Have you ever wondered how your hometown experienced the Roaring Twenties? The Korean War? The hippie revolution? Do you want to learn more about what has made your city the way it is?

Most of us have had the desire to know more about where we came from, but finding easy-to-use resources for learning about local history can be a daunting task. If you are anything like me, the idea of having to dig through reels and reels of microfilm and read old records just to find something feels very intimidating.

The Huntsville-Madison County Public Library (HMCPL) is a vibrant community hub, a place to create, explore, and connect. Sometimes, though, what you really need is a little peace and quiet to read, work, or study. At HMCPL, we understand that need, and we're here to help.

With ten library branches spread across Madison County, there's a good chance that your perfect quiet spot is closer than you think! While our larger branches can be bustling with activity, often, our smaller branches offer a calmer atmosphere, making them ideal for those seeking some quiet time. You can find a list of all our branches and their hours on our website.

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.