Library Closures and Storm Information

The event "What’s New at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital?" originally scheduled for Tuesday January 27th has been postponed until Tuesday March 24th.

Vineyard Haven Library will be closed on Sunday January 25th and Monday January 26th due to anticipated weather conditions. A late opening or full-day closure is anticipated on Monday and will be announced on our website.  

The Town of Tisbury has issued a Parking Ban in effect from 4PM to 6AM during the storm period for Main Street, Church Street and other locations, for more information visit https://tisburyma.gov/m/newsflash/home/detail/34

Warming Centers will be open January 24th-29th, Locations & Hours:

• Sat 1/24 | 8:30 AM–5 PM – Grace Church, Vineyard Haven

• Sun 1/25 | 8 AM–5 PM – Harbor Homes Overnight Shelter, Oak Bluffs

• Mon 1/26 | 9:30 AM–4:30 PM – First Congregational Church, West Tisbury

• Tue 1/27 | 9 AM–3:30 PM – Federated Church, Edgartown

• Wed 1/28 & Thu 1/29 | 9 AM–5 PM – Red House Peer Recovery Center, Vineyard Haven (must be one-day sober)

Questions about warming centers? Call 508-560-3678

Stay informed during emergencies, severe weather, road closures, and other urgent situations by subscribing to Tisbury's Emergency Text Messaging System: https://tisburyma.gov/m/newsflash/Home/Detail/13

Live at the Katharine Cornell Theatre: The Tristan Israel Band!

The Vineyard Haven Public Library is pleased to welcome The Tristan Israel Band for an evening of mainly original tunes written by Tristan Israel in true “Americana” style, with roots in folk, rock, blues and even some jazz. 

This event will be held at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, February 17th at the Katharine Cornell Theatre, located at 51 Spring Street in Vineyard Haven (above Tisbury Town Hall). Free and open to the public. No registration required.

The Tristan Israel Band comprises Tristan Israel, Paul Thurlow and Nancy Jephcote. Tristan sings vocals, and plays acoustic guitar and harmonica, while Paul plays bass, piano, keys, electric guitar, percussion and backing vocals, and Nancy Jephcote plays the fiddle. 

For more information, please contact the library at vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org or (508) 696-4211.

Novidade: Gravações em vídeo de programas informativos sobre carrapatos e doenças transmitidas por carrapatos estão agora disponíveis com áudio em português

A Biblioteca de Vineyard Haven apresentou uma série de programas informativos sobre Ecologia de Carrapatos e Doenças Transmitidas por Carrapatos, em colaboração com o MV Tick Program. Todos os programas foram gravados e as gravações estão disponíveis no canal da biblioteca no Vimeo.

Graças ao apoio da Inter Island Public Health Excellence Collaborative, essas gravações agora estão também disponíveis com áudio em português. Os vídeos foram traduzidos e dublados pelo Programa de Embaixadores da Comunidade (Community Ambassadors Program).

Os tópicos incluem:

• Medicamentos e a Síndrome de Alfa-gal, 1º de maio de 2025
• Ecologia, Comportamento, e Medidas de Proteção contra Carrapatos para 2025, 28 de março de 2025
• Como Conversar com seu Médico sobre a Síndrome da Alfa-gal, 5 de fevereiro de 2025
• Síndrome de Alpha-Gal: a Epidemia de Reações Alérgicas Graves Induzidas por Picadas de carrapatos, 28 de outubro de 2024
• Doenças Transmitidas por Carrapatos, apresentado pelo MV Tick Program, 9 de outubro de 2024
• Ecologia dos Carrapatos, apresentado pelo MV Tick Program, 25 de setembro de 2024

Visite nossa vitrine com áudio em português aqui: https://vimeo.com/showcase/12018124

Visit our English showcase here: https://vimeo.com/showcase/11413322

Materiais informativos de alguns programas também estão disponíveis mediante solicitação por e-mail à biblioteca.

New: Video recordings of informational programs on ticks and tick-borne diseases now available in both English and Portuguese

The Vineyard Haven Library has presented a series of informational programs on Tick Ecology and Tickborne Diseases, in collaboration with the Martha's Vineyard Tick Program. All programs have been recorded and are available for viewing on the library's Vimeo channel.

Thanks to support from the Inter Island Public Health Excellence Collaborative, these recordings are now available with audio in Portuguese. The videos were translated and dubbed by the Community Ambassadors Program.

