Participate in Upcoming Community Focus Groups on Cable Communications Needs

The Vineyard Haven Library will be hosting one of a series of focus groups this November. MVTV (Martha's Vineyard Community Television), in cooperation with the towns on Martha’s Vineyard are seeking your input on the future of cable service, community media, and technology that will be available for the next 10 years.

As a part of the process of exploring the future cable communications needs of Martha’s Vineyard, the Towns in conjunction with MVTV are hosting a series of focus groups on November 16, 17 and 18. The focus groups will provide a chance for interested community members to learn about franchise renewal and provide their opinions regarding future services that could be available through the cable system serving Martha’s Vineyard.

These focus groups will be conducted by Sue Buske of The Buske Group, a nationally recognized public policy consulting group hired specifically to assist during the cable franchise renewal process. The focus groups will provide information on: (1) the cable franchise process that the Towns are currently conducting; (2) how the cable system works and what it could be like in the future; (3) public, educational, and government access; and (4) the ways that community groups and organizations, schools, businesses, citizens, and government agencies could use a cable communication system. The focus groups are designed to get input from participants through brainstorming and completing a brief questionnaire.

In addition, the public is also invited to participate in an on-line survey by going to the MVTV website at http://www.mvtv.org/ and clicking a link for the survey.

The focus groups are free of charge. Persons interested in attending should select the one that is most appropriate or convenient and RSVP on line using the MVTV Website at http/www.mvtv.org or by contacting Julie Turner at 508-696-9760 or focusgroup@mvtv.org The schedule of the focus groups is as follows:

Tuesday, November 16
Health & Human Services: 2:00—4:00 pm, Vineyard Haven Public Library
Arts & Cultural Organizations: 7:00 – 9:00 pm, Featherstone Center for the Arts

Wednesday, November 17
Religious & Spiritual Groups: 10:00 am – Noon, Edgartown Public Library
Educators and Teachers: 4:00 – 6:00 pm, MVRHS Library Conf. Room

Thursday, November 18
Municipal Groups, Town Depts.: 10 am-12pm, VTA Conference Rm., Airport Business Park
Nonprofit Organizations: 6:00—8:00 pm, West Tisbury Public Library

Sunday Hours Resume October 31st, with Halloween Celebration

The Vineyard Haven Public Library will be open on Sundays beginning October 31st. To Celebrate, the Library will hold a special Halloween Open House on October 31st from noon to 4pm.

Cider, cookies and other Halloween treats will be provided by the Friends of the Library. There will be a special drop-in crafts program from for children age 5 and up from 2pm-3:30pm. Come in costume, and you may enter a drawing for a variety of prizes for all ages.

The library will be open from noon until 4pm every Sunday throughout the winter, except for some holiday weekends.

"The Charles W. Morgan", and Other Library Programs on Video

The Vineyard Haven Public library offers a wide variety of regular programs and special events for adults, including lectures, performances, films, demonstrations and discussions about timely and fascinating topics, from the arts and literature to global studies.

Selected library programs from the Evening Lecture Series are available on DVD for checkout from the library, or broadcast on MVTV (Martha's Vineyard Community Television). Some programs are also available for online viewing on MVTV.org.

A list of recent programs available for online viewing appears on the library website at www.vhlibrary.org/video.shtml.

Attention Movie Lovers: Blu-ray is Here!

This month the library is introducing a number of current and classic feature films in the new Blu-ray format. Blu-ray discs are shelved on a separate display in the regular DVD section and are clearly labeled. For those of you with a Blu-ray player or PS3, you can enjoy the enhanced quality of this format. Please note, however, that Blu-ray discs cannot be played on a standard DVD player. Additional Blu-ray titles are available by request through CLAMS. Please ask a staff member for assistance in locating titles in this format.

Library 5k Results and Pictures!

Congratulations to Todd Cleland of Oak Bluffs who was first to finish the 13th annual Run to the Chop, with a time of 19 minutes and 56 seconds. Erica Maker of Williamstown, MA was the first female with a time of 22 minutes, 52 seconds.

Complete results including winners in all age groups are posted on www.coolrunning.com.

Lots of pictures from the event, including finish line photos, are posted on the Library Facebook page.

The race is sponsored by the Friends of the Vineyard Haven Library, and proceeds will support library programs.

Road Race, Book Sale, and Other September Special Events

Labor Day Holiday: The library will be closed on Monday, September 6th.

Friends of the Library annual 5k Run/Walk for the Library and Fun Run for Kids: Sunday, September 12th. 5k starts at 10 am; Fun Run starts at 9:45 am; registration on race day starting at 8:30 am. Pre-register now at the library or at www.needtorace.com.

Friends of the Library monthly "mini" book sale: Saturday, September 18th from 1pm-3pm.

Check our online event calendar for additional events including movies, lectures, and other programs for all ages.

Special August Events for Kids and Teens

On Thursday August 12th at 3:30 PM, special guest storyteller Diane Edgecomb visits, for kids 5 and up. That evening from 6 PM to 7:30 PM, the library will host a special party just for Teen Summer Reading Program participants.

On Saturday August 14th from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM, there will be a special Drop-in Crafts for ages 5 and up featuring Illumination Night and Agricultural Fair crafts.

Every Tuesday, enjoy library story times with stories, songs, rhymes, fun for ages 0-2 at 10 AM, and for ages 3-5 at 11 AM. Special guests this month include singer, songwriter and guitarist Julie Austin on August 17th, and musician Jeremy Berlin on August 24th.

Free Movies and Popcorn will be shown throughout the month. On Wednesday August 18th at 3 PM, see an anime film by Hayoa Miyazaki about a young boy befriending a goldfish princess for kids ages 6 and up. On Thursday August 26th, at 3 PM, we will show an award-winning animated film about a robot trying to find his way home, for kids ages 4 and up.

On Thursday August 26th, at 6 PM, the Teen Book Club meets and views a movie for grades 6 and up. This month's selection: The Whale Rider by Witi Tame Ihimaera. Read the book and come watch the related film. Refreshments provided.

The Library Chess Club for ages 6 and up meets weekly on Tuesdays from 6 PM to 7 PM.

There will be no programs on Thursday, August 19th, during the annual Agricultural Fair.