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News and Views

From the
Friends of the Vineyard Haven Public Library

Winter / Spring, 2010

FROM THE PRESIDENT
By Myra Stark, President of Friends of Vineyard Haven Public Library

Life may slow down on the Vineyard in the winter, but you would never know it from the activities of the Friends.

This past summer, the Friend’s second Annual Appeal was even more successful than the first, thanks to the generosity of the residents of Tisbury.  During the fall, the Friends met with Amy and the staff and planned how the money would be used: a new rug for the Young Adult room and the renewal of the Teen Health Data Base, repairs of the chairs in the Children’s Room, expanding the library’s poetry collection and funding the Ancestry database.   This winter will also see new lighting for the shelves and tables, an audio download station and a comfortable furnished reading area downstairs.

The Friend’s support of our library has also been increased by the revenue from our fall Road Race and by the Mini Book Sales we are holding one weekend a month on a Saturday from 1 to 3.

We’ve had one Sunday with Friends program, featuring the Haiti Peace Quilt project and we are looking forward to two more this winter. The exhibits in our display cases change monthly, showcasing Vineyard organizations. In addition to our shelving volunteers, the Friends keep the non-fiction collections in order through our Adopt a Shelf program.   We are looking forward to the Staff Appreciation Luncheon that the Friends host for staff, trustees, and volunteers on January 22 as well as our Spring Coffee.

Our meetings which take place on the 4th Monday of the month at 1 p.m. are planning sessions.  We will be working on an Art in June show for Vineyard artists during two weeks in June and planning for our Honoring a Vineyard Writer, an event we host every summer.  Last year David McCullough read a chapter from his new book: this year stay tuned     We are also looking forward to a Grandparents Initiative  to showcase the children’s activities at the library  during the summer and a get together for island Friends.

It may be winter on the Vineyard, but the Vineyard Haven Friends are busier than ever. 

FROM THE DIRECTOR
By Amy Ryan, Director of VHPL

The Vineyard Haven Public Library has passed another very active year. Both attendance and circulation continue to increase, following a trend reported by libraries nationwide. The library has offered more classes and other programs by patron request, and attendance at programs for both children and adults has increased substantially.  Based on our circulation, number of visits, program attendance, and public Internet use, the library was recently recognized as one of 258 "star" libraries (out of 7,268 rated) in Library Journal's annual rating of U.S. public libraries.     

This year the library has been improved inside and out. In April 2009, Tisbury voters supported funding for much-needed repairs to the exterior of the library building. Work to repair and repaint the shutters and trim and to replace all the rain gutters on the building has now been completed. Inside, additional overhead lighting and table lamps were given by the Friends, along with comfortable seating for the lower level adult reading area. Improvements to program room include new seat cushions and new audiovisual equipment for showing films. The library webpage was also revamped, and now includes an online newsletter, a blog, and a Facebook page.    

New services were added this year as well, including Mango Languages, an online language-learning system teaching actual conversation skills. Library patrons have access to six language courses: French, Italian, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Brazilian Portuguese, and English for Brazilian Portuguese Speakers. Myra Stark, President of the Friends, was featured in an article in the Cape Cod Times on December 29, 2009 about the Mango Service.  In addition, the Friends of the Library donated a computer and software to allow patrons to download audiobooks at the library, purchased a subscription to the Teen Health and Wellness database, and extended the library subscription to the Ancestry genealogy database.     

For the third year the library is open on Sundays this winter, and will continue our expanded schedule through May 2nd. Please visit the library to enjoy the improvements and innovations that have been supported by the Friends of the Library and the community of Tisbury!

LIBRARY BOOK CLUB
By Wendy Andrews

The Library-sponsored book club continues to meet monthly on the third Thursday at 1:30pm in the downstairs program room.  February’s selection is All Other Nights by Dara Horn.  Upcoming titles will include Cloud Atlas by Liam Callanan, Angie of Respose by Wallace Stegner, Loving Frank by Nancy Horan, Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout, Brooklyn by Colm Toibin, and The Art of Racing in the Rain by garth Stein.  Books are available at the front desk and new members are always welcome. Please join us for refreshments and a lively discussion.

WHAT ARE WE READING?

