November Book Club -- The Piano Tuner

Daniel Mason's historical novel, The Piano Tuner, takes place primarily in Burma of the 1880's. Mr. Mason tells the story of a London-based piano tuner who accepts a mission from the British War Office to travel to the jungles of Burma to tune an 1840's Erard piano, which is owned by an eccentric surgeon-major in the Shan Plateau.

Our discussion centered around the lush description of the landscape and life in the colonies of the British Empire during the 19th century. Several participants thought that the title of the book should have been The Piano, rather than The Piano Tuner, because the story really told more about the life and death of the Erard piano than of the piano tuner.

One person said the descriptions of life during the Raj brought back many memories of her life before she came to the States. Another person wanted to hear Burmese music and taste Burmese food to better understand the Burmese people. We discussed the fact that taste and audio are a wonderful addition to reading about different cultures.

All in all, most participants liked the book and were fascinated to hear more detail about the history of music and the art of piano tuning from one of our members. The discussion was lively and interesting!! We all agreed that this tale would make a wonderful movie or TV miniseries!

We will not have a book club meeting in December. The next time we meet will be in January.

Computer Class - Attendees Excited to Learn More!

On Thursday morning, November 29, the Library's Reference Department was full of people excited to learn more about how to use computers.

The class was titled - "Learn Basic Computer Skills" and required no previous computer experience in order to sign-up.

Attendees gained hands-on experience in basic computer skills like turning on the computer, using the mouse, navigating the windows environment, etc...

At the conclusion of the class several people signed up for our Individual Computer Help Sessions to continue their introduction to computers and related topics (searching the web, using Microsoft Word, etc...).

Stay tuned to the library's website and local media, as the library plans to host more computer/technology courses in the future!

Large Crowd Enjoys Songini Book Signing & Lecture!

Marc Songini, author of "The Lost Fleet: A Yankee Whaler's Struggle Against the Confederate Navy and Arctic Disaster," spoke to a crowd of over 40 people at the Library on Saturday, November 10th!

The focus of Mr. Songini's talk was "Vineyard Heroes: Great Whaling Masters and Mates of the Island."

Mr. Songini discussed the fascinating lives of the many Vineyarders who took part in the once-prolific whaling industry, using many interesting and humorous anecdotes to entertain the audience. Many Island history buffs were in attendance and so there was no shortage of questions or topics for discussion.

After the discussion period, copies of Mr. Songini's book were available for purchase, courtesy of Sun Porch Books. The author signed copies for anyone who asked him.

Trustee Toolkit Workshop

The Oak Bluffs Public library was a host to a workshop for library trustees presented jointly by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) and Southeastern Massachusetts Library System (SEMLS).

Library trustees from all of the Island libraries had an opportunity to learn how the MBLC and SEMLS can assist them in providing service to their community. The speakers were:

Irving Zangwill, Commissioner, MBLC

Robert Maier, Director of the MBLC

Maureen Killoran, Head of Public Library Advisory Unit/Govenrment Liaison

Brian Donoghue, Librarian Research Services

Cindy Roach, SEMLS Regional Administrator

Cheryl Bryan, SEMLS Asst. Admin. for Consulting & Continuing Education.

Before the workshop, guests from MBLC were given a tour of the library and were happy to see it was being well used: a story hour was going on in the Children's program room, a book discussion in the Conference room, and many computer users in the reference area. They especially admired Margot Datz's artwork and her book end-pannels in the Children's room.

October's Book Discussion: "Cod" by Mark Kurlansky

In conjunction with The Sustainable Book Club our Book Discussion Group met recently to talk about Kurlansky's novel "Cod".



Spirited discussions took place at both the evening and morning sessions, with mostly praise expressed for the author's research and writing style.

Topics that received particular attention were fish farming, the fishing industry (techniques, technology, economics, etc..), the historical significance of cod, education in schools concerning sustainability, and the social/cultural influence of this important food source.

As usual people's personal experiences and expertise on relevant subjects greatly contributed to the conversation, and made for a thought provoking group discussion!

Kurlansky has written a number of other books that may also appeal to readers:
Salt: A World History
The Basque History of the World: The Story of a Nation
The Big Oyster: History on the Half Shell

Biographies, MV Hurricanes, Fishing Derby, and more!

