Best Books of 2013: A List of Lists

Some choices for the best of 2013, from the media, associations, and readers:

American Library Association (ALA)
Notable Books For Adults:
http://www.ala.org/rusa/awards/notablebooks/lists/2013
Notable Books For Children:
http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/notalists/ncb

Bookpage Reader's Choice
http://bookpage.com/the-book-case/15816-readers-choice-top-15-books-2013#.Urw5VjaA200

Goodread's Choice Awards
http://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-books-2013

Kirkus Reviews
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/issue/best-of-2013/section/fiction/?gclid=CMSgsKSMzrsCFclQOgodHX0AAg

Library Journal
http://reviews.libraryjournal.com/2013/11/best-of/best-books-2013-top-ten/

National Public Radio (NPR)
http://apps.npr.org/best-books-2013/

New York Times Notable Books
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/08/books/review/100-notable-books-of-2013.html?_r=0

New Yorker
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/08/books/review/100-notable-books-of-2013.html?_r=0

Publisher's Weekly
http://best-books.publishersweekly.com/pw/best-books/2013

Salon.com
http://www.salon.com/2013/12/26/salons_ultimate_book_guide_for_2013/

Time Magazine
Fiction:
http://entertainment.time.com/2013/12/04/arts-and-entertainment/slide/top-10-best-fiction-books/
Nonfiction:
http://entertainment.time.com/2013/12/04/arts-and-entertainment/slide/top-10-best-nonfiction-books/

Village Voice
http://www.villagevoice.com/slideshow/the-best-books-of-2013-40758036/

Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/top-10-books-of-the-year/2013/11/21/c4d92a7c-35b4-11e3-8a0e-4e2cf80831fc_story.html

Discount Passes to the Museum of Fine Art Available Now

Discount passes for the Museum of Fine Art in Boston have been made possible again this year by generous donations from the community to the Friends Annual Appeal for the Library. Passes may be picked up at the library and used any time through November 30th, 2014. Each pass will admit up to two visitors at a reduced admission of $10.00 per person, payable at the museum. Passes do not need to be returned to the library. The MFA is free to children ages 7-17 on weekdays after 3pm, weekends, and Boston public school holidays.

Friends of the Library Booksales Held Monthly at New Time!

The Friends of the Library hold "mini" book sales at the library on the third Saturday of each month. Beginning with the sale on January 18th 2014, they will be at a new time, from 2pm to 4pm. Books are priced at $1 for paperbacks and $2 for hardcovers, or $12 to fill a bag.

Proceeds from these sales benefit library programs for children, and other library services supported by the Friends. Sales are also planned for Saturday, February 15th, and Saturday, March15th, from 2pm-4pm.

Sunday with Friends Lecture on Beatrix Potter: A Women Ahead of Her Time

Beatrix Potter and her dog Kep, 1913

On Sunday, January 12th at 2pm, The Friends of the Vineyard Haven Public Library welcome Betsy Bray to the Library as the next speaker in their “Sunday with Friends” program series. Betsy will present an illustrated talk about the life of Beatrix Potter (1866 – 1943). The talk is free and refreshments will be served.

Beatrix Potter is well-known as the author and illustrator of The Tale of Peter Rabbit and other classic children’s books, but she was also a diarist, sheep farmer, land conservationist and community activist. Her gifts to the National Trust made possible the preservation of large areas of the Lake District in North West England. Beatrix Potter overcame a strict Victorian childhood to become what Betsy considers “a woman ahead of her time.”

Betsy Bray has been a member of the Beatrix Potter Society since 1984. She is a Trustee of The Society, and has spoken at a number of the Society’s International Study Conferences and given illustrated talks to various groups in the US, UK, Africa and Australia. She gave a series of lectures on transatlantic voyage on the Queen Mary 2. Betsy is a former public library director, with a BA from Curry College, Massachusetts and a Masters of Library Science from Saint John’s University in New York.

This Friends of the Library are volunteers that encourage public understanding of the Library's vital role in the community, support activities for both adults and children, and provide various other volunteer services. For more information about the activities of the Friends, please stop by library, or visit the library website at www.vhlibrary.org.

Holiday Schedule Changes at Vineyard Haven Library

The Vineyard Haven Library will close early at 1pm on Christmas Eve, Tuesday, December 24th, and remain closed on December 25th. There will be no Story Time programs the morning of December 24th.

The library will also close early at 1pm on New Years Eve, Tuesday, December 31st , and remain closed on January 1st.

The library is now open on Sundays from Noon until 4pm, however we will be closed both Sunday January 19th and Monday January 20th for the Martin Luther King, Jr's Day holiday.

Important Information for Virtual Catalog Users

The Virtual Catalog is currently unavailable for direct requests of books from outside the CLAMS Network. In the coming months, both the CLAMS system and the statewide Virtual Catalog system will undergo software upgrades that require the temporary suspension of direct Virtual Catalog requests. During this time, if you need materials that are not available within the CLAMS library network, please speak to a staff member or fill out this online form to request Interlibrary Loan materials:

http://library.clamsnet.org/screens/virtual_catalog.html

ConsumerReports.org Now Available at Library and from Home

 

Read product reviews and ratings before you make your next big purchase! The Vineyard Haven Public Library now offers free access to ConsumerReports.org through our Web site at www.vhlibrary.org.

ConsumerReports.org features ratings and recommendations on thousands of products and services, including appliances, cars, and electronics.Through our subscription, you have access to all subscriber-level content, including product overviews, ratings, videos, and more. Additionally, you can browse electronic editions of recent issues of the print Consumer Reports magazine.

To access ConsumerReports.org, click on the logo found under "Featured Resources" on the library homepage, www.vhlibrary.org. You will need to enter your Vineyard Haven CLAMS card number for access from computers outside the library.

Art in the Stacks: Deirdre DeCarion's Life Drawings

The Friends of the Vineyard Haven Public Library are pleased to present an exhibit of drawings by Deirdre DeCarion, that will be on display during regular library hours through the month of December. "Art in the Stacks" is an initiative of the Friends of the Library to provide artists an opportunity to show their work, and for library patrons to enjoy art throughout the year.

Artist's Statement: 

The past twenty years my experience with art has been in the woods and with wood. I have been handcrafting one-of-a-kind walking staffs and other wood products. I also have an interest in sailing and attended WoodenBoat School in Maine where I have made half-hull models of various sailboats.

The past few years I have been attending life drawing at Featherstone Center for the Arts and have developed a new passion. The contours, the planes, the textures and the uniqueness of the human body challenge my creativity in terms of its representation. Some inspire the power of color while others inspire the gentleness of a simple line. There are no boundaries. Enjoy!

--Deirdre DeCarion

Early Closing December 10th due to Special Town Meeting

The library will close early on Tuesday, December 10th, due to the Tisbury Special Town Meeting that will take place that evening at the Tisbury School Auditorium at 7pm. The Library will close at 6:30pm, and library computers will be shut down at 6:00pm.

The Special Town Meeting Warrant is available on the Tisbury website here.

New at the Vineyard Haven Public Library: Library Document Station

The Vineyard Haven Public Library is pleased to announce the arrival of the Library Document Station. The Document Station is an easy-to-use, self-service book and document scanning system, that guides the user seamlessly through the scanning process, including the choice of file formats, scan quality, and destination.

You may scan books and documents into PDF, searchable PDF, Word, JPEG, TIFF and PNG file formats by simply touching the screen for the preferred file format. Searchable PDF files allow you to search for any word in the PDF file or copy text from it.

