A little red…read more library The Aquinnah Public Library is an extremely cool little library located in Aquinnah on Martha's Vineyard. Most people I know still call this area Gay Head but the name of the town was officially changed in 1998 to Aquinnah, the Wampanoag word meaning "high land". Many people pass the diminutive building on the way to the cliffs and great lighthouse at the tip of the island without even noticing it. I was looking for the building and ending up biking by it. One of those magical places that seems to blend in with the environment until you actually stop and take a good look. Only then you see how special this library is. It looks like the classical little red, one room New England schoolhouse and that is indeed what it was. Built in around 1844 and then moved to it's present location several decades later it served as the town's school for a long time. The first library in town was first founded in 1901 but like many small towns didn't really have a place to store the books. They were just sort of shoved into the town hall and it seemed the poor books were always in the way and moved from one location to another. Finally when the little school was closed in the 1960's someone had the brilliant idea of using the old schoolhouse as the library. A short time later the town finally had a real library of it's own. The old schoolhouse roots are still very obvious both from the outside and in. Very few changes have been made to the building and even the old chalkboards are still visible as well as the hooks on a wall where the kids use to hang their coats. Fascinating stuff. The library makes the most of it's space and is a very warm, friendly and inviting atmosphere. Certainly not a large library by any measure but I have seen smaller ones, this library managers to incorporate modern computers, wi-fi and efficiency without losing one bit of it's cool, small town character and history. Just looking a the old school house is fun but what really makes this library so special are the great librarians. Friendly, knowledgeable, and proud of their library, they realize fully that the job of a local library is a lot more than just to give out books. Their warm hospitality lit up and made the small library come alive. Certainly not the easiest library to find but definitely worth the effort.

cute small town library, a solid selection and a dedicated staff…read more Located in downtown Aquinnah.

For a small resort island, I love that they their own public library and it's larger than you'd…read moreexpect. It doubles as a cultural center and a mini museum. Located right in the middle of everything in the downtown district, this is a site not to be missed! Beautiful exterior architecture and a grand staircase. Two floors, with a range of books, a corner for free books for the taking, restrooms in the lower level, and friendly staff. They have events year round including lectures and special exhibits. I wish I had more time to explore!

The Atheneum is a must visit. It's great for kids and adults…read more First, wander around the outside grounds. Check online for any programming, too; we stumbled upon a really great outdoor show for young kids with music and dancing - very memorable and fun. We got our kid's first library card here, even as a non-local. The kid book section is right in front with a great selection. There's also a kid's bathroom. There are extra bathrooms for adults in the basement, but they took forever.

History and…read moreconvenience The very first idea for a library in the town of Falmouth was back in 1792. At first the books were stored where ever there was room and eventually ended up in the town hall. The library finally got a permanent home in 1901. As the town grew the need for a larger library also become obvious. So in 1966 an addition was completed. And again in 1978 another addition was added. And finally in 2008 major renovations took place and now the library is a whole lot larger than the original one but still has the charm of the very first building. The library is beautiful, both inside and out and the additions and renovations blend in extremely well with the original concept so it can be difficult to see exactly where the addtions were added. The seal of the town of Falmouth is even embedded on a dome in the ceiling. The library has lots of very comfy place to sit or study as well as a great local history room, kids department and community room. A lovely and very useful library that has grown along with the town.

We went to this library a lot when our kids were little. They loved it and we loved it. We had not…read morebeen back for a while but wanted to see how it had fared in recent years. It's a small town library that's really crowded during summer tourist season and never used to be crowded at all in the off season when we were often in town. It was jam packed on a cool drizzly summer day. It still has a large lower level children's section. And it is still the place to be with wonderful creative updates. The book areas are nicely delineated by age groups and book styles and there are lots of inspiring posters even on office and closet doors. A creative playhouse is at one end. A local garden having a butterfly release on Saturday was nicely featured with all the details of the event and displayed many correlated books. The librarians were very helpful and parents circulated through the areas with their kids. There did seem to be lots of locals socializing with each other but also some obvious tourists enjoying the facility. The building still has lots of historic charm but there are updates to some areas as well as the exterior. There appeared to be an addition since we were last here and we heard maybe yet another in the near future. Parking was a real problem this week but I would guess they can handle the off season/school year just fine.

