Applications are Open for Library Takeover Project

posted October 2, 2017 – 10:25am

Madison Public Library to Fund Three Community-Driven Library Events in 2018

Madison, WI –

It’s time to takeover the library! Community members may now submit their own library event ideas as part of Library Takeover 2018 through October 31, 2017.

The Library Takeover project encourages the community to “take over” Madison Public Library by providing space, time, resources, and library event planning expertise for residents to learn to host their own events.

Teams of 3-4 adults, not affiliated as a group with an organization or institution, are called to pitch ideas for large-scale community events. Teams that submit the top three ideas participate in a six-week-long boot camp, complete with workshops, presenters, and team mentors that guide their event planning process.

Winning ideas from the first Library Takeover project included Access Denied, focused on creating safe and accessible nightlife spaces; Share the Word, intended to foster collaborations within the Madison writing community; and Namaste Madison, a day-long celebration of the Indian-American community in the Madison area. Funding for the initial Library Takeover project was provided by a grant from the Madison Public Library Foundation.

“We hope that by providing space, time, and resources for community members to host their own events, we'll not only have fun, exciting, events, but we'll also be setting the stage for library programming that involves and reflects all of Madison,” says Laura Damon-Moore, Community Engagement Librarian at Madison Public Library.

The application process for Library Takeover 2018 is open until October 31, 2017.

Apply online at madisonpubliclibrary.org/engagement/library-takeover. Print applications will be available at all Madison Public Library locations beginning October 1. The three ideas picked for Library Takeover 2018 will be announced in December 2017, with events occurring in 2018. Contact Laura Damon-Moore, Community Engagement Librarian, ldamon-moore@madisonpubliclibrary.org, 608-266-6350 with questions.

About Madison Public Library
Madison Public Library’s tradition of promoting education, literacy and community involvement has enriched the City of Madison for more than 140 years. Our nine locations throughout the City of Madison welcome over 2.2 million visits each year. For more information, visit madisonpubliclibrary.org, madisonpubliclibrary on Facebook, @madisonlibrary on Twitter, or @madisonpubliclibrary on Instagram.