Scanned documents may be printed in color or black and white for 25 cents per page. If you prefer to save paper, you will be happy to know that scanned files may be sent to a USB Flash drive, to Email, to a SmartPhone or Tablet, or to Google Drive and Skydrive.

Please come in to Library and give the Document Station a try. If you need a tutorial, a member of the staff will be happy to help.

The Library Document Station was donated by the Friends of the Vineyard Haven Public Library.

CLAMS Server Maintenance Planned for Thursday November 21st - SERVICE RESTORED

Beginning at 8:00 AM on Thursday, November 21, 2013, some CLAMS services will be unavailable for up to 8 hours due to planned server maintenance at CLAMS.

Patrons visiting the library will need their library card in order to check out materials. Patrons will not be able to search the CLAMS catalog, renew or request items through their online account, or checkout eBooks and audiobooks through Overdrive until service is restored.

Public internet computers and wifi at the Vineyard Haven Library will not be affected, but cardholders may need to obtain a guest pass at the circulation desk to access library computers and print documents.

UPDATE: ALL SERVICES HAVE BEEN RESTORED.

Free Online Access to the Cape Cod Times

Library patrons can now access the full text articles from the Cape Cod Times from 1998 to the present through a free online database. Enter your CLAMS library card number in order to access the database from your home computer.

A link to the database appears on the library home page at www.vhlibrary.org. If you need help locating an article from the Cape Cod Times, please ask a library staff member for assistance.

Online access to the Cape Cod Times has been provided by a grant to CLAMS libraries from the Massachusetts Library System with funding from the Mass Board of Library Commissioners.

The Peter H. Luce Play Readers perform "The Whole Shebang"

"It's a witty, whimsical, charming one-act play." --New York Daily News

Rich Orloff's comic one-act play "The Whole Shebang" will be performed as a staged reading on Sunday, December 1st at 2pm at the Vineyard Haven Public Library. The play will feature performers from the Peter H. Luce Play Readers, directed by Leslie J. Stark. The cast includes Sofia Anthony, Elaine Bart, Ellie Beth, Jay Sigler, Leslie J. Stark, and Eric Turner. The program is presented by the Friends of the Library as part of their monthly "Sunday with Friends" series. The reading is free and refreshments will be served.

"The Whole Shebang" asks the question, "What if the entire universe was just some nerd's science project?" In a classroom in a dimension far beyond ours, a student striving for a "Master of the Universe" degree gives an oral presentation on an unusual thesis -- the creation of the heavens and the earth. Two professors and a dean interrogate the student and his two visual aids, a "typical" man and woman.

For nearly 15 years, the Peter H Luce Play Readers have met every Wednesday of the year at the Vineyard Haven Senior Center from 9AM to Noon to read plays of every era and of every genre, from the Greek and Roman classics to the cutting-edge works of contemporary playwrights... and everything in between: Shakespeare, Shaw, Chekhov, Moliere, Miller, Ibsen Albee, O'Neil, Pinter and Neil Simon. The group is named for its founder, Peter Luce, who died in 2007.

Future "Sunday with Friends" programs planned for this winter include craft workshops for adults, a talk by Betsy Bray on Beatrix Potter, and a travel presentation by Joe Doebler on sailing the Mediterranean. Check the schedule at the library or on our website for details on these and other free programs.

The Friends of the Vineyard Haven Public Library encourage public understanding of the Library's vital role in the community, support activities for both adults and children, and provide various other volunteer services. Their mission is to support the Library, to build a partnership between the Library and the community and to advocate for exemplary library service. All volunteers and those who are interested in knowing more about the Friends meet at 1:00 pm on the fourth Monday of every month (except December) at the library.

Produced by special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc. (www.playscripts.com)

"Rich Orloff's charming and whimsical comedy about the creation of the universe delivers impish fun, along with a thoughtful and provocative message. Orloff brings a witty and engaging innocence to the excellent script." --Variety

November Schedule Changes

The Vineyard Haven Public Library will be closed on Sunday, November 10th and Monday, November 11th for the Veterans Day holiday.

The library will close early at 1pm on Wednesday, November 27th, and remain closed on Thursday November 28th and Friday November 29th for Thanksgiving. The library will be open regular hours on the Saturday and Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend.

CLAMS Libraries Earn Stars From Library Journal

We're happy to share that the Vineyard Haven Public Library has once again been named one of 263 "star" libraries (out of 7,573 rated) in Library Journal's annual rating of U.S. public libraries. The rating is based on four per-capita public service indicators—circulation, visits, program attendance, and public Internet use—from 2011 data collected by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. There are eleven "star" libraries in Massachusetts, also including the West Tisbury Library on Martha's Vineyard. Nine of the eleven Massachusetts star libraries are members of the CLAMS network.

For more information, visit the November 1st issue of Library Journal online.

Art in the Stacks: Paintings by Robert Schaefer

"Harbor Sunset" by Robert Schaefer (oil on canvas 10" x 20")

The Friends of the Vineyard Haven Public Library are pleased to present an exhibit of paintings by Bob Schaefer. "Scenes from Martha's Vineyard" will be on display during regular library hours through the month of November. "Art in the Stacks" is an initiative of the Friends of the Library to provide artists an opportunity to show their work, and for library patrons to enjoy art throughout the year.

Robert Schaefer is fine art painter working in oil and watercolor currently residing half time in Martha's Vineyard.  He has lived his entire life in New England, graduating from Brown University with a degree in Materials Engineering.  He recently retired from a very successful 44 year career in the aerospace industry, allowing him to now focus on his artwork.  He is involved in the community both as an active board member of a not for profit child guidance clinic and as co-chair of the All Island Art Show in Oak Bluffs.

His artistic journey has been a lifetime in the making, beginning as a simple hobby and transforming into a true passion as an award winning artist.  The precision and creativity from his engineering background along with his love of travel brings an interesting perspective to his art.  He is self taught and finds every new painting an experiment and adventure in both style and technique.  He currently favors the use of layered transparent colors in both media.  The exhibit features many of Robert's paintings depicting scenes from Martha's Vineyard along with flowers from his own island garden.

Friday October 25th: CLAMS Network Outage RESTORED

The CLAMS network is not in service today. Patrons will need their library card in order to check out materials. Patrons will not be able to search the CLAMS catalog, renew or request items through their online account, or checkout eBooks and audiobooks through Overdrive until service is restored. Thank you for your continued patience.

Public internet computers and wifi at the Vineyard Haven Library are working, but cardholders will need to get a guest pass to access library computers.

CLAMS services have been restored.

Halloween Happenings!

This Sunday, October 27th, from 1pm to 3pm, the Library will hold a Halloween party for kids, with games, crafts, and treats (of course!) We will finish up with a costume parade through the library.

To allow safer trick-or-treating, several streets in Vineyard Haven will be closed to vehicular traffic from 6 to 9 pm on October 31st, including portions of William Street, Franklin Street, and Spring Street. Center Street, Church Street and Colonial Lane will be closed off from Main Street. (Residents of closed streets will be allowed vehicular access).

The library is also open until 8pm on Halloween night, so stop in to show off your costume and pick up a treat!

Library Telephone Service Interruption Wed. October 23rd

On Wednesday, October 23rd, there may be some disruption to the library's telephone service and voicemail between the hours of 11am and 2pm. We regret any inconvenience this may cause. Library staff may be contacted by email at vhpl_questions@clamsnet.org.

