February 2021
edgartownlibrary.org 508-627-4221

Library closures this month:
CLOSED Monday, Feb. 15 for Presidents' Day

Library Service Updates
Curbside Pickup &
Children's Room Pickup Window Hours:
Monday through Saturday: 10AM - 4PM

If you need to schedule a pickup time outside of our regular schedule, please contact us. We are happy to make special arrangements.
All six Martha’s Vineyard libraries offer contactless pickup of books, DVDs, and other library materials. Schedules and procedures vary by library, so please call or visit the library's website for details. Click here for information about contactless pickup at the Edgartown Library.

It is not necessary to make an appointment to pick up your materials at the Edgartown Library. When you have received notification that your materials are ready for pickup, please be sure to bring your CLAMS card (available to add to the CLAMS app) or a photo ID, and wear a mask while inside the vestibule or waiting to pick up your materials.
Current Library Services Checklist

AVAILABLE SERVICES:

  • Contactless pickup of library materials
  • Book drop open 24/7
  • Limited printing services
  • Virtual programs
  • eBooks and audiobooks via Libby and Hoopla
  • Video streaming via Kanopy and Hoopla
  • WiFi access (extended to both parking lots)
  • Free online access to the WSJ and NYT
  • Online language learning via Mango and Little Pim
  • Tech help, by virtual appointment
  • Remote library card account management
  • Circulation of musical instruments and kits
  • NEW: Circulation of Chromebooks (see below)

UNAVAILABLE SERVICES:

  • Public use of the building, including:
  • Browsing
  • Computer use
  • In-person programs
  • Restrooms
NEW: Chromebooks now available for checkout
Chromebook laptops are now available to check out for two-week loans. Chromebooks run the Chrome operating system and use Google services such as Gmail, Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides. Each Chromebook comes in a laptop bag with a mouse and a power cable.

To place a hold, either visit the online catalog or contact us at 508-627-4221 or email [email protected], and we'll be happy to place the hold for you.

To check out a Chromebook, patrons must be 18 years or older and have a library account in good standing.

For more details, please read our Chromebook lending policy.
Adult Virtual Programs
Magic the Gathering Game Night
Fridays in February
7pm
Join us Friday evenings on the Edgartown Library's Magic the Gathering Discord server. Meet new and old friends alike on the battlefield as we play all manner of formats and competitive levels. Players of all ages are welcome to join.

Friday February 5, 12, 19, & 26

Follow this link to join the server and start having fun.
Restorative Yoga
Sundays in February
(no program on 2/21)
9am
Certified yoga instructor Jelisa Difo leads a Sunday online class in Restorative Yoga, a practice that allows you to slow down and restore and relax your body through passive stretching. During the long holds of restful poses, your muscles are allowed to release tension and welcome deep relaxation into the body and mind. No experience or flexibility required, however you will need the following props:
 
  • 1 bolster/firm pillow: To make a bolster, stuff a pillowcase with towels, blankets, or clothing until it is firm and packed tightly. Or use a large, firm pillow. 
  • 2 blocks: To make a block, stack hardcover books to a height of about 6-8 inches.

Sunday February 7, 14, & 28
Note: no program on February 21.

Send an email to [email protected] to register, and we'll send you a link to the class.

This program has been generously funded by the Friends of the Edgartown Free Public Library.
Chef Look Cooks: Dinner for Two
Thursday, February 11
5pm
Our monthly cooking series continues with chef Christopher Look creating delicious dishes live from his own kitchen. A professional chef for almost twenty years, Chris is one of the most imaginative cooks we know, and his affable personality makes him a natural teacher. Get a preview of Chris’s style on his library cooking blog Trash Panda.

In this month’s live episode, Chef Look will be cooking up some romance with a special Valentine's Day dinner for two. We'll learn the importance of temperature control when searing meats as Chris cooks a perfect surf ‘n' turf of fish and tenderloin. He'll pair that with a side of bacon and white bean creamed spinach. The ancient Greeks were right when they said love begins in the stomach.

