SAVE THE DATE: Sankofa Festival

AUGUST 3 - 5, 2023

Save the dates for our annual Sankofa Festival: an annual celebration of African American literature and culture.

Learn more about Sankofa

Summer reading isn’t just for littles

Join in our adult summer reading program for July - August  and get delicious rewards for kicking back and enjoying the summer with a good book!

Thank you to our Oak Bluffs restaurant sponsors:

The Barn & Bistro | Biscuits | Coop de Ville | Fat Ronnie’s | The Sweet Life Café

Learn more about Adult Summer Reading here!

Oak Bluffs Library’s Summer Hours

Tuesdays 10:00 - 6:00

Wednesdays 8:00 - 5:00

Thursdays 10:00 - 8:00

Fridays 10:00 - 5:00

Saturdays 10:00 - 4:00

Resident Artist on Display for July

July Adult Programs

Click here to see our full program calendar

Summer Lawn Series 

Thursdays starting July 20th

6:00-7:00

Join us on the Library's South Lawn for live, local music. Bring your beach chairs, blankets, snacks and lay out on the grass while you listen to tunes. Fun for all ages. This event series is free and open to all. 

Summer Lawn Series is kindly funded by the Library Friends of Oak Bluffs.

Historic Cemetery Walking Tour with Tom Dresser

Saturday | 9:00 - 10:00

2023 Dates:

July 1st

August 19th 

September 9th

Join local historian Tom Dresser for a fun, informative & not-at-all-scary cemetery tour. We will meet outside at Pacific Avenue entrance (cemetery-facing side) of the Oak Bluffs library. Tour takes about an hour and is about a mile in distance. Weather dependent. No registration is necessary.

Summer Tap Classes

Saturdays July 1, 15, August 5

10:30-11:30

Join Hannah for a tap dance class to discover your inner tap dancer! Class will include a warm-up, instruction to basic tap steps and vocabulary. We will end each class with some fun, light choreography that will keep you tapping until the next class.

No experience is necessary, and a limited number of tap shoes will be provided (size dependent). Registration is encouraged. Email: [email protected]  or Call: 508-693-9433

TICK TALK

Saturday, July 1st | 2:00-3:30

Lone Star Ticks on MV: What You Need to Know

Join for a talk on the spread and increase in numbers of the lone star tick and the diseases they cause, with an emphasis on larval “tick bombs” and the alpha gal red meat allergy

American Sign Language 

Practice Group

Tuesdays | 5:30-6:30

Want to learn ASL? Come drop in on our conversational practice group! No experience necessary, but before joining the practice group please check out the linked videos. For more information

email [email protected]  

How to sign the alphabet in ASL

Ten things to know about ASL

Ballroom Dance Lessons

Thursday 7/6 & 9/7 | 7:00pm

Come and learn some fun and fundamental ballroom dancing moves — a lifetime activity.  Taught by Tom and Janet. For all ages. Come with or without a dance partner. Shoes with smooth soles are recommended.

Reiki Healing Workshop

Thursdays at varying times

Reiki is a complementary health approach in which practitioners place their hands lightly on or just above a person, with the goal of directing energy to help facilitate the person's own healing response. Join Reiki Master, Wakenda Johnson for any of her drop-in classes. Whether you are interested in learning about reiki, or looking to hone in on your practiced skills, this class will have something for all. Registration is encouraged, but not required. You can email [email protected]  or call 508-693-9433. 

Salsa Suelta with Christina Montoya

Saturday July 15th | 11:30am

Saturday July 29th | 11:30am

Known as Casino dancing in Cuba, this class will explore basic rhythms and movements of this style and related styles, as well as touch on history and culture. No partner necessary. Class size is limited to 15 attendees and registration is required. 

To register, please email [email protected]  or call 508-693-9433

Ask a Muslim Anything

Saturday, July 8th | 11:00-1:00

This is a program, developed by Robert Azzi, to create safe and open spaces for people to listen to his experience as a Muslim in America, the religion of Islam and its history, and ask any questions they have. Nothing is off the table except rudeness and disrespect. 

No pre-registration is required. Email [email protected]  for more information.

Historical Sleuthing

Thursday, July 13th | 7:00-8:00

Join amateur historian Hal Garneau for a slideshow presentation about the techniques used to discover the identity of those puzzling unknown cottage and buildings found in early photographs of Oak Bluffs. This event is free and open to all, no registration required. Email [email protected]  or call 508-693-9433 for more information.