Art in the Stacks: Alexia Garcia

The Friends of the Vineyard Haven Public Library are pleased to present an exhibit of photographs by Alexia Garcia. The exhibit will be on display during regular library hours through the month of October. "Art in the Stacks" is an initiative of the Friends of the Library to provide artists an opportunity to show their work, and for library patrons to enjoy art at the library throughout the year.

Alexia Garcia, a proud 2008 graduate of Martha´s Vineyard Regional High, was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador and began her photojournalistic activities in 2010 as a co-founder and member of D´Kultura (non-profit organization that promotes culture) in New York City. For the past 10 years she has been traveling back and forth between Martha's Vineyard, New York and Ecuador, which has given her the opportunity to exchange, experience and promote historical and cultural knowledge between the three places. Alexia found her passion expressing herself through her camera during a photography class she took back in 2011 while attending college at "ESPOL" in Guayaquil which helped her realize the many ways in which she could capture the moments, experiences and images she visualized.

In 2012 Alexia won first place on an Ecuadorian photography contest called "Capturando lo bueno de la vida" and as part of her award she won a trip to the Galapagos Islands where she participated in an artistic photography workshop given by "Sony Ecuador" professional photographers. She had the chance to not only experience the beautiful views, diverse nature and landscapes but to also capture in each of her photographs the essence and unique beauty of the islands. This year she has been able to share and present her photographic exhibition called "Recuerdos del Archipiélago de Colón" a collection of pictures that showcase the fascinating nature of the Galapagos. To find more information about Alexia Garcia visit www.alegares.com.

Free Island-Wide Flu Clinic and Flu Information

An all-island seasonal flu immunization clinic will be held on Saturday, October 26th from 9am to noon. Flu vaccines will be administered at drive through clinics at Waban Park in Oak Bluffs and at the West Tisbury School. The clinic is open to adults and high school students only. Children who have not yet reached the 9th grade will not be vaccinated. Forms and additional information are available at the library or may be downloaded here. Contact your local Board of Health if you have any questions or seek further information about the clinic.

Do you have questions about the flu? Flu.gov provides one-stop access to U.S. Government information on H1N1, avian and pandemic flu. Other recommended resources are provided below.

Staying Healthy

The two most basic practices a person can do to help prevent catching and spreading germs and viruses are hand washing and covering your cough.

Hand Washing: People in the United States are being advised to be very diligent about hand washing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides information on their web site about when and how you should wash your hands.

Covering Your Cough : Another important way to prevent the spread of diseases is to properly cover your cough. The CDC provides information on covering your cough.

Other Healthy Practices: There are several other steps the CDC recommends as ways to prevent the spread of flu and other diseases:

• Avoid close contact with those who are sick or when you are sick
• Stay home when you are sick. Keep your children home if they are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Practice other health habits of getting plenty of sleep, being physically active, drinking plenty of fluids and eat nutritious foods.

Additional Resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): information on the Seasonal Flu and Novovirus.

Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH): Flu Website includes information in English and Spanish.

Medline Plus: Flu information from the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Health Connector for Massachusetts

Information about the new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) for Massachusetts residents can be found on the Massachusetts Health Connector website at http://bettermahealthconnector.org/

The site includes a listing of Healthcare Navigator organizations and Certified Application Counselors (CACs) that can offer in-person assistance at http://bettermahealthconnector.org/get-help/

The Navigator organization for Martha's Vineyard:

Community Action Committee of Cape Cod & Islands, Inc.
372 North Street
Hyannis, MA  02601

Phone: 800-845-1999 or 508-771-1727
Website: cacci.cc

More Bestselling eBooks Now Available from CLAMS

Beginning today, many additional new titles are available in the Library's free eBook collection! Bestselling titles published by Penguin imprints may be checked out using your library card, and read on your eReader, tablet, or other device. Visit the CLAMS Overdrive site to access the collection. New titles include these bestselling titles:

• And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini
• Bleeding Edge by Thomas Pynchon
• The Bone Bed by Patricia Cornwell
• The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown
• Command and Control by Eric Schlosser
• Cooked by Michael Pollan
• Death Angel by Linda Fairstein
• The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty
• The Mayan Secrets by Clive Cussler, Thomas Perry
• Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
• The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert
• The Silent Wife by A. S. A. Harrison
• The Spymistress by Jennifer Chiaverini
• This Town by Mark Leibovich
• W Is For Wasted by Sue Grafton
• Whiskey Beach by Nora Roberts
• Wilson by A. Scott Berg
• Winter of the World by Ken Follett

New to eBooks? The Vineyard Haven Library offers free one-on-one training on Saturday mornings from 10am to noon by appointment.

Library Booksales Held Monthly

The Friends of the Vineyard Haven Public Library hold monthly "mini" book sales at the library, from 1pm-3pm on the third Saturday of each month. The September sale will be held on Saturday, September 21st from 1-3pm. Books are priced at $1 for paperbacks and $2 for hardcovers, or $12 to fill a bag.

Proceeds from these sales benefit library programs for children, and other library services supported by the Friends. Sales are also planned for October 19th and November 16th.

National Book Awards: The Long Lists

The National Book Foundation has release 4 longlists of titles under consideration for this years awards, including the following fiction and nonfiction titles available from CLAMS:

FICTION LONGLIST:

• Tom Drury, Pacific (Grove Press)
• Elizabeth Graver, The End of the Point (Harper/HarperCollinsPublishers)
• Rachel Kushner, The Flamethrowers (Scribner/Simon & Schuster)
• Jhumpa Lahiri, The Lowland (Alfred A. Knopf/Random House)
• Anthony Marra, A Constellation of Vital Phenomena (Hogarth/Random House)
• James McBride, The Good Lord Bird (Riverhead Books/Penguin Group USA)
• Alice McDermott, Someone (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
• Thomas Pynchon, Bleeding Edge (The Penguin Press/Penguin Group USA)
• George Saunders, Tenth of December (Random House)
• Joan Silber, Fools (W.W. Norton & Company)

NONFICTION LONGLIST:

• T.D. Allman, Finding Florida: The True Story of the Sunshine State (Atlantic Monthly Press)
• Gretel Ehrlich, Facing the Wave: A Journey in the Wake of the Tsunami (Pantheon Book/Random House, Inc.)
• Scott C. Johnson, The Wolf and the Watchman: A Father, a Son, and the CIA (W.W. Norton & Company)
• Jill Lepore, Book of Ages: The Life and Opinions of Jane Franklin (Alfred A. Knopf/Random House, Inc. )
• Wendy Lower, Hitler’s Furies: German Women in the Nazi Killing Fields (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
• James Oakes, Freedom National: The Destruction of Slavery in the United States, 1861-1865
• (W.W. Norton & Company)
• George Packer, The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
• Alan Taylor, The Internal Enemy: Slavery and War in Virginia, 1772-1832 (W.W. Norton & Company)
• Terry Teachout, Duke: A Life of Duke Ellington (Gotham Books)
• Lawrence Wright, Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, & the Prison of Belief (Alfred A. Knopf/Random House, Inc. )

Library 5k Results and Pictures!

Rene DaSilva and Jose Alves were first to finish

Congratulations to Rene DaSilva of Vineyard Haven, who was first to finish the 16th annual Run to the Chop 5K race with a time of 17 minutes and 57 seconds. Katie Brown was the first female with a time of 24 minutes, 06 seconds. Complete results including winners in all age groups will be posted on www.coolrunning.com and on the Library website. Pictures from the event, including finish line photos, are posted on the Library Facebook page.