Come to the Library and see our latest and greatest Library & Book Displays:

Visit our "Who's Life Is It Anyway?" Book Display and find Library materials concerning the lives of fascinating people!

Or take a look at our "Hurricanes & Martha's Vineyard" exhibit to learn more about some of the powerful storms that have affected the Island's people, towns, and landscape over the years! There is more information in the Reference Department that will help you and your family prepare for future hurricanes and natural disasters.

It is also the season for the annual Fishing Derby, the Library staff has created a display of related materials along with some brief information about the Derby.

Finally, don't forget about Banned Books Week! There are bookmarks and information packets near the Library's Catalog Computers and in the Reference Department. Celebrate your freedom to read today!

September Book Discussion Group: "The Death of Vishnu" by Manil Suri

This story of one apartment building becomes a metaphor for the social and religious divisions of contemporary India, and Vishnu's ascent of the staircase parallels the soul's progress through the various stages of existence. We had a lively discussion on several topics, such as racism, rights of women, and religion in India during the 1960's and 70's. We were very fortunate to have a member of our discussion group with first-hand knowledge of India's culture and religion.

The author, Manil Suri, infused his tale with many details and insights into everyday Indian life -- its hardships and customs. His descriptions of food, particularly the many sweets that are consumed, was mouth-watering.

Please join us in October when we will be reading "Cod" by Mark Kurlansky. The Discussion Group Meetings will be held in conjunction with The Sustainable Book Club, an Island-wide book group, which is reading and discussing books that examine our relationship with nature. The group is sponsored by all six Island Libraries, Felix Neck Sanctuary, Polly Hill Arboretum and The Vineyard Conservation Society. The group will meet at the Oak Bluffs Library on Tuesday, October 23rd, at 6:30 pm and Wednesday, October 24th, at 10:30 am.

Summer Memories: Past and Present - Jessica Harris

Popular author, Jessica Harris, performed readings and reminisced about topics from her latest book, “The Martha’s Vineyard Table”. A crowd of 18 people came to the event. The intimate environment allowed for some great discussion and input from the audience!

About Jessica Harris:Excerpt from Ebony Magazine (March 2007, pg 118)
Culinary historian Jessica B. Harris, Ph.D. has authored nine acclaimed cookbooks that document the foods and foodways of the African Diaspora. A culinary historian, she has lectured on food at the Museum of Natural History in New York City, the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., as well as at numerous institutions and colleges throughout the United States and abroad.
Harris has written for major food magazines, including Gourmet, Food & Wine, Cooking Light and Eating Well. In addition, she has given presentations at prestigious events, including meetings of the international Association of Culinary Professionals and the American Institute of Wine and Food conference. Dr. Harris also has appeared on The Today Show and Good Morning America, and she has served as culinary and cultural expert on two Burr Wolf series for PBS.
A tenured professor of English at Queens College, C.U.N.Y., Harris holds degrees from Bryn Mawr College, Queens College, The Universite de Nancy, France, and a doctorate in performance studies from New York University. She speaks French fluently and is conversant in Spanish and Portuguese.

Oxford African American Studies Center - New Library Resource!

About the OAASC: Excerpt from the OAASC Website



The Oxford African American Studies Center combines the authority of carefully edited reference works with sophisticated technology to create the most comprehensive collection of scholarship available online to focus on the lives and events which have shaped African American history and culture.









To learn how you can begin using the Oxford African American Studies Center please speak with an Oak Bluffs Public Library Staff Member today!

Triad Club Display!

The Library would like to thank the Martha's Vineyard Museum and Susan Wilson for contributing materials to the Triad Club Display (by the staircase in the upstairs of the library).

The materials were on display during the month of August, and library patrons enjoyed viewing the collection and reading Susan Wilson's article, For 70 Years, the Triad Club of Oak Bluffs Was a Forum For Members' "Improvement", which appeared in the Dukes County Intelligencer (August 2007 Edition).

You can learn more about other topics related to local history by visiting the Library and reading a book from our Martha's Vineyard Collection!

Darfur: Too Dark, Too Far - Hafiz Farid

A second screening of the powerful documentary Darfur: Too Dark, Too Far, attracted an audience of over 50 people to the Oak Bluffs Public Library! After the movie, a discussion session with Director Hafiz Farid helped to shed even more light on this important social issue.