Request the link at [email protected].

This program has been generously funded by the Friends of the Edgartown Free Public Library.
All You Need is Love:
A Valentine's Day Event
with Pianist Adele Dreyer
Sunday, February 14
6pm
Whether sentimental, sophisticated, romantic, or ironic, a great love song is hard to beat. 

Our resident pianist, Adele Dreyer, will choose her favorites from her vast repertoire to honor St. Valentine’s Day and send a little love our way.

Join in by requesting the link at [email protected].
Author Talk with Jean Stone:
A Vineyard Morning
Tuesday, February 16
7pm
Life in the off-season is usually quiet on our Island, but not in a Jean Stone novel. Romances are kindled, friendships develop, babies show up on doorsteps, and skeletal remains…just turn up. The best-selling local author has published twenty-two novels about the lives of contemporary women, ten of which take place on Martha’s Vineyard. A Vineyard Morning is the third book in her current Vineyard Series (preceded by A Vineyard Christmas and A Vineyard Summer) and follows the adventures of “washashore” writer Annie Sutton and a boatload of indelible characters.

Meet the author and celebrate the book's publication by requesting a link at [email protected].

The book can be requested in the CLAMS catalog, found online through Hoopla, or purchased by emailing [email protected].
Music in the Evening:
The Tucson Guitar Quartet
Friday, February 19
7pm
We’re excited to present the lively rhythms and passionate melodies of the Tucson Guitar Quartet. The members of the quartet (George Ramirez, Alfredo Vasquez, Michael Nigro, and José Luis Puerta) will introduce their latest concert film Latin American Soundscapes, and take your questions after the screening. Known for their engaging and expressive performances, their rich selection of Latin American music will transport you to Cuba, Mexico, Argentina, Puerto
Rico, and Brazil. 
 
A front-row seat is yours by requesting the Zoom link: [email protected]
 
This program has been generously funded by the Friends of the Edgartown Free Public Library.
Movie in Focus:
Film Discussion Group
The Heiresses (Paraguay, 2018)
Monday, February 22
11am
Until the day comes when we can enjoy films together again on the library’s big screen, we’re hosting a monthly virtual film group. View our movie of the month (free on Kanopy or Hoopla) and we’ll meet to discuss it via Zoom. Bring your impressions and opinions. Virginia Munro will choose the films and facilitate the group.

With its unobtrusive camerawork and natural performances, The Heiresses depicts a world seldom seen in mainstream cinema. Director Marcelo Martinessi shows us an aristocratic couple inhabiting a world of privilege, and the subsequent crumbling of their entitlement. Actresses Ana Brun and Margarita Irun head a solid cast in this subtly powerful drama, which makes an auspicious debut feature for Martinessi. The film is streaming for free on Hoopla.

Request the link at [email protected]
Library Book Group
Thursday, February 25
4pm
Join local author Jean Stone and library director Lisa Sherman for a lively virtual discussion on the novel Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano, which The New York Times called "a surprisingly uplifting story, full of hope and dry humor, with an underlying, noncloying message about the decency of strangers."

Digital copies are available on Overdrive, or contact us to put your physical copy on hold.

Email [email protected] for the Zoom link, and join the conversation!
Journey to Cuba with Alex Welles
Thursday, February 25
7pm
Adventure traveler Alex Welles brings us along on his journey to Cuba. Alex has visited the tropical island nation, so small and yet so consequential to the US, twice in the last five years. Inspired to explore Cuba by the work of his grandfather, Sumner Welles (a statesman who served as its US Ambassador and as Under Secretary of State for FDR), Alex will narrate a Zoom presentation filled with breathtaking images, videos, and music. 
 
