Central Library BIG 150th Anniversary Party

Attend a party in the library this May. Our first location opened on May 31, 1875, and we're ringing in 150 years of library service in Madison with birthday cake, giveaways, and interactive activities for every age at all nine locations! 

At Central Library, you'll be able to: 

• 10-10:15am: Hear speeches from Mayor Satya Rhodes Conway, Library Director Tana Elias, and more
• 10:30-11:30am: Enjoy a special all-ages storytime
• 11am and 12pm: Take a tour of the library and learn about our history (multiple languages available)
• 11:30am - 1pm: Be a library architect with building materials from Legos to Superspace Tiles
• Take a commemorative photo with our Book Arch (and historic Wildflower sculpture)
• Get paired with the perfect book by browsing read-alikes, chatting with librarians, and checking out a fun book café
• Enjoy a new art exhibition highlighting work made by library patrons and past Pinney artist-in-residence Phil Hassett showcasing Words For Now: Letterpress Prints from our Community
• Using Madison Public Library's new letterpress kit, print your own commemorative special edition 150th Celebration Print to take home
• Step into our imaginative cake land in the Bubbler Room to create with unexpected materials and explore CAKES as vessels for rich storytelling
• Pick up a WE READ Map and bag to start your summer reading journey
• Compete in 150th Anniversary trivia for prizes
• Share your first library memory, what you love about the library, and your hopes for the library of the future by adding candles to our non-edible cake created by Artist-in-Residence National Velvet
• Get a library card

We invite you to attend our neighborhood library celebrations, too!

150th Anniversary Parties are made possible thanks to the Madison Public Library Foundation.