Leave the kids at home for a night of creativity and grown-up fun.

Come join us, make new friends, and express your creativity!

Calling all adventurers!

Calling all adventurers! Dive into a world of imagination, strategy, and camaraderie with our new Dungeons & Dragons program for adults. Whether you’re a seasoned Dungeon Master or a curious beginner, this is your chance to embark on epic quests, battle fearsome foes, and shape your own story in the world’s greatest tabletop role-playing game.

Led by an experienced Dungeon Master, each session will transport you to fantastical realms where the only limit is your creativity. New to D&D? No problem! We’ll provide pre-made characters and guidance to get you started on your journey. Come solo or with friends to forge alliances and make memories that will last a lifetime.

For Adults ages 18+ who are ready to embark on thrilling adventures, solve mysteries, and conquer dungeons.

A get-together for crafters and makers!

Bring your crocheting, knitting, cross-stitching, lace-making, tatting, or whatever it is you like to do and spend some time with others who do it too! An informal evening of fun.

Share your writing with other storytelling enthusiasts or join to make friends! Join the Creative Writers Club for ages 18+. We will share your favorite piece of writing and talk about why writing is our passion.

Come join your fellow community members for a lively discussion of both classic works and modern masterpieces.

Unless otherwise noted, a limited number of book club reading copies will be available for checkout from the circulation desk about a month prior to the meeting.

FOR May:

We’ll be reading Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hillenbrand.

Seabiscuit was one of the most electrifying and popular attractions in sports history and the single biggest newsmaker in the world in 1938, receiving more coverage than FDR, Hitler, or Mussolini. But his success was a surprise to the racing establishment, which had written off the crooked-legged racehorse with the sad tail. Three men changed Seabiscuit’s fortunes:

Charles Howard was a onetime bicycle repairman who introduced the automobile to the western United States and became an overnight millionaire. When he needed a trainer for his new racehorses, he hired Tom Smith, a mysterious mustang breaker from the Colorado plains. Smith urged Howard to buy Seabiscuit for a bargain-basement price, then hired as his jockey Red Pollard, a failed boxer who was blind in one eye, half-crippled, and prone to quoting passages from Ralph Waldo Emerson. Over four years, these unlikely partners survived a phenomenal run of bad fortune, conspiracy, and severe injury to transform Seabiscuit from a neurotic, pathologically indolent also-ran into an American sports icon.

We hope to see you there!

Madison Library’s Reading Challenge

All ages can play. We have a bingo card for kids 11 and under, and one for teens and adults 12 and older. Read fun new books and audiobooks and win great prizes!

Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Read the challenges and pick a bingo line that most appeals to you.

Step 2: Read a book that completes a challenge. Read another. And another.

Step 3: When you are able to cross off 5 squares in a row on the board, bring your sheet in to the Circulation Desk for a prize and an entry in our monthly drawing. We will have a separate drawing for each age group.

Step 4: Keep reading! You can get as many prizes and entries as there are bingos on the board.

Madison Library's Year-Long Reading Adventure

For patrons ages 15 and older.
Read fun new books and audiobooks and win stickers and other great prizes!

Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Sign up at the Circulation Desk to get your reading log.

Step 2: Read a book that fits a task listed in one of the Canvases. Read another. And another. You can get a sticker for each task.

Step 3: For every Canvas completed, bring your log in to the Circulation Desk for a small prize and an entry for the grand prize final drawing at the end of the year.

Step 4: Keep reading! If you complete your artist's portfolio, you'll receive a special 2025 Armchair Traveler prize in commemoration of your achievement.

If you finish early, you can obtain an additional reading log and work towards becoming a Master Artist, earning extra prizes and entries into the final drawing!

Reading is the perfect way to spark your imagination,
and we are ready for an adventure in creation!

GET YOUR BRUSHES READY, HERE WE GO!

PRESS RELEASE

Josi S. Kilpack to be the featured speaker for a community presentation at the Madison District Library, with a booksigning to follow that evening at the Rexburg Deseret Book Store.

Best known for her Sadie Hoffmiller Culinary Mystery series, Josi S. Kilpack is the author of more than 30 novels, a cookbook, and several novellas. Writing in a variety of genres over the years, Kilpack has covered everything from modern mystery to historical fiction and is known for addressing difficult issues in an approachable way. She has published two general fiction titles through Kensington Press under the pen name Jessica Pack.

