Register For 2020 Great Decisions Discussion Group

UPDATE 3/13/2020: Upcoming Great Decisions programs have been cancelled and will be rescheduled

The Vineyard Haven Public Library Great Decisions Discussion Group will meet for 8 sessions on Thursday evenings at 7pm, beginning April 2nd, 2020.

A Great Decisions Discussion Group is composed of interested individuals who want an opportunity to learn and participate in the foreign policy decision-making process. The Foreign Policy Association (FPA) has published the Great Decisions briefing book, a well researched annual publication covering eight timely global topics to be read by group participants in order to prepare for each discussion. At each meeting we will show a 30 minute documentary film on that week's topic, to be followed by a moderated discussion.

Please register online or at the library. This year, a limited number of briefing books are available for purchase at the library for $25, payable to the Friends of the Vineyard Haven Library. Copies of the briefing book are also be available for in-library use.

Topics and meeting dates:

Thursday, April 2nd
Climate Change and the Global Order
Climate change has become one of the defining issues of our time. As much of the world bands together to come up with a plan, the U.S. remains the notable holdout. What is the rest of the world doing to combat climate change? What impact will the effects of climate change have on global geopolitics?

Thursday, April 9th
India and Pakistan
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi rode a wave of Hindu nationalism to a historic reelection in 2019. His first order of business was to revoke the special status granted to the Kashmir region, inflaming the rivalry between India and Pakistan. How will the Kashmir situation affect the region, both economically and politically?

Thursday, April 16th
Red Sea Security
The Red Sea has remained vital for global trade since the time of ancient Egypt. Once home to the spice trade, the Red Sea now sees millions of barrels of oil a day transported across its waters. With major nations like China, France, Italy, and the U.S. building large ports and bases in the region, what does the future of the region look like? How important is Red Sea security for global security? Can the region be a place of global cooperation?

Thursday, April 23rd
Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking
Almost every nation has enacted laws criminalizing human trafficking, and international organizations, governments, and NGOs sponsor a large variety of projects to curb trafficking and slavery. Billions of dollars have been allocated to these efforts. What is the international community doing to combat slavery and trafficking? What are the experiences like for those being trafficked?

Thursday, April 30th
U.S. Relations with the Northern Triangle
Combatting illegal immigration has become a priority of the Trump administration. The Northern Triangle of Central America, made up of Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala, is a special target of the administration, which hold the nations responsible for the large flow of migrants from Latin America to the U.S. With funds from the U.S. cut, how can the Northern Triangle countries curtail migration?

Thursday, May 7th
China’s Road into Latin America
As the Trump administration continues to withdraw from the world stage, China is looking to fill the void. How does Latin America fit into China’s “One Belt, One Road” plan? How will the relationship with China affect the region? Should the U.S. be concerned about China’s growing “sphere of influence”?

Thursday, May 14th
The Philippines and the U.S.
The Philippines has had a special relationship with the United States since the islands were ceded by Spain to the United States after the Spanish-American War at the end of the 19th century.  However, since the election of Rodrigo Duterte, the country has pivoted more toward China, and away from the U.S. Duterte has also launched a largescale war on drugs that many criticize for its brutality. What does the future hold for U.S, relations with the Philippines?

Thursday, May 21st
Artificial Intelligence and Data
Policymakers in many countries are developing plans and funding research in artificial intelligence (AI). Global growth is slowing, and not surprisingly, many policymakers hope that AI will provide a magic solution. The EU, Brazil, and other Western countries have adopted regulations that grant users greater control over their data and require that firms using AI be transparent about how they use it. Will the U.S. follow suit?

Luce Play Readers: Yasmina Reza's God of Carnage

On Wednesday, February 12th at 6:30 pm at the Vineyard Haven Public Library, the Peter H. Luce Play Readers will present a free reading of "God of Carnage," a play by Yasmina Reza, translated by Christopher Hampton. Paul Doherty will direct a cast that includes Cynthia Segal, Roberta Hurtig, John Brannen and Wayne Greenwell. This free performance is sponsored by the Friends of the Vineyard Haven Public Library, and refreshments will be served. Doors will open at 6 pm for the 6:30 pm performance.

In this "Comedy of Manners, without the manners," A playground altercation between 11-year-old boys brings together two sets of Brooklyn parents for a meeting to resolve the matter. At first, niceties are observed, but as the meeting progresses and the liquor flows, tensions emerge, the gloves come off, and the conversation goes from civilized to savage. "God of Carnage" is the winner of numerous awards, including Tony Award for Best Play and Laurence Olivier Award for Best Comedy.

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For more than 15 years, the Peter H Luce Play Readers have met every Wednesday of the year at the Vineyard Haven Senior Center from 9am to Noon to read plays of every era and of every genre, from the Greek and Roman classics to the cutting-edge works of contemporary playwrights... and everything in between: Shakespeare, Shaw, Checkov, Moliere, Miller, Ibsen Albee, O'Neil, Pinter and Neil Simon. The group is named for its founder, Peter Luce, who died in 2007.