Sea Glass Sketching Craft

Friday, July 14th | 1:00pm

Join Hannah for our July Craft: Sea Glass Sketching

Create a masterpiece with sea glass! Library materials will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own.

Registration required, email [email protected]  or call 508-693-9433

Library Friends of Oak Bluffs

BOOK SALE

Thursday July 20-Saturday July 22

ALL DAY!

Find the best deals on used books at the world-famous Library Friends of Oak Bluffs book sale! You don't want to miss out on these truly outrageous deals on books for all ages.

All sales help support the Library Friends, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. LFOB provides funding for Library programs, services, and collections that are not fully provided for in its taxpayer-supported budget. Cash and Venmo accepted. No book donations please!

Beach BeFrienders

Saturday, July 22nd | 8:00-10:00am

INKWELL BEACH

Beach BeFrienders is a collaboration with Vineyard Conservation Society, Island Libraries, Island DWP's and MV Refuse District, dedicated to tending our beloved Island beaches. Join us every 4th Saturday, from 8-10 am, where we meet to clean up an Island beach. 

This month we will be meeting at Inkwell Beach in Oak Bluffs!

Balebe Beading Workshop

Tuesday, July 25th | 12:00-2:00

Ignite your creativity with Balebe! Join us for an afternoon workshop where you will learn about beading and it's connection to numerology, color theory, design, intention setting. Each participant will leave with their own beaded bracelet.

Registration is required as supplies are limited. To register, email [email protected]  or call 508-693-9433

Walk Worthy Workshop

Wednesday, July 26th | 12:00-1:00

An interactive workshop about finding your calling.

Registration is not required. Email [email protected]  or call 508-693-9433 for more information.

"Art of the Auction" Lecture and Reception with Clinée Hedspeth

Thursday, July 27th | 3:00-6:00

A community educational and outreach event that will include a lecture to educate existing and potential art enthusiasts about the art auction market. 

Open to the public, anyone from novice to professional art collectors. Email [email protected]  for more information. 

Guest Speaker: Scott Nussbaum, Phillips - Deputy Chairman; Senior Int'l Specialist

Q&A Facilitator: Clinée Hedspeth, Phillips - Regional Rep.; Chicago & Midwest

Reception Sponsor: Phillips

Author Talk: 50 States of Mind by Ryan Bernsten 

Friday, July 28th | 5:00-6:00

Ryan Bernsten undertook a 23,000-mile journey through all 50 states of his home country to answer the question: Is America as divided as it seems? 50 States of Mind: A Journey to Rediscover American Democracy is a work of travel nonfiction in the style of Alexis de Tocqueville that takes readers on a long and winding journey through all 50 states to explore the complexities of today’s America. 

Recurring Programs

All Ages Chess

Saturdays 2:00-3:30

Come join Chess Club at the Oak Bluffs Library! Chess is more popular now than ever. Are you looking for a partner, a challenge, a new move? Come and play at the library with a dedicated group of chess lovers in this fun and welcoming environment.

MAGIC: The Gathering

1st and 3rd Fridays 6:00

Come play Magic: the Gathering at the Oak Bluffs Public Library! Players of all skill levels are welcome. On the first and third Fridays of the month. Food and drink will not be provided, but feel free to bring your own as long as you clean up after yourself. Children under 14 should be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the program. For more information, please contact Marco Daniels at [email protected] 

Walk With Us!

Wednesdays 8:15am

Join us for a walk around East Chop! We'll start at the library's Pacific Avenue entrance at 8:15am. We'll walk up Pacific Avenue, continue to Washington Park (near Our Market), then continue past the beach club and around the Chop. Walk is approximately 4 miles and will take about an hour and a half. Ground is mainly flat, but can be uneven in sections so it is not fully wheelchair accessible. Weather dependent.

All Programs Free and Open To The Public

JUNE Highlights

Martha’s Vineyard Library Association was overjoyed to celebrate in the Oak Bluffs Pride Parade with you! We are happy make sure everyone knows, we all belong at island libraries!

We made decoupaged oyster shells, such a simple and fun craft! 

Thank you to all who came to “Chalk It Up” with us at the 2023 Harbor Fest. Folks of all ages came together to create a beautiful mural!