Please monitor our online calendar to learn about upcoming Movie/Documentary Nights, Lectures, Educational Programs, Scrabble Group Meetings, Coffee Times, and other great programs at your library!

Charlayne Hunter-Gault - Africa's Best Kept Secret...

Over 30 people came to hear Charlayne Hunter-Gault provide a riveting account of the current events effecting the continent of Africa at a recent library program.

Copies of Charlayne's most recent book, "New News Out of Africa: Uncovering the African Renaissance" may be checked out at the library or by requesting them online through our website!

Book Discussion Group - "To Kill A Mockingbird"

The Book Discussion Group met on the 28th and 29th of August. Harper Lee's only novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, is a classic and all-time favorite. Librarians across the country voted it the best novel of the 20th Century! Across the board, the group agreed that it was one of their favorites -- one person even said that she would like to read it once a year. We dissected and discussed many interesting topics, such as: race relations in the South during the 1930's, single male parenting, coming-of-age stories, the integrity and justice of the court system both then and now.

For more information about Harper Lee's life and other books that may interest people who enjoyed reading To Kill a Mockingbird, please check out NoveList, which is accessible from the oakbluffslibrary.org website. Listed below are several suggestions for similar books:

The Summer We Got Saved by Pat Cunningham Devoto

The Quiet Game by Greg Iles

The Madonna of Excelsior by Zakes Mda

We Are All Welcome Here by Elizabeth Berg

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg

Please join us next month for our next meeting when we will discuss The Death of Vishnu by Manil Suri. Stop by the circulation desk to pick up your copy today!

Senator Brooke visits the OBPL for Book Signing/Reception!

A tremendous crowd attended Senator Edward Brooke's Book Signing and Reception at the Oak Bluffs Public Library this past Thursday.

The crowd was so large that an overflow room with a live audio/video feed was set-up in the Library's Conference Room to accomodate more people!

The Senator spoke about his book and fascinating life experiences and then answered questions from the audience.

Afterwards the Senator signed copies of his new book, "Bridging the Divide: My Life" and a Reception was held in the Library's Meeting Room.

Click here to see more pictures from the event!

Thank you Senator for visiting the Oak Bluffs Community, and to all of the Volunteers and Library Staff that worked so hard to organize this event!

Portuguese-American Literature Program

Last week, a group of attendees thoroughly enjoyed Christopher Larkosh's presentation on the subject of Portuguese-American Literature in the Library's Conference Room. Mr. Larkosh is an Assistant Professor at UMASS-Dartmouth in the area of Portuguese-American Studies and is an Oak Bluffs native.

The lecture was co-sponsored by the Center for Portuguese Studies and Culture at UMass-Dartmouth and the Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities. The Oak Bluffs Public Library would like to thank both organizations for making this educational program possible.

Portuguese-American Literature Today

Friday, August 24 at 3:30pm

Assistant Professor and Oak Bluffs native, Christopher Larkosh, will speak on the topic of Portuguese-American Literature today.

This event is co-sponsored by the Center for Portuguese Studies and Culture at UMass-Dartmouth and the Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities

Documentary Screening at the OBPL!

On Friday, August 10 "Darfur: Too Dark, Too Far" a film shown at the MV African American Film Festival was shown on the Library's large projection screen.

Over 20 attendees had an opportunity to meet the Director, Hafiz Farid!

"Darfur: Too Dark, Too Far" is a documentary that examines the root causes of genocide.

African American Classics in History & Literature Event!

A crowd of over 60 people attended the African American Classics in History & Literature event at the library!



Keynote speaker Dr. Adelaide M. Cromwell, Professor Emerita of Sociology – Boston University, and author of Unveiled Voices, Unvarnished Memories: The Cromwell Family in Slavery And Segregation, 1692-1972, provided an enlightening talk on the subject and received an enthusiastic round of applause from the audience.



The event was arranged by the MV-ASALH; which graciously presented the Oak Bluffs Public Library with a donation of $200 to be used towards library materials.



The mission of ASALH (founded in 1915) is to research, study, interpret, preserve and promote information about Black life, history and culture to the global community. The MV Branch of ASALH (founded in 2002), supports the study of African American history and life in schools, learning centers, homes, churches and community groups.



For More Information about the MV-ASALH Contact:

Bob Hayden, President MV-ASALH, 508-693-8714

Thank you Michael Wooley!

