Spring Newsletter Available - Online or in Print

Stay informed about library events, services and resources by reading the latest issue of our new library newsletter - Books & Beyond!

Print copies are available at the library or you can be green and read it online. Ask a friendly library staff member for a copy today!

Past issues of Books & Beyond can be found at the About the Library webpage of the library's website.

Savor the Moment Photography Contest - Now Accepting Entries

Savor the Moment Photography Contest & Exhibition sponsored by the Oak Bluffs Public Library

Entry deadline: May 29, 2009

The Oak Bluffs Public Library, in conjunction with the annual celebration of DELLA HARDMAN DAY on Saturday, July 25th, is sponsoring a photography contest to select 14 images featuring Martha’s Vineyard that reflect Della Hardman’s legacy theme ~ “savor the moment.”

The winning entries will be published in the Oak Bluffs Public Library Calendar for 2010.

Contest judges are photographers Alison Shaw and Donalexander Goss, and Francine Kelly, Director, Featherstone Center for the Arts. Photographs will be judged based on the artful representation of the “Savor the Moment” theme during all four seasons on the Island.

Fourteen award-winning entries will be selected: twelve to represent each month of the year, one for the cover and one for the back cover.

For more details, please read the contest entry form or speak to a library staff member.

Technology Fair a Crowd Pleaser!

A crowd of 45+ techno-lusting individuals attended the library's first ever technology fair on Saturday, March 21. All of the attendees that signed in were entered to win a free MP3 player. The lucky winner also learned about the library's free download service, her new MP3 player will help her enjoy plenty of free audiobooks and music using this popular library service!

Learn more about the download service by visiting the library's web site or by speaking with a library staff member.

A variety of technologies related to business, entertainment, personal computers and home networks were showcased. The library contributed a “technology sandbox” table where people tried using the new Amazon Kindle 2, Nintendo Wii, an iPod Touch and our free download service. More great gadgets on loan from the Southeastern Massachusetts Library System were also on display.

A special thank you goes out to Valerie Becker - West Tisbury School, Travis Larsen - Information Technology Manager for the Town of Oak Bluffs, Maury de Geofroy - Educomp Representative and Rich Hammond - Hammond and Associates for sharing their time and expertise at the fair.

Please visit our Lifelong Learners web page to find presentation links and more information about computers and technology.

The library organized this event as part of the Illumination for Lifelong Learners Series. A series of programs and services for lifelong learners, made possible by grant funding and support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and Libraries for the Future.

March Book Discussion Group

In March we read the interesting memoir of Azar Nafisi entitled "Reading Lolita in Tehran." This was an incredibly rich narrative which discussed several literary classics such as "The Great Gatsby" and "Pride and Prejudice" in addition to Nabokov's "Lolita." The story takes place in Iran, and we read of the difficult lives the Iranians led during the 1979 Revolution, the Iran-Iraq War and later.

In April we will be reading "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho. Please drop by the circulation desk to pick up a copy of the book. Hope to see you at our meeting on Wednesday, April 22nd at 10:30 am.

Bowling Returns to Oak Bluffs!

Saturday, March 28 at 2:30pm - 4:30pm

Oak Bluffs Public Library

Play one frame of bowling using the library's Nintendo Wii and you will be entered into a free gift card giveaway drawing (A generous donation by the Library Friends.)

There will be a brief slideshow and presentation about the historic bowling alleys of Oak Bluffs before we start bowling at 2:45pm

Play a board, card, or classic game from our huge selection while you wait!

There will be some free snacks & community fun

This program is part of our Illumination for Lifelong Learners Series.

This program is being funded through the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners with funds from LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act), a Federal source of library funding provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. EqualAccess Libraries™ is a professional development program sponsored by Libraries for the Future (LFF).

Win An MP3 Player At Our Free Technology Fair!

Saturday, March 21 from 2PM - 4PM, the Oak Bluffs Public Library will be hosting a free Technology Fair in the library’s meeting room. All attendees that sign in will be entered to win a free MP3 player.