Being the nerd that I am, I came here the day after my birthday. Since last year, I've been…read morechallenging myself to visit all public libraries in the state of Rhode Island. This was the 11th one I visited. My friend and I came on a Saturday morning. I don't think they have a parking lot, but we found street parking right by the entrance. It reminded me more of an admin building when I walked in. To the left is a book sale, and to the right are the stairs to the main floor. There were lots of happy kids in the children's section. Down the hall, they have the walls lined with lots of information, including subsidized tickets to different events and places including the bird sanctuary nearby. They also have an extensive and well diversified library of tools and equipment to loan for a week including sporting gear, home repair tools, yard tools, games, and even a telescope. I was impressed. On my way out, I also saw a an ad for a free account to Mango through the library, which is a language learning platform (perfect for my journey to learning French).

Parking is easy behind the building. Staff are always so kind and sweet. The children's area is…read morealways such a treat for my kiddos to go visit and enjoy a little play time with friends.

I really just love the WT library. While it is located right in town and the building and grounds…read moreare really nice, it is the staff that makes it one of the best libraries around. They are friendly and very helpful. They are what makes the WT library the best around. The inventory of books is awesome and they can usually get what I am looking for if another library has it. When our power or wi fi goes out and I need the juice, I head over to the library. Sometimes I need help with Word Press or need something printed or copied, I head over to the library.

Best place to charge on the island it's level 2 charger so charges at 17mi/h and it's free…read more 2outlets for any electric vehicle

Time to retire…read more The Essex Public Library is a cool looking stone library that isn't very large. Built like it could last forever, unfortunately or perhaps fortunately it won't. At least not as a library. The cool looking stone part is fine but the isn't very large part is what dooms it. I'm sure it will survive as something, it is just to cool looking to destroy, but it's library days are almost gone. The library was built back in 1939 and the massive stone walls survived whatever nature could throw at it with ease. Cozy and very pleasant inside, the venerable old library just could expand no further. Just no more room to put computers and other new necessitates. So it was decided to build a new library that is much larger, more convenient, more user friendly and much more modern. It is scheduled to open in 2014. The old library is not very easy to get into, steep stairs get slippery in the rain or snow and it must be difficult for anyone with a handicap to manage. The library is wonderful once you manage to get in, cozy, comfy, with a great sense of history. The stairs down to the kid's department has a fantastic mosaic covering both walls. Absolutely stunning to look at, I hope this somehow makes it to the new library. Yeah, a new library is needed and will serve the community much better. But seeing this building retired will still be sad. Hopefully it can be turned into some type of museum or educational edifice. Time passes and the old fade into the mists of time and the new takes over. Doesn't matter if it's a building or a person, time will always have it's way.

It's a place where I can focus to read and make a work or thinking in create something. I enjoyed…read morethis space for a long time in my first visiting to Tiverton.

Adorable little library with a good selection of new releases and fiction. Friendly, knowledgeable…read morestaff make this little gem a must stop spot for your summer reading. This was my first visit to Martha's Vineyard, invited along by long time visitors, and I wasn't disappointed. The library card gives you access to all of the libraries on the Island plus the cape and for a small fee, you can have one of your very own. Great for those lazy rainy afternoons! Comfy couches and large windows on the main floor provide a great place to sit and eat. The downstairs offers quiet work stations and a large program room. Call about drag queen story time