Island resident, Michael Wooley, recently provided an encore performance of Exploring a Coral Reef, a program about his recent underwater photographs taken on a scuba diving trip to the second largest barrier reef in the world off the coast of Belize.


Mr. Wooley's photographs and commentary on the mysterious and beautiful undersea world were fun and informative! Thank you for another great program Michael!


About Michael Wooley: Water and the sea are Michael's life. Many of you may know him as an Island swimming teacher/lifeguard as well as an accomplished visual artist. His blue-ribbon photography, collages, ceramics, and illustrations have been exhibited in many different countries and are now in households all over the world! Michael's subject matter focuses primarily on the natural world; his presentation at the library spotlighted the sea and the ecosystem of a barrier reef.

Another great Movie Night at the OBPL!

The Library is hosting monthly Movie Nights, when a new DVD release is shown on the library's big screen, it is just like being at the movies!

On August 7th the new Family Drama, "Astronaut Farmer" (starring Billy Bob Thornton), about a farmer who builds a rocket in his barn and dreams of going into space, was shown for an audience of 20 people!

September's Movie Night will be announced on the library's website soon!

Gus Ben David Live Animal Interview: a Frogtastic Event!

A tremendous crowd of 57 people came to see Gus Ben David perform at the Library!

People of all ages were entertained by African Bull Frogs, Alligator Turtles, Spotted Salamanders, and others! Gus Ben David informed the audience about the nature of these fascinating animals while introducing us to his slippery friends.

The program was a part of the Della Hardman Day events, and was the perfect compliment to the wonderful collection of Della's frogs that were on display throughout the library.

Book Discussion Group - "My Antonia"

The majority of Book Discussion Group attendees enjoyed reading Willa Cather's novel, "My Antonia".

Discussion topics included:

• The author's writing style & use of language.
• The historical accuracy of how the mid-west was portrayed during the late 1800's.
• The main characters (Antonia, Jim, etc...).
• What the author did not tell us and the questions left unanswered.
• And other interesting topics that came to people's minds while reading the novel!

For more information about Willa Cather's life and other books that may interest people who enjoyed reading "My Antonia", try these suggestions:

Click on the link to be brought directly to the book/DVD in the CLAMS Catalog!

• Willa Cather: The Road Is All - a recent PBS special (DVD) about Willa Cather.
• "Giants In The Earth" by Ole Edvart - one of our attendees was reminded of this novel while reading "My Antonia".
• "The Virginian" by Owen Wister
• "Barren Ground" by Ellen Glasgow
• "Yonnondio: From the Thirties" by Tillie Olsen
• "The Age of Innocence" by Edith Wharton

Please join us next month for our next meeting when we will discuss "To Kill A Mockingbird" by Harper Lee! Stop by the circulation desk to pick up your copy today!

Gus Ben David Live Animal Interview @ the OBPL

Thursday, July 26 from 7pm-8pm at the Oak Bluffs Public Library

Gus Ben David, the renown Island naturalist and former Felix Neck director, will bring live frogs, toads and other creatures to the library for a fun & informative nature program!

Learn more about Gus Ben David by visiting the World of Reptiles and Birds Website!

This is a Della Hardman Day Event!

Did you know?

Ben Roethlisberger, Quarterback for the 2006 Super Bowl Champion Steelers, was named the spokesman for this year's Library Card Sign-Up Month (Sept. 1 - Sept. 30).

Stay tuned for library promotions & displays for Library Card Sign-Up Month in the near future!

The Smartest Card. Get It. Use It. @ Your Library

Book Discussion Group - "The Time Traveler's Wife"

Many of the Book Discussion Group attendees had distinctly different experiences while reading the book, "The Time Traveler's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger.

While many people did not like the time travelling/sci-fi aspect, relationships, etc... in the book, others enjoyed the novel's unique plotline and love story.

The differing opinions made for an intriguing discussion!

If you weren't able to read the book for the discussion group, you can request the book in the CLAMS catalog today!

Other books with time traveling/memory themes include:

1. "A Shortcut in Time" by Charles Dickinson
2. "Replay" by Ken Grimwood
3. "The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold
4. "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut
5. "Crooked River Burning" by Mark Winegardner

New Africana Encyclopedia!

Come to the Reference Department and browse the latest encyclopedia to be added to our collection, "Africana" ed. by Kwame Anthony Appiah and Henry Louis Gates Jr.