The Friends of the Vineyard Haven Public Library encourage public understanding of the Library's vital role in the community, support activities for both adults and children, and provide various other volunteer services. Their mission is to support the Library, to build a partnership between the Library and the community and to advocate for exemplary library service. All volunteers and those who are interested in knowing more about the Friends meet at 10:15am on the second Saturday of every month at the library.

Domestic Affairs Discussion Program at Oak Bluffs and Vineyard Haven Libraries

Vineyard Haven and Oak Bluffs libraries announce a new Domestic Affairs discussion series, to foster civil community discourse and greater understanding of issues affecting Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, and the nation. Meetings will be held on Thursday evenings and are open to everyone, covering a wide variety of topics with presentations and group discussion.

The series begins at the Oak Bluffs library on Thursday, January 30th at 6:30pm, with a discussion on Island drug and opioid problems. The speaker and discussion leader will be County Commissioner Christine Todd, who will be talking about her personal experience of trying to guide a family member through the ups and downs of addiction treatment and to lead us to better understanding of the drug problem on Martha's Vineyard.

Other dates and topics include the following (note location and start time):

February 6th, 6 PM at Vineyard Haven Library
"Electoral System, Gerrymandering, Voter Suppression"

February 20th, 6 PM  at Vineyard Haven Library
"National Popular Vote Initiative - Every Vote Equal"

February  27th, 6:30 PM  at Oak Bluffs Library
"Helping Island People in Need – Addressing Poverty, Hunger"

March 19th, 6 PM  at Vineyard Haven Library
"Impact of the 19th Amendment – Women’s Right to Vote – Contributions over the Past 100 Years"

March 26th; 6:30 PM at Oak Bluffs Library
"Autism"

New “Creative Station” for Entrepreneurs & Creatives

 
Do you want to sharpen your skills in design, video editing, or photography? Are you a small business owner or self-employed artist? Save money on expensive software and use Adobe Creative Cloud suite at the Vineyard Haven Public Library for free! The Vineyard Haven Public Library’s Creative Station is located on the lower level of the library and is a self-directed learning space. Library customers can now save money on Adobe subscription prices and get free access to Adobe's popular apps and services for video, design, photography and web design. The free software includes Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premier Pro, After Effects and Lightroom.

Beginners to Adobe Creative Cloud can view Adobe workbooks in the library to get acquainted with the software. Vineyard Haven Public Library customers can also use their Vineyard Haven Library card to take free online Adobe courses through Universal Class.

Please call the Reference Desk 508-696-4210 or email vhpl_questions@clamsnet.org to reserve your time slot. Reservations can be made up to one week ahead of time. A library card may be required. A full description of policies can be viewed on the library’s website: http://www.vhlibrary.org/creative.shtml 

Get Digital in the New Year with Your Library Card!

Learn how to use your CLAMS Library Card to enjoy entertainment and learning resources including borrowing ebooks and audiobooks on Overdrive, streaming movies on Kanopy and Hoopla, taking classes online through Universal Class and Lynda.com, and taking advantage of other online resources through the Vineyard Haven Public Library and the Boston Public Library e-card program (free to all who live, reside part-time to attend school, own property, or work in Massachusetts.)

Vineyard Haven Library staff will provide one-on-one informal demonstrations and show you how to get started. Please call (508) 696-4210 or email vhpl_questions@clamsnet.org for an appointment. Thirty-minute appointments are available on Monday afternoons between 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm and on Saturdays between 10:00 am - 12:00 pm.

Fine Free MV! FAQ for MV Libraries' New Fine Free Policy

Starting January 1, 2020, all six Martha’s Vineyard libraries will eliminate overdue fines for materials returned late. All past overdue fines for island patrons will be waived, allowing for a fresh start to the new year. Waiving past overdue fines will impact 7,374 Martha’s Vineyard library cardholders. Island libraries are committed to providing equal access to every member of our community. By waiving existing overdue fines, our goal is to remove barriers and make access to our libraries easy, equitable and enjoyable for all.

The Vineyard libraries will join over 450 libraries across the U.S. in eliminating overdue fines. The Martha’s Vineyard Library Association strongly believes in providing access to information for everyone, and that eliminating overdue fines will support our libraries’ core values of providing equitable service, fostering early literacy, and maintaining free access to information.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR CLAMS LIBRARY CARDHOLDERS ON MV?

• No more daily late fines will be charged on overdue items at any Vineyard library
• All existing overdue fines from all accounts will be cleared on January 1, 2020, giving everyone a fresh start.
• Hundreds of patrons will have their accounts unblocked, which will enable them to once again use library services. Libraries previously blocked accounts with overdue fines greater than $25.
• No more fine-related restrictions will be placed on use of public computers or access to digital materials (eBooks, digital audiobooks, online databases and resources), even for people who had extensive late fees on their accounts.
• CLAMS member libraries off-island support the Vineyard’s move toward fine-free library services, and will continue to share library items through interlibrary loan.