Highlights will include:
  • A tour of Havana’s Old City (a designated World Heritage Site)
  • The scenic Bay of Pigs (the site of the disastrous US-backed incursion of counter-revolutionaries in 1961)
  • A visit to historic San Juan Hill of "Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders" fame
  • A visit to the Hemingway House, now a museum

Let the mojitos flow… and join us by requesting the link at [email protected]
 
Alex Welles has been to the Arctic, Annapurna, China, Tibet, Antarctica, and even Edgartown, where he is a life-long summer resident. 
Staff Blog
Trash Panda's Quarantine Food Blog
Get meal ideas using existing ingredients
Feast your eyes on Library Assistant Chris Look's many meal creations on his food blog. Follow his alter ego, Trash Panda, as he spruces up leftovers, digs all the way to the back of his fridge and cabinets, and talks at length about how much he loves eating. Explore techniques for using what you have on hand to create tasty and fulfilling dishes at home.

Feeling overwhelmed and don't know what to cook with what you've got? Send Trash Panda a list of ingredients or a picture of your fridge or cupboards, and get personalized advice on creating something delicious. Email him at [email protected] with all of your food questions.

Check out his blog at trashpandaepl.wordpress.com.
Kids, Teens, & Families
New: Children's Librarian on the Go
Do you have a home daycare or homeschool pod in Edgartown? Sign up to have hand-selected materials and craft bags delivered to your door on Wednesdays, up to four times per month.

To sign up, email Elyce at [email protected].
Book Besties
Let us find the perfect books for your child
Too busy to make requests and browse online? Let us do the choosing for you! Just fill out this form with some details about your child's reading preferences, and our talented library staff will place some items on the hold shelf for you to pick up.
Children's Room
Pickup Window
Monday-Saturday
10am - 4pm
The Children’s Room pickup window is open to browse materials through the windows, or place requests with the library staff.

Masks are required, as well as your library card or photo ID.
Kids Winter Reading Challenge
Monday-Saturday
10am - 4pm
Pick up your reading log from the Children’s Room pickup window. Keep track of the books you read (or have read to you) and bring your log back to the window to receive a stamp. Collect stamps to earn prizes!

Masks are required when visiting the pickup window.
Craft Pickup Bags
Monday-Saturday
10am - 4pm
Come to the Children’s Room pickup window to grab an activity bag to do at home. Crafts will change weekly, and kits are appropriate for children of all ages.

Masks are required when visiting the pick-up window.
Kids' February Art Show
Pick up a new February art bag with a fresh set of coloring pages designed by Island artist Tara Reynolds at the Children’s pickup window. Complete your masterpiece at home, and bring it to the library to have it displayed in the front windows of the Children's Room.

The art show will be on display for the month of February. Every masterpiece entered will win a prize, and children of all ages are welcome to participate.
Share the Love
Kids can pick up a "Share the Love" craft bag and complete a valentine card to return to the library by Wednesday, February 10th. The valentine cards will be distributed to members of the Edgartown Council on Aging in time for Valentine's Day. If you know an Edgartown senior that would enjoy receiving a card, please let us know by emailing [email protected].
Live Virtual
Storytime
Fridays
10:30am
Join Elyce on the Edgartown Library Children’s Place Facebook page for storytime. This storytime is geared toward preschool-aged children, but all are welcome. Can’t make it at 10:30? The storytimes are available on the page for you to view with your little one anytime.
Community Helpers and Heroes Parade
Saturday, February 13
3pm
Come cheer on our community heroes and helpers while getting a look at some of the coolest vehicles on the street. The parade will feature all kinds of vehicles from the fire department, police department, construction companies, and more!

Bring a sign from home to show your appreciation for these wonderful community members who have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic. The parade will start at 3pm sharp, so arrive early, park in the library's big parking lot, and find your socially-distanced spot along the sidewalk on Roberts Way.

