October 2020
edgartownlibrary.org 508-627-4221
Library Service Updates
Curbside Pickup Hours:
Monday through Saturday: 12PM - 4PM

Curbside service will continue through the month of October. 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 (now 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
  • WiFi access (now extended to our lawn area and both parking lots)
  • Tech help, by virtual appointment
  • Remote library card account management

UNAVAILABLE SERVICES:

  • Public use of the building, including:
  • Browsing
  • Computer use
  • In-person programs
  • Restrooms
  • Circulation of items such as musical instruments and kits
Piano Donated to Library
The library received the most unexpected of phone calls last month: legendary island pianist David Crohan wished to donate his Mason & Hamlin grand piano to an island community organization, and his longtime friend David Stanwood suggested the perfect place - the Edgartown Library. This marvelous gift (pictured here) was delivered to the library's program room in mid-September, and we await the opportunity to gather and connect through the power of music.

Thank you, Mr. Crohan.
New! Home Delivery

Home delivery is now being offered on Thursdays.

Home delivery is available for free 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.

New! WiFi Hotspots
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.
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.
Outdoor Seating & Free WiFi
Get connected with free outdoor WiFi from the Edgartown Library! Bring your own laptop, tablet, or smartphone to enjoy free internet access in our outdoor seating area. Access is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

And don't forget, you can also enjoy the library's WiFi from both of our parking lots.
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.
Magic the Gathering
Game Night
(virtual program)
Fridays in October
7pm
Join us Fridays from 7pm - 9pm 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 October 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30.

Follow this link to join the server and start having fun.
Restorative Yoga
(virtual program)
Sundays in October
9am
Certified yoga instructor Jelisa Difo leads a Sunday online class in Restorative Yoga, a practice that allows you to slow down, 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.

Sunday October 11, 18, 25, & November 1
(Note: no program on October 4).

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.
Author Talk with
Thomas Dresser
(virtual program)
Wednesday, October 7
7pm
A book talk with local historian Thomas Dresser is always guaranteed to fascinate, enlighten, and enrich your knowledge of our Island, but this one might even send shivers down your spine. Mr. Dresser’s new book (and his 13th on Vineyard history) Ghosts of Martha’s Vineyard, is his first step into the paranormal history of the Island. With his tested investigative method of carefully looking through historical fact, oral history, and Island legend, Tom has put together stories of ghosts, the supernatural, and other-worldly phenomena all associated with Martha’s Vineyard. In this live Zoom event, Tom will tell some of those spooky tales and, we think, raise your spirits.

Request your front row seat by emailing us at [email protected] for the link.
Songs of Loss and Hope:
a film by
Joshua Peckins, concert violinist
(virtual program)
Friday, October 9
7pm
Months ago, before all of our lives turned upside down, the Edgartown Library planned to host a live performance with violinist Joshua Peckins. Until we can do that, we’re very pleased to present a film Joshua created for his admirers worldwide. Songs of Loss and Hope is an inspiring virtual concert film, in which Joshua introduces each piece with historical context and engaging stories about the composers. It is his deeply personal vision of how art and music bring us together, with work from Ravel, Bach, and others. There’s also a guest appearance by composer and violinist Jessie Montgomery.

To access this private screening, request the link and password at [email protected].

This program has been generously funded by the Friends of the Edgartown Free Public Library.
Tour of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
(virtual program)
Wednesday, October 14
6pm
Take a virtual tour of a distinguished organization just across the Vineyard Sound, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Tour guide Paul Daigle will give us a sweeping look at this world-famous center for the study of the ocean and everything related to its environment.

The event is free but space is limited, and advanced registration is required. Please register by going to www.hyannislibrary.org and scroll down on their homepage to the registration signup.*

This program has been generously funded by the Friends of the Edgartown Free Public Library.

*This program is co-sponsored by the public libraries of Hyannis, Chilmark, Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, West Barnstable, Brewster, Chatham, Mashpee, Provincetown, and Yarmouthport.
Live Zoom Performance:
Do You Didgeridoo?
(virtual program)
Tuesday, October 20
7pm
The didgeridoo - is it an ancient artifact? A modern sculpture? The Australian Outback will seem a lot closer when you experience the extraordinary music made by this instrument. Its mournful, otherworldly sound conjures up primordial history. But amazingly, it can also sound joyful and contemporary, urging you to get up and dance!

Musician Rob Thomas of Didgeridoo Down Under will live-stream a performance that you won’t forget, mixing funky didgeridoo rhythms, percussion instruments, and relaxing soundscapes with both organic and electronic sound effects. Music and More from Down Under and Beyond is not just a musical event, it's a mesmerizing journey of sight, sound and imagination, immersing the audience in a stunning virtual landscape of Australian forests, deserts, oceans and distant galaxies.