The race is sponsored by the Friends of the Vineyard Haven Library, and proceeds will support library programs. Race sponsors included Coldwell Banker Landmarks Real Estate, Cronig's Market, Downtown Custom Printwear, Parker Carpets, Mansion House Inn & Health Club, Martha's Vineyard Harley Riders, Martha's Vineyard Savings Bank, Martha's Vineyard Vacation Rentals, Tisbury Farm Market, and Vineyard Bottled Water.

Sunday Hours and Programs Resume on October 20th!

Sunday, October 20th, will be the first Sunday of the season that the library will be open. The library will be open from noon-4pm throughout the winter, except for a few holiday weekends.

As in past years, the Friends of the Library will be presenting a variety of special programs on Sunday afternoons at 2pm, including lectures, a play reading, and "Crafts for Grownups" with Jennifer.

Our annual kids Halloween Party will be held on Sunday, October 27th. Details of programs will be posted soon on our website and bulletin boards.

Art in the Stacks: Christopher Wright

"Standing Still" by Christopher Wright

The Friends of the Vineyard Haven Public Library are pleased to present an exhibit of new photographs by Christopher Wright, on display during regular library hours from September 9th through October 4th. "Art in the Stacks" is an initiative of the Friends of the Library to provide individual artists an opportunity to show their work, and for library patrons to enjoy art at the library throughout the year.

ARTIST STATEMENT:

I think of myself somewhat as a "hybrid" photographer, combining elements of my past history in charcoal drawing, and my love and appreciation for painting and other art mediums, with my passion for photography.

Primarily self taught, I started taking pictures when I was eight years old, and have been evolving in my form ever since. When I come upon a setting that I'd like to photograph, what I see is more similar to a drawing or a painting. Everything all around me becomes alive and interactive as the scene takes on a life of it's own, and a window of time appears to open up where it feels right for me to take a photograph. I could describe this experience as being magic. It's truly one of the most amazing things I've ever experienced, and something I'm extraordinarily grateful for.

Life is full of magic, and to be able to carry a piece of that through a photograph for others to feel is what I hope to achieve and exactly why I am doing this. With that and with gratitude, I think I will step out of the way and let the pictures speak for themselves.

ABOUT THE ARTIST:

Christopher Wright is a Fine Art waterscape, landscape, and nature photographer with over 30 years experience in photography, and a full time resident of Martha's Vineyard, who has been living on the island, on and off, for his entire life. He considers his work, which revolves around the Vineyard, to be, in his words, "an honor and a true labor of love".

Choosing to begin selling his work in December 2010, Christopher's photography is now hanging in homes and businesses spanning from here on Martha's Vineyard, to New York City, to Los Angeles, CA., Colorado, Baltimore, Md., Tennessee, and all the way to the shores of New Zealand, with, as he puts it, his "honest gratitude being the key".

Christopher is a member of The Martha’s Vineyard Art Association, and shows his work on island at the “Old Sculpin Gallery” in Edgartown, the “A Gallery” in Oak Bluffs, and "Bryn Walker - Vineyard Haven". He has also shown his work on island at The Shephard Fine Artspace Gallery, the Made Here On The Vineyard Gallery, Featherstone Center For The Arts, The 2011, 2012, and 2013 Family Planning Art Shows, The Scottish Bakehouse, Atria Restaurant, The Green Room, The Vineyard Haven Public Library, The Island Children's School, and The 150th, 151st, & 152nd Agricultural Fairs. In addition, Christopher has a small studio space in West Chop, open year round by appointment only.

How Much Did You Save by Using the Library this Summer?

We know you value the services and resources provided by your public library, but just how much are those services worth? How much would you pay out-of-pocket if the library didn't exist, or if these services and resources weren't available at no cost? To find out, complete the Value of Library Service Calculator on the library website.

This Value of Library Service Calculator was developed by the Massachusetts Library Association Legislative Committee.

http://www.vhlibrary.org/calculator.shtml

Fall Series: Discovering Faulkner's Fiction

Beginning in September, Philip Weinstein, an Aquinnah summer resident and the Alexander Griswold Cummins Professor of Literature at Swarthmore College, will present a six part workshop on American novelist William Faulkner at the Vineyard Haven Public Library. Three of Faulkner’s novels will be studied: As I Lay Dying, The Sound and the Fury, and Light in August.

Philip Weinstein is a former President of the William Faulkner Society, author of three books on the novelist, and a life-time student and teacher of Faulkner's work. Professor Weinstein will provide background and teaching sheets for each novel, but his aim will be to enable all participants to contribute to a developing discussion of what Faulkner means and why he matters.

In describing his approach to this series, Professor Weinstein has said "Faulkner’s great fiction is undeniably challenging to read. In exactly the same measure it offers its rewards: the difficulty and the value are inseparable." Participants will "work to make sense, together, of the nature of Faulkner’s genius—its challenge and its rewards."

In order to prepare enough materials the library requests that patrons sign up online or at the library main desk. The three novels may be requested through CLAMS. All programs will be held on Tuesday evenings beginning at 7pm at the Vineyard Haven Public Library. Scheduled class dates and readings appear below:

Tuesday, September 24th, 7 pm 
As I Lay Dying
Faulkner depicts the besieged and impoverished poor-white Bundrens with empathy and grace.  Using a flexible stream-of-consciousness technique that allows him to convey the quick of their thoughts and feelings--both their absurdity and their pathos--he conveys in under 200 pages the rhythms and realities of an entire Southern world.

Tuesdays, October 22nd & November 5th, 7 pm 
The Sound and the Fury
This is Faulkner's breakthrough novel, his first masterpiece, arguably his greatest.  Via the stream-of-consciousness narratives of Benjy, Quentin, and Jason Compson (three siblings), The Sound and the Fury tells the intricate story of the once-aristocratic Compson family.  At the center of the drama is the passionate Caddy Compson, the doomed offspring of a family obsessed with virginity in a world that no longer has room for that notion.  Faulkner has written this tragic novel in such a way that its stunning coherence comes only gradually--and then overwhelmingly--into focus.

Tuesdays, November 19th, December 3rd & December  10th, 7 pm
Light in August 
Light In August is Faulkner's richest novel of racial turmoil in the early twentieth-century South.  The central figure, Joe Christmas, suffers from an ongoing crisis of not knowing whether he "is" white or black.  Juxtaposed against Christmas and providing resonance to his drama are the pregnant and unmarried Lena Grove, the frustrated abolitionist spinster, Joanna Burden, the past-obsessed Reverend Hightower, the Calvinist extremist Mc Eachern, the bachelor Byron Bunch, and several others, each of them playing his or her role in a developing drama that is at once comic and tragic.

Art in the Stacks: Peter Mallen

The Friends of the Vineyard Haven Public Library are pleased to present an exhibit of coastal landscape paintings by Peter Mallen. The exhibit will be on display during regular library hours throughout the month of August. “Art in the Stacks” is an initiative of the Friends of the Library, to provide individual artists an opportunity to show their work, and for library patrons to enjoy art at the library throughout the year.