Mask wearing and social distancing will be enforced.
Minecraft Meetup
Tuesdays in February
6pm - 8pm
Sign onto this virtual program, play with your friends, and make new ones in the Edgartown Library's new Minecraft Realm. Explore your creative side and work on your own lasting mark in our new world. Brave the dangers of night to protect your companions, or seek the riches of battle.

Meetups are every Tuesday from 6-8pm for group activities and discussion, but the Realm is open any time of day so participants can jump on and make something happen, together.

This program is for players ages 10-16.

Tuesday February 2, 9, 16, and 23.

Email [email protected] for access to the realm.
Free Live Tutoring Help & Academic Assistance
Brainfuse HelpNow offers personalized academic assistance in core subjects (math, reading, writing, science), a 24/7 Writing Lab, academic content and practice tests for skills-building (including SAT preparation), and much more. Please note that you will need your library card number to create a username and password.
Live online tutoring is available every day from 2:00 PM to 11:00 PM EST.

HelpNow's features include:
  • Homework Help: Interact with live tutors in math, science, reading/writing, social studies, PSAT/SAT, ACT, AP and state standardized tests.
  • Skills-Building: Choose your topic to receive real-time help.
  • Personalized eLearning Tools: My File Sharing, My Session Replay, My Tutoring Archive, My Tests Archive, and more!
  • 24-Hour Writing Lab: Submit essays and other forms of writing for constructive feedback.
  • Homework Send Question: Submit homework questions for expert guidance.
  • Adult Learning Center: Access a library of rich adult learning content (GED) and live, professional assistance in resume/cover letter writing, U.S. citizenship prep, MS Office Essential Skills Series, and more!
  • Foreign Language Lab /Spanish-Speaking Support

Need technical assistance or have questions? Contact Brainfuse at 1-866-BRAINFUSE (1-866-272-4638) or send an email to [email protected]. When contacting Brainfuse, please provide an email address and the name of the library from which you are using the Brainfuse service.
Access to Brainfuse HelpNow has been made possible by a generous grant from the Martha's Vineyard Bank Charitable Foundation. The Martha’s Vineyard Bank Charitable Foundation provides philanthropic support for nonprofit community service organizations. The Foundation supports non-profit organizations that enhance the societal and economic development in the communities Martha’s Vineyard Bank serves.
CLAMS and Library Services
Get the CLAMS
Library App

Take a tour of the CLAMS Library Network app with Chris by clicking on the video.

The CLAMS app lets you browse collections, view upcoming programs, manage your account, and more. It also includes special features, like integrated NYT bestseller lists and Coming Soon titles.

Available for iOS and Android.
To add your digital library card to your phone using the CLAMS app, just follow these instructions:
  • Download the CLAMS Library Network app from the App Store or Google Play Store.
  • Select My Account, Manage Accounts, then Add Account/Add Library Card.
  • Enter your library card number and Password/PIN and select Validate.
  • If you'd like to add more than one card to the app, just repeat this process.
  • You can now use your Digital Library Card to check out items at the library.
Library Card Signup

The Edgartown Library issues library cards free of charge to all Massachusetts residents and property owners. Applicants visiting the island may apply for an out-of-state card, which has a one-time $10 fee and may check out up to ten (10) items. To apply for a library card, fill out a Library Card Application and either email it to us at [email protected] or drop it off during curbside pickup hours. 

Stop by the library anytime during curbside pickup hours and present your photo ID in order to pick up your library card. If you need any assistance, please email us at [email protected].

Click here to download the library card application form.
Browse New Library Materials

Click on the lists below to find our newest and most popular titles. Please contact us if you need assistance putting items on hold - we are always happy to help.

Check out our
Browsing Window!

The library's vestibule window display is always stocked with our newest titles. Please stop by and browse anytime during our curbside pickup hours.

All items on display are available for immediate checkout.
Home Delivery Service

Home delivery is available for free on Thursdays for any library patron living in Edgartown who is unable to visit the library.

Please contact us at [email protected] or call 508-627-4221 with your request for library materials.

