Madison Library

Looking out

madisonlibrary — Fri, 18 May 2012 14:04:03 +0000

If you stop by the library early in the morning this time of year, you may catch a luna moth resting by the entrance, as this one was today. (This one looks like it may have escaped being eaten last night, and deserves its rest.)

Next time you’re at the library, take a minute to look for new and upcoming improvements to the library’s outdoor space:

The Highway Department has completed the path connecting the library parking lot to the rest to the Town Campus. Now walkers and bikers can travel to and from the library to Burke Field or the school without traveling along busy Route 113. Bikers, note that there is a bike rack at the end of the ramp for parking your bike, donated a couple of years ago by Frank Murphy.
The Madison Garden Club continues to work on improving and maintaining the library’s gardens. Right now, the irises are in full bloom.
The Trustees are working on creating an outdoor reading area in the front (streetside) garden for use during the warmer months. Keep an eye out for chairs. The wifi works out there, too.

Caravaggio, Enigma of the Renaissance

madisonlibrary — Thu, 10 May 2012 19:31:01 +0000

Join us on May 17 at 7 pm as we host an illustrated lecture by local resident Bob Silvestri, who will talk about the art and life of Renaissance painter Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610). Highly regarded by present day art lovers, Caravaggio was a controversial figure in his day.

The lecture will be free and open to the public, and will take place in the John F. Chick Meeting Room on the lower level of the Madison Library.

Getting ready for summer

madisonlibrary — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:43:52 +0000

We’re starting to collect prizes for our summer reading programs. If you have something you’d like to donate that is suitable as a prize for a kid, teen, or adult, please let us know. Ideas are gently used or nearly new books, board or card games, puzzles, passes or coupons to area businesses or attractions.

Burning permits required

madisonlibrary — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 14:02:31 +0000

Madison Fire & Rescue has updated the regulations for fire permits. Read more here: Madison Fire Permits

To get updates on daily fire danger, see http://nhdfl.org/fire-control-and-law-enforcement/daily-fire-danger.aspx

“Old Country Fiddler” April 26

madisonlibrary — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 19:17:06 +0000

The Friends of Madison Library will host a New Hampshire Humanities Council program, “The Old Country Fiddler; Charles Ross Taggart, Traveling Entertainer” on Thursday, April 26 at 7 pm. Presented by fiddler Adam Boyce, this living history and musical program will be held in the Madison Library’s Chick Room.

After a short annual meeting of the Friends of Madison Library, Adam Boyce will take the stage as Charles Ross Taggart. Taggart, a fiddler, piano player, humorist, singer and ventriloquist, grew up in Topsham, Vermont, and starting in 1895 performed in stage shows across the country for over 40 years. In his presentation, Adam Boyce portrays Taggart near the end of his career, c. 1936, sharing recollections on his life and career, with some live fiddling and humorous sketches interspersed in this living history program.

Presenter Adam Boyce, a 10th generation Vermonter, is as multitalented as the person he portrays. He is a fiddler, composer, piano player, contra dance prompter and square dance caller. He has been involved with nearly every aspect of fiddle contests in New England since 1994, including judge, piano backup, as well as competitor.

This program is free and open to the public. Refreshments will follow the program.

Titanic

madisonlibrary — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 14:34:40 +0000

Books, movies, and more about the Titanic are being highlighted this weekend throughout the media to mark the 100th anniversary of the shipwreck. At the Madison Library, you can find:

A Night to Remember: Criterion Collection DVD, new digitally remastered recording of 1958 movie, a dramatized account with characters based on real people.
The Discovery of the Titanic by Dr. Robert D. Ballard: nonfiction book about the discovery and underwater exploration of the Titanic shipwreck site in the 1980s.
Raise the Titanic by Clive Cussler: (fiction) Cussler’s best-known character Dirk Pitt in Cold War-era thriller from 1976.
The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott: (fiction) New novel uses Titanic as a starting point in this tale of a survivor who strives to be upwardly mobile.

For kids:

On Board the Titanic by Shelley Tanaka: “What it was like when the great liner sank.”
The Titanic, Lost . . . and Found by Judy Donnelly: Step 3 Easy Reader describes the sinking in 1912 and the discovery of the wreck in the 1980s.
Voyage on the Great Titanic: The Diary of Margaret Ann Brady, RMS Titanic, 1912 by Ellen Emerson White: One of the Dear America series of historical novels.

And from the Library of Congress: Researching the Wreck of the RMS Titanic. Photos, newspaper accounts from 1912, music and more.

Sorry, we don’t have the James Cameron movie Titanic on DVD, but we will order it once the newly released edition, now in theaters, is available to purchase as a DVD.

Celebrate National Library Week

madisonlibrary — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 16:52:07 +0000

It’s National Library Week, and we really like this year’s focus on you, the people who use the library. Whether you use your library to browse and borrow reading, listening, and viewing materials, as a place to meet with a community group, for children’s events, to find early learning and parenting resources, to get free access to computers, technology or job seeking help, to access online and downloadable materials, or to pursue an individual learning project, we welcome your presence and invite your questions.

To mark this week’s celebration, we are holding fine amnesty days for this whole week. Stop in, email or call through Saturday, April 14, and we will forgive all fines on your record. Bring overdue items back this week, and no fines will be charged.

In addition, the Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that they have revised the circulation policy and fines for videos have been reduced to 5 cents per day per video. Fines for new videos only will remain at $1 per day to encourage prompt return of these popular items.

Hands-on Egg Art Workshop April 7

madisonlibrary — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 11:31:12 +0000

There’s space available in this workshop, please come!

Join us in the Chick Room on Saturday, April 7 at 11 am (right after Madison Rec’s Egg Hunt) for a unique arts event. Russian artist and storyteller Marina Forbes will lead this workshop, which promises to be as much fun for adults as for children. Participants will learn about the famous Faberge jeweled eggs of Russia, then have an opportunity to paint traditional Russian folk art designs on wooden eggs, which they can then take home.

The presentation is free, but the wooden eggs (with stands), for those who wish to paint one to take home, are $7 or $10, depending on size. Workshop is for adults, teens, and families with children over 6.

If you’re planning to attend, call 367-8545 or email librarian@madison.lib.nh.us.

Sponsored by the Madison Library and Friends of Madison Library.

New Library Cards

madisonlibrary — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 19:44:44 +0000

Starting today, we’re switching to new style library cards with barcodes. We know many of you have had your library cards (and card numbers) for years, but new formats and the library’s online resources increasingly require barcode numbers for secure access. Rest assured, we’ll still be able to look your account up by name if you forget your card.

Next time you’re in the library, be sure to stop at the desk to get your new library card. It only takes a minute or two.

Important info for users of NH Downloadable Books

While we transition from old card numbers to new card numbers:

Do not place any more holds with your old card number. Use your new number to place holds from now on.
If you have placed holds with your old card number, leave them in place, and continue to use your old card number to check out your existing holds as they become available.
If you are using the “My List” feature of NH Downloadable Books to track what you’ve read, ask us to merge your old card number with your new card number.

Please contact us with any questions.

Meeting space

madisonlibrary — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 21:21:01 +0000

Ask anyone with a social network account, sometimes meeting face-to-face makes more sense. The Madison Library offers its John F. Chick Room meeting room to community groups for no charge with no stipulation other than meeting is a not-for-profit event and that it serves an educational, cultural, intellectual or charitable purpose. For first-time users, there is an application form, which can be submitted to the Trustees for approval.

Do you need a quiet space to study, or a place to work on and discuss a small group project? If the Chick Room is available, you are welcome to ask to use the space during hours the library is open. Call ahead or stop in and see if it’s available.