Madison Public Library Foundation Winter 2013 Newsletter

Winter 2013

Foundation

MADISON PUBLIC LIBRARY a quarterly newsletter from the Madison Public Library Foundation

FOUNDATION NEWS Madison Public Library’s First Book Festival Showcases Literary Talent A love of literature is thriving at Madison Public Library. The four-day Wisconsin Book Festival held October 17 – 20 saw over 7,000 visitors and featured scholars, novelists, poets and documentarians from all across the country.

“We hear so much in the media that the Liberal Arts, especially the Humanities are dying,” said Sari Judge, who attended the Philosophical Portraits event. “But the energy in the room was a reminder that, not only are they very much alive, but that they are genuinely lively.”

A captivated audience learns about Descartes and Nietzsche

Of the over 50 events, more than half of them took place in Central Library.

“Hosting our events in and around Central Library created an overwhelming festival atmosphere, allowed people to see more authors without having to travel, and truly showcased the new library,” said Festival Coordinator Conor Moran.

Not only did the festival bring Madisonians downtown, it brought book fans from as far away as Rhode Island.

Tracing during an art workshop as part of High School Friday

“I liked being able to come back to Madison for the day and see my old haunts,” said Jaclyn Katers, who came all the way from Chicago just to see Jon Ronson. “I definitely thought it was worth the trip and would come back again next year.”

Of course, festival fans won’t have to wait a full year to get their literary fill.

Wisconsin Book Festival events take place all year long. Find out what’s coming up at wisconsinbookfestival.org.

Co-author of Wheel Fever Nicholas Hoffman signs books in post-ride attire

Dollar-for-Dollar Match to Complete Central Library Campaign The Madison Public Library Foundation board has designated a dollar-for-dollar match up to $250,000 on all gifts to Central Library made between now and December 31. This match is designed to spur donations to fulfill the foundation’s $9 million commitment to the project.

“It’s crucial that we meet our goal by the end of the year,” says Campaign Chair Tripp Widder. “Gifts of all sizes count now more than ever, and this challenge doubles the impact of every gift.”

To date the campaign has raised over $8.35 million in gifts and pledges from individuals, business, and foundations toward the $30 million rebuild of Central Library.

“People are very impressed with the new library. Whether they were hoping for improved collections, expanded programming options, or simply a more inviting environment, this new building has it all,” says Foundation Executive Director Jenni Collins. “When considering making a gift, we hope Madisonians will recognize the value that this improved Central Library adds to their own personal experience as well as the community as a whole.”

Matching funds will apply to all gifts and pledges, including purchases of special edition library cards and Books of Honor. Funds raised beyond the campaign goal will be used to create an endowment fund to support Central Library well into the future.

Getting a “hard hat” tour on Opening Day

FOUNDATION NEWS Inquiring Minds Your Questions Answered

We Want to Know...

What do teens like best about the new library?

Q: How can I maximize my end of year giving this year?

A: As the new President of the Madison Public Library Foundation, I want to first tell you how excited I am to be leading the foundation as the library starts its next chapter with Central Library re-opened to the public and new projects on the horizon.

I like the windows, because when you read and you have to contemplate, it’s just nice to look out. Overall it’s just really cool and modern.

Jessica Mac Naughton Foundation President

– Brianna Luster, 16 Brianna Luster

While writing this, I witnessed our first snow fall, a sure sign that the end of the year is approaching fast. I am a tax advisor in my professional life, so I know these next several weeks before the New Year are a very busy time for everyone, especially financially. As existing donors, we already know that you are charitable, but there are a few ways you can give this year that could benefit both you and the library foundation.

Individuals that are over 70 ½ can still take advantage of existing IRA rules that allow charitable donations directly from IRA rollover funds up to $100,000. Or, consider donating stock. A gift of stock that has appreciated in value can be claimed as a charitable donation for the fair market value of the stock on the day of the gift without paying for capital gains. Talk to your tax advisor if either of these options might apply to you.

Of course, you can always give a cash gift to the many fundraising efforts currently being led by the foundation. Our re-designed website, mplfoundation.org, will launch on December 1st with a new giving module that makes giving with a credit card or setting up monthly donations even easier.