Artist's Statement:

"I am a Boston artist who works in various media - sculpture, painting, and graphics. Like many artists, I work in series. Each successive piece evolves from the previous and, for me, this process encourages a natural flow of concept, technique and product. I also work in a cycle dictated by the seasons. In fall and winter, I work indoors in my studio, chiefly producing paintings and works on paper. In the spring and summer, I work outside on sculpture. My multiple-media interests are represented here because I think the juxtaposition of the various media works well together, and also because the approach and manner in which they are produced is similar. They are similar, also, in their design and their focus on surface and finish. I am currently working in oil on landscape paintings of the New England coast and mountains."

http://petermallen.com/

Ag Fair Books Now Available!

The library will keep a copy of the Fair Book for patrons to use in the library. The book is also available online from the Agricultural Society website, mvas.vineyard.net.

Save the Date! 5k Race and Kid's Fun Run on September 15th

On Sunday, September 15th, the Friends of the Library will host the annual Race for the Library. The 5k Run/Walk starts at the library with runners proceeding to the West Chop lighthouse and back. There will also be a 1/2 Mile Fun Run for Kids (13 & under).

There will be prizes for winners in all age groups, and a raffle. 5k starts at 10 am; Fun Run for Kids starts at 9:45 am; Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Registration forms are available at the library or downloaded from our webiste, vhlibrary.org.

Vineyard Haven Library Evening Lecture Series: August Events

Tuesday, August 6th, 7 pm
The New Rwanda with Grace Burton-Sundman

Since 1994, Rwanda has made a remarkable comeback, and, despite many problems, is experiencing remarkable progress on virtually all developmental metrics -- health,education, income, literacy. In December 2012, Grace, a 2006 graduate of MVRHS, moved to Kigali, Rwanda to witness first hand the stunning transformations going on there. Armed only with curiosity, names of a few people to contact, and a desire to do something useful, she set off. Back on the Vineyard for a brief vacation, Grace will share with us some of her experiences and impressions from six months in a new land.

Tuesday, August 13th, 7 pm
Tamara Buchwald; To the Far Corners of the World and Back...with Children

Tamara and her husband Joel took their young children Tate and Corbin, then aged 8 and 10, on the adventure of a lifetime. A long-time world traveler, Tamara set out to plan a fun, history filled exciting trip for her children. Their journey took them to the United Arab Emirates (where they went on a camel safari) to the Maldives and then on to Hong Kong, Thailand, Laos, and ultimately New Zealand. As always happens on such journeys, the unplanned and unexpected events provided some of the most stirring memories. All returned with fascinating stories to tell. Join us to hear Tamara's stories of traveling and parenthood in a unique 21st-century style.

Tuesday, August 20th, 7 pm
Duncan Caldwell: Decoding the Adena Tablets: A Great Civilization and its Mirrors

Duncan Caldwell has helped to  decipher some of the most enigmatic works of prehistoric American iconography: the twelve Adena Tablets from the central Ohio watershed. The lecture will take the audience into the heart of a civilization so great that it made earthworks which dwarf almost any other archaeological vestiges on the planet, including the Egyptian pyramids. We will look at structures 60 miles long and as small as a postcard; structures as simple as huge conjoined circles and squares and as tightly packed with imagery mirrored simultaneously in two directions that the tablets look like Escher illustrated vultures, body parts and spaghetti.

Wednesday, August 28th, 7 pm
James Reston Jr: The Accidental Victim

Was Texas governor John Connally, not President Kennedy, Lee Harvey Oswald's actual target on that fated day fifty years ago? That's the startling theory argued by critically acclaimed, bestselling historian James Reston Jr. in his explosive book, The Accidental Victim: JFK, Lee Harvey Oswald, and the Real Target in Dallas. Jim is the author of 15 books and three plays and he writes for numerous national magazines. Reston was David Frost's Watergate adviser for the famous Frost/Nixon Interviews. Join us as Jim talks about his new book. There will be a question and answer period followed by a reception.

Book Sales Benefit Island Libraries

The Friends of the Vineyard Haven Public Library hold monthly "mini" book sales at the library, from 1pm-3pm on the third Saturday of each month. The July sale will be held on Saturday, July 20th from 1-3pm. Books are priced at $1 for paperbacks and $2 for hardcovers, or $12 to fill a bag.

Proceeds from these sales benefit library programs for children, and other library services supported by the Friends. Sales are also planned for August 17th, September 21st, and October 19th.

Some of our neighbor libraries will be holding annual book sales on the following dates during the summer:

Library Friends of Oak Bluffs
Thursday July 18 from 10am – 7pm
Friday July 19 from 10am – 4pm
Saturday July 20 from 10am – 2pm

Friends of the West Tisbury Library (at the West Tisbury School)
Friday, July 26 - Monday, July 29 from 9am - 3pm
(Sunday 1/2 price day, Monday free day)

Friends of the Aquinnah Public Library
Saturday August 3rd from noon - 4pm

Friends Honor Author Ward Just at Free Event

At 2pm Sunday July 21, 2013, the Friends of the Vineyard Haven Public Library will present an afternoon with acclaimed author Ward Just. Mr. Just will read from and discuss his forthcoming novel to be published later this year. This event is free, and refreshments will be served.

Ward Just's previous novels include Exiles in the Garden, Forgetfulness, the National Book Award finalist Echo House, A Dangerous Friend, winner of the Cooper Prize for fiction from the Society of American Historians, and An Unfinished Season, winner of the Chicago Tribune Heartland Award and a finalist for the 2005 Pulitzer Prize. He was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 2013.

The Friends of the Library support a variety of programs for both adults and children throughout the year, including an annual summer event honoring a local author. Past honorees have included Lillian Hellman, William Styron, Geraldine Brooks, David McCullough, Stephen Carter, Jules Feiffer, Art Buchwald, Cynthia Riggs, and Phil Craig.

The library will open at 1:30 pm for this event. Patrons will not be able to check out books or use library computers the day of the event.

Vineyard Haven Library Adult Lecture Series: Programs for July

Tuesday, July 9th, 7 pm
David Rathbun: Building the Beautiful Garden
David Rathbun, one of the principle designers at Aquaterra Design Group will cover topics in his lecture such as assessing a site and it's architecture, choosing the appropriate style and understanding site lines, soils, microclimate, scale and suitable plants. We hope that by the end of the evening you will have the basics to begin planning a new garden or to renovate an old one.

Tuesday, July 16th, 7 pm
Phil Weinstein: Becoming Jonathan Franzen - A Writer's Odyssey
Philip Weinstein, Aquinnah summer resident and the Alexander Griswold Cummins Professor of English at Swarthmore College, will present a discussion of the award-winning work of Jonathan Franzen.

Tuesday, July 23, 7 pm
Jeremy D'Entremont: The Lighthouses of New England and the People Who Kept them
Jeremy D'Entremont has been called the leading expert on New England's historic lighthouses. Jeremy is the historian for the American Lighthouse Foundation and the founder of Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses. He has appeared on the History Channel, the Travel Channel, Public Television, and National Public Radio speaking about lighthouses and other subjects. He is the author of nine books and most recently the co-author of Everyday Heroes: The True Story of a Lighthouse Family, the story of Seamond Roberts and her life as she grew up in the Cuttyhunk and West Chop Lighthouses.


Please note, there will be no program on Tuesday, July 30th.

ConsumerReports.org Now Available at Library and from Home

Read product reviews and ratings before you make your next big purchase! The Vineyard Haven Public Library now offers free access to ConsumerReports.org through our Web site at www.vhlibrary.org.