A quiet place for…read moreinformation The Vineyard Haven Library is location on the quiet part of Main Street just outside of the center of the busy town. It's only a ten minute walk from the ferry but it's in the opposite direction of all the stores and restaurants so most people visiting the island never even know that it exists. That's too bad because visitors to the island are frequently in need of information and directions and this is a great place to find it. The librarians here are patient and friendly and can tell you just about anything you want to know about the island. If you happen to be staying in the town for some time, the library is a great place to read a book or magazine, take advantage of the wi-fi or just relax. I've always found pleasant people to talk to and and discuss things with. The library isn't as quaint or historical interesting as some of the other ones on the island but it is very clean, comfy and efficient. Over 50,000 items are scattered around the building and some great old maps and pictures grace the walls and tons of info on the history of the town and island are available. The library has lots of classes and programs for the local folks and for a relatively small place certainly offers a lot. A great place to go when you have something you wish to know.

Love this library! Great place for toddlers!! They have a room for kids in the ground level where…read morekids can read, play, and explore! Also, check out the free programs they have for kids!

Harpoons ships and…read morenaked ladies The Southworth Library was opened in 1969 and looks like a massively strong and stout building from the outside. A lot of stairs to climb to get into the main entrance but with handicapped access also available. Once inside it becomes immediately apparent that this library is as much museum as a place for books. Lots of cool paintings and models of ships, most reflecting the area's very nautical history. Some old harpoons are prominently displayed on one wall and right in the middle of the library is a large statue of a very naked lady. Not sure who she is but the statue is definitely hard to miss. A very pleasant and unique library that is more than just a place to find a book or use a computer. Lots of local history is available and even some historical and prurient art.

This is the quintessential "small town" library that has a surprisingly diverse range of books…read more They have unique programs year round such as the "All Ages Coloring Club:" (last Tuesday of every month, 4:00 to 5:00 PM) and children's book clubs. Everyone knows that libraries now offer more than books for loan. Of course, most libraries also offer movies on DVD's and books read aloud on CD's, e-books, and museum passes. (The Woods Hole Library offers all of these items as well as passes to seven different museums). What might not be so well known is that some libraries offer all sorts of "other things" on loan. This growing trend has long been in place at the Woods Hole Public Library. For instance, as a result of a gardening workshop series started five years ago, two sets of "soil block makers" have been available for several growing seasons. Every spring there is a waiting list of people eager to use them. The library also loans a Kindle, a Home Detection Kit for energy conservation, a digital projector, and a portable projection screen. This past summer, two sewing machines joined the line-up of items to borrow. They are both easily portable; one is a Singer "Featherweight" beloved by generations of seamstresses. The other is a Singer 457, notable for its zig-zag stitch. Don't miss the book sale in the basement!

The Woods Hole Library is a charming little place with a view of the Martha's Vineyard Ferry…read more Despite its smallness, they have a diverse selection. The cooking section has official Woods Hole cookbooks (yes, seafood predominates) along with diverse selections like Allison Bechdel's Fun Home graphic novel, books about the Shakers in New England, and weighty Joseph Conrad tomes. They also have several DVDs. The children's room is extensive and has a bird feeder. The place is very old school when it comes to checking out books; it has limited parking, along with odd hours. Housed in a historic 1875 building, it has a beautiful view of the Atlantic. A place for opening the mind.

A library that…read moreevolves The first library in this area was formed back in 1882 when a whooping total of 33 books was kept in the back of a store. The present Chilmark Library has now has about 34,000 items, quite an evolution and improvement over time. As with many small town libraries the books during the library's early years were moved around from placed to place and didn't really get a permanent home until 1956. In was in that year that the library was moved into a home originally built in 1790 and become the location of the present library. Of course the small old home went through many modifications over the years. In 1963 a huge addition was added and then in 1990 and 2003 other major improvements took place. So many changes that I'm the folks who built the house back in 1790 wouldn't recognize the place today but the basic theme in all the additions has remained the same and the library flows from one area to another gracefully and without notice. The present library is a wonderful place that serves the community as well as the occasional guest. Lots of comfy places to read and relax as well as the usual computers and wi-fi and I enjoyed my brief stay here. I suspect this library is not done evolving and will continue to change to meet the needs of the community.