Library Renovation Project Updates

 

Update July 22nd, 2026

The library building at 200 Main Street has reopened! Please note that some services and collections will be unavailable due to ongoing site work and unpacking:

• We will continue to be closed on Mondays while minor building work continues.
• The courtyard and courtyard entrance to the library are not yet accessible.
• The study room is not yet available for reservations.
• Microfilm of the Vineyard Gazette is not currently available. In August we will have a new microfilm reader capable of digitizing pages.
• Public printing and computer use are limited but WiFi is available.
• Books shelved in the adult stacks on the lower level are not fully arranged in order so some items may be difficult to locate, but there are lots of books to browse!

Update July 16th, 2026

Our satellite library at 15 Church Street is closing today, Friday July 16th! If you have an item on hold you will be able to pick up today between 10am and 6pm. No other services are available today. If you are unable to pick up today, your items on hold will be available at 200 Main Street when we reopen. We tentatively plan to open the renovated building at 200 Main Street on Tuesday July 21st in the afternoon. Please check our website for confirmation of opening date and time. Please continue to return items using the book drop at Church Street, or just hold on to your items until we reopen the renovated building. 

Update July 10th, 2026

The Church Street Satellite Library is Closing! Saturday July 11th is  the last day the little library will be open for browsing and computer use. 

Starting Tuesday July 14th,  if you have an item waiting on hold, you can pick it up at the circulation desk at 15 Church Street, using the parking lot entrance, the front entrance and the rest of the building will be closed while we pack up. 

Please continue to return items using the book drop at Church Street, or just hold on to your items until we reopen the renovated building. We plan to open 200 Main Street on July 21st, with a grand opening celebration on Saturday July 25th!

Update July 4th, 2026

We are working hard to complete the renovated library as soon as possible for you to enjoy this summer! Our plan is to have the 200 Main Street building open by July 21st, though some services and collections may not be immediately available upon opening. The Church Street Library will remain open regular hours this week, but our schedule and services may be reduced as our move progresses. 

Update June 22nd, 2026

You will see moving trucks at the library building at 200 Main Street this week as we begin to move shelving fixtures back into the building. The project is nearing completion, but renovation work is ongoing. The Satellite Library at 15 Church Street will remain open in June, and a July reopening date will be announced soon!

Special Library Hours and Limited Services for July 14th-20th

 Library Hours for July 14th-20th

15 Church St Open for Holds Pickup and Book Returns Only

Tuesday July 14th: 10 am - 6 pm 
Wednesday July 15th: 10 am - 6 pm
Thursday July 16th: 10 am - 6 pm
BOTH LOCATIONS CLOSED Friday July 17th - Monday July 20th

Building Renovation Project Update

The Church Street Satellite Library is Closing! Today, Saturday July 11th, is the last day the little library will be open for browsing and computer use. Holds pickup will continue the following week, though hours are subject to change. 

Starting Tuesday July 14th,  if you have an item waiting on hold, you can pick it up at the circulation desk at 15 Church Street, using the parking lot entrance. The front entrance and the rest of the building will be closed while we pack up. Both library buildings will be closed from Friday July 17th through Monday July 20th.

Please continue to return items using the book drop in the Church Street parking lot, or just hold on to your items until we reopen the renovated building. We plan to re-open 200 Main Street in the afternoon on July 21st, with a concert in the new community room featuring the Tristan Israel Band at 6pm. A grand opening celebration will be held on Saturday July 25th! Continue to check our blog or follow us on Facebook for the latest information.

Download our Program Brochure or visit our event calendar

Spring Library Hours Update

 ** Library Hours Update **

This Sunday March 22nd will be the last Sunday the library is open for the Season -- the library will be closed on Sundays until the fall.

 
Starting in April, the library will also be CLOSED ON MONDAYS, to facilitate planning and preparation for the reopening of the renovated building at 200 Main Street. Monday hours will resume when the Main Street library reopens. 

We regret any inconvenience to our library patrons, but hope this approach will minimize the need to fully close the library for an extended period prior to reopening.

