Cutting the Cord: Alternatives to Cable TV

On Tuesday, January 15th at 5:30 pm, Vineyard Haven Public Library will host a free "Cord-Cutting" workshop, presented by State Representative Randy Hunt of Sandwich. The workshop is an extension of a recent collaboration between Cape and Islands legislators, local senior centers and councils on aging, and libraries.

This interactive presentation was created by Randy Hunt to educate residents on how to save money on monthly bills by exploring alternatives to cable and satellite TV. Representative Hunt will walk attendees through some of the options, and explain how they work and how much they cost. The presentation includes a live demonstration and Q&A session.

Attendees can expect to learn more about over-the-air programming, streaming equipment (such as Apple TV and Roku), and streaming services (such as Sling TV, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and CBS All Access). Consumers will also discover how they can use their internet connection to eliminate their landline telephone service.

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Vineyard Haven library and other island libraries offer streaming equipment including Roku and Chromecast devices, that can be checked out to try at home. Contact Vineyard Haven Reference Librarian Alexandra Pratt for more information.

Regenerative Backyard Gardening: Gardens of the Future

Island libraries are partnering with Island Grown on a free garden workshop series, taking place on three winter Saturdays from 10:30 am to noon. The first session takes place at Oak Bluffs Public Library on January 19th. Additional sessions will be held February 16th at West Tisbury Library and March 23rd at Vineyard Haven Library.

Winter is the perfect time to dream about (and plan for) a garden that nourishes people, wildlife, and the planet. Learn how to use regenerative gardening practices to grow edible plants, conserve water, eliminate your use of fossil fuels, and make compost in your own backyard. This free series will be hosted on three winter Saturdays at different island libraries.

This free series will be facilitated by Roxanne Kapitan, Landscape Manger at Oakleaf Landscape, and an organic grower for Middletown Nursery. For more information, contact Noli Taylor, noli@igimv.org or (508) 687-9062.

Belly Babies Prenatal Storytime!

Come join Vineyard Haven Library's Children's Librarian, Emily for newly added program, Belly Babies Prenatal Storytime. Belly Babies is a new storytime program that is geared toward pregnant moms-to-be. We will read stories and sing songs to our growing babies. Come meet and chat with other pregnant mamas, eat some light/healthy snacks and bond with your bump. Belly Babies Prenatal Storytime is happening on Sunday, January 13th from 2:00-3:00 pm, in the Vineyard Haven Library Program Room. Other dates to be announced. This event is free and open to all pregnant moms-to-be. Call Emily for any questions: 508-696-4211 (x114).

New: Free Digital Magazines from Overdrive!

All CLAMS library card holders now have access to an all-new collection of digital magazines from OverDrive. Available through the popular Libby App platform, OverDrive App, and via web browsers, library users can access 50 popular magazine titles to check out digitally on their devices using their CLAMS library card. Overdrive magazines are always available with no wait times, and they do not count against patron checkout limits. Readers can also download magazines on Libby for offline use. You can browse the OverDrive Magazine collection here. For help getting started accessing any of our online resources, contact the library for a one-on-one lesson.

Public Affairs Discussion Group at Vineyard Haven Public Library

Leading up to the annual Great Decisions Discussion Group Series in April/May 2019, the library will be hosting a monthly Public Affairs Discussion Group from 6pm to 8pm on the third Thursday of each month, beginning January 17th.

Dennis Agin will be our group coordinator for both programs, working with our Reference Librarian Alexandra Pratt. Please register online if you wish to receive updates on this program.

Thursday January 17th, 6-8 pm
The Economy and Jobs
What are the inequalities and dislocations? How are major problems fixed, near and long term? Recommended viewing: 60 Minutes program on A.I. (Artificial Intelligence) and the future of jobs, this Sunday, January 13 at 7 p.m. on CBS.
Topic Leader: Julia Burgess

Thursday February 21st, 6-8 pm
Electoral System – Gerrymandering – Voter Suppression & Fraud
Do we have a democracy? How well is it working? How is our system anti-democratic?  How can voting equality be improved?
Topic Leader: Denny Agin

Thursday March 21st, 6-8 pm 
Climate Change – Energy Policies – Environmental Initiatives
Is the world on a path to Environmental Disaster? What should we be doing?
Topic Leader: Mike Kobran

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Vineyard Haven Public Library will be hosting the 2019 Great Decisions Discussion Group on Thursday evenings from 7pm to 9pm for eight weeks, April 4th through May 23rd.

A limited number of Great Decisions Briefing Books will be available for purchase at the library in mid-January, for $25. You may reserve a copy by paying in advance at the library main desk, with cash or check made out to the Friends of the Vineyard Haven Public Library. Great Decisions topics for 2019 are on the Foreign Policy Association Website: https://fpa.org/great_decisions/

Best Books of 2018: A List of Lists

Some choices for the best of 2018, from the media, associations, and readers:

American Library Association (ALA)
Notable Books For Adults: https://www.rusaupdate.org/awards/notable-books-list/
Notable Children's Books: http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/notalists/ncb
Young Adults: http://www.ala.org/yalsa/2018-best-best

Boston Globe
http://apps.bostonglobe.com/arts/graphics/2018/12/year-end-books-2018/

Chicago Review of Books Best Science Fiction
https://chireviewofbooks.com/2018/11/28/the-10-best-science-fiction-books-of-2018/

Chicago Tribune
https://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/books/ct-books-best-books-2018-1209-story.html

Financial Times
https://www.ft.com/booksoftheyear2018

Goodread's Choice Awards
https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-books-2018

The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/books/series/best-books-of-2018

Kirkus Reviews
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/issue/best-of-2018

Library Journal
https://www.libraryjournal.com/?page=best-books-2018

Library Reads Favorites of 2018
http://libraryreads.org/favorite-of-favorites-2018/

National Public Radio's Book Concierge, guide to 2018's great reads
https://apps.npr.org/best-books-2018/

New York Public Library's Best Books for Kids and Teens
https://www.nypl.org/books-music-dvds/recommendations/award-winners/childrens-ya

New York Times Notable Books
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/11/19/books/review/100-notable-books.html

Publisher's Weekly
https://best-books.publishersweekly.com/pw/best-books/2018

Smithsonian
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/best-books-2018-180970895/

Time Magazine
Fiction: http://time.com/5454708/best-fiction-books-2018/
Nonfiction: http://time.com/5454719/best-nonfiction-books-2018/
Youth: http://time.com/5453063/best-ya-kids-books-2018/
Best books you might have missed: http://time.com/5458670/best-books-you-missed-2018/

Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2018/entertainment/books/best-books-of-2018/

Survey: Topic Selection for 2019 Weinstein Seminar

Philip Weinstein, the Alexander Griswold Cummins Professor of Literature, emeritus at Swarthmore College, will present a multi-part literature workshop in Fall 2019, sponsored by Vineyard Haven Library. We would like your input to help select the course of study. You can help us decide with this single question survey!

Follow this link to the survey: Take the survey

Or copy and paste the URL below into your internet browser:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/X7RD7JC