September Library Renovation & Addition Project Update

 

The library renovation project is well underway, with a projected opening around Memorial Day. In April, the 200 Main Street Building closed to the public, with library services offered from the 15 Church Street satellite location. Approximately 42,000 books and other library materials were packed, labeled, and put into storage. Shelving, furniture and fixtures were also disassembled and stored. Work on the site began in May with our general contractor Construction Dynamics Inc. This has included interior and exterior demolition work to prepare for full replacement of Heating, Cooling, and Ventilation systems and new electrical, plumbing, and IT infrastructure.  The front stairs have been removed in preparation for a more accessible entryway. Bricks from the existing patios were recovered and stored for later use. Work on the foundation for the basement of the addition is nearly complete. Inside the building, the stairs from the children's room have been removed and will be floored over to create a new Tween alcove in that space. The wall to the Director's office has been taken down to extend the reading room to provide a view to the courtyard. This month and into the fall, more visible work will be undertaken, including replacement of existing faulty windows, framing of the addition, and new insulation, siding and roofing.  If you'd like a look at what has been going on inside and around back, watch a short video showing the progress: https://vimeo.com/1117592963/9bab19afe3 We look forward to welcoming you to the fully renovated and expanded library next year. In the meantime, please visit us at the satellite library at 15 Church Street, or attend one of our programs, held at various locations thanks to our community partners around town!

Library Renovation: Details on Town Meeting Vote and Cost Considerations

Key Details on Town Meeting Vote and Cost Considerations

The Town of Tisbury will hold a Special Town Meeting at 7:00 PM on Tuesday December 17th, at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School Performing Arts Center. The warrant will include an article to fund the renovation and expansion of the Vineyard Haven Public Library. This will be followed by a Special Town Election on Tuesday January 7th, 2025, from 12:00 noon - 8:00 PM at the Emergency Services Facility, 215 Spring Street. View the warrant on the town website: https://www.tisburyma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif1321/f/uploads/stm_warrant_december_17_2024_for_print.pdf

What is being voted on?

• At the Tisbury Special Town Meeting on December 17th, 2024, attendees will vote to appropriate $4 million from the Town’s stabilization funds, and authorize borrowing of $4.8 million, for the library renovation project.
• If the vote passes at Town Meeting with a 2/3 majority, there will be a Ballot Vote on January 7th, 2025 to authorize a debt exclusion. Only if the project gets a majority vote on the ballot question will construction actually move forward.

How will the project affect my taxes?

• Borrowing for the library renovation is projected at $4.8 million, which would be approximately $135/household/year average (based on an average assessed home value of $1.79 million). Those with a lower assessed value and those with a residential exemption would pay less.
• Construction bids will be due and opened in advance of the December 17th Town Meeting, which may allow the Town to amend the warrant article to reduce the amount of borrowing and lower the tax impact.
• The capital campaign for the library project has raised more than $1.5 million, to fund the meeting room addition that will be included in this project. 

What would being funded by the warrant article?

The library project budget has been estimated at $10 million, including some funds already expended for project management, design and engineering. Proposed renovations and repairs to the building include the following:

• Replace leaking and inoperable heating & cooling systems with energy efficient, all-electric systems, with needed ventilation.
• Replace and insulate the roof, to prepare for rooftop solar.
• Update electric, plumbing, & IT to bring systems up to code, including bathroom renovations to correct accessibility issues, and eliminate recurring sewer gas backup into the building.
• Replace damaged, leaking, and inoperable windows and make other repairs and improvements to the building envelope.
• Interior painting & floor coverings throughout the building (not done since 1999).
• Repair and replace ceilings and light fixtures throughout the building that are missing or damaged.
• Removal of masonry chimney, before it manifests as a structural issue.
• Landscaping improvements including regrading to stop water intrusion, and to correct issues identified in 2019 Accessibility Survey. 
• The renovation will also enhance the current building by adding a multi-purpose community meeting room (with funding from the capital campaign), significant storage in the basement, and a renovated reading room with garden views.

For more information, visit www.vhlibrary.org/Building.shtml

Clara B. Kennedy’s “World of Miniatures” at Vineyard Haven Library

The Vineyard Haven Library is pleased to share with the community a display of miniatures from the collection of Clara Banta Kennedy, on loan from her family through the holiday season. The display can be viewed anytime during regular library hours.

