Madison Public Library Introduces New Program Series Focused on Mending, Reuse, and DIY

MADISON, WI – From August 9 - November 15, Madison Public Library is hosting a series of free events focused on learning to mend, repair, and care for household items including everything from clothing to bikes. The Care & Repair program is made possible thanks to Beyond the Page, an endowment that funds free humanities programs at Dane County libraries both individually and collectively.

“Our relationship to our things as humans is connected to our relationship to one another and society,” said Ali Trevino-Murphy, Beyond the Page Manager. “Through hands-on activities, workshops and discussions, participants will gain a deeper understanding of how past repair methods have shaped the present and how similar methods can be used to impact the future.”

The Care & Repair series includes more than 30 programs spread across all nine Madison Public Library locations over the course of three months, and participants are invited to learn new skills and techniques, try artful mending practices, and envision innovative ways to reuse old items.

Earth.org says that each year, 92 million tons of clothing waste ends up in landfills. One driver of this waste is the fact that the number of times people wear their clothing has declined by 35% in the last 15 years. In the past few years, the trend away from fast fashion–which encourages the quick production of lower quality clothing–towards a more sustainable model in which people purchase high quality clothing that can be repaired and reworn for longer–has inspired many to become more conscious about the way they look at purchasing, wearing, and discarding clothing items.

The national slow fashion movement, as well as increased demand for things like Free Mending, sewing, and other hands-on repair programs at the library served as inspiration for this series.

“I think people want to learn how to make their things last longer, and in Madison there is of course a drive to be more sustainable and intentional with the resources we consume,” said program coordinator and Library Assistant at Central Library Melissa Ernst. “These programs are a way to empower people by teaching the skills needed to do their own repairs in several different areas - not just fashion. Whether you’re mending clothing or beloved stuffed animals, repairing bikes, turning fabric scraps into pieces of art, etc. – it’s all about getting inspired and being creative. Plus, the human element is so important - these practices, stories and histories have been passed down for generations, and we’re excited for people to engage with that as well! ”

Care & Repair will feature a number of artists, speakers, and organizations from the Madison area and beyond who will lead and facilitate programs, including:

• Rita Salm
• India Johnson
• TetraPAKMAN
• Miryeong Hong
• Bird Ross
• Christina Ruhaak
• Sylvie Rosenthal
• Wisconsin Bike Fed
• Wheels for Winners
• Dream Bikes
• Judy Frater
• Sam & Chick Westby
• Fibershed Heartland
• The Sewing Machine Project
• Textile Arts Center of Madison
• Project Home
• Urban League

Additionally, a Care & Repair book list was created to accompany the event series so that participants can continue their learning around DIY projects, including mending, big and small home repairs, traveling by (and maintaining) a bicycle, and sustainable practices.