Library
N ews Last Wednesday during Learning at the Library, we made knock-off squishies. Squishies are the latest in fidget toys, appealing to texturesensitive folks as well as those who are twitchy, restless or simply looking for something to keep their hands busy while they focus. Most storebought squishies are made from silicone, rubber and other manufactured materials. The Madison Public Library version is considerably simpler: a balloon filled with Play-Doh.
We also had rubber gloves that could be used as the outer covering. For filling, participants could choose from rice, sand, powdered sugar or, basically, any leftover substance that could be squeezed into a balloon or glove.
As we begin another school year of Learning at the Library sessions, your local librarians were looking for ways to clean out old supplies while still encouraging creativity, creation and a little bit of chaos. As a result, our selection of materials was more than a little eclectic.
Librarian Kala took on the herculean task of overseeing balloon and glove stuffing, while Assistant Snow pitched in to help with the cleanup. A big thank-you goes to our amazing library staff, who continue to come up with fun projects for children of all ages. When I asked one preschoolage participant about her squishy experience, she told me, “I put bunnies and hearts in my squishy.” Huh?
Her blue-and-yellow-smeared white squishy fit neatly into her little hand, so I knew no rabbits or human body parts had been harmed in the making of the project. With a little more questioning, she came up with another word to explain her creation: “Confetti.” Oh. We had some sequin-type confetti of various shapes that we weren’t quite sure what to do with, so we offered it to squishy makers who wanted their creations to have a little extra pokiness. Mystery solved.
While Learning at the Library is an in-house local program, Madison Public Library also participates in initiatives that bring libraries together from across the state. One of those is the 2026 Library Fall Crawl, which began September 1 and runs through November 30.
The Fall Crawl is designed to encourage Nebraskans to visit libraries, attend programs and explore the many libraries located throughout the state. To participate, simply pick up a Fall Crawl booklet at a participating library. When you visit a library, have a staff member place a sticker next to that library’s name as proof of your visit.
The 2026 Library Fall Crawl is sponsored by the Nebraska Regional Library Systems.
The project is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered by the Nebraska Library Commission. The four regional library systems are Western, Central Plains, Three Rivers, and Southeast.
Central Plains started a Fall Crawl within its own system a couple of years ago and has now invited Three Rivers and the other regional systems to join the fun. When Tammi, our Three Rivers representative, let us know that Madison Public Library could participate in this library version of Passport Nebraska, we jumped aboard.
We’ve already had Fall Crawl visitors to Madison from as far away as Wayne and Tekamah.
More than 100 libraries across Nebraska are participating in the 2026 Library Fall Crawl. The participating libraries are listed alphabetically by town in the booklet, which means Madison Public Library is sandwiched between Lyons Public Library and McCook Public Library.
Of course, the booklet’s order isn’t necessarily the best way to plan your route. Meadow Grove, Norfolk and Columbus are all closer to Madison and are participating as well. Plan your library visits strategically, you’ll save some gas and get to see more libraries.
Once you have visited at least 10 different libraries, you can turn in the center page—the colorful sheet in the middle of the booklet—to Madison Public Library or mail it to the Central Plains Library System.
To be eligible for the prize drawing, your entry must be postmarked by December 10, 2026. So, if you’re not mailing your entry, give yourself plenty of time to get it to Madison Public Library so we can make sure it reaches the appropriate library system.
There’s an additional incentive for the truly dedicated library traveler: everyone who visits more than 30 libraries will receive an exclusive 2026 Fall Crawl tote bag. Each Regional Library System will also provide a prize basket, awarded by random drawing from eligible entries submitted through libraries within that system.
What a great excuse to take a beautiful fall drive.
Libraries are free, offer clean public restrooms, and generally include a welcoming smile or two for visitors. Why not make a day of it and visit a few?
And, of course, don’t forget to collect your sticker when you visit Madison Public Library!