WiFi Hotspots Available for Checkout

Need internet access? Check out a mobile WiFi hotspot from the Edgartown Library. WiFi hotspots are wallet-sized devices that broadcast wireless internet in a 30 foot radius and can connect up to 10 devices. They work anywhere with Verizon coverage, so you can take it on the go. For full details on checking out a WiFi hotspot, click here.
Free Extended WiFi

On days when the weather agrees, get connected with free outdoor WiFi from the Edgartown Library. Bring your laptop, tablet, or smartphone to enjoy free internet access 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

And when the weather doesn't agree, you can enjoy the library's WiFi from both of our parking lots from the warmth of your vehicle.
Remote Tech Time

Sign up for a one-on-one session with our tech-savvy library staff and upgrade your tech literacy. You can learn how to access e-books, audio books, language learning software and streaming movies, all with the power of your library card, all for free. Sessions are available every Tuesday-Saturday afternoon.
 
Call or email the library to sign up, or click here to make an appointment.
Digital Services
There are several digital services you have access to through the Boston Public Library, the library for the Commonwealth. As a Massachusetts resident, you may sign up for a free BPL eCard. Once you have a library card number and PIN, you'll have access to lots of exciting resources.

Got a lot on your mind? Feeling stressed out? Experience the benefits of mindfulness through animations, articles, guided meditations, and videos from Headspace. BPL has a limited number of licenses to assign to eCard cardholders.

Licenses expire on the 1st of each calendar month, but you may return here to obtain a new license.

This resource requires you to register for an individual Headspace account.

Download Headspace from the app store, or log in here.
The Great Courses is a series of college-level audio courses, accessible through Overdrive or the Libby app via your BPL eCard. Educate yourself from the comfort of your own home with instant access to these audiobooks. View the full collection here.

Popular courses include:

  • Brief History of the World
  • Building a Better Vocabulary
  • Writing Great Fiction
  • How the Stock market Works
  • 36 Books that Changed the World
  • The 23 Greatest Solo Piano Works
Are there any technology skills you wish you had? Niche Academy's library of introductory and instructional videos provide easy to understand instructions that can teach you everything from creating a Google account, to using Instagram, to video chatting on Zoom. They even have videos on the basics of using a computer and navigating the Internet.

Click here to see BPL's full library of videos on Niche Academy.
Lynda specializes in producing video courses in business, software, technology, and creative skills, taught by recognized industry experts.

Whether you finally want to learn how to use Excel, teach yourself to code, or just learn how to manage your time better, Lynda's got instructional videos on hundreds of popular subjects.
And don't forget...

The Edgartown Library has lots of digital services available to patrons; all you need is your CLAMS library card number and PIN.

Check them all out here.

If you need help finding your library card or PIN, just give us a call or send an email to [email protected].

If you're looking for help on signing up or using Libby, Kanopy, or Hoopla, watch one of our video tutorials.

You can also sign up for assistance with any of these services here.
The Friends of the Edgartown Free Public Library is a volunteer organization that supports much of the rich programming the library offers.

Their next regular monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Thursday, Feb. 4 at 9:00am, and all are welcome to attend. Send an email to [email protected] for a link to the meeting.

FRIENDS ANNOUNCEMENT: In recognition of Library Trustee Herb Foster and his late wife Anita's belief in the enduring value of education, the Friends of the Edgartown Public Library have established The Herb and Anita Foster Staff Education Fund, which will support professional development for Edgartown Library staff members who wish to pursue educational endeavors that support and enhance their role at the library.
To donate, send a check to the Friends of the Edgartown Public Library, 26 West Tisbury Road, Edgartown, MA 02539, or click on this link and select The Herb and Anita Foster Staff Education Fund from the drop-down menu.

To find out more about the Friends or to make a donation, click here.

To read the Friends latest Annual Appeal letter, click here.
Covid-19 Resources
website: edgartownlibrary.org
phone: 508.627.4221