It’s super big, there’s more space, and I love that big wood cut art. Also, I love to read so I love all the books – also the views.

– Zehara Brigham-Oakley, 15 Zehara BrighamOakley

It’s really modern and bright. It gives off a good vibe and is really spacious. It feels like a great place to read and hang out and do homework.

– Emily DeRusha, 14 Emily DeRusha

As you probably read on the front page of this newsletter, a gift to the Central campaign is twice as impactful this holiday season thanks to a dollar for dollar match up to $250,000. Matching funds count toward all contributions to Central, including purchases of Books of Honor or special edition library cards. These make memorable holiday gifts and help the foundation fulfill its $9 million fundraising commitment.

Thanks for all you’ve done in 2013 to make this one of our most successful years yet.

It’s bigger. There’s a lot of creative space, everything looks clean, and there’s a lot of books which gives us a lot of opportunities to pick. There are also a lot of new people to meet. Overall it’s a great library.

– Daniel Cuahuey, 16 Daniel Cuahuey

Join the Conversation!

Tell us what you love about your new library? #mynewlibrary Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

A newsletter published quarterly by

Madison Public Library Foundation, Inc. Executive Director

Jennifer J. Collins Newsletter Editor

201 W. Mifflin Street Madison, Wisconsin 53703 608.266.6318 mplfoundation.org info@mplfoundation.org

Courtney Davis

Contributing Writers

Tana Elias Danielle Falcone

Newsletter Designer

Rebecca Curran

Madison Public Libraries • Alicia Ashman 733 N. High Point Rd. • Hawthorne 2707 E. Washington Ave. • Lakeview 2845 N. Sherman Ave. • Meadowridge 5740 Raymond Rd. • Monroe Street 1705 Monroe St. • Pinney 204 Cottage Grove Rd. • Sequoya 4340 Tokay Blvd.

• Goodman South Madison 2222 S. Park St. • Central Library 201 W. Mifflin Street

Book Club Corner: Meet the Mother Daughter Drinking Club

Laura Schmiedicke Wins 2013 Proctor Scholarship

As their name might imply, wine often enhances the conversation during Mother Daughter Drinking Club meetings. Made up of three generations of mothers and daughters, the group’s goal was to spend quality time with one another after many of the members moved back to Madison. They often find that their youngest members— aged 6 months, 1, and 5 —bring the best insights.

What book are you currently reading? Bossy Pants, by Tina Fey What author would you like to have as a book club guest? William Faulkner, so we get to the bottom of a few questions on The Sound and the Fury.

If you could host book club anywhere, where would it be? Various international spa locations

On October 26, the Madison Public Library Foundation awarded Laura Schmiedicke the 2013 Proctor Scholarship. Laura’s family, friends, library staff and the family of Elizabeth Proctor gathered for the annual reception at the Lakeview Branch to celebrate Laura and remember Betsy, a library employee from 1967 until her retirement in 1998.

“As Betsy was my first supervisor at MPL, I always enjoy recommending staff members who remind me of her,” said Meadowridge Branch Supervisor Alice Oakey. “Lots of zip, laced with professionalism.

That’s Laura!”

Family and friends of Elizabeth Proctor Moon established the scholarship fund in “Betsy” Proctor’s name to encourage and assist Madison Public Library employees whose future plans include careers in library sciences.

If you could invite any person to join your book club, who would it be? Tammy Baldwin

Schmiedicke will graduate in May of 2014 from the University of Wisconsin’s School of Library and Information Studies graduate program.

Mother Daughter Drinking Club

Elizabeth Proctor’s sister Mary Clark, far left, and niece Laura Smith, far right, Alice Oakey, Laura Schmiedicke

Congratulations to the Mother Daughter Drinking Club!

They’ve won a gift card to Barriques. If you’d like to be entered in the drawing for next quarter’s newsletter, send an email to newsletter@mplfoundation.org including a brief description of your book club and your answers to the four questions above.

YES, I want to support the Annual Fund for Madison Public Library Foundation Name:

Street:

City, State, Zip:

Phone: Email: I would like to receive my newsletter by:

mail

email

May we publish your name in recognition materials?

Yes

No

Please send your gift to: Madison Public Library Foundation, 201 W. Mifflin Street, Madison, WI 53703 OR make your gift online at mplfoundation.org and click “donate now”!