FINE FREE MV: FAQs

What does “Fine Free MV” mean?
Starting January 1, 2020, Martha’s Vineyard Libraries will no longer charge late fines on overdue materials. Patrons will still be responsible for paying for the replacement costs of lost or damaged items, however.

Previously when you checked out an item and didn’t return it by the due date, daily fines started accumulating. For some patrons, the growing amount could become burdensome. Under the Fine Free policy, borrowed items still have due dates, and patrons are encouraged to return them on time. Libraries will still send reminders to bring back books, CDs, DVDs, etc.

An item is officially categorized as overdue the day after its due date, but with the new Fine Free policy, that due date will not be associated with a punitive price tag. If something hasn’t been returned by two weeks after its due date, it will be considered lost, and the system will apply a lost item fee to the patron’s account to cover the cost of replacing the missing item. However, as long as the item is returned in good shape, patrons won’t ever be charged overdue fines. If a patron eventually finds and returns the outstanding materials, the lost item fee will be erased from their account. The largest group who will benefit from this new change will be families with children.

Why remove late fines?
The main goal is to remove obstacles and improve access to information and services for everyone. Research and experience from libraries around the country increasingly show that fines are often barriers preventing people from using the library and its services – especially those who most rely on those services. We want to remove those obstacles, end the stress and stigma of owing fines, and ensure that all members of our community can use our libraries.

Late fines, no matter how small, can be a very real burden for individuals, families, and children. What starts as a tiny overdue fine can snowball into a larger amount with each day that an item isn’t returned. As fines grow, patrons may avoid coming back to the library altogether. For many, this means they can’t access books for schoolwork and other vital materials, or use essential services such as public computers or job resources. Island libraries would rather welcome patrons back than have them stay away because they owe late fines.

What about the late fines currently on my account?
When we launch this new policy, everyone will get a fresh start. Existing overdue fines for ALL our patrons will cleared from all Vineyard patron accounts on January 1, 2020. After this date, all overdue materials will fall under the new Fine Free policy. The Fine Free policy applies only to overdue items. If a patron currently has fees related to lost or damaged materials, those remain in effect.

Aren’t late fines part of fundamental library service expectations?
Not anymore. While overdue fines are traditionally associated with borrowing materials from libraries, that is changing. Libraries in many communities recognize that overdue fines sometimes do more harm than good when it comes to connecting people with important resources, so they’re reevaluating borrowing policies and making changes to evolve with the times. The MV Libraries will be joining over 450 other U.S. libraries in eliminating late fines.

But will people return materials on time without late fines?
Interestingly, libraries that have eliminated late fines have found that return rates actually go up. By removing the threat of daily accumulating late fines, people are less likely to avoid returning to the library, and more likely to bring back any overdue items they’ve checked out. No late fines means more people using the library.

Can a patron hold onto a library item indefinitely?
No. Patrons still have to bring back what they borrow – and we still ask that they try to do so on time – but the Fine Free policy is much more lenient if they miss a due date. After a few attempts to ask the patron to return the item, the patron will be billed for it.

Don’t the libraries need to charge late fines for revenue purposes?
Overdue fines contribute only a small amount of revenue. While our libraries are always carefully watching the bottom line, any loss of overdue fine revenue is small compared with the good this new policy will do for the community. A Fine Free policy opens our doors wider for Islanders who need us the most.

How does having lost or damaged item fees on my account impact my ability to use library services?
While we propose to eliminate late fines, libraries will still charge fees for lost or damaged materials. These fees are necessary to buy replacement books, CDs, or DVDs in our collections so other patrons may use them. As before, when a patron loses a book, CD, DVD or other library item, their account is blocked. That person then cannot borrow any additional materials. The account is unblocked when the items are returned or the replacement fees are paid.

Previously, CLAMS cardholders on island could borrow materials from Cape libraries that are not fine-free.  How does the Fine Free MV policy impact their ability to borrow items?
Interlibrary loan will not be affected. The CLAMS Board has agreed that Vineyard libraries may continue to borrow library materials from off-island CLAMS libraries even without collecting overdue fines. CLAMS cardholders will not be charged overdue fines at any Vineyard library, but a Vineyard CLAMS cardholder may still be charged overdue fines if they visit a CLAMS library on the Cape.

In the past, Island libraries have promoted Food for Fines events to support the Island Food Pantry. What will happen now?
The libraries will continue to collect food and advocate ongoing support for the Island Food Pantry. In the meantime, when Rockland Trust learned about island libraries eliminating overdue fines and libraries’ connection to the Food Pantry through the Food for Fines program, they pledged to donate $500 to the Island Food Pantry this winter. 

Survey: Planning for the B2 Business District

The Tisbury Planning Board seeks your input as they begin working on an Area Plan for the Upper State Rd B2 Business District. To gain a better understanding of how residents currently use this district and what they think could be done to improve it, the Board has developed a survey. Please take a few minutes to complete this survey. Your response will contribute to the
development of the Area Plan and its recommendations.

Here is the link to the online survey --
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TisburyB2

Paper copies are available at the Vineyard Haven Library and the Planning Board Office.