Saturday, January 30, 2010

"Red Books" at the Vineyard Haven Library

The Red Book by Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1961)
"The Red Book" or "Liber Novus," is Jung’s visionary text composed during a state of "active imagination" -- "The overall theme of the book is how Jung regains his soul and overcomes the contemporary malaise of spiritual alienation.”The Red Book" was never published during Jung’s lifetime (he felt it too personal and quirky for publication.) "The Red Book," was safely locked away in a bank deposit box. As happens, Jung's heirs and disciples have now decided to bring out (the long awaited) facsimile edition. --From The Washington Post's Book World/washingtonpost.com Reviewed by Michael Dirda

The Red Book (Caldecott Honor Book) by Barbara Lehman
This perfectly eloquent wordless book tells the complex story of a reader who gets lost, literally, in a little book that has the magic to move her to another place. Done in watercolor, gouache, and ink, the simple, streamlined pictures are rife with invitations to peek inside, to investigate further, and–like a hall of mirrors–reflect, refract, repeat, and reveal. Lehman's story captures the magical possibility that exists every time readers open a book–if they allow it.
Kathy Krasniewicz, Perrot Library, Old Greenwich, CT

The Red Book : A Deliciously Unorthodox Approach to Igniting Your Divine Spark by Sera Beak
Concepts of discernment, embodiment, intuition, meditation, sacred sexuality, direct communication with divinity, humor, authenticity, self-knowledge, and self-acceptance are the solid foundation beneath this book's youthful packaging. Beak encourages her readers to create their own red books as an expression of themselves and their connection to the divine.

Ancestry’s Red Book : American State, County & Town
Whether you are looking for your ancestors in the northeastern states, the South, the West, or somewhere in the middle, Red Book has information on records and holdings for every county in the United States, as well as excellent maps from renowned mapmaker William Dollarhide. In short, the Red Book is simply the book that no genealogist can afford to do without.

--C. Greenaway, Reference

Friday, January 29, 2010

2010 Census Information at the Library

As noted in an article in today's Vineyard Gazette, employment tests for U.S. Census jobs are being administered at the Vineyard Haven library and other venues around the Island. Informational brochures and sample tests are available at the library, however you must contact the Census Bureau to apply for a job and schedule your test. For more information, call the toll-free jobs line at (866) 861-2010, or visit 2010censusjobs.gov.

On Tuesday March 2nd at 7pm, Census representative Gordon Bryden will present a program at the library to explain the importance of the census, how it is used, and how to complete the form. Come and find out the facts about the 2010 Census and how your own information will be used.

New Magazines for 2010!

The Vineyard Haven Library subscribes to approximately 100 magazines and newspapers. Current issues can be enjoyed in the library, and older issues (from the past year) may also be checked out by patrons.

This year, the library has added several new titles by patron request, including New Scientist, Lucky, Foreign Affairs, and Fit Pregnancy. For children, the library has added Discovery Girls. The new titles Twist, Teen Vogue, and GamePro are now available in the Young Adult room.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

2009 Tax Forms Now Available

Many Federal and State tax forms and instruction books, including the 1040, 1040EZ, 1040A, and associated schedules, are available at the library. If there’s a form we don’t have, the library can make a copy of the form at no charge (instruction books excluded).

This year, anyone, regardless of income, can e-file their extensions at no cost from a home computer using IRS traditional FreeFile or FreeFile Fillable Forms. For more information, visit IRS.gov.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Greg Mortenson on PBS

On Friday, January 15th, Bill Moyers' Journal featured an interview with Greg Mortenson. If you missed the television broadcast, you can watch the video or read the transcript on the PBS website.

Greg Mortenson is the subject of the adult lecture series with Jim Norton at the library this month. His books, "Three Cups of Tea" and "Stones Into Schools" are available at the library. For details on the library programs, view our event calendar.

"The Procrastinator’s Guide to Getting Things Done"

Hey it’s finally here! Only backordered twice. Now is your chance to do things differently. Put a hold on it right away, and then come pick it up before a weeks time.
--C. Greenaway, Reference

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Winter Holiday Hours at the Library

The Library will be closed on Sunday, January 17th and Monday, January 18th, for the Martin Luther King Day holiday, and on Sunday, February 14th and Monday, February 15th for the Presidents Day holiday. The library will be open regular hours on Saturday during both holiday weekends.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Community Development Block Grant Information Session

On Wednesday, January 13th, at 6pm, the library will be hosting an information session on the Community Development Block Grant programs. Tisbury and other towns on Martha's Vineyard are applying for Community Development Block Grant funds to provide assistance to income qualified homeowners in need of home repairs. Some funding may also be allocated for childcare subsidies to qualified low- and moderate-income families. To learn more about these programs, please attend this informational session presented by The Resource, Inc. (TRI).

An article about the program appears this week in the Martha's Vineyard Times.

For more information, contact: Melissa Vincent (TRI), (508) 696-3285

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Save with Museum Passes!

Thanks to the Friends of the Vineyard Haven Public Library, we offer a variety of museum passes, available from the library circulation desk! This year, library passes have been made possible by generous donations from the community to the Friends Annual Appeal for the Library.

Passes to the Museum Of Fine Arts, Boston, are available through November 2010. Each pass admits 2 visitors at a reduced admission of $5.00 per person, payable at the museum. (Special exhibitions are $8.00 additional, no reservations). The MFA is always free for children under 7, and free to children ages 7-17 on weekdays after 3pm, weekends, and public school holidays.

Passes to the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston are available through September 2010. Each pass admits 2 visitors at a reduced admission of $5.00 per person, payable at the Museum.
Passes must be used during month specified. The ICA is always free to children 17 and under.

What Lessons Can We Learn From Greg Mortenson?

In January and February the Vineyard Haven Public Library is hosting a series on the work of Greg Mortenson (Three Cups of Tea, Stones into Schools), with events for all ages.

On Tuesdays at 7pm, through Feb. 9th, Professor Jim Norton will lead a discussion of some of the lessons that can be learned from Greg Mortenson's work. Each class will stand alone, so you can join the class for one session or come to all six.

On Thursday, January 21st at 1:30 pm, the Vineyard Haven Library Book Group will be discussing Three Cups of Tea, with refreshments provided by the Friends of the Library. The Young Adult Book Club will be discussing Three Cups of Tea: Young Readers Edition, on Thursday, February 4th at 6 pm.

On Thursday, February 11th at 3:30 pm, Robin Tuck will present a folk tale from Afghanistan as a puppet show for ages 5 and up, with a special craft following the show. This age group will be reading Listen to the Wind, a picture book for young children written by Greg Mortenson.

Throughout the month of January the Library Friends’ Display Case will feature items of clothing, jewelry, rugs and other artifacts from Afghanistan and Central Asia.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Download Books and Music at the Library

The sleek black computer on the lower level of the library is a brand new service the library is offering -- the Overdrive Audio Download Station. The Friends of the Library were able to purchase the download station terminal and software using funds from their Annual Appeal, thanks to the generosity of donors in the community.

The library has been offering downloadable audiobooks for checkout since 2008, however previously patrons could only download audio files on their home computers. Using the new download station, patrons can checkout audiobooks and transfer them to a portable audio device at the library. Patrons who wish to try the new service and don't yet have their own player can also borrow an MP3 player from the library.

To learn more about the service, visit the CLAMS Overdrive website, or visit the library for a one-on-one lesson.