Learn about a variety of technologies related to business, entertainment, energy, personal computers and home networks. The library is contributing a “technology sandbox” table where you can try using the new Amazon Kindle 2, Nintendo Wii, an MP3 Player and our Free Download Service. More great gadgets on loan from the Southeastern Massachusetts Library System will also be on display.

Presenters include Valerie Becker (MAC Computers, Apple Applications, & Google Tools), Reference Librarian – Mathew Bose (Technology Sandbox), Town of Oak Bluffs IT Manager – Travis Larsen (Teleconferencing, Telecommunications, & Town WiFi), Educomp Representative – Maury de Geofroy (Home Networking & Web Design), and a representative from the Vineyard Energy Project (Alternative Energy Technology).

Learn how these new technologies can help you save time and money, streamline your business or entertain the whole family.

The library is organizing this event as part of the Illumination for Lifelong Learners Series. A series of programs and services for lifelong learners, made possible by grant funding and support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and Libraries for the Future. Call 508-693-9433 for more information.

Grant Resources for Island Nonprofits at the OBPL

Thanks to the collaboration of Associated Grant Makers of Massachusetts (AGM), The Oak Bluffs Public Library, and the Martha’s Vineyard Donor Collaborative, and a grant from the Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation, Island non-profit grant seekers will no longer have to travel to Boston for grant research.

Grant Resource Network: Martha's Vineyard (GRN: MV) will duplicate the resources and expertise available at AGM's center in Boston, including their research database of 400 local funders, and bring much needed grant seeking support to the Vineyard.

Housed at the Oak Bluffs Public Library and available free to the public, Grant Resource Network: Martha's Vineyard will also be a Foundation Center Cooperating Collection so the full resources of that national organization, including their research database of 97,000 grant makers, will also be available to Vineyarders.

More than 15 people with grant writing and research experience have been trained and are available by appointment to assist those using GRN: MV resources. To make an appointment for someone to help you, contact Peter Temple at 508-645-3690 or grnmv@mvdonors.org.

The center will open officially to the public on March 12, 2009.

Cape & Island Libraries Give Away MP3 Players

The Edgartown, Oak Bluffs and Vineyard Haven Public Libraries are promoting a new audio book and music download service by giving away MP3 Players.

Patrons of the 27 participating CLAMS libraries that use the digital download service during the month of March are automatically entered to win one of two Creative MuVo V100 MP3 players courtesy of OverDrive, our service provider.

The more titles you download and the more often you use the service, the greater your chance of winning. All you need is a valid CLAMS library card from a participating library, computer access and a broadband Internet connection.

Speak to a staff member at the library for assistance. Some rules and restrictions apply.

Visit www.oakbluffslibrary.org and click on the Free MP3 Player icon for more information. The drawing will be held during the first week of April 2009.

Read Our Library Newsletter - Books and Beyond

The Oak Bluffs Public Library is publishing a new quarterly newsletter. Copies of the first issue of Books & Beyond are available at the library’s checkout desk or "be green" and view it online at January 2009 Newsletter.

Learn about the latest library programs, resources, services, staff recommendations and much more by reading our new publication.

Read the first issue of Books & Beyond today!

Black History Month - Library Events & Services

In celebration of Black History Month the library has organized several special events & services:

1. A documentary viewing and discussion of "4 Little Girls", took place on Sat. February 7 at 2:00pm.


2. An African-American Theme, Afterschool Kids Program (Ages 6-10) will take place on Fri., February 20 at 3:15pm


3. The library has signed up for a free trial of ProQuest's Black Studies Center, a website that can be accessed from the library's public computers. Ask a librarian for assistance in using this resource!


4. There are several book displays highlighting the library's related collections in different areas of the library.


5. Dr. Elaine Cawley Weintraub will speak about The African American Heritage Trail of Martha's Vineyard on Thurs., February 26 at 6:30pm