Thanksgiving Pop-Up Book Sales to Benefit the Library

The Friends of Vineyard Haven Library will hold a Book Sale the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving, November 29th and 30th, at 15 Church Street in Vineyard Haven. Sale hours are 10am to 2pm both Friday and Saturday. This is a great opportunity to stock up with great deals on books for your holiday gifts and seasonal reading -- and all sales will benefit the Library's Capital Campaign. 

Sales will be held at the Friends' pop-up shop in the Landmarks Building at 15 Church Street in Vineyard Haven. Please use street parking and do not park in the 15 Church Street parking lot. Sales are cash or check only.

Book Sales to Benefit Library Capital Campaign, Weekly through December!

 

Weekly Book Sales to Benefit Library Capital Campaign!

The Friends of Vineyard Haven Library will hold pop-up book sales on Saturdays from 10am to 2pm at the Landmarks Building, 15 Church Street in Vineyard Haven, to benefit the Library Capital Campaign! Weekly through November/December 2024! Popular fiction, biographies, cookbooks, children’s books, MV books, Large Print, and more. Sales are cash or check only. Please use street parking and do not park in the 15 Church Street parking lot. Book donations will not be accepted at the sales. If you have books in like new condition to donate please contact the library to schedule dropoff.

Attend the Library Renovation Information Session, New Dates Added

The Library Board of Trustees invites you to attend one of our upcoming information sessions, on Zoom at 6pm on Wednesday, November 13th, or in-person at the library at 6pm Tuesday December 10th.

This will be an opportunity to hear from the design team and learn more about  plans for a comprehensive renovation of the library building. The project will break ground in FY2025, pending completion of the capital campaign and appropriation of funding for building repairs at the Tisbury Special Town Meeting on December 17th. 

To learn more, visit the Building Committe project webpage, or click here to watch a four minute video about the project. To support this project by making a donation, visit the Vineyard Haven Library Building Fund, Inc. Capital Campaign website.

New Challenge Grant for Library Capital Campaign

The Vineyard Haven Public Library Building Fund, Inc. (VHPLBFI) is pleased to announce a $150,000 challenge grant for the library capital campaign. The campaign will fund construction of an addition to the library building to house an accessible multi-purpose community meeting room.

To date, the VHPLBFI has raised more than $1.4 million towards the $2 million capital campaign goal. Now a generous island family has offered a matching grant to help reach the fundraising goal by the end of the year. For every $3,000 donated to the campaign now, $1,000 in matching funds will be donated, up to $150,000 in matching funds for $450,000 in new gifts.

To further add to the value of this project, Tisbury voters at recent Town Meetings approved $1 million dollars in funding for repairs and renovations for the existing library building, which can be undertaken at the same time as construction of the addition in order to achieve cost savings and limit interruptions to library services. The Library's Building Committee is now working with the Town to hire an owner's project manager to oversee the combined renovation and addition project. With funding in place, the library will be able to begin construction in 2024.

The renovation and addition will include environmental upgrades for sustainability, much needed storage, and flexible meeting facilities that will position the library to deliver optimal services for years to come. The project will also include a renovated and expanded reading room, and a new interpretation of the Margaret Webster Shakespeare Garden which was lost with the library's last expansion in 2000.

The planned facility will be used for classes, lectures, films, entertainers, literary and other cultural programs for all ages, that will be open to the public and free of charge. In the past decade the library has experienced more than 300% growth in attendance at adult programs, and regularly hosts several thousand program attendees of all ages, with more than 40 events taking place each month.

Donations can be made online on the library’s website at www.vhlibrarybuildingfund.org or checks sent to VHPLBFI, PO Box 4961, Vineyard Haven MA 02568. Pledge forms and more detailed information about the capital campaign and building project are available at www.vhlibrarybuildingfund.org.

Library Building Fund Presents William St History with Bow Van Riper

On Wednesday July 19th at 6:30pm, the Vineyard Haven Library Building Fund presents a talk by A. Bowdoin "Bow" Van Riper, who will share stories from the history of the William Street Historic District, neighboring the Vineyard Haven Library in Tisbury. This event will be in-person on the main floor of the library, and is free and open to all. Attendees are invited to stay after the talk for light refreshments hosted by the Vineyard Haven Library Building Fund, and learn about plans for the library addition and renovation.

