The nonprofit Friends of the Madison Public Library will conduct two virtual minicourses  for the Winter 2021 semester, ‘Exhibitions Interrupted’ by Dr. Barbara Tomlinson, Professor Emerita, Kean University and ‘Great Thinkers in the History of Western Political Thought’ by Dr. Ian Drake, Associate Professor of Political Science and Law at Montclair University.  These online Zoom minicourses will be held for five-weeks beginning January 26, 2021.  Registration will start January 5.  The cost is $95 per individual or couple residing at the same residence.   The cost of a second minicourse by the same student is $65.  Students may either register by mail or online on our website, www.minicoursesmadisonlibrary.org.  Checks made payable to Friends of the Madison Public Library may be mailed to: Minicourses at Madison Library, P.O. Box 1341, Madison, N.J. 07940.

Exhibitions Interrupted by Dr. Barbara Tomlinson; Tuesdays, 1:30-3:00 pm; January 26, February 2, 9, 16 and 23, 2021.

2020 saw museums around the world mounting spectacular exhibitions only to have them shut down.  These sessions offer an opportunity to visit some of those exhibitions. 

The Obama Portraits, National Portrait Gallery; The Ghent Altarpiece, Ghent Museum; Snow Scenes: Bruegel to Monet; Sofonisba Anguissola and Lavinia Fontana, the Prado;  Titian Poesie, London National Gallery; Rembrandt/Velazquez, The Rijksmuseum and The Man in the Red Coat, Armand Hammer Foundation.  

Great Thinkers in the History of Western Political Thought: Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau and Marx by Dr. Ian Drake; Wednesdays, 10 am to 12 pm; January 27, February 3, 10, 17 and 24, 2021. 

This five-part series will review the ideas, lives and times of major thinkers in the history of Western political philosophy.  From the ancient Greeks to our own day, political theorists have proposed dramatically different ideas about how and why we should govern ourselves or be governed by others.  This series will review these controversial ideas and how the biographies of their chief proponents affected their proposals.

Sylvia Luber, Coordinator, said that “additional online minicourses will be offered during the Spring 2021 Semester in March and April.  Registration for Spring will begin February 16 with the first day of class on March 3.”  

 “In-person minicourses will not be held until further notice due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” added Rose Mary Dinnhaupt, Registrar.  All proceeds will go to the Madison Public Library.  These virtual non-credit courses are intended for the general public with no prerequisites or examinations.  For information, email minicoursesmadisonlibrary@gmail.com or leave a voice message at (929) 450-7040.