On May 31, 2025, Madison Public Library will mark 150 years of service to the community! Beginning in late January, the library — with support from Madison Public Library Foundation — will kick off a yearlong Celebrating the Past, Inspiring the Future effort. Plans are in the works, and they include:
- special events in May
- an interactive digital timeline showcasing the library’s history
- giveaways of library merchandise
- an outreach campaign, including library card signups, at events throughout the community in September
- history fun facts in the library’s email newsletters and on social media
- opportunities to share what you love about the library with a Bubbler Artist-in-Residence, who will create a collaborative art piece made out of community testimonials
“Madison Public Library has been a part of this community since 1875,” Library Director Tana Elias said. “The library has been here through some of the most pivotal moments in Madison’s history, and we’re excited to share many stories throughout 2025 that illustrate how integral the library has always been to the Madison community. We look forward to celebrating this milestone with you and envisioning together what the next 150 years of library service could look like.”
Watch for announcements at the official start to the festivities next month on the library website.
Pictured above: A child listens to records at Central Library in the late 1970s.