Madison Public Library’s Library Takeover program saw great success in 2024!
Library Takeover supports underrepresented communities that want to make an idea or event happen at the library. Whether it be providing space, time, and resources for community members to host their own event or assistance from experienced event organizers, the library hopes to help out!
The 2024 programs were Mindfulness the Indian Way, Full Circle Food Usage, Tacones Rojos, and A Mirror of Northside Community. All had interactive activities during the event, and some had music or food. Most importantly, each program brought community members together, whether it was to participate in a workshop or eat meals together!
Mindfulness the Indian Way introduced patrons to traditional Indian rituals designed for mindfulness. Team members Kiran Nautiyal, Nita Ambedkar, Deepti Awasthi, and Vidya Matre offered yoga, cleansing, art, and dance that aimed to immerse attendees in cultural traditions.
Full Circle Food Usage, hosted by Ciara Hartzog, Adwoa Asentu, Ciera Carter, and Shyelle Aikens, aimed to teach patrons about affordable and accessible healthy eating practices. They talked about sustainable and affordable food pathways, nourishment, different garden plants, and several meal preparation techniques. Each patron left with their own seed starters for their personal gardens and individualized tea sachets.
“The Library Takeover Experience, from start to finish, was a life-changing adventure,” Asentu said. “It pushed our group to elevate our diverse range of skills, become better at executing collective initiatives, and learn more about the business aspects of event planning. The Madison Public Library providing us with resources to bring this idea to life is something I will always remember and appreciate.”
Tacones Rojos, also titled Red Heels (Tacones Rojos): Steps Toward Justice | Breaking the Cycle of Domestic Violence, explored intergenerational trauma within family dynamics that manifests as unexplained anxiety, depression, fears, phobias, obsessive thoughts, and physical symptoms. Team members Malena Matos-Schultz, Gladys Viscarra, and Dante Viscarra developed this program after the murder of Madison-area woman Micaela Juarez Ocolt, whose husband was accused of murdering her in 2023. Focused on Latino women and trauma, the team facilitated breakout sessions, hosted conversations, and provided informational resources with the aims of creating a support community locally.
A Mirror of Northside Community took place at Lakeview Library and celebrated community, specifically that of Madison’s north side. Team members Michelle Kelley, Maria Schirmer Devitt, Savannah Starlin, and Christina Theobald held a professional photo studio for individual or family photos, designed to remove the financial barriers for patrons. The group also created a mirror mural that prompted positive reflection and community building.
“Reflecting on Library Takeover events in 2024, there were some overarching themes that come to mind, such as nourishment, healing, sharing, and self-enrichment,” said librarian Sean Ottosen, who coordinates Library Takeover. “And with these came a cherishable moment, following a very ambitious 6-hour Mindfulness event in late September, that I believe summarizes a key impact of the Library Takeover program. At the end of the program, I approached one of the event’s organizers, Nita Ambedkar, asking how she felt the day went. With beaming pride, Nita replied ‘I’m just feeling so JOYFUL right now!’”
Thanks to TruStage for funding Library Takeover programming through a gift to Madison Public Library Foundation.