Kilpack is a sought-after instructor for writing conferences and enjoys mentoring other authors while also challenging herself to do better with each new story she writes. Kilpack has been the recipient of the Utah Best in State award for fiction as well as several Whitney Awards, including two Novel of the Year awards for Lord Fenton’s Folly and As Wide as the Sky.

At the library event hosted by the Madison Library District located at 73 North Center Rexburg, Kilpack will be talking about her writing journey as well as sharing her thoughts regarding personal development. She will also be taking questions from the audience. Later that evening she will be the featured author at a book signing hosted at the Deseret Bookstore located at 180 W 2nd S, Rexburg. The public is welcome to bring books already purchased for her to sign, or purchase copies from the store.

Josi lives in Garden City, Utah where she gets to see beautiful things every day. She is the mother of four adult children and a real estate agent in both Utah and Idaho.

Join Us for an 8-Week Parenting Seminar!

Strengthen your connection with your child in our 8-week parenting seminar designed to inspire and empower caregivers. Based on the Positive Action Parenting method, this seminar will be facilitated by Alison Cruz, Partnership for Success Program Coordinator at Eastern Idaho Public Health.

Whether you’re a parent, guardian, teacher, or caregiver, this seminar offers a supportive space to gain fresh perspectives on parenting, ask questions, and engage in meaningful discussions.

What You’ll Learn:
Positive Action is built on the philosophy that we feel good about ourselves when we do positive actions. Using the Thoughts-Actions-Feelings Circle, the program reinforces that:

-Positive thoughts lead to positive actions.
-Positive actions lead to positive feelings.
-Positive feelings encourage more positive thoughts.

Throughout the seminar, parents will gain motivation and practical skills for fostering success and happiness within the family. Topics include:

1. Understanding Self-Concept – How it’s formed and why it matters.
2. Maintaining a Healthy Body & Mind.
3. Practicing Self-Responsibility.
4. Building Strong Relationships – Social skills and character development.
5. Honesty with Yourself & Others – Mental health awareness.
6. Personal Growth – Setting and achieving goals.

Bonus Features:
🎉 Toilet Training Segment
🎓 Graduation Event & Q&A – Featuring a panel of local child development and family therapy specialists.

Event Details:
📅 When: Mondays at 6:30 PM | March 3rd – April 21st
📍 Where: Madison Library District Community Room
👥 Who Should Attend: Parents, caregivers, educators, and anyone interested in stronger, healthier relationships with children and/or teens.
📝 Registration Required! Sign up by clicking the button below.

Reserve your spot today and embark on a journey toward more joyful and rewarding parenting!

Please be sure you can commit to attend the entire 8-week seminar, with an exception to the
optional toilet training session, before you fill out the registration form.

Most Items Located on the East Side of the Building

We have a wide variety of materials for all you learning and entertainment needs!
Having a hard time finding something? Ask a librarian!

Along with Fiction and Nonfiction we also provide the following materials:

• LARGE PRINT – we have both fiction and nonfiction titles.
• AUDIOBOOKS – books on CD.
• eBOOKS and eAUDIOS – downloadable from the Libby app on your phone or tablet.
• MAGAZINES
• MUSIC CDs – in a wide variety of genres.
• DVDs & BLU-RAYs – these are located in the front lobby.
• SPECIALTY COLLECTIONS:
  • COOKBOOKS
  • BIOGRAPHIES
  • GRAPHIC NOVELS and COMICS
  • FOREIGN LANGUAGE COLLECTION – located next to the Children’s materials.
  • IDAHO COLLECTION – materials dedicated to books on Idaho. You’ll find specialty books here on the great gem state, biographies, studies on the flora and fauna, local histories, and books by Idaho authors. Since many of these volumes can’t be replaced, they aren’t available for home use, but we encourage you to explore our great state here in the library.
  • SPECIAL and RARE ITEMS – located in the glass cases. These items do not circulate, but can be read in the library.
  • KITS – we have several types of kits:
    • ADULT EXPLORATION KITS – like having a college course in a red or yellow bag!
    • BOOK CLUB KITS – with several copies of the same book and other education materials; in burgundy bags.
    • SPEEDY READER KITS – the entire book series in one bag; in pale blue and grey bags.

Do you love writing?

Enter the Madison Library District’s short story writing contest and you could win a prize and be featured in our newsletter!

