Winter Vacation Activities December 26th - 29th

Vineyard Haven Library has planned special programs for kids of all ages during school vacation week.

Tuesday December 26th

10:30 am Tales for Tots: Traditional storytime. Best for ages 3-5.
1:30 pm - 4 pm Drop in Crafts in the Childrens Room: Make a Pop-up Card. All ages.
5 pm to 8pm Teen Movie and Pizza Party: Intergalactic PG-13 movie. For ages 13 and up.

Wednesday December 27th

10:30 am Wee Ones: Lapsit storytime. Best for ages 0-2.
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm Build Club: Inventions inspired by our afternoon movie. For ages 8 and up.
3:30 pm to 5pm Kids Movie:  An orphan girl dreams of becoming a ballerina. Rated PG.

Thursday December 28th

1:30 pm to 3 pm Kids Movie: Mary Poppins. Rated G.
3:30 pm to 5 pm Storycrafts: Make a soda bottle birdfeeder. Best for ages 5 and up.

Friday December 29th

2:30 pm - 3:30 pm Minions Craft: inspired by our afternoon movie. For ages 8 and up.
3:30 pm to 5pm Kids Movie: Gru and the Minions in their 3rd adventure. Rated PG.

Children under age 8 should be accompanied by a parent or caregiver.

Discount Passes for the Museum of Fine Arts

Discount passes for the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston are available at the Vineyard Have Public Library, made possible by donations to the Friends of the Library. Each pass provides up to two people with $10 admission per person, redeemable at any MFA ticket desk.* 

Passes are valid for any day the Museum is open, and may be used any time until November 30th, 2018! For more information or to pick up a pass, visit the library Circulation Desk.

*Regular Adult Admission is $25. For youths ages 7–17, admission is free during weekdays after 3 pm, weekends, and Boston public school holidays; otherwise admission for youths is $10. Admission for children 6 and under is always free.

Friends of the Library Go Green

Since 2008, the Friends of the Vineyard Haven Library have been helping Vineyard residents do their part in keeping our Earth a little greener by offering reusable, recyclable polypropylene bags, to help reduce the use of plastic bags by library patrons.

The sturdy eco-friendly bags can be used to carry books and DVDs home from the library, or may be used for groceries and other personal items. The $2 per bag charge helps to fund library children's programs and other initiatives supported by the Friends. This year's bags are Kelly Green, and also make great stocking stuffers and can be used as gift wrap for the holidays!

Friends meetings are always on the 1st Saturday of the month at 10:30 am in the library. Meetings are open to all, so come and learn what you can do to support and help.

Best Books of 2017: A List of Lists

Some choices for the best of 2017, from the media, associations, and readers:

American Library Association (ALA)
Notable Books For Adults: https://www.rusaupdate.org/awards/notable-books-list/
Notable Children's Books: http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/notalists/ncb
Young Adults: http://www.ala.org/yalsa/2017-best-best

Chicago Review of Books
https://chireviewofbooks.com/tag/best-books-of-2017/

Christian Science Monitor
https://www.csmonitor.com/Books/Book-Reviews/2017/1204/30-best-books-of-2017

Financial Times Books of the Year
https://www.ft.com/Books2017

Goodread's Choice Awards
https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-books-2017

The Guardian Best Books of The Year
https://www.theguardian.com/books/series/best-books-of-2017

Kirkus Reviews
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/issue/best-of-2017/section/fiction/

LA Times Holiday Book Guide
Fiction: www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-ca-jc-holiday-books-best-fiction-20171130-htmlstory.html
Nonfiction: http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-ca-jc-holiday-books-best-nonfiction-20171130-htmlstory.html

Library Journal
http://lj.libraryjournal.com/bestbooks2017/

Library Reads Favorites of 2017
http://libraryreads.org/favorite-favorites-2017/

Martha's Vineyard Times "Good Reads from the Rock"
http://www.mvtimes.com/2017/11/21/good-reads-rock/

National Public Radio's Book Concierge, guide to 2017's great reads
http://apps.npr.org/best-books-2017/

New York Public Library's Best Books for Kids and Teens
https://www.nypl.org/books-music-dvds/recommendations/award-winners/childrens-ya

New York Times Notable Books
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/22/books/review/100-notable-books-2017.html

Publisher's Weekly
https://best-books.publishersweekly.com/pw/best-books/2017

Time Magazine
Nonfiction: http://time.com/5029600/top-10-non-fiction-books-2017/
Youth: http://time.com/5028652/top-10-young-adult-childrens-books-2017/
Fiction: http://time.com/5028161/top-10-novels-2017/

Washington Post Best Books 2017
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2017/entertainment/best-books/?utm_term=.4ddddb2f0edf

Friends Mini Book Sale FREE Day December 16th

Each month the Friends of the Vineyard Haven Library hold "mini" book sales to raise funds for children's programs and other initiatives. This month, instead of offering books for sale, the Friends will be liquidating excess stock from their monthly book sales for the bargain price of free!

The free book day will be Saturday, December 16th, from 10am to 2pm. Free books for children, adults and teens will be given away. The Friends will also be selling their reusable library tote bags for $2 each, which can be used to bring your free books home and also make great stocking stuffers and can be used as gift wrap.

Red Stocking Fund Book and Toy Drive

The Vineyard Haven Public Library is collecting books and toys for The Red Stocking Fund. Please bring your donations of new, unwrapped gift items for ages 0-14 to the Vineyard Haven Public Library through December 11th.

For more information, see the Red Stocking Fund display in the library display case. Since 1938, the Red Stocking fund has been distributing gifts to children from needy families. The Red Stocking Fund is expected to reach 300 children and their families this holiday season.

Free Screening of “Ex Libris” Documentary At the Martha’s Vineyard Film Center

On Sunday, December 3rd at 2pm, the Martha’s Vineyard Film Society and Island Libraries will offer a free screening of “Ex Libris,” from famed filmmaker Frederick Wiseman, a newly released documentary about the New York Public Library as a place of welcome, cultural exchange and learning to 18 million patrons and 32 million online visitors annually.

This special free event is made possible by the generous support of the Martha’s Vineyard Library Association, the Friends of all the Island Libraries, and the MV Film Society. Meet librarians from Martha’s Vineyard libraries and enjoy festive sweets made by Beth Kramer, library director and baker. Don’t miss this one time screening! Admission is free, so please consider bringing nonperishable Food Pantry donations or unwrapped toys for the Red Stocking Fund.

“Ex Libris” depicts the 92 library branches throughout Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island that are committed to being a resource for all the inhabitants of this multifaceted and cosmopolitan city. The library is accessible, open to everyone and exemplifies the deeply rooted American belief in the individual’s right to know and be informed. It is one of the most democratic institutions in America—all races, social classes and ethnicities are welcome and are active participants in the life and work of the library. The library strives to inspire learning, advance knowledge and strengthen communities.

Free tickets are now available on the MV Film Society web site, at http://mvfilmsociety.com/2017/11/ex-libris-the-new-york-public-library-free-admission/