Library Board of Trustees 2025 Annual Report

The year 2025 was an exciting period of transition and progress for Tisbury’s Public Library, as construction began on the Library’s long-planned renovation project. The project will address critical building infrastructure needs and create a new multipurpose meeting room for programs and community use. While undertaking this major project, the Library continued to provide essential services and advance its mission as a community center, meeting the informational, cultural, and recreational needs of Island residents and visitors alike.

We look forward to welcoming the community to the fully renovated and expanded Library this summer. The building will include a spacious new meeting room and expanded reading room with garden views, improved IT infrastructure, and refreshed interiors throughout. Among other highlights, the Children’s Room will feature a mural by Margot Datz, made possible by a gift from the Kathryn Goodman Foundation.

The Library Trustees gratefully acknowledge all those whose dedication and hard work have brought the project to this milestone, including the Library staff (past and present), the Building Design & Construction Committee, the Library Building Fund Board, the Friends of the Library, the Tisbury Select Board, Town Administrator, and other Town departments, and the generosity of our many donors, volunteers, and the community. 

View our Annual Report for 2025

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!

Greenwood Avenue Road Closure September 15th - 19th

Road Closure Next Week for Library Construction, September 15th - 19th!

Due to construction work taking place at the 200 Main Street library next week, Greenwood Avenue between Main Street and North William Street in Tisbury will be closed to through traffic Monday to Friday from 7am to 5pm. The road will be open to abutters and residents only during these work hours.

Move to Interim Library: Schedule Updates & Frequently Asked Questions

 

A major renovation of the library building at 200 Main Street will begin in the coming weeks. During construction, library services will be available at our "satellite" library at 15 Church Street. As we prepare, some library collections are being put into storage or relocated -- if you are having trouble finding something, please ask! 

When will the library building close for renovations? 

• The library building at 200 Main Street will remain open through Tuesday, April 15th, then close for construction, to reopen following completion of the renovation.
• The library will be closed to the public on Wednesday, April 16th through Monday April 21st, in order to complete the move to the satellite library at 15 Church Street. Library phones will be down for the day.
• The Church Street Library is planned to open with limited services at 1pm on Tuesday, April 22nd, and will be open for regularly scheduled hours throughout the renovation of 200 Main Street.

What will be available at the Church Street Library?

• More than 10% of the library collection will be moved to the interim library, including new and popular items for all ages.
• The library will continue to purchase new books, subscribe to magazines and newspapers, and recieve delivery from other CLAMS libraries and the Commonwealth Catalog.
• Some regular library programs will be temporarily paused or offered at other locations, please refer to our event calendar for the most up-to-date information.
• The interim library will have public computers, scanning, and printing services, but no table seating for internet use. WiFi hotspots and chromebook computers will be available to checkout for home use.

Will the Church Street Library have a book drop? How will I return books when the building is closed?

• Please return your items in the library book drop at 200 Main Street through Monday April 21st, or at another island library.
• The Church Street Library will have an outdoor book return available starting Tuesday April 22nd, next to the parking lot entrance to the library.
• Some items returned while the library is closed may not be checked in immediately, but no fines will accrue - Martha's Vineyard libraries do not charge late fees.

Can I continue to place holds on items?

• The library will be closed in both locations Wednesday April 16th through Monday April 21st, and holds will not be available for pickup those days. If you need an item right away, consider temporarily changing your pickup location to another island library.
• When the Church Street Library opens, you will be able to place holds on items from the CLAMs and Commonwealth Catalog collections, and pick them up at the Church Street library.
• Holds will be extended on items not picked up by Tuesday April 15th, so they can be picked up at the Church Street Library the following week.

Where can I park when visiting the Church Street Library?

• The library has two short-term parking spaces directly in front of the parking lot entrance (where the book drop is) Visitors will need to utilize street parking if those spaces are full. 
• Please do not park in any of the marked spaces in the parking lot that are reserved for building tenants.