I’d like to make a gift/pledge of:

$35

$50

$100

$250

$500

$1000

Other

Please designate my gift for “Learning for a Lifetime: The Community Campaign for a New Central Library” My check is enclosed (made payable to Madison Public Library Foundation, Inc.) Please charge my: Card #:

Visa

Mastercard Expires:

Donor Signature:

This gift is in honor of

Date:

This gift is in memory of

If you would like us to notify someone of your memorial or honorarium gift, please include their name and address below:

LIBRARY NEWS From the Director’s Desk A Year in Review

Gregory Mickells Director of Madison Public Library

Looking back on my first year at Madison Public Library, I’m amazed at all I’ve learned and the many things that have been accomplished. At the top of that list is the new Central Library. I hear over and over that it’s is even better than people expected.

Just recently I participated in a “What’s Next” forum” on the future of public libraries with library directors from all over the country. Our new Central Library and the programs we are developing impressed many of the others, especially the fact that our pre-opening events, Foreword Gala and Stacked, had sold out. It was almost unreal for them to imagine over 1,500 people waiting in line around the block to get into a library event.

Libraries of the future are about placemaking. This is evident in the design of Central Library and the ways patrons use the space: reading in comfortable nooks, enjoying a coffee and wi-fi, attending an event, or creating something in The Bubbler or the Media Lab. In 2014, we’ll be adding staff to account for the increased number of events and activities taking place in all our libraries.

Chocolaterian Café Brings Sweets, Fun to Central Library Chocolaterian Café has come to stay in Central Library, bringing sweets, of course, but also soups, sandwiches, and other savory items. Thanks to a policy change last year, library patrons can take these snacks and drinks outside of the first floor café area and anywhere in the library.

“We love seeing little kids who come in with their parents and get chocolate all over their faces having a good time at the library,” said Leanne Cordisco, a co-owner of the chocolate shop.

She and co-owner Kimberly Vrubley noted the great sense of community that Central Library represents. To show their support for the library, Chocolaterian is selling travel coffee mugs for $13 each. Customers get their first fill-up for free and proceeds benefit the Madison Public Library Foundation.

Stop by the café during the Central Library’s open hours to get yours and maybe a taste of their famed Parisian Hot Chocolate.

Outside of Central, we look forward to the remodeling and co-location of the Meadowridge Library with the Meadowood Neighborhood Center. These two neighborhood-focused resources will work together to expand presence and program in this growing community.

I’m happy to have a successful year under my belt and looking forward to many more ahead. The Madison community and the fantastic library staff have made the experience a real joy. It is truly a privilege to lead Madison Public Library.

Grabbing a coffee from Chocolaterian at Central Library

Central Library Celebrates its Grand Reopening!

The new Central Library opened with great fanfare on September 21 to a crowd of over 250 onlookers outside the library entrance.

During Grand Opening weekend, Central Library welcomed 6,032 visitors, more than double the visitors on a typical weekend for the old building. Visitors came to check out the new library and participate in hourly tours, children’s activities, musical performances, a photo booth, and interactive science learning displays in conjunction with the Wisconsin Science Festival.

Story time in the Children’s Area reading nooks

The Bubbler was a popular spot during the weekend, featuring hands-on acticities with groups like Sector67, ArtWorking, Mad City Makers, and Silver Buckle Press. Visitors also checked out the library’s new Media Lab where they created animations, sound files, and short videos while learning more about upcoming classes and open lab sessions. The new room focuses on helping residents learn 21st century digital literacy skills.

Over 300 people took guided architectural and art tours of the new library. Children and their families were treated to a child’s eye “behind the scenes tour” featuring a walk through the mechanical rooms, a glimpse at compact shelving, and a trip through other staff-only areas.

As one four year old visitor put it, “This is my new favorite place.”

Library Director Greg Mickells, Campaign Chair Tripp Widder, Widder’s grandson, and Mayor Soglin cutting the ribbon

Exploring the brand new third floor

LIBRARY NEWS Community’s Voice to be Heard in Meadowridge Design and Art Piece Architects presented final plans for the expansion of Meadowridge Library to the community on October 10. The design incorporates public feedback gathered from three previous meetings and features shared spaces with the adjoining Meadowood Neighborhood Center. Highlights include a community kitchen, a fireplace, and solar tubing to bring in natural light from the outside.