The streets adjoining the Vineyard Haven Library are known for their beautiful nineteenth-century houses, but behind their shingled and clapboarded walls lie a wealth of stories: millionaires and misers, whaling masters and steamboat captains, a merchant prince whose daughter was a wartime saboteur, an ecclesiastical arms race, and a tabletop fleet of 15,000 ships. A. Bowdoin "Bow" Van Riper, Research Librarian at the Martha's Vineyard Museum, explores those stories and more in a fast-paced talk that explores the extraordinary lives of some of the residents of these seemingly ordinary streets.

About the Speaker
A. Bowdoin "Bow" Van Riper first came to the Vineyard as a "summer kid" before he could walk, and returned for part or all of the next 48 summers before moving to the Island full-time in 2011. A former university history professor and the author, editor, or co-editor of more than 20 books, he has been Research Librarian at the Martha's Vineyard Museum since 2014. He lives in a nineteenth-century house on Hatch Road where, as far as he can tell, nothing of historical significance ever happened.

This event is sponsored by the Vineyard Haven Library Building Fund, Inc. (VHPLBFI), a nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization made up of community volunteers. VHPLBFI is undertaking a capital campaign to support the ongoing effort to enhance the library building with the addition of a multipurpose meeting room. To learn more, visit https://www.vhlibrarybuildingfund.org/

Save the Date! Luce Playreaders Benefit for the Library!

Proceeds support the Vineyard Haven Library Building Fund's Capital Campaign for the new Library Community Room

Live In-Person Performance

Sun Jan 8, 4:00 pm @ Martha's Vineyard Film Center

Doors open for admissions 30 minutes prior to screening

Enjoy a special reading of I AND YOU, performed by John Brannen and Beebee Horowitz of the Peter H Luce Playreaders, directed by Linda Comstock. Come support our library and its mission to build a brand-new Community Space! 

Your in-hand *TICKET buys you a chance to WIN AWESOME PRIZES from: 

Salvatore’s, Cronigs, Our Market, Louisa Gould Gallery, Nochi, Pie Chix, Calleen’s Day Spa, Vineyard Pilates, The Green Room, CB Stark Jewelers, and Bunch of Grapes Bookstore!

“I AND YOU” is a play about the search for connection as two young adults (performed by two not-so-young Play Readers!) navigate a rocky path to a relationship. As they work together on a project in witty, non-stop repartee, they discover what makes up an ‘I and You’ relationship – a challenge as Caroline is housebound with a life-threatening illness while Anthony is a popular thriving athlete. Written by Lauren Gunderson, a multiple award-winning playwright, who in 2019 alone had a whopping total of 16 plays in production!

* Tickets are $25, sold at the Film Center or online at mvfilmsociety.com. 

Performance sponsored by the Friends of the Library and the MV Film Society.

“I AND YOU” is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, servicing the Dramatists Play Service collection. (www.dramatists.com)

Special Fundraising Event with Geraldine Brooks

 

THIS EVENT IS NOW SOLD OUT

Meet Pulitzer Prize-winning author Geraldine Brooks, at an event to benefit the Vineyard Haven Library's Capital Campaign

Join us for a special fundraising event with author Geraldine Brooks, who will discuss her latest novel, Horse, based on the remarkable true story of the record-breaking thoroughbred Lexington. Books will be available for purchase and signing following the talk. This event will be held outdoors at the Historic Tashmoo Spring Waterworks Building in Tisbury.

Event is sponsored by the Vineyard Haven Library Building Fund, Inc. Reserve your place early to meet Geraldine and learn about the Library's exciting program room project.

Purchase Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/geraldine-brooks-presented-by-the-vineyard-haven-library-building-fund-tickets-399663041917

New "Media Challenge" Gift for Capital Campaign!