While we do not have a list of the books most checked out at the library, here is a list of some of the most requested books at the library. So, what are we reading?:

The Help       
U is for Undertow   
True Blue  
Worst Case: A Novel                
Split Image                                
Not My Daughter                      
Hell Gate                                       
I, Alex Cross, a Novel  

MEMBERSHIP

By Rosemary Ribarik

Friends’ membership continues to grow!  As we welcome in the New Year, 2010, more than 100 members (many of which are life memberships) continue to help us fulfill our mission of supporting library services and resources.  With outstanding assistance from Amy Ryan, you are helping to make the Vineyard Haven Library one of the best!  We wish all our Friends and their families a most happy new year!

EXHIBITION CASE

By Carole Early

The Library Display Cases Committee" would like to report that in September and October, Marshall Segall had two of the cases for his topic "We Are the Human Race". In November, the Island Food Pantry, as well as other Island Food Programs, such as the Family to Family Program were in one case. In the second case, was the Clothes to Go Project. The December display is the Red Stocking Fund. In January we will have "Three Cups of Tea" which is the All Island Book. February we hope to have something marking Black History Month. Future ideas include the Drumming Workshop, and Women Empowered.

FUNDRAISING NEWS
By Anne Lucas

As of the first of this month, the 2009 Annual Appeal have arrived at 205 donations for $13,814.The Friends have posted what the money from this and former campaigns have been spent on at the library's entrance. This a great way for patrons to see what our Friends group has accomplished!
 
The Director has also faithfully posted Friends achievements on Facebook. Most recently, the new furniture on the lower level. Hopefully more visibility will garner more Friends!

NEWS FROM THE CHILDREN'S ROOM
By Kathy Stinson, Children’s Librarian

Our Youth Programs continue to provide many choices of activities for children and young adults. Our interactive programs attract children who enjoy stories, songs, rhymes, instruments, crafts, nature programs, musical talents and games. We continue our “Movie & Popcorn” programs, showing newly released DVDs.

Our popular story times (for ages 0-2 & 3-5) and crafts (for ages 5 and up) are enjoyed and supported by our community. Pre-schools, the Tisbury School, Montessori School, and many happy families and childcare providers regularly visit the library and participate in our programs. Working with the older children, Emily Levett is expanding our youth programs to include more activities for ages 8 through high school, including popular Wii Games, book groups, access to lap top computers and providing a friendly gathering place in our Judy Blume area. Our popular multi-generational knitting group has also started up again and will continue through the winter.

Because of the generosity of the Friends, this season we welcome musician Merrily Fenner, science teacher Kathy Forrester, music teacher Joyce Maxner, musician Jeremy Berlin, yoga teacher Bonnie Menton, teachers from the farm institute and Felix Neck, story character Olivia the Pig, and more. For the second year, we have been most fortunate to receive a special grant from the Anderson Foundation for special programs & guests. This past October we welcomed musician, Ellen Hoffman (for the younger children) and mime Robert Rivest (for the older children). Our plans include inviting Gerwick Puppets back sometime later this spring and others for the summer.

Our friendly and helpful staff keeps our collection and displays current and interesting. We offer puzzles, toys, computer games and more, as our spaces continues to be well used by young and old alike. Please stop by and join an activity!

LIFELONG LEARNING

by Betty Burton

A special thank you to all of the Friends.  Your help in adult programming is greatly appreciated.  Friends have come in to help set up chairs for a special event upstairs, have ordered books and then helped Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot with a book signing, made cookies and served them at special events such as the Holiday Party, and your funds have helped with some of our programming.

BECOME A FRIEND

We continue to honor life memberships, but if you are an annual member or have not yet joined the Friends of the Vineyard Haven Public Library this fall, you may send your check for $25 now for an annual membership good until next September. Donations beyond the membership fee are always welcome! Please mail to: Friends of the Vineyard Haven Public Library, RFD 139A, 200 Main Street, Vineyard Haven, MA  02568.

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MEETING REMINDER

Remember that our meetings are on the 4th Monday of the month at 1:00 pm in the library (except for December). Don’t forget that we will now be meeting throughout the summer months!

Reminders are also included in the local paper’s calendars. Our meetings are open to all, so please join us.