Will the library have programs and meetings in the temporary space?

• The Church Street Library does not have a meeting space, but library programs will continue to be offered in-person at various locations in Vineyard Haven, or online.
• Storytime with Weezie will be held at 10am on Mondays at Grace Church.
• Yoga with Kat will be held at 11am on Mondays at the Tisbury Senior Center.
• Visit our event calendar for detailed program information, or subscribe to our weekly email newsletter.
• Thanks to donations from the community, the library renovation project includes the addition of a new community meeting room that will be available when we reopen at 200 Main Street!

The Library will be temporarily closed on Fridays, to allow staff to prepare for moving the collection. Hours will be expanded following the move to the satellite library.

Library Temporarily Closed on Fridays, Starting March 14th 2025

 

We have Library Renovation News!

The town has just received bids for the general contractor for the planned renovation and addition project, which is now expected to begin in the coming weeks. When construction is underway, the library building at 200 Main Street will be closed to the public, and library staff will be providing services from a temporary satellite location. More details will be announced soon, through our newsletter and on the website.

The Library will be closed on Fridays beginning March 14th, to allow staff to prepare for moving the collection. Friday hours will resume following the move to the temporary building.

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

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.

Upcoming Information Sessions on the Library Renovation & Addition Project

The Library Board of Trustees invites the community to attend one of our upcoming information sessions on the library renovation & addition project. This will be an opportunity to meet the design team and see the latest plans for this important project planned for 2025. Two sessions will be held at 6pm Wednesday September 11th, and at 6pm on Wednesday October 16th. Both events will be in-person at the library, and refreshments will be served.

Working with the Tisbury Town Administrator and other town departments, The Library Board of Trustees are undertaking a project for critical repairs to the existing library building, and for the construction of a meeting room addition. An open, spacious, and well-ventilated space for our community is more important than ever. The expanded and redesigned interior and exterior spaces will provide the flexibility the library requires to provide future services with greater safety and comfort. The project will break ground in 2025, pending completion of the capital campaign and appropriation of funding for building repairs at a fall/winter Special Town Meeting.

To learn more, visit the Building Project webpage, To support this project by making a donation, visit the Vineyard Haven Library Building Fund, Inc. Capital Campaign website.

Library Renovation and Addition Project Update

May 28th 2024 Annual Town Meeting article 5 c (Community Preservation Act Projects) will fund $150,000 for rehabilitation and renovation of the Library courtyard, to include design, landscaping, fencing, plantings, seating areas, accessible paths, hardscaping, and regrading to correct water infiltration to the library building.

ARTICLE  5 c SUMMARY

• This warrant article will partly fund the Rehabilitation and Restoration of the Library Courtyard, an existing community “pocket park” with seating and WiFi access, used by individuals as well as for library programs.
• The Courtyard improvements are part of a larger addition and renovation project for the library,  in planning since 2017, and expected to break ground in FY 2025.
• 24 years since the last renovation of the library, plantings have outgrown the space, brickwork has settled to create tripping hazards, and regrading is needed to create proper pitch to shed water away from the building.
• During early planning for renovation and addition project, public input showed community interest in maintaining and improving outdoor space at the library, as well as honoring the legacy of Margaret Webster, Vineyard resident and groundbreaking figure in the theater. (The “Shakespeare Garden” honoring Margaret Webster was eliminated during the last renovation of the library in 1999).
• The plans for the addition and renovation of the building were created to maximize the remaining garden space as well as its relationship to the building, both by creating new opportunities for indoor-outdoor programming, and improving views of the garden space from with the building.
• While the planned addition to the building will encompass a portion of the existing Library Courtyard, a large public outdoor area (approximately 2,000 square feet) will remain. The amount of usable outdoor public space will remain similar, since the current poor layout limits activity to a smaller hedged-in brick patio area.
• The newly created hardscaped area will adjoin the new community meeting room in the addition. Project planners expect that public use of the garden will increase as it will be available for indoor-outdoor programs.
• CPC funds will be used for the hardscaping, seating areas, new plantings, accessible paths, and for a new version of the former Shakespeare Garden similar in dimension, but featuring hardier perennial plants.
• A planted border and fencing will maintain privacy both for library users and for abutters, since the courtyard is in a residential neighborhood.