Rob Thomas has been making and playing didgeridoos for almost 30 years. He has performed throughout the country, recorded several CDs, and produced music for numerous films, including the IMAX movie Sacred Planet. He collaborates on many of these projects with his wife and fellow DDU performer, Tanya Gerard.

Request the link at [email protected].

This program has been generously funded by the Friends of the Edgartown Free Public Library.
Chef Look Cooks
(virtual program)
Thursday, October 22
5pm
Our new monthly cooking series will feature chef Christopher Look creating delicious dishes live from his own kitchen. A professional 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. October’s dish is something Chris calls a quick, flavor-blast meal: succulent roast chicken with the sweet and salty combo of olives and grapes. It’s easy enough for a weeknight meal and delectable enough for dinner guests.

Sign up for the fun at [email protected].

This program has been generously funded by the Friends of the Edgartown Free Public Library.
Library Book Group
(virtual program)
Thursday, October 22
4pm
Join local author Jean Stone and library director Lisa Sherman for a lively virtual discussion on the novel The Confession Club by Elizabeth Berg, which Kirkus Reviews described as having "all the bucolic pacifism of an episode of Prairie Home Companion without the seething undercurrents."

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

Email [email protected] for the Zoom link, and join the conversation!
Movie in Focus: 
Film Discussion Group
(virtual program)
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. You’ll have time to watch the film at least once before we meet. Bring your impressions and opinions. Virginia Munro will choose the films and facilitate the group.
Séraphine (France, 2009)
Monday, October 26
11am
October’s selection, Séraphine, directed by Martin Provost, was the most honored French film of 2009, a winner of seven Cesars from the French Academy, including Best Film and Best Actress. It tells the story of the “outsider artist” Séraphine de Senlis (beautifully acted by Yolande Moreau) who labors during the day as a washerwoman, but with the encouragement of her guardian angel, paints at night. It’s an intelligent and thoughtful exploration of creative fervor, religion, and madness. This movie is available to stream for free on Kanopy.

To join the discussion, email us at [email protected] for the link.
Minecraft Meetup for Teens
Tuesdays in October
6pm - 8pm
Sign on, 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.

Tuesdays October 6, 13, 20, and 27.

Email [email protected] for access to the realm.
Kids & Families
Looking for some fun activities to do at home with the kids? Be sure to visit the Edgartown Library's Children's Place on Facebook! Check out the page regularly for:

  • Live storytimes
  • DIY tutorials
  • Craft ideas
Children's Room Pick-up Window
Wednesdays-Saturdays
12pm-4pm
Come to the Children’s Garden door to browse materials through the windows or place requests with Elyce.

Masks are required, as well as your library card or photo ID.
Wednesday Crafternoons
Wednesdays
12pm-4pm
Come to the Children’s Garden door to pick up an activity bag to do at home. Crafts will change weekly, and kits will be appropriate for children in grades K-3 and 4-8.
Live Virtual Storytime
Fridays
10:30am
Join Elyce on the Edgartown Library Children’s Place Facebook page for story time. 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.
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Digital Services
There are several digital services you have access to through the Boston Public Library. As a Massachusetts resident, you may sign up for a free BPL eCard. Once you have a library card and PIN, you'll have access to lots of exciting resources.

Headspace
Experience the benefits of mindfulness and meditation through animations, articles, guided meditations, and videos. The BPL has a limited number of licenses to assign to BPL 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 login here.
The History Makers
The HistoryMakers records and preserves video oral history interviews highlighting the accomplishments of individual African Americans and African-American-led groups and movements.

You can search by topic, racial issue, person, narration type, and more.

Start exploring their website here.
PressReader

With your BPL eCard you can access PressReader, a convenient and complete way to read all your favorite newspapers and magazines on one site and get access to publications on the day they are published.

Enjoy full-page, color article reproductions of thousands of U.S. and international newspapers and magazines by clicking here.
New York Times Online
You can now access the New York Times online for free with your Edgartown Public Library card. Simply click here and enter the code c59d2806040934a2, then create a username and password.

Use that information to "Log In" upon every future visit to www.nytimes.com
or when using the app.
Missing your daily dose of the crossword puzzle? Please visit us during curbside pickup hours - puzzles are available in our contactless pickup area in the rear parking lot entrance.
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.
Need a Library Card?
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.
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.
Library 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.
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, Nov. 5 at 9:00am, and all are welcome to attend. Send an email to [email protected] for a link to the meeting.

To find out more about the Friends or to make a donation, click here.
Ready to Vote?
If you have any questions about what's on the ballot, how to vote by mail, how to vote in person, or any other voter related questions, please visit:

Still haven't taken the Census?
There's still time, and it only takes a few minutes to complete! 

You can respond online, by phone or by email. Please note, you do not need a Census ID to complete the Census.
COVID-19 Resources
website: edgartownlibrary.org
phone: 508.627.4221