Spring 2016
a quarterly newsletter from the Madison Public Library Foundation
FOUNDATION NEWS Library Spotlight: Meadowridge Kitchen a Valuable Asset On a recent blustery winter afternoon, a group of kids, teens and adults gathered in the new Meadowridge Library kitchen to warm up with a cup of hot chocolate. “It was just fantastic,” said Library Supervisor Alice Oakey. “The kids, especially, said thank you, and when they did, they made sure we had eye contact with them. They wanted to make sure we knew they were thankful. “We just love the ability to do spontaneous things like that (with the kitchen).” The commercial kitchen, part of a shared space between the library and the neighboring Meadowood Neighborhood Center, is an unusual asset for a library, Oakey said: Madison Public Library’s Meadowridge is one of just a couple libraries in the nation equipped with one. It’s proving to be extremely useful for a variety of events that build community, serve library customers’ needs, and educate all ages — especially youth — on how to prepare nutritious snacks and meals. “We’ve had programs where different chefs come in where they teach how to make tortillas, sauces, cupcakes — all sorts of things,” Oakey said. “We’re looking to add more of these programs.” In late January, the library hosted its first potluck-style community supper using $7,500 in Pop! Challenge grant funds raised by Madison Public Library Foundation. About 60 people attended, and the foundation funds made it possible for the library to provide a main dish, dessert, salad and rolls. The library plans to host the suppers from 5:30–7:30 p.m. the last Tuesday of each month through the end of August, with the hopes of moving the event outdoors to Meadowood Park in the final summer months. There is a great demand for the After-School Snack Program that is under way, thanks to assistance from the neighborhood center, Madison Metropolitan School District and MSCR. “We just have so many kids in the neighborhood who need an evening meal,” Oakey said. “We want to offer it even more days each week.” The library is the in the process of hiring Albert Watson, a culinary expert who specializes in working with teens, to spend two Meadowridge Library is a new site for the West Madison Senior Coalition’s lunchtime meals on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Volunteers serve lunch for seniors in the Meadowridge Library kitchen. Spectrum Brands recently donated a variety of BLACK+DECKER small appliances, from a blender to an electric can opener, to the library for use in the kitchen.
afternoons a week teaching middle school kids to plan, cook and serve a meal. “As they’re eating, they’ll discuss issues the kids are having,” Oakey said. This effort will be funded with a $7,200 SEED grant from the City of Madison and a donation from the Willy Street Co-op, secured by the foundation. To better serve seniors, the West Madison Senior
The kitchen is proving to be extremely useful for events that build community, serve library customers’ needs, and educate all ages — especially youth — on how to prepare nutritious snacks and meals. Coalition began hosting lunchtime meals in the kitchen and shared space in late November. The meals, which meet U.S.D.A. nutrition guidelines, are available each Tuesday and Thursday from 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m., and free transportation to and from the library is offered. The coalition encourages donations to offset costs, but no one is turned away. While the kitchen sees a lot of action, the shared space as a whole is hosting many non-food-related events too, Oakey said. On Wednesday mornings, an exercise ball class meets there. Toddler and preschool story times are held weekly. On Fridays, a play literacy program draws families to the shared space, with at least a halfdozen different languages spoken by those in attendance. The space is also home to teen programs like the Minecraft Club, and a women and girls neighborhood empowerment group. “We’re so happy when grassroots things pop up because we can do all this planning and strategizing, but none of it has the power or force of what comes straight from the community,” Oakey said. The Meadowridge Library Endowment Fund accepts donations year-round to support programs, services and collections. Contribute at mplfoundation. org and designate Meadowridge when completing your gift.