What is the status and timeline of the planned renovation and addition project for the library?

Town and Library Administration agree that critical repairs to the existing library building and the construction of a meeting room should be combined into a single renovation and addition project, to limit interruptions to library services for the public, as well as achieve significant cost savings. Funds appropriated at the April 2023 Town Meeting are being used for Owner’s Project Management services being provided by CHA Solutions, and to fund a review and assessment of existing conditions for the library building and grounds, completed in January 2024 by Tappe Architects.

Project designers Maryann Thompson, Architects, have produced a detailed schematic design for the addition, with a conceptual design for the courtyard landscaping, and will be completing construction documents for the combined addition and renovation of the existing library building by September 2024.

The project will break ground in FY2025, pending completion of the capital campaign and appropriation of funding for building repairs at a fall/winter Special Town Meeting.

What work needs to be done on the building?

While the building assessment identified no structural concerns, 24 years since the last renovation and addition, the library building has damage and wear, failing systems, and accessibility issues. The renovation will address these issues and make the building more weather-tight and energy efficient. Issues to be addressed include the following:

• Roof repair and insulation, and preparation for rooftop solar
• Redesign and replacement of heating & cooling systems, including additional ventilation
• Update of electrical and plumbing to bring systems up to current codes
• Bathroom renovation, including correcting accessibility and plumbing issues causing odor problems
• Replacement of damaged, leaking, and inoperable windows throughout the building
• Interior painting and floor coverings (not done since the 1999 renovation)
• Repair and replace ceiling tiles and light fixtures throughout the building that are missing or damaged
• Repair or removal of masonry chimney (before it manifests as a structural issue)

·        Address issues identified in 2019 Accessibility Survey for building and grounds

·        Other repairs to the building envelope, and environmental upgrades for sustainability

·        Meeting room addition, to include much needed storage and flexible meeting facilities that will position the library to deliver optimal services to our community for years to come

What is the status of the capital campaign for the library addition?

The VHPL Building Fund, a 501c3 nonprofit, has undertaken a Capital Campaign to fund the addition to the building, which will create a 1,200 square foot multipurpose meeting room, significant additional basement space, and make improvements to the reading room and garden area. The campaign has gifts or pledges over $1.5 million to cover the cost of the addition, and the volunteers will continue fundraising through the beginning of construction.

Why can’t the project be funded by grants?

Vineyard Haven will not be eligible for funding through the state Library Construction Grant Program until 2029, and there is no guarantee that the grant program will have funding at that time (projects remain on the waiting list since the 2017 grant round). The library building fund has received a number of generous grants from private foundations for the meeting room addition, and will be seeking grants for some sustainability upgrades.

Why is the Meeting Room addition important?

Since 2007, the Vineyard Haven Public library has experienced more than 300% growth in attendance at adult programs. The library hosts at least 40 events each month for all ages, and attendance has continued to be robust, with more than 7,500 attendees at library programs in FY2024.

The planned community room will have up-to-date technology, ample storage, and appropriate lighting and acoustics. Features will include large windows and doors looking out to the garden, a state-of-the art sound system including an assisted hearing loop, and a large projection screen with high resolution projection system. The project will also include technology and features to allow for quality live streaming of programs for those who can't attend in person.

The room will also be available as a meeting space for area nonprofits, government organizations, and social service providers, and will be used as a collaborative work space for library visitors. Having a large and flexible multipurpose space will allow the library to respond to other community needs, such as serving as cooling center.

Will the Library be open during renovation?

The library building will need to be closed for a period during renovation, but the library will provide services from a temporary location in Tisbury. While some books will be in storage, library patrons will be able to request items from the CLAMS system for pickup in Tisbury. The repairs and addition will be done at the same time to avoid multiple closures.