Growing up in the 1920’s, Clara was given miniatures as birthday and Christmas gifts. Incredibly detailed for their size, these miniatures sparked her imagination and filled many days with play. Clara shared she could build entire “worlds” with them.  

As Clara grew older, she began slowly adding to her collection, following in her older sister, Jeanette’s footsteps. In 1945, Clara got married and eventually had four sons. While she was involved with many other things, her interest in miniatures never waned and her collection grew. Every year at Christmastime, she would set up a miniature village in Princeton, NJ for friends and family to enjoy. 

In the early 1970’s, Clara opened an antique store called the Calico Cat in Kingston, NJ, with fellow Vineyarder, Tita Vivian. In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, Clara sold miniatures from a space at Pyewacket’s on Beach Road. Eventually, she left her space and took her miniatures home to adorn the shelves and walls of her Vineyard Haven house, where they have been cherished for many years.  

Clara Kennedy was a dedicated volunteer for the Friends of Vineyard Haven Library and many other community organizations. She died peacefully in her home this October at the age of 101.

Remembering James H.K. "Jim" Norton

The Vineyard Haven Library joins the community in mourning the loss of James H.K. "Jim" Norton, who passed away on October 31st at age 93. In addition to presenting many public programs at the library, Jim served on our Board of Trustees from 2000 to 2022, and on the Library Building Design and Construction Committee from 2017 to 2024. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to celebrate his literary accomplishments at an event held in his honor in July 2019, and share a poem that Jim read at that event.

A Ballad of Martha Gosnold
 
By James H. K. “Jim” Norton, 1931-2024
 
Bartholomew in 1602 did sail across the sea                              
To find a land, the goodliest land he ever did hope to see           
To name it for his tender child, and claim it for his queen,
And to fill the bowls of England with the sweetest nectar seen
 
The Concord was the sturdy ship that brought him safe and sound
The crew with him the more rejoiced on sight of what they’d found,
A beauteous island they did see, a joy to all who roam
A place of rest and plenty to be his daughter’s home.
 
    Though not yet eight, she could not wait
    To see her Vineyard land;     
    ’Twas only the wave that was her grave
    Did wash upon its sand.
 
To found an English settlement, the first one in this land,
He went across to Cuttyhunk to shield his tiny band.
A tiny plot in midst of lake, a natural fortress found,          
He built a fort to keep his stores, and gazed across the Sound.       
 
Sad story there is now to tell, how stores by fraud did go
And he a daughter slipped away, and why they did not know
His hopes he saw dissolve, his dream in Fate’s cruel hand did flee;
His grave unmarked in Jamestown’s marsh, his daughter lost at sea.
 
    Though not yet eight, she could not wait
    To see her Vineyard land;
    ‘Twas only the wave that was her grave
    Did wash upon its sand.        
 
But, ah, the land is here to tell what beauties they did see,
Of lakes that were both clear and fresh and meadows wide and free,
Of hedges made of stately groves; these delicacies still stand: *
Memorial of a daughter loved, a dream of her Vineyard land.
 
    Though not yet eight, she could not wait
    To see her Vineyard land;
    ‘Twas only the wave that was her grave
    Did wash upon its sand.

*  words of John Brereton, Gosnold’s scribe, to describe the Island in 1602

Meet Liz Shick, Library Program Planner & Debut Author of "The Golden Land"

On Tuesday September 17th at 6pm, join the Friends of the Vineyard Haven Library for an author talk celebrating the release of The Golden Land, the debut novel by Elizabeth (Liz) Shick. Liz will recount the six years she lived in Myanmar, an extraordinary period of growth and democratization sandwiched between two authoritarian military regimes (1962-2011 and 2021-present), and explain how those experiences inspired her to write The Golden Land. Refreshments will follow the talk.

Winner of the AWP Prize for the Novel, The Golden Land is a novel that digs deep into the complexities of family history and relationships, with the explosive history of Myanmar as its backdrop. The novel explores themes of freedom, resistance, culture, and identity. It is written in a dual timeline (1988 and 2011), and alternates between Boston, Massachusetts, and Yangon, Myanmar (formerly known as Rangoon, Burma).