ConsumerReports.org features ratings and recommendations on thousands of products and services, including appliances, cars, and electronics.Through our subscription, you have access to all subscriber-level content, including product overviews, ratings, videos, and more. Additionally, you can browse electronic editions of recent issues of the print Consumer Reports magazine.

To access ConsumerReports.org, click on the logo found under "Featured Resources" on the library homepage, www.vhlibrary.org. You will need to enter your Vineyard Haven CLAMS card number for access from computers outside the library.

Information On Lyme Disease and Tick-Bourne Illness

You may have heard about the recent article in the New Yorker on the growing rate of Lyme-disease infection and issues of treatment. The Lyme Wars, by Michael Specter, appears in the July 1st issue of the New Yorker magazine, which is currently available for reading in the library. The article is also available online on www.newyorker.com.

The Martha's Vineyard Boards of Health have recently launched a website resource on tick-bourne illnesses at http://www.mvboh.org/tbioverview. The site provides information necessary to minimize TBI exposure, to recognize its early symptoms, if exposed, and to seek prompt effective therapy, if symptomatic. This site also contains data currently being collected throughout our county.

The library has a number of recent books and other materials covering the disease and its treatment, including the following:

• Healing lyme disease coinfections by Stephen Harrod, Buhner Healing Arts Press, 2013
• Beyond Lyme disease by Connie Strasheim, BioMed Publishing Group, 2012.
• The beginner's guide to lyme disease by Nicola McFadzean, BioMed Publishing Group, c2012.
• Lyme disease : the ecology of a complex system by Richard S. Ostfeld, Oxford University Press, 2011
• Beating Lyme : understanding and treating this complex and often misdiagnosed disease by Constance A. Bean with Lesley Ann Fein, AMACOM American Management Association, c2008
• Cure unknown : inside the Lyme epidemic by Pamela Weintraub, St. Martin's Press, 2008
• Outwitting ticks by Susan Carol Hauser, Lyons Press, c2001
• Under our skin [DVD], Open Eye Pictures, 2008

Summer Reading for Kids, Teens, and "Grownups" at the Vineyard Haven Library

Images are copyrighted. Contact the CSLP at 1-866-657-8556 or contact@cslpreads.org for more information.

Registration for the Summer Reading Program at the Vineyard Haven Public Library begins Monday, June 24th, 2013. Children may visit the Children's Room at the library to sign up, log the books they read, and earn prizes including a T-shirt and gift certificates from local businesses. Teens ages 12 to 18 can register online. Teens who register online can visit the library circulation desk to claim a special prize, just for signing up.

The Martha's Vineyard Library Association will be hosting events for children of all ages to kickoff the Summer Reading Program. On Saturday, June 29th at the Vineyard Haven Public Library, Andy & Veronica Fish will lead a free Kid's Comic Workshop for ages 8–12 from 1:00 – 1:30 pm, and a free Japanese Manga Workshop for ages 13 & up from 3:00 – 3:45 pm. On Saturday, July 6th, Vanessa Trien will perform at the Ag Hall in West Tisbury at 11am. This family event will feature singing, dancing, face painting, and all around fun. Admission is $3; face painting is $1.

Other free programs for children that are planned for the summer include musical story times with Ellen Hoffman on Tuesday July 16th at 10am and 11am, a concert by Ellen Allard for ages 4 and up on August 13th at 11am, and a workshop and performance by the Cape Cod African Dance & Drum on Thursday, August 8th at 3:30pm. These events are made possible by a contribution from The Anderson Foundation. Additional special guests planned for children's programs include author Molly Lesnikowski, Kathy Forrester, Joyce Maxner, Phyllis Vecchia, storybook character Amelia Bedelia, Felix Neck, and Gus Ben David and his wild animals. Details will be available at the library and on our website, www.vhlibrary.org.

For the third year, the Vineyard Haven Library is offering a Summer Reading Program for “Grownups”. Adults who read a book a week (8 books July through August) will be eligible to win a gift certificate and other prizes sponsored by the Friends of the Library. To participate, patrons should create an online account by visiting the library homepage. Patrons may log the books they read over the summer, write reviews, and register for prizes.

The summer reading program is sponsored by the Friends of the Library, the Massachusetts Library System, the Boston Bruins, and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. Programs for children are supported by the Friends of the Library and are free for participants.

Images are copyrighted. Contact the CSLP at 1-866-657-8556 or contact@cslpreads.org for more information.

3rd Annual Friends of the Library Group Art Show

This June the Friends of the Vineyard Haven Public Library will host an exhibition featuring new work from 16 Vineyard artists. The exhibit will be on display during regular library hours from June 4th – June 14th. A reception will be held on Tuesday, June 4th, from 5 - 8pm. This event is free and open to the public. This year's show has been curated by Francine Kelly, and the program designed by Cowgirl Graphics.

This year's featured artists include: Laura Beebe, Harvey John Beth, Barbara Bodin, Marston Clough, John Crelan, Joe Doebler, Phyllis Dunn, Rob Hammett, Susan Johnson, Clara Kisco, Jennifer Langhammer, Bill O'Callaghan, Robin Tuck O'Callaghan, Lauren Petkus, Kathy Poehler and Christopher Wright.

The library has a collection of artworks that are displayed throughout the year, including 12 paintings by Vineyard artist Captain John Ivory. In addition, the "Art in the Stacks" space features rotating monthly exhibits managed by the Friends of the Library.

The Friends of the Vineyard Haven Public Library encourage public understanding of the Library's vital role in the community, support activities for both adults and children, and provide various other volunteer services. The mission of the Friends is to support the Library, to build a partnership between the Library and the community, and to advocate for quality library service.

New Dates for History of Opera Series - Updated

Due to unforseen circumstances, the History of Opera series with Susan Grunthal that was originally scheduled for May 30th and May 31st has  been postponed. 

The next classes will be offered on Thursday June 20th at 7pm, covering Rossini, and on Saturday June 22nd at 2pm, covering Donizetti and Bellini.

Additional events in the series will be scheduled for September, featuring Verdi and Puccinni.

Art in the Stacks: Joe Palermo - Extended Through June

The Friends of the Vineyard Haven Public Library are pleased to present an exhibit of watercolors by Joseph Palermo this month. The exhibit will be on display during regular library hours throughout the months of May and June.

Born in Canada and a former resident of New Jersey and Florida, Mr. Palermo relocated to Edgartown three years ago. the 91-year-old, self-taught artist has been painting for more than 75 years, often producing a painting a day. His show at the library represents a small sampling of recent work, featuring Vineyard landscapes and coastal scenes, including several depictions of island lighthouses.

“Art in the Stacks” is an initiative of the Friends of the Library, to provide individual artists an opportunity to show their work, and for library patrons to enjoy art at the library throughout the year.

Friday March 29th: CLAMS Network Outage RESTORED

The CLAMS network is not in service today. Patrons will need their library card in order to check out materials. Patrons will not be able to search the CLAMS catalog, renew or request items through their online account, or checkout eBooks and audiobooks through Overdrive until service is restored. Thank you for your continued patience.

Public access computers and Internet at the Vineyard Haven Library are working.

UPDATE: CLAMS and Overdrive service has been restored.

Art in the Stacks: Renee Balter

The Island Theatre (acrylic) by Renee Balter

The Friends of the Vineyard Haven Public Library will feature the work of island artist Renee Balter, beginning Wednesday April 3rd, 2013. The exhibit will be on display during regular library hours through May 3rd, as part of the “Art in the Stacks” program.