Our theme is “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” Based on the famous Dr. Seuss tale of facing life’s ups and downs, tell us a story of the places you’ll go, Fiction or Non-fiction are accepted.

The contest winner will be awarded a $100 gift card to Barnes and Noble. The winner will be announced Friday, July 26th and will be featured in our August newsletter.

Email submissions ONLY accepted. Must be 18 or older to enter.

RULES

Entries are submitted online via email: Submit to programs@madisonlib.org

The contest is open to writers 18-years-old and up. No minors may enter the contest.

No employees, relatives of employees, or former employees of the Library or its divisions are eligible.

Entries must be 1,500-2,000 words in length. It must not exceed 2,000 words. Entries that do not meet this requirement will not be accepted.

Entries are allowed to be either fiction or nonfiction so long as they meet the requirements of the theme.

No entries containing violence or derogatory, racist, or sexist language or situations will be accepted, at the sole discretion of the judges. 

No published works will be accepted. An “unpublished piece” means it has not been published anywhere. Published work includes anything posted on your own blog, someone else’s, or through a magazine or book. The idea is to get you writing and thinking creatively while following submission guidelines with a new piece.

You can submit your entry anytime before the deadline of the contest. Entries open June 3, 2024 and end June 28, 2024. All submissions must meet the entry deadline. 

Entries should be text only and may not include illustrations or photographs.

Proofread your entry before submitting. Follow these contest rules, just as you would a publisher’s submission guidelines.

The winners will be announced on our Facebook page, on our website, and in our newsletters. We reserve the right to first publication of the winning entries in our newsletter, after which all rights revert to the authors. We do not own your work product in any way, shape, or form.

All entries will be read by judges chosen by the Madison Library District staff. Winners will be notified by email (or other means) approximately 30 days after the close of the contest. 

Formatting 

1. Double space your entry.
2. Margins should be one inch all around.
3. Use Times New Roman or Courier, 12-point font.
4. Do not include a cover page with your entry.
5. Submissions will only be accepted as a PDF or Word document.
6. Be sure to list your name, library card number, email, and title of your submission in the email sent with your submission.
7. Entries will only be considered within the deadline, June 3, 2024, through June 28, 2024. 

*Entries that do not meet these requirements will not be accepted*

To Celebrate National Library Week

Our theme is "Drawn to the Library!"
Create an original single frame cartoon OR a multi-frame comic strip to show us what that theme means to you.

Submitting Entries

• Cartoons must be 8 x 10 inches and may be in color or black and white.
• Submissions must be brought to the Madison Library District Circulation Desk along with a completed entry form.
• Each participant may submit up to three entries.

Judging

• Entries will be judged in the following age categories:
  • 6-11 years
  • 12-17 years
  • 18+ years
• Judging criteria: creativity, visual appeal, entertainment value, and storytelling quality.
• A panel of impartial judges will evaluate entries on April 3, 2025.

Winners & Prizes

• Judges will select 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners in each age category.
• One Grand Prize Winner will also be selected.
• Winners will be announced on MLD's Facebook page and newsletters.
• Prizes will be awarded to all winners.

Comic strip frame templates, if needed, are available at the Circulation Desk, here on our website, or you can make your own! 

Open to all patrons ages 6 and older (minors must have approval from their legal guardian.)

Submissions will need to be turned in at the Circulation Desk by 8:00 pm on April 2, 2025.

Each submission will need an entry form filled out and turned in with your comics and cartoons:

Library Appreciation Week is on its way, and we’ve got some great things planned.

Peeps Diorama Contest!

Depict a scene from a published book, any of our programming events, or any item you've used in the library (such as Libby).

Submit your Peeps diorama by 4:00 pm April 22nd to be considered for a prize.

All ages are welcome to particpate. Any participants under 18 must have approval from their legal guardian.

Film director Wes Anderson has a distinctive style that many attempt to mimic. A recent book, Accidentally Wes Anderson, shares views of the best efforts by professional photographers. If all those pros are having such a good time making Wes Anderson fakes, we thought it might be fun for our patrons to do so as well.

Take a look at the style hints found in the adult section display case and take a photo that you think is "Accidentally Wes Anderson," and we'll display them during the month of November.

TO ENTER:

Email your photo to our programming team or leave it at the Circulation Desk by November 1.
Please include your name, library card number, and phone number.

The three photos judged to be closest to Anderson's style will receive a copy of the book.