"Substantially larger than the first edition (1999), and with expanded references and indexing, this five-volume set covers a vast geographic area and encompasses the complex histories of Africans in Africa and the Americas. It is written for high school level readers and above and for a non-specialist audience. Slavery and the struggle for political and economic freedom and equality are central themes, and the roots of African and African-American culture in the histories of individual countries are thoroughly explored. In addition to topical entries, "interpretation" essays offer, for example, an examination of the dual tradition of African American fiction with discussion of perceptions, stereotypes, and alternative avenues for analysis. Among the topics new to this edition are African American architects, African oral literature, Black classicism in the U.S., the history of writing in Africa, Black literature in South Africa, the transatlantic slave trade database, and migrancy and African literature. "

Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Baseball Card Raffle!

Baseball Card Raffle

Come to the library on Tuesday, July 10 between 10am-8pm to be entered into a raffle for a 2007 Team Set of baseball cards (Choose your favorite team!) and other prizes.

Also learn how you can be entered into the Step Up to the Plate @ Your Library program (ages 9-18) and win a trip to the Baseball Hall of Fame!

And remember, if you read a book for the Step Up to the Plate @ Your Library program you can count the time you spent reading towards your Summer Reading Program at the Oak Bluffs Public Library!

Exploring a Coral Reef - Michael Wooley

On Thursday evening Michael Wooley, a local swimming teacher and lifeguard as well as an accomplished visual artist, presented his recent underwater photographs taken on a scuba diving trip to the second largest barrier reef in the world off the coast of Belize.

A crowd of approximately 30 people attended the event and were mesmerized by the slideshow of beautiful photographs (taken by Michael) projected onto the library's big screen.

Michael spoke about the rich ecosystem of the coral reef and provided the names of numerous fish, corals, plants, and animals that he encountered during his undersea adventure.

Afterwards, everyone enjoyed refreshments while asking Michael questions about his trip and the incredible artwork that he creates (on display for the event)!

Please check our online events calendar to learn about more interesting programs happening at the Oak Bluffs Public Library!

Book Discussion Group - "Empire Falls"

The Book Discussion Group recently met to talk about the book "Empire Falls", written by Richard Russo. The novel won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2002 and led to some interesting discussion by attendees.

To read a brief summary of "Empire Falls" try visiting the Fantastic Fiction website: http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/r/richard-russo/empire-falls.htm.

Fantastic Fiction is a great website to learn about new books by your favorite authors, books that are a part of your favorite series, popular reads and much more.

If you enjoyed reading "Empire Falls" try reading these recommended books by Novelist:

• "Wonder Boys" by Michael Chabon


• "Back When We Were Grownups" by Anne Tyler


• "The Bean Trees" by Barbara Kingsolver


• "Foolscap" by Michael Malone

Ask a librarian about Novelist - a great source for finding new reading material!

Scrabble Group Meets for the First Time!

The Scrabble Group met for the first time at the library on Saturday, May 19th. Memorable moments from the games included a 68-point word (rations) using all seven tiles, a high score of 209 total points for a match (4 players), and the appearance of a slew of other interesting words: borage, bivalve, etc...

We will be holding future meetings on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month. So keep June 2nd (10am-12pm) on your calendar free and join us for the next Scrabble Group meeting. Please bring a scrabble board with you if you own one.

Refreshments will be served and all ages and skill levels are invited to attend!

Library Friends Book Sale!

The Library Friends organized and ran a very successful book sale in the Library's Meeting Room this past Friday and Saturday. Thank you to all of the Library Friends and Volunteers that worked so hard to set up the room and operate the sale. Here are a few pictures from the fundraising event:

New Photography Book Displays!

Have you seen our new photography books displays yet? Downstairs there are books about digital photography, famous photographers, photograph collections, and much more that you can browse, check out and take home if you would like.

Upstairs there are some wonderful photography books and old photographs (1870-1888) from our Martha's Vineyard Historical Collection on display for your viewing pleasure!

Judy Campbell - Poetry Reading!

Judy Campbell delivered a wonderful poetry reading on May 1. Her clear and enthusiastic oration and creative verse were very much appreciated by the 13 audience members!

Please come see our display case of poetry books (by the downstairs Circulation Desk) which features poets that have delivered poetry readings at the library (including Judy!).