Together with Meadowood Neighborhood Center, Meadowridge serves as a nucleus of neighborhood activity and community engagement. The expansion and co-location will give the library and the neighborhood center the opportunity to develop programs that will benefit both organizations and better serve neighborhood residents like cooking classes in the shared kitchen.

“Everyone I’ve spoken with since our final meeting is very pleased with the design and is very excited about the both the art piece we’ll be displaying and the process for creating that art,” said branch manager Alice Oakey. “They love Victor!”

As part of the rebuild, artist Victor Castro will create and install what he calls a “community-generated sculpture” in the walkway of the new library using re-purposed Tetra Pak, the material used for cartons of liquid like broth or shelf -stable milk. This project is made possible thanks to a $10,000 Public Art Projects grant from the Madison Art Commission.

Castro and Meadowridge youth prepping Tetra Pak

“Community engagement and teamwork are crucial to each of my projects, as we gather, process, and transform materials, building a sculpture piece by piece, while making decisions about the final result,” says Castro. “Each member of the community chooses her or his own level of involvement in my projects.”

Community members are invited to participate in each stage of the process from design to material collection and installation. Watch the Bubbler calendar for opportunities to be involved.

Architectural firm Engberg Anderson gathering community feedback for Meadowridge expansion plan

Movies with Madison Libraries If the weather outside is frightful, warm up with a movie at your local library.

Broken Alicia Ashman Library, Friday, November 22 , 7 pm This coming-of-age film highlights the overlap of innocence with sex, violence, and life-shattering illness. Sign up at madisonpubliclibrary.org. Recommended for adults.

Monsters University Hawthorne Library, Saturday, November 30 , 1 pm Don’t miss this prequel installment about everyone’s favorite Disney monsters. Fun for all ages.

Gremlins Pinney Library, Saturday, December 14, 2 pm Come enjoy light refreshments and this 1984 American horror comedy on the big screen. Recommended for adults and teens.

Anyone under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult.

Architectural drawing of future Meadowridge Library

Thanksgiving Pies for Meadowridge Make your Thanksgiving a little bit easier while supporting Meadowridge Library. As part of their annual pie sale, about 20 volunteers with the Friends of Meadowridge Library will have cooked up more than 100 pies. That may sound like a lot, but they go fast. Stop by Meadowridge on Tuesday, November 26 after 10 am to get yours for just $10 each.

The friends use proceeds from the pie sale and their annual book and bake sales to support efforts like the “Beyond the Page” campaign to create an endowment fund for all 28 Dane County libraries and Meadowridge’s upcoming expansion.

“We are a small group but we work very hard to fill the library’s wants and needs,” said Jacky Byrnes, friends group secretary and Meadowridge fundraising campaign committee member.

Byrnes is looking forward to the expansion because it will modernize the library and bring a “positive spirit” to the area.

Foundation

Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Madison, WI Permit No. 1110

MADISON PUBLIC LIBRARY 201 W. Mifflin Street Madison, WI 53703 mplfoundation.org

A quarterly newsletter from the Madison Public Library Foundation

Pre-Opening Events Foreword and Stacked Raise $134,000 for Central Before Central Library opened to the public, the library foundation hosted two fundraising events, offering ticket-buyers a preview of the building while supporting the campaign.

Foreword: A Grand Opening Gala, held on September 7, welcomed over 650 guests for a formal affair, complete with dinner and dancing, and netted over $117,000 for the new library.

The league of crafty librarians collected over $400 for Bubbler programming at Stacked.

Stacked, brought back artists from the library’s closing fundraiser, Bookless, along with some new faces.

On September 19, lines snaked around the block as over 1,500 people waited to enjoy art, music, and drinks into the early morning hours, bringing in over $17,000 in ticket sales.

See pictures from both events on the library’s Flickr account or the Foundation Executive Director Jenni Collins with Katherine Taylor and Cheryl Peterson foundation’s Facebook page.

of BMO Harris Bank, Presenting Sponsor of Foreword.

Guests were looking sharp at Foreword, especially this group who showed up in 70s inspired tuxes.