Liz Shick is an award-winning novelist whose writing is influenced by her many years abroad, including six years in Myanmar. She holds a master of fine arts from Lesley University and a master of international affairs from Columbia University.

Liz joined the staff of the Vineyard Haven Public Library as Adult Program Coordinator in 2024. At the library, Liz is responsible for envisioning, planning and hosting programs for adults, both in-person and virtual, including lectures and author talks, book clubs, performances, workshops, and more. She also coordinates the rotating art shows at the library.

We hope library patrons will take advantage of this opportunity to meet Liz and learn more about her unique background and talents! Whether or not you are able to attend, please feel free to reach out to Liz anytime if you’d like to suggest a program, volunteer as a presenter, participate in book discussions, or hold an art show at the library. She can be reached by email at lshick@clamsnet.org.

Meet the new CLAMS Library Network app!

Have you missed having an app to access your CLAMS account, place holds and check out e-materials? The wait is over! Find our new app in Google Play or the Apple App Store by searching for "CLAMS Library Network" and download today!

Use the new app to:

• Manage your account
• Create and view lists
• View hours & contact info
• Search the collection
• Browse and discover
• Check out e-content *

...and more!

* The CLAMS "Libby" app will still be available for selecting and reading eBooks and other downloadable content!

CLAMS Network Library App Disabled, Libby eBook App Unaffected

 Important Update About CLAMS App

The Mobile App for the Cape Libraries Automated Materials Sharing (CLAMS) network has been disabled



Unfortunately, the "Capira" app for the CLAMS consortium has been disabled due to technical issues. Patrons are advised to remove the app from phones and other portable devices, as it may give inaccurate information. In the meantime, please use our online catalog by clicking HERE while CLAMS seeks a replacement. 

The Libby App for Library eBooks and eAudiobooks from Overdrive is not affected by this change.

CLOSED Sunday June 18th & Monday June 19th

Vineyard Haven Library is now closed on Sundays, until after Labor Day.

Summer hours begin July 1st: In July and August, the library will add Friday morning hours, opening at 10 am daily Monday through Saturday.  We'll stay open later until 7pm on Tuesday, until 6pm on Wednesday and Thursday, and until 5pm on Monday, Friday, and Saturday.

Closed for the holidays:

Monday June 19th

Tuesday July 4th

Monday September 4th

Town Meeting at the High School Performing Arts Center Tuesday April 25th

 Town Meeting at the High School Performing Arts Center

The Tisbury Annual & Special Town Meetings will be held at 7:00pm on Tuesday April 25th, at the MV High School Performing Arts Center. Visit the Town of Tisbury's website to view the warrants.

ARTICLE 9 includes a request to fund much-needed repairs for the library building, and will also facilitate planning for the meeting room addition. For more information, please review our FAQ:
 Frequently Asked Question about the Libary Renovation & Addition Project.

Notary Services Now Available at Vineyard Haven Public Library

 

The Vineyard Haven Public Library is excited to announce that we are now able to offer notary services. Reference librarian Ruth Konigsberg is a notary public and can notarize documents during regular library hours, Tuesday through Saturday, although we recommend that you call in advance to make sure that she is available at the particular time you wish to come in. Notary services are unavailable on Sunday and Monday. You can reach Ruth at rkonigsberg@clamsnet.org or call her at 508-696-4211 x 115. Please be advised that we are unable to notarize real estate closing documents as only attorneys who are notaries are able to do that. We also encourage you to visit our Gale LegalForms database, where you can find templates for contracts, leases, wills and other estate planning documents for free, which can then be notarized at the Library. 

Study Room Available by Reservation for 45 Minute Sessions

The Vineyard History Room is now available for 45 minute reservations, beginning at the top of the hour, during regular library hours. Patrons may reserve one time slot per day. Appointments may be made up to one week in advance, in person or by calling the library at (508) 696-4210. Please check-in at the main desk when you arrive at the library for your appointment. 

The room may be used for individual study, for use of the library's microfilm reader, or for small group meetings (up to10 people). Food and beverages are prohibited in the meeting room. Library staff will not be able to provide audiovisual equipment or tech support. The program room on the basement level is not available at this time.

Please note that library staff and visitors may need to access the room when it is in use, in order to retrieve books and other materials.