Book Discussion Group: "Their Eyes Were Watching God"

This book was also chosen as the One Book One Island adult book for 2007. Their Eyes Were Watching God is the unforgettable story of Janie Crawford, an articulate African-American woman in the 1930s, and her quest for identity and independence through three marriages and many interesting adventures. Much of our discussion was about the life of the author, Zora Neale Hurston, who was born in Eatonville, Florida -- an all-black community in the late 1800's. She studied anthropology at Barnard College and did field work in Harlem and Haiti. The group was particularly keen on attending the talk by Hurston scholar, Glenda Carpio, on Friday, April 27th at the Oak Bluffs Library.

For those of you who enjoyed this book, we would like to suggest the following further reading:

Gloria Naylor, Mama Day (1988)
Toni Morrison, Sula (1973)
Randall Kenan, A Visitation of Spirits (1989)
Alice Walker, Possessing the Secret of Joy (1992)

National Library Week - April 15-21

In the spirit of National Library Week here is a list of ten services that you may not have known are available at your library. Also check out the Library Calculator to see how much money you save when you take advantage of library services!

10 Great Library Services You May Not Have Known About!

• Use the library’s website to place holds on the latest books, DVDs, CDs, and more!


• Download Free Audiobooks at Home!


• Renew books & manage your library account from home using our website!


• Learn about fun & educational library programs on our website and online calendar.


• Movie Nights - on a giant projection screen!


• Individual Computer Help Lessons.


• Request materials from libraries in Massachusetts and across the Country!


• Get homework help & answers to all of your questions at the Reference Desk!


• Read a huge selection of newspapers & magazines online.


• Use your laptop to surf the net at the library - We have WIFI!

Celebrate National Jazz & Poetry Month!

Come see our great National Jazz & Poetry Month display in the downstairs of the library! We have a great collection of jazz and poetry materials for you to check out.

For the month of April we will be playing Jazz music during our Wednesday morning Coffee Times (10am-11:30am) for your enjoyment! Drink, Eat, Discuss Jazz Music & More!

In the upstairs of the library we have a display of Martha's Vineyard poets & poetry created using our Martha's Vineyard Historical Collection.

Learn some interesting local poetry history by viewing the display case by the reference desk, and check out our great collection of Shel Silverstein books (many of which are signed) and more in our conference room.

Book Discussion Group - The Known World

In March we read The Known World by Edward P. Jones. We had some interesting discussions about the unusual plot which tells the story of what happens when a plantation proprietor and former slave--possessing slaves of his own--dies. We learn that his household falls apart in the wake of a slave rebellion and corrupt underpaid patrollers who enable free black people to be sold into slavery. The book has many fascinating, colorful characters which invite the reader to pay very close attention to the twistings and turnings of the story. For those of you who enjoyed this book, we would like to suggest the following further reading:

Beloved by Toni Morrison
The Bondwoman's Narrative by Hannah Crafts
The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman by Ernest J. Gaines
Absalom! Absalom! by William Faulkner
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

Learn about eAudiobooks

We had a very successful "Learn about eAudiobooks" session for library patrons on Saturday, March 24! Five attendees learned more about how to use the audiobooks service and had an opportunity to ask questions and get answers.

Stay tuned for more eAudiobooks sessions in the future and please ask a librarian for help if you want to learn more about this exciting new service!

P.S. - There is a new handout in the Reference Department to help you begin using eAudiobooks on your computer and or MP3 player.

Begin listening to new titles like "The Boleyn Inheritance" by Philippa Gregory & "Mercy" by Jodi Picoult, try a classic such as "Moby Dick" by Herman Melville, or learn a new language by using the extensive language studies section of the eAudiobooks collection!

New Resources for Island Non-Profits!

The Oak Bluffs Public Library and the Martha’s Vineyard Donors Collaborative (MVDC) announce a $1,000 donation from the MVDC to the Library for the purchase of materials in the field of Non-Profit Organizational Management and Finance. The donation is part of the MVDC’s ongoing effort to support Vineyard non-profits, many of which can’t afford these important resources on their own.

