Wednesday, January 30, 2013

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.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

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.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

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.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

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).

Monday, January 7, 2013

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 January sale will be held on Saturday, January 19th 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, February 16th, and Saturday, March 16th, from 1pm-3pm.