in Madison County to avoid the summer slide and read with us. Last year, we saw a record number of summer reading participants- 32,957 to be exact!

Summer Reading Program