 

Library Capital Campaign Announces 2022 Matching Gift!
New challenge will cover costs for state-of-the-art audiovisual systems

The Library Building Fund is pleased to announce a new fundraising challenge for 2022.  A local family of year-round Tisbury residents has offered to match one dollar for every two dollars raised up to $30,000, for a total of $90,000 to be raised through this challenge.

Funds raised through the "Media Challenge" will support expenses related to optimizing multimedia presentations in the new facility. Plans call for up-to-date technology, lighting and acoustics, including a state-of-the art sound system with assisted hearing loop, a large retractable projection screen with a high resolution projection system, and large windows opening the room to the garden but that can be easily darkened with drop-down shades when necessary.

The capital campaign has now passed the halfway point towards the $2 million fundraising goal. A challenge grant from the Sibbri Foundation in 2021 raised more than $100,000, bringing the total raised to more than $1 million as of January 1st!

Donations for the project can be made by check to VHPLBFI, PO Box 4961, Vineyard Haven MA 02568. Pledge forms and more detailed information about the capital campaign and building project are available at the library and online at www.vhlibrarybuildingfund.org.

$50,000 Challenge Grant for Library Capital Campaign

 

The Vineyard Haven Public Library Building Fund, Inc. is pleased to announce a $50,000 challenge grant from the Sibbri Foundation. The grant calls for the Library Building Fund to raise $50,000 by December 31, 2021, which will then be matched dollar for dollar by the Sibbri Foundation. Every gift or pledge for a future gift made before the end of 2021 will be counted towards the challenge, so a gift or pledge today will be doubled!

Through a capital campaign launched in 2019, the Vineyard Haven Public Library Building Fund Inc. (VHPLBFI) is raising funds for the construction of an addition to the library building at 200 Main Street, to house an accessible multi-purpose meeting room with seating for up to 100, with up-to-date technology, appropriate lighting and acoustics, and optimal ventilation. The project will also include a renovated and expanded reading room, and a new interpretation of the Margaret Webster Shakespeare Garden which was lost with the library's last expansion in 2000. 

VHPLBFI is raising the funds needed for the library addition project through gifts and grants, without further taxpayer funding. To date, VHPLBFI has raised approximately $900,000 towards the $2 million campaign goal. An additional $50,000 in gifts to be matched by the Sibbri Foundation would take the campaign past the halfway mark. "We’ve seen wonderful support for the library and look forward to meeting this fundraising milestone near the end of this year,” said Building Fund President Arch Smith. “We are excited to have the Sibbri Foundation gift to offer encouragement to bolster donations, with a matching grant every donation becomes even more important. 

Donations can be made online at www.vhlibrarybuildingfund.org or checks sent to VHPLBFI, PO Box 4961, Vineyard Haven MA 02568. Pledge forms and more detailed information about the capital campaign and building project are available at www.vhlibrarybuildingfund.org.

Fundraising Event with Author Martha Hall Kelly to Benefit Library Capital Campaign

Meet bestselling author Martha Hall Kelly, at an event to benefit the Vineyard Haven Library Capital Campaign

On Thursday August 5th at 5pm, the Vineyard Haven Library Building Fund will host a special fundraising event with author Martha Hall Kelly at the West Chop Club Casino. Martha will discuss Sunflower Sisters, her second prequel novel following her bestselling historical fiction debut, Lilac Girls. 

Reserve your place early to meet Martha and learn about the Library's exciting new program room project. A reception and book signing will follow the talk. Copies of Sunflower Sisters will be available for purchase.

​Tickets are $10 and may be purchased online: www.eventbrite.com/e/an-evening-with-martha-hall-kelly-to-benefit-vineyard-haven-library-tickets-161676710393

This limited-capacity event is sponsored by the Vineyard Haven Library Building Fund, Inc.(VHPLBFI), a nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization made up volunteers from the community. VHPLBFI is undertaking a capital campaign to support the ongoing effort to enhance the library building with the addition of a multipurpose meeting room.

The Vineyard Haven Library Building Fund appreciates the generosity of the West Chop Community for providing the event space.

Face masks are not required for fully vaccinated attendees.

Date and time:

Thursday, August 5th, 2021, 5:00 PM 

Location:

West Chop Club

162 Iroquois Avenue

Tisbury, MA 02568