The show will be a retrospective of sorts. Ms. Balter has chosen to exhibit work that reflects her whimsical and detailed view of the island landscape over the years. Beginning with the popular pen and ink drawing, “Lucy Vincent Beach” circa 1978, the show will include a variety of media and styles, including original paintings, mono prints and giclee prints.

Ms. Balter’s work has been shown at the Cousen Rose, Dragonfly and Featherstone Galleries in Oak Bluffs.  She has recently become a member of the Arts District in Oak Bluffs and is working and showing her work from her studio/gallery at the corner of School Street and Gorham Avenue that adjoins the District.

“Art in the Stacks” is an initiative of the Friends of the Library, to provide individual artists an opportunity to show their work, and for library patrons to enjoy art at the library throughout the year.

Friday March 22nd: CLAMS Network Outage RESTORED

The CLAMS network is not in service today. Patrons will need their library card in order to check out materials. Patrons will not be able to search the CLAMS catalog, renew or request items through their online account, or checkout eBooks and audiobooks through Overdrive until service is restored.

Public access computers and Internet at the Vineyard Haven Library are working.

UPDATE: CLAMS and Overdrive are working again, thank you for your patience.

Spring Schedule Changes at the Library

The Vineyard Haven Public Library will be closed on Easter Sunday, March 31st, and on Sunday April 14th and Monday April 15th for the Patriots Day holiday. The library will also close for the day on Friday, April 19th for staff training.

The library will close early at 6:30pm on Tuesday, April 9th, due to the Tisbury Annual and Special Town Meetings which will take place at the Tisbury School Auditorium beginning at 7pm. Library computers will be shut down at 6:00pm that evening.

The library will continue to be open on Sundays from noon - 4pm through May 5th. Sunday hours will resume in October.

Friends of the Library Booksales Held Monthly

The Friends of the Library hold "mini" book sales at the library, from 1pm-3pm on the third Saturday of each month. The March sale will be held on Saturday, March 16th from 1-3pm. Books are priced at $1 for paperbacks and $2 for hardcovers, or $12 to fill a bag.

Proceeds from these sales benefit library programs for children, and other library services supported by the Friends. Sales are also planned for Saturday, April 20th, and Saturday, May 18th, from 1pm-3pm.

Healthy Eating Series Begins March 19th

Through a "Mass in Motion" grant from the State of Massachusetts, the Vineyard Haven Public Library is happy to announce two very special programs in our Healthy Eating Series. Mass in Motion focuses on promoting wellness, and we're very grateful for their work and support. Space is limited for both classes, so please register at the desk or by signing up on line. Separate registration is required for each class.

Tuesday March 19th
7:00 PM  -  8:30 PM
Jan Buhrman: Simple Life of Beans       

Our first program is a cooking class featuring Jan Buhrman. Jan, chef and owner of The Front Porch Kitchen, has been cooking locally-sourced meals on Martha’s Vineyard for over twenty five years.  Through her cooking classes and nutritional workshops, she combines her passion for food with a love of teaching to enhance people’s understanding of their food.  All of her programs are designed to connect people with local food systems. For our Healthy Eating Series Jan will present meals that can be made form foods that are easily available, maybe already right there in your pantry. She will give us the recipes and explain how to prepare quick, easy, nutritional and low cost dinners featuring beans.

Click here to register for "The Simple Life of Beans"

Tuesday March 26 and Tuesday April 2
7:00 PM  -  8:30 PM
Dr. Carol Kenney: Growing ...Older...Better       

Dr. Carol Kenney, a gifted teacher and a true authority on how to chose a healthy lifestyle, will present a two part series on Growing..Older...Better. Carol, who holds a Ph.D. in health science, will explain how to find and implement our own healtful lifestyle philosophies. She'll instruct us on how to make wise choices about what to eat, and she'll teach us how to cook a few things as well. But more than that, she'll explain the basic principles and techniques to help us discover what works best for us. Healthy living should be fun and pleasant, after all, or what's the point? Carol's website Pathways for Health and her monthly newsletter are fantastic resources for living for a healthy lifestyle.  I encourage you to take a look at it now: Pathways4 Health. On the site, she provides recipes, journal articles, books, charts, even a shopping guide for online health food sources. Her newsletters are archived and available for free download. Carol also presents a class on MVTV. Please join us for what promises to be a wonderful two-part series on natural health safety, healthy eating, medicinal foods, and in general how to enjoy mental and physical health whatever your age or current health status.  All participants will receive a three ring binder chock full recipes and reference information. The first class will feature an overview of how to live a healthy lifestyle; the content of second class will be shaped by the interests of the people at the first session. Carol is putting a lot of effort into preparing for this class, and we're really looking forward to it.

Click here to register for "Growing Older... Better"

Calling Local Artists for June Exhibition

The Friends of the Vineyard Haven Public Library are looking for artists to participate in their third annual art show. The show will be held on June 3-14th, with an evening reception on Tuesday June 4th. The deadline for submissions will be May 1, 2013.

For more information, visit the library or view the Friends website: www.vhlibrary.org/artshow.shtml

Register For 2013 Great Decisions Discussion Group

The Vineyard Haven Public Library Great Decisions Discussion Group will meet for 8 sessions on Thursday evenings at 7pm, beginning April 11th.

A Great Decisions Discussion Group is composed of interested individuals who want an opportunity to learn and participate in the foreign policy decision-making process. The Foreign Policy Association (FPA) has published the Great Decisions briefing book, a well researched annual publication covering eight timely global topics to be read by group participants in order to prepare for each discussion. At each meeting we will show a 30 minute documentary film on that week's topic, to be followed by a moderated discussion.

Please register online or by calling the library (508-696-4211). A limited number of briefing books may be purchased from the library for $10 ($20 if purchased from FPA).

Topics and meeting dates:

7pm Thursday April 11
Future of the Euro: How did the 2008 global recession contribute to the development of the euro crisis? The health of the euro affects and is affected by the state of the global economy. How can European Union leaders prevent the collapse of the common currency?

7pm Thursday April 18
Egypt: The popular revolution that ousted President Hosni Mubarak in 2011 ushered in the promise of radical change. Two years later, what is the state of Egyptian democracy? How will the military and the civilian government balance power?

7pm Thursday April 25
NATO: How has NATO’s agenda evolved since its inception during the cold war? With its military commitment in Afghanistan winding down and a recent successful campaign in Libya, what are the Alliance’s present-day security challenges?

7pm Thursday May 2
Myanmar: The West has welcomed unprecedented democratic reforms made by Myanmar’s government. What challenges must Myanmar overcome before it can fully join the international community? What role can it play in Southeast Asia?

7pm Thursday May 9
Intervention: The “responsibility to protect” doctrine has become central to modern humanitarian intervention. When should the international community intervene? Why did the West rush to intervene in Libya but not Syria?

7pm Thursday May 16
Iran: Suspicion and a troubled history have blighted U.S.-Iranian relations for three decades. How can the United States and Iran move forward? Is the existence of Iran’s nuclear program an insurmountable obstacle?

7pm Thursday May 23
China in Africa: What interests govern China’s engagement in Africa? Should China’s growing emphasis on political ties and natural resource extraction inform U.S. relations with African nations?

7pm Thursday May 30
Threat Assessment: How can the United States address the challenges of a weak economy, homegrown terrorism and nuclear proliferation? What threats and opportunities are presented by the ascendancy of China and by regime change in the Middle East?

