The Huntsville-Madison County Public Library (HMCPL) is more than just a building filled with books; it is a vibrant community hub that provides access to knowledge, resources, and a welcoming space for all. The Library is here for you, from entertainment to research to workforce development. If you are passionate about supporting HMCPL, there are many ways to get involved and make a difference. Here are some meaningful ways you can contribute:

As summer rolls around once more it's time again to look at that Oscars of comics, the Will Eisner Awards which are presented each year at San Diego Comic Con. You can view a full listing of past winners available for borrowing on our graphic novel libguide. Take a look at the nominees and winners available in our collection and online through Hoopla:

There are now three new Makerspace Studios available for the Huntsville-Madison County community. These new Studios are located at Gurley Public Library, Monrovia Public Library and Triana Public Library. Each of these libraries is now equipped with a 3D printer to create fun projects, crafts and gadgets.

Where can you find an unlimited number of worlds to explore, the newest technology at your finger tips and the latest songs and movies— all for free? That's right, the library!

Unfortunately, libraries remain one of the best kept secrets of many cities. Community members are often not aware of all of the services available to them through their local library. To so many, the library starts and ends with books. Though the books offered are a wonderful resource, and are enough of a reason to get a library card, there are plenty of other reasons to love your local library.

In honor of National Library Week, here are five reasons to visit your local library:

It's that time of year again - the biggest award for the comics and graphic novel community is here! Every year in June the nominees are announced with the winners presented at San Diego Comic Con, the largest and most well known comic book convention in North America. Below I've listed the titles we currently have available for checkout currently in our collection along with the categories they were nominated for with the winners highlighted, and you can check out the complete list of nominees on the official website.

In Alabama, August means back to school! Whether it's pre-K or post-grad, and everything in between, HMCPL has what you need to make it a success. Find resources for:

• Tutoring
• Reading
• Study guides
• College test prep
• Foreign language learning
• Makerspace Studios

All Ages

HMCPL Library Card: Your first step to accessing all that HMCPL has to offer is making sure you have a library card! Get started here.

Library Board of Directors Hires Cindy Hewitt to lead the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library System

The Board of Directors for the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library (HMCPL) voted during its July meeting to hire Cindy Hewitt to lead the 10-branch library system as the new Executive Director. Hewitt has been the Interim Executive Director since October 2020, when Laurel Best retired after 12 years.

Music in Huntsville and North Alabama has always had strong roots and a far-reaching legacy. WC Handy, Mervyn Warren, Rose Maddox, Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, Jim Nabors, Spooner Oldham, GMANE, Rick Hall, Brittany Howard, Patterson Hood, Jason Isbell, Dave Anderson, Susanna Phillips, the Oakwood Aeolians. These names and so many more represent just a fraction of the talent that has come out of North Alabama and continues to be a gift to the world.

Supported by the Marguerite Cartwright Hawthorne endowment bequeathed to HMCPL, we are proud to announce the launch of Blast, a platform built specifically for our library to showcase and stream local music.

The new North Huntsville Library is now open!

The City of Huntsville debuted its latest public amenity on Sparkman Drive to benefit residents living in North Huntsville.  

Mayor Tommy Battle and District 1 Council Member Devyn Keith hosted a ribbon-cutting on April 7 to open the Dr. Robert Shurney Legacy Center, an eleven-acre campus featuring the new North Huntsville Library and recreation facilities. The $11 million project was funded by the City of Huntsville and donations from private and government partners.  

“We are so glad to be investing in such a worthy project for our community,” said Mayor Tommy Battle. “Transforming this site and creating live, learn and play facilities are among the best ways we enhance quality of life.” 

With the new year, the American Library Association (ALA) has released the 2021 Youth Media Awards which recognizes youth and young adult books for outstanding achievement based on certain criteria, below I've listed the awards winners and when available linked the titles we have currently in the library catalog. For a more in depth look at past and present winners and honorees check out our comprehensive libguide, Award Winning Youth Books.

John Newbery Award

The John Newbery Award is named after an 18th century British bookseller and given annually for "the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children."