Topics include:

• Virtual Tick Talk: Prevent the Bite with public health epidemiologists Lea Hamner and Stephanie Barth, August 2025
• Navigating Medicines and AlphaGal Syndrome with Dr. Sachin A. Shah of PillClarity (formerly VeganMed), May 2025
• Tick Ecology, Behavior, and Protection Measures for 2025 with Biologist Patrick Roden-Reynolds of the Inter-Island Public Health Excellence Collaborative, March 2025
• How to Talk to Your Doctor About Alpha-gal Syndrome with Candice Matthis and Debbie Nichols of Two Alpha Gals, Sharon Forsyth of the Alpha-gal Syndrome Awareness Campaign, and moderator Lea Hamner of the Inter-Island Public Health Excellence Collaborative, February 2025
• Alpha-gal syndrome: the tick bite-induced epidemic of severe allergic reactions with top Alpha-Gal Expert, Dr. Scott Commins of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, October 2024
• Tickborne Diseases with with epidemiologist Lea Hamner, experts from the Inter-Island Public Health Excellence Collaborative, October 2024
• Tick Ecology with biologist Patrick Roden-Reynolds of the Inter-Island Public Health Excellence Collaborative, September 2024

Visit our English showcase here: https://vimeo.com/showcase/11413322

Visite nossa vitrine com áudio em português aqui: https://vimeo.com/showcase/12018124

Handouts from some programs are also available by emailing the library at vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org.

Nancy Binzen returns with more Traditional Storytelling for Adults

The Vineyard Haven Library is pleased to welcome back traditional storyteller Nancy Binzen for another wildcrafted evening of folktale and myth from around the world–especially for adults. This event will be held at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, February 10th at the Katharine Cornell Theatre, located at 51 Spring Street in Vineyard Haven (above Tisbury Town Hall). Free and open to the public. No registration required.

Storytelling isn’t just for children! Traditional storyteller Nancy Binzen will narrate two tales: “The Woman Who Became a Fox” and “The Handless Maiden,”  

“The Woman Who Became a Fox” is a short Siberian tale. "Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" asked poet Mary Oliver. From the steppes of Siberia, "The Woman Who Became a Fox" responds. 

“The Handless Maiden” is an old, old story map of the journey from innocence to wisdom and the courage and commitment required of anyone seeking to claim who they truly are. Today, more than ever, we need this map. Come join us on the journey.

Nancy Binzen has a BA in Theatre Arts, a Certificate in Storytelling from Dominican University, and has studied with noted mythologist, Martin Shaw. She’s been telling traditional tales for 25 years and is a seasonal Vineyard Haven resident. 

For more information, please contact the library at (508) 696-4211 or send an email to vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org. 

Great Decisions 2026: Join America's largest discussion group on world affairs!

The Vineyard Haven Public Library is pleased to announce the launch of its annual foreign policy reading and discussion group, Great Decisions. Organized by the Foreign Policy Association, Great Decisions is America's largest discussion program on world affairs, providing interested library patrons the opportunity to learn about and discuss in a thoughtful and courteous manner some of the most critical global issues facing America today. Click here to register.

The group meets weekly for a total of eight sessions to discuss a pre-determined set of topics selected by a panel of foreign policy experts. This year's discussion group will be held at 6:00 pm on Wednesday evenings, from February 5th through March 25th. Meetings will be held both in-person and via Zoom. Those attending in-person will meet at the Tisbury EMS Facility, located at 215 Spring Street, opposite the far end of the Tisbury School playground. 

In advance of each meeting, participants will read one article from the briefing book and watch one 30-minute video on the topic of the week (video link to be provided). Discounted briefing books will be available in the coming weeks for purchase at the library’s 15 Church Street location for $25, payable to the Friends of the Vineyard Haven Library. Copies of the briefing book will also be available for in-library use at no charge. Alternatively, participants may purchase their copy on the Foreign Policy Association's website here.

One week prior to each session, registrants will be sent an email indicating which article in the briefing book to read and providing a link to the video segment for the week. A Zoom link will be provided for those participating virtually.

The dates and topics for 2026 are as follows:

Session 1: America and the World: Trump 2.0 Foreign Policy
Wednesday, February 4, from 6:00-7:00 pm
Trump’s return has marked a break from 80 years of U.S. foreign policy leadership, embracing an “America First” approach. This chapter explores the risks of isolation and diminished influence in relation to Trump 2.0 foreign policy.
By G. John Ikenberry

Session 2: Trump Tariffs and the Future of the World Economy
Wednesday, February 11, from 6:00-7:00 pm
Trump’s aggressive trade and tariff policies have shaken global economic norms. What’s the rationale behind this radical shift in economic policy, and what are the implications for multilateral trade and geopolitics?
By Michael Mastanduno

Session 3: U.S.-China Relations
Wednesday, February 18, from 6:00-7:00 pm
Relations with China remain tense, with tariffs, military modernization, and pressure on Taiwan. Does Trump have a coherent China policy, and will his tariffs on Rare Earth minerals be effective? What are America’s strategic options?
By Oriana Mastro 