Vineyard Haven Cutural District Organizational Meeting

Arts Martha's Vineyard, the Island's arts and culture collaborative, announces an organizational meeting to introduce plans to establish a Vineyard Haven Cultural District. The organizational meeting will be at the Vineyard Haven Library on Thursday, March 7, 2013 from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. The meeting is open to Tisbury businesses and organizations as well as members of the public.

Establishing a Vineyard Haven Cultural District is an opportunity for our Island community to support and promote the local Creative Economy.

The Massachusetts legislature created the Cultural Districts Initiative in 2010 and is administered by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Since the Cultural Districts Initiative's launch in April 2011, there have been 14 cultural districts designated throughout the state.

There are clearly defined goals and valuable benefits to creating a cultural district on Martha's Vineyard including strengthening our sense of place while stimulating economic activity, improving visitors' experiences, and creating a higher quality of life.

By bringing our collective energy together, organizations and businesses that represent the Creative Economy are invited to participate to help design this wonderful tourism opportunity. Public input is important and required for success.

Please come and join colleagues and neighbors such as Bunch of Grapes, the MV Film Center, MV Times, as well as a number of galleries, organizations, and individuals on Thursday, March 7, at 5:30pm at the Vineyard Haven Library. 

Please RSVP by Wednesday, March 6 to David Nathans at the Martha's Vineyard Museum: dnathans@mvmuseum.org or call 508-627-4441 x122.

Art in the Stacks: Phyllis Dunn

The Friends of the Vineyard Haven Public Library are pleased to present an exhibit of photographs by Phyllis Dunn beginning Friday, February 1st, 2013. The exhibit will be on display during regular library hours throughout the months of February and March.

After  vacationing on the island for ten years, Phyllis Dunn became a year-round resident, now living in Edgartown. With her interest in architectural design, she has been taking photographs of different scenes that strike her on her travels and in her exploration of nature. Taking photographs has become a part of who she is and through her photography she hopes to share with other people her desire to create an awareness of the beauty which surrounds us all.

Her photographs have been exhibited in Connecticut, Featherstone Flea and Art show and Anchors. She has studied with Cathy Rose and David Welch, both of Featherstone Gallery. The photographs exhibited now at the Vineyard Haven Library are predominately of Martha's Vineyard.

“Art in the Stacks” is an initiative of the Friends of the Library, to provide individual artists an opportunity to show their work, and for library patrons to enjoy art at the library throughout the year.

Change in Friday Hours and Closing Saturday Due to Weather

Due to forecast inclement weather, the Vineyard Haven Public Library will open early at 10am this Friday,  then close early along with other town offices. The Library will remain closed all day Saturday.

Research, Monitoring, and Restoration Displays Coming to Island Libraries

Photograph by Lanny McDowell

Beginning this month, Island libraries will be providing library visitors an opportunity to learn more about wildlife and conservation on Martha's Vineyard. Ten or more poster exhibits describing current wildlife research, monitoring, and restoration projects will rotate among the libraries of Chilmark, Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, and Vineyard Haven, starting in February and continuing through July 2014.

The first display to be featured at the Vineyard Haven Public Library will provide information on otter mapping and monitoring activities by BiodiversityWorks. The Oak Bluffs Library will display information on Quahog Culture from the MV Shellfish Group. Edgartown Library will feature information on prescribed fires from the TNC Fire Program, and the Chilmark Library will feature a display on osprey migration by Rob Bierregard. Future displays will be produced by The Nature Conservancy, Vineyard Conservation Society, Sheriff's Meadow Foundation, and others.

The library project was conceived by wildlife biologist Luanne Johnson, director of Biodiversity Works, a 501(c)3 non-profit founded on Martha’s Vineyard in March of 2011. The mission of Biodiversity Works is to promote conservation of biodiversity through wildlife research and monitoring while providing opportunities for people to engage in hands-on nature study. Over the past several months, Luanne has been in contact with a diverse range of organizations and individuals who monitor and study the wildlife of Martha's Vineyard, to put the project together.

Luanne presented her idea to the Martha's Vineyard Library Association last year, and the project was enthusiastically embraced by the librarians. Many of the projects to be featured have already been the subject of talks at various libraries that have drawn engaged and curious audiences. The ongoing displays will be an opportunity for library visitors to keep up with these projects, and will introduce new projects and conservation issues to the public. For more information, contact your local library, or visit BiodiversityWorks online at http://biodiversityworksmv.org.

Art in the Stacks: Phyllis Dunn

The Friends of the Vineyard Haven Public Library are pleased to present an exhibit of photographs by Phyllis Dunn beginning Friday, February 1st, 2013. The exhibit will be on display during regular library hours through the end of February. 

After  vacationing on the island for ten years, Phyllis Dunn became a year-round resident, now living in Edgartown. With her interest in architectural design, she has been taking photographs of different scenes that strike her on her travels and in her exploration of nature. Taking photographs has become a part of who she is and through her photography she hopes to share with other people her desire to create an awareness of the beauty which surrounds us all.

Her photographs have been exhibited in Connecticut, Featherstone Flea and Art show and Anchors. She has studied with Cathy Rose and David Welch, both of Featherstone Gallery. The photographs exhibited now at the Vineyard Haven Library are predominately of Martha's Vineyard.

“Art in the Stacks” is an initiative of the Friends of the Library, to provide individual artists an opportunity to show their work, and for library patrons to enjoy art at the library throughout the year.

Curious George Visits Island Libraries

Curious George, the storybook and cartoon character created by Margret and H.A. Rey, will be visiting all the Island libraries in the weeks ahead, in a series of programs organized by the Martha's Vineyard Library Association.

The beloved monkey (a full-sized costume with a hardy volunteer inside) will be enlivening library story hours on the following schedule: On Saturday, January 26th, at 3 pm in Edgartown; on Tuesday, January 29th, at 10am and 11am in Vineyard Haven; on Wednesday, January 30th, at 10am in Oak Bluffs; on Thursday, January 31st, at 3:30pm in Aquinnah and on Saturday, February 2nd, at 10:30am in Chilmark. For details, please call your local library.

Free Island-Wide Flu Clinic and Flu Information

In response to the recent statewide influenza outbreak, The Martha's Vineyard Hospital and town health agents from the six island towns plan to hold a free Island-wide flu clinic this weekend. The clinic will be held at 9 am on Sunday, January 13, in the physicians' wing in the old section of the hospital.


Do you have questions about the flu? Flu.gov provides one-stop access to U.S. Government information on H1N1, avian and pandemic flu. Other recommended resources are provided below.

Staying Healthy

The two most basic practices a person can do to help prevent catching and spreading germs and viruses are hand washing and covering your cough.

Hand Washing: People in the United States are being advised to be very diligent about hand washing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides information on their web site about when and how you should wash your hands.

Covering Your Cough : Another important way to prevent the spread of diseases is to properly cover your cough. The CDC provides information on covering your cough.

Other Healthy Practices: There are several other steps the CDC recommends as ways to prevent the spread of flu and other diseases:

• Avoid close contact with those who are sick or when you are sick
• Stay home when you are sick. Keep your children home if they are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Practice other health habits of getting plenty of sleep, being physically active, drinking plenty of fluids and eat nutritious foods.

Additional Resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): information on the Seasonal Flu and Novovirus.


Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH): Flu Website includes information in English, Spanish and Portuguese.


Medline Plus: Flu information from the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).