Blogs

A female dystopia mutated to its logical extreme Margaret Atwood wrote ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ in 1984, a very important year in the history of dystopian fiction. Perhaps the number of the year inspired her; most definitely, the leanings toward theocratic authoritarianism expressed by organizations at that time such as the Moral Majority. The dystopian framework was the best suited for a novel about events that had happened multiple times throughout human history, projected into a possible recurrence in the U.S. Atwood has repeatedly insisted that she invented none of the developments in the novel; everything that happens in the novel has occurred at some point in the past.

Hi my name is Suzanne, I’m the Adult Programs Librarian at the Downtown Library and I have a book problem.

I love reading and I read fast, a combination which has caused me many difficulties. Mainly back pain from very heavy bags filled with books. If I don’t carry with me 25 books, how on earth will I survive a two week beach vacation?

The Huntsville-Madison County Public Library proves once again that it is not only serving the needs of the community, but doing so in a technologically-driven environment. The library was recently awarded a $7500 Digital Inclusion Fund Grant by the Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville, sponsored by Google Fiber.

The grant funds will be used to create a Workforce Development Lab for those who need digital assistance to secure employment or job advancement. The lab will be located on the second floor of the Downtown Huntsville Library. The Technology Training Center will manage the lab during scheduled times.

The lab will offer the following services:

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.