Session 4: Ruptured Alliances and the Risk of Nuclear Proliferation
Wednesday, February 25, from 6:00-7:00 pm
U.S. alliance skepticism may drive countries like Japan and South Korea to reconsider nuclear options. What are the implications of the Trump administration’s rethinking of the U.S. alliance system for regional and global security? Will this new uncertainty alter the way allies and rivals in various regions make decisions about security and nuclear weapons?
By Gideon Rose

Session 5: Ukraine and the Future of European Security
Wednesday, March 4, from 6:00-7:00 pm
With reduced U.S. support for NATO and Ukraine, Europe faces strategic uncertainty. The Trump administration has signaled an intention to reduce its security role in Europe. What are America’s stakes in NATO and Europe’s strategic dilemmas, and how might Europe respond?
By Thomas Wright

Session 6: Multilateral Institutions in a Changing World Order
Wednesday, March 11, from 6:00-7:00 pm
Can multilateralism survive amid shifting global power and rising nationalism? This chapter examines the future of global cooperation across trade, health, and finance.
By Scott Bessent (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

Session 7: U.S. Engagement of Africa
Wednesday, March 18, from 6:00-7:00 pm
Africa’s geopolitical role is growing. What lessons can the U.S. learn from China’s presence there, and how might it strengthen ties, especially with leading nations like Nigeria? What tools of statecraft might the U.S. bring to its engagement with Africa?
By Jendayi E. Frazer

Session 8: The Future of Human Rights and International Law
Wednesday, March 25, from 6:00-7:00 pm
As democracy and human rights retreat globally—and the U.S. pulls back—how can civil society and legal norms remain effective in a divided world? What is the role and force of international law in this era of impunity?
By Jose Enrique Alvarez

For more information, please call the VH library at (508) 696-4211 or send an email to vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org.

Virtual: Personal Writing Series with Caroline Joy Adams 2026

The Vineyard Haven Public Library is pleased to offer a series of personal writing workshops with writing instructor Caroline Joy Adams. The workshops will be held via Zoom on the first Thursday of each month from 2:00-3:30 pm, February through June. Topics include: Writing about Love, Writing a Mini-Memoir, The Mindful Art of Haiku, the Return of Spring, and Travel Writing. Click here to register for one or more of Caroline's workshops.

Writers of all experience levels, backgrounds, and interests are invited to attend this virtual series, where we’ll explore various topics and creative writing pathways in a supportive writing community. Writing may take the form of memoir, poetry, fiction, essays, or creative non-fiction; all forms are worthy of exploration. Participants may attend all five sessions, or only one or two. 

Caroline Joy Adams, M.Ed., has been leading workshops for the Vineyard Haven Public Library since 2019. She is the author of several published books, including Great Travel Questions for Fun Conversations. Dividing her time between the sunny Southwest and coastal New England, she has taught college-level writing and led hundreds of art and writing workshops in diverse locations across the country.

Whether online or in person, Caroline creates a relaxed, inclusive, and comfortable atmosphere in all of her classes. Her goal is to inspire everyone to ignite their creative writing energies and get their words flowing, whether they are just beginning or have been writing for many years.

Caroline’s Writing Workshops will take place via Zoom on the first Thursday of the month from 2:00-3:30 pm as follows:

Thursday, February 5th from 2:00-3:30 pm via Zoom – Writing About Love 

Valentine's Day is the perfect time to focus our creative energies on writing short love poems, love letters, tiny love stories, and more, perhaps in time to gift these well-crafted words to a loved one for this upcoming love-focused holiday. 

Thursday, March 5th from 2:00-3:30 pm via Zoom – Writing a Mini-Memoir 

This workshop will explore the art of writing a “Mini-memoir,” a brief bit of personal writing, usually just a few pages, that you can start, work on, and bring to completion in a very short time. The focus will be on a significant event or time in your life when you gained a deep insight, learned something valuable, or experienced something unusual or memorable that you may wish to share with others. 

Thursday, April 2nd from 2:00-3:30 pm via Zoom – The Mindful Art of Haiku 

In honor of National Poetry Month, this workshop will explore the Japanese tradition of writing short bits of memoir in the form of Haibun and Haiku poetry, something everyone can learn and produce excellent results from within a very short time.

Thursday, May 7th from 2:00-3:30 pm via Zoom – Writing About Nature 

Wherever we live—by the sea, in the mountains, or even in a big city—nature, in all its many aspects, has a powerful impact on our lives and unfolding life stories. This workshop offers a chance to contemplate. and then write about and share some of our most memorable, beautiful, dramatic, or surprising nature-focused experiences.

Thursday, June 4th from 2:00-3:30 pm via Zoom – The Great Travels Writing Workshop 

For those who love to travel, this fun, inspiring workshop offers a chance to contemplate, discuss, write about, and share some of our most memorable travel experiences and adventures—either those from recent times or from the long-ago past.

For more information, please contact the library at (508) 696-4211 or via email at vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org.