New $10.2-million Madison Public Library opens

MADISON – Branch manager Sarah Sledge couldn’t contain her excitement at the ribbon cutting for the new, $10.2-million Madison Public Library.

“You are getting to receive today one of the best libraries in the Southeast … and I’ll go ahead and say it … the best library in the State of Alabama,” Sledge said. “I am here today to say congratulations to all of you. This is a great day for you as a community.”

Donors, Huntsville-Madison County Public Library management and Madison city leaders gathered for the ribbon cutting on Jan. 26. Madison Mayor Paul Finley, Madison City Council President and library board member Tommy Overcash, Redstone Federal Credit Union Chair Dave Hargrove and Huntsville Library Foundation Chair Betsy Estopinal officiated at the ceremony.

Finley said it was a great day for Madison, Alabama. “When a community grows at the pace that we have, we’re growing because our school system is so strong. The help to education in most areas is the library.”

Finley recounted the evolution of Madison’s library from one room at Madison Senior Center, to a storefront (that leaked) in Hughes Plaza, to the former library on Plaza Boulevard to the new facility.

“It’s happened because our community believes in education but also because City Council folks and mayors have continued to work together with this library system to support our community,” Finley said.

“We get to cut the ribbon, but this happens because our community at the times that we need it continues to come together and do the right thing,” Finley said. “Some people like Ann van Leeuwen had vision constantly to make things happen in the 1980s to the 1990s to now.”

Sledge’s vision kept the community on track to invest in “making this happen. Her vision, but persistence, is one reason that we’re standing here today,” Finley said.

“From a city standpoint, (city planner) Mary Broeren has managed this project each and every day in addition to doing her full-time job and made this come in on time and under budget,” he said.

“This (library) is truly a metro-government success story,” Finley said.

The new library has an inviting entrance that welcomes patrons to peruse all printed and digital materials. The book return is accessible from a drive-through drawer to drop off media directly inside the building. Touchscreens on shelving replaces the 20-century card catalog.

A Makerspace features 3D printing, vinyl cutting and high-end crafts. The new building has expanded meeting space. The teen room lets teenagers claim their own study/fellowship space. The children’s rooms will stay busy with that large segment of Madison’s population.