The Library is acquiring subscriptions to the Foundation Directory Online – Plus database, Chronicle of Philanthropy, and Nonprofit Quarterly; as well as books on a broad range of topics including Grant Writing, Fundraising, Budgeting, Capital Campaigns and Management for Non-Profit Organizations. The Foundation Directory Online – Plus database gives Vineyard non-profits access to information on 10,000 Foundations and 500,000 grants. A complete list of these materials follows and is also available on the MVDC website http://mvdonors.org/obbooks, as well as in print at the Oak Bluffs Public Library. Materials are now being received and processed by the library and they will be made available on the library’s shelves and through its online catalog (at www.oakbluffslibrary.org ) as they arrive.

New Library Displays!

Come to the library soon and see the new book displays for the month of March!

• Think Spring (a collection of outdoor activity, gardening, birding books and more!)
• Teen Tech Week (in the Young Adults' Department)
• Newspapers in Education Week (items from our MV Collection & other library resources related to the Island newspapers, editors, writers, etc...)

Book Discussion Group - "My Sister's Keeper"

"My Sister's Keeper" by Jodi Picoult was February's book to read for our Book Discussion Group, if you would like to read a summary of the book just visit this link to amazon.com.

The book opened the doorway for spirited discussions on the topics of family relationships, ethics in modern medicine, the legal system, the writing style of Jodi Picoult, and more!

If you like reading Jodi Picoult you may also want to try reading books by the following authors:

• Chris Bohjalian - "Past the Bleachers"
• Jacquelyn Mitchard - "The Deep End of the Ocean", "A Theory of Relativity"
• Luanne Rice - "Home Fires"
• Ann Hood - "Properties of Water"
• Sue Miller - "The Good Mother", "While I Was Gone"

Have you come to the library for Movie Night yet?

We had another well attended Movie Night on Tuesday, February 20, when we showed: "Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont".

Several attendees commented that they enjoyed the movie very much and were eager to see more movie's at the library in the future!

Our next movie will be showing on Tuesday, March 20 at 6:00pm!

Please call the library or come to the library in person to find out what movie will be showing and join us for an entertaining evening at the library!

Tell A Story & African American History Celebration!

On Saturday, February 17, over 20 people attended our two programs concerning African American History!

You can see several other pictures from the events by visiting our library's flickr account, more pictures will be posted shortly.

Thank you once again to the Martha's Vineyard Cultural Council for partially funding our morning event, Tell A Story-Leigh French: An African American Story Time!

February is African American History Month!

February is African American History Month and the Oak Bluffs Public Library has several displays and events planned:

Events:
Saturday, February 17 at 1pm: Tell A Story - Leigh French, an African American Story Time - (for ages 6-10)

Saturday, February 17 at 3pm: African American History Celebration! - (geared towards Junior High-High School students although anybody that is interested in attending is welcome!)

Please visit our events calendar for full descriptions of these events!

Displays:

Dorothy West Exhibit - Upstairs near the Reference Desk.

African American History on Martha's Vineyard - Materials from our Martha's Vineyard collection are on display in the upstairs Historical Room.

To see pictures of these displays, please click here!

Book Discussion Group - "The Constant Princess"

We met on January 23rd and 24th and had a lively discussion about The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory. We also delved into the historical background of the times, including the reign of Henry VIII and Katharine of Aragon (the constant princess) and Henry's three children who reigned after his death -- the most famous of which was Elizabeth I, the daughter of Anne Boleyn and Henry.

Several people expressed an interest in pursuing further reading on the period, and to that end we recommend you visit the NoveList website, which you can access from the Library's home page www.oakbluffslibrary.org by clicking on the NoveList icon. Use your Oak Bluffs library card number as your Patron ID.

The next book discussion group will be held on February 27th and 28th. We will be discussing My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. Books and tapes are available now at the Circulation Desk.

Movie Night!!!

We had a crowd of over 20 people come to our first Movie Night in the Library's Meeting Room! The movie "An Inconvenient Truth" starring Al Gore was the feature presentation.

There will be movie nights on February 20 & March 20, when we will be showing a new DVD release on our large projection screen in the meeting room, please join us!

Stitch Along with Helen

Attention all Knitters! The knitting group meets at the library on Tuesday nights at 6:00pm, please come and join us!

New Chess Board!

The Oak Bluffs Library has a new chess board!

Come to the library at any time to enjoy a stimulating game of chess with a friend.

We are also encouraging people to come to the library on Thursday evenings from 6pm-8pm, with their personal chess boards, to meet others who enjoy playing the game!