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

"The Glass Castle" - January Book Discussion Group

In spite of really horrific weather, we had a small but lively and interesting group for the discussion of "The Glass Castle" on Wednesday, January 28th. The discussion was particularly intense at times because we all had different reactions to the book which tells the tale of Jeannette Walls who grew up in the world's most dysfunctional family. Ms. Walls relates an absorbing, albeit at times unbelievable, story of her nomadic upbringing.

This memoir was challenging on several fronts: the rootlessness of Ms. Walls' childhood in the West and then the dire poverty she and her family experienced in West Virginia made her success in her career and marriage all the more astounding.

Illumination for Lifelong Learners Series

A new series of programs and services begins this winter at the library. The “Illumination For Lifelong Learners” series will include basic computer classes, lectures on topics of local interest, multi-generational gaming programs, and an information clearinghouse for community members.

The library will use funding provided by a Lifelong Access grant to purchase a Nintendo Wii, an Amazon Kindle, and a new information kiosk to be used for monthly information spotlights. The first spotlight topic will be on Saving Money & Financial Assistance. The Better Business Bureau will be presenting a special lecture at the library on “Going Green to Save Money” on January 29^th and January 30^th. All monthly spotlight and event information will be available at the library’s website.

You can monitor all of the library’s programming by subscribing to receive updates through email or RSS feeds on the library’s home page, or through the local newspapers and other media outlets.

This Lifelong Access 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. Additional support is being provided by the Library Friends of Oak Bluffs. Library Director, Danguole Budris, and Assistant Director, Mathew Bose attended the EqualAccess Libraries™ professional development program sponsored by Libraries for the Future (LFF) to create and implement this new series of community programming and services.

New Homework & Language Learning Resources!

The library has purchased subscriptions to World Book Web for Kids & Students and Mango Languages. These resources may be used from home by visiting our website: www.oakbluffslibrary.org, and scrolling down the page until you see the appropriate logos or link. You will need an Oak Bluffs Public Library Card Number (located on the back of your library card) to access the websites.

World Book Web - Kids: This homework site is specifically designed for kids. It offers simple navigation, colorful illustrations, diagrams, and maps, and dozens of activities tied to national curriculum standards.

World Book Web - Students: A great homework resource for older students that offers articles, multimedia, web sites, and much more.

Mango Languages: Learn Brazilian Portuguese or English as a Second Language for Brazilian Portuguese Speakers! There are also modules for learning Spanish, French, German, and Italian.

We have also continued our subscriptions to Ancestry Library Edition (a genealogy website accessible from inside the library only) and NoveList (a great tool for all ages to find new reading material and more literary information). NoveList may be accessed from home using your Oak Bluffs Public Library Card number.

At this time we are no longer offering access to Heritage Quest (another genealogy website), but please speak to a library staff member to learn about alternative options.

Cape NPR Show - Role of Libraries in Economic Hard Times

Did you hear the Diane Rehm Show on our local NPR station this Wednesday Morning? The topic of the 11:00 show was, "The Role of Libraries in Economic Hard Times". Here is a link that you can use to listen to the show.

Rehm discusses the fact that libraries offer more than just books. There are also DVDs, CDs, Internet Access, Games, and more educational and entertainment resources available to borrow or take advantage of. Your local library has a special role in the community during tough economic times!

Here is another news story, "Rediscovering the Library During Down Economic Times", that aired on NECN News recently.

There have been many similar stories in the news lately from all over the country. Please tell us about any articles, news spots, etc... that you have seen!