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.

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.

WHAT A NICE LIBRARY!…read more We were visiting the island with 2 kids the weekend before Halloween. It was rainy and I had found the library was having a Halloween party. Not going to lie over the last few years I have been to a few library parties and Oak Bluff took it up a notch! Their decorations were creative! Some purchased, some hand made. They made a tunnel for the kids to crawl through with decorations inside! There was a massive spider web with a word intricately placed inside it over a large window. There were do many hands on things to do... Halloween twister, decorate a bag, coloring, ball toss, the maze, etc... The staff were dressed up, they served cider, popcorn and treat bags for every child. There were stickers, and sticky hands and jeez! What a great party for the kids! On another note, the library is spectacular! Outlets available on every table, super clean, organized, spacious... I wish my library was this nice! Kudos to the staff and thanks for making our kids smile!

A new library…read more The first library in Oak Bluffs was started way back in the 1880's. In fact the town wasn't even called Oak Bluffs back then but was still referred to as Cottage City. As with most small town libraries the books really didn't have a permanent home but were moved around and stored in different buildings throughout the years. Finally in Oct. 2005 the library finally got a new home, the first time the library was ever in a building that was designed and built especially as a library. Obviously someone gave a lot of thought and effort into the the place because it is stunning. Even though it is a new and very modern building it's absolutely beautiful on the outside and in. Roomy, spacious and bright, the perfect place to relax and enjoy reading a book or doing a bit of research. All the facilities of a much larger library are present but it still has cozy little spots and special areas emphasizing it's island heritage. Of course the librarians are friendly, knowledgeable and pleasant and are more than willing to help with any problem you might have. Oak Bluffs Library is a great example of how a new and very modern library doesn't have to be mundane and boring but can still be unique and special.

Kitchens closets and…read morelibraries The first library in West Falmouth started back in the 1870s when a group of young ladies got together to discuss books, literary and music stuff and slowly started donating their own private collections. Bu the end of the decade the group had over 50 books that they stuck into a kitchen closet. Finally people realized that a kitchen closet would never do as a library, so some creative volunteers built a small "real" library. The collection of books and materials kept growing and it became obvious that the poor little building was about to burst . So a new an larger library was planned, funded and constructed The new library was opened in 1896 and still serves as the town library. The library is mostly privately funded and receives only a small amount of money from the town. Of course changes and additions were incorporated over the years and now the library is a truly lovely place. Lots of fantastic woodwork, great pictures, lovely art, historical photographs and a very cool garden outside. And of course like most small town libraries West Falmouth also served as a community center and a place people in the town discuss important issues and kids come to play. A wonderful library that serves the town well.

If you happen to be visiting downtown Falmouth, it is worth a quick stop in front of the library to…read morepose with the Katherine Lee Bates statue. It's also fun to start singing America the Beautiful at the top of your lungs, and then realize that you have forgotten the lyrics. Then you can contemplate what Amber Waves of Grain and Purple Mountain Majesties are. It's kinda weird doing those last 2 things if you didn't do the first on the list.

Katharine Lee Bates, the poetess who composed "America the Beautiful", was a Falmouth native. Her…read morefather was a pastor at the Congregational Church that overlooks the town green. She taught at Wellesley, penned several books, but it was her lyrics for "America the Beautiful" which immortalized her. Her original 1893 lyrics had phrases like "O beautiful for halcyon skies" and "upon the enameled plains" before it became the "O beautiful for spacious skies" and "fruited plains." Bates' journey from Chicago (and its Columbian Exposition) to Colorado inspired her most famous poem. This statue in front of the public library, sculpted in 1986, apparently depicts Bates as she overlooks the Rockies and Great Plains from Pike's Peak. The statue is in a peaceful spot, albeit in an odd one. It's beside a public parking lot/restroom, and it's the hangout of Falmouth's local tribe of turkeys (no wonder they're avoiding Plymouth) The Katharine Lee Bates statue is a pleasant spot on Main Street Falmouth.

A super cute bookstore with a great selection of books, cards and novel gifts. Staff were so…read morehelpful and welcoming especially the sweet kitty!

Super-cute bookstore with lots of lovely gift selections, too. I even got a small toy book from the…read morevending machine.

Not just kids' books! We stopped by this bookstore on a recent visit to Falmouth and it was the…read moreperfect place to pick up a beach read for a grownup. They also had a small local interest section and lots of fun little mugs and doo-dads. Even if you don't have a specific book you're looking for, this is a fun bookstore to browse. Also - loved the special "entrance" for Harry Potter lovers!

Super cute little bookstore on a main drag with other cutie patootie little independent stores!…read moreLots of great books, some stuffies, and some little goodies like socks, stickers, and bags throughout a perfect reading stopover.

First thing it was open on a Saturday. The postman was Super helpful and the place was clean. I…read morethought I was in a dream.

An OK US Post Office. It has beautiful murals depicting Falmouth history. While it has a somewhat…read moreconfusing layout&the service can vary on who's there, it's the friendly neighborhood post office. People socialize. It tends to be short staffed, so if you have serious postal issues, be prepared to wait at least a half hour. If your mail gets lost... good luck. Parking is a challenge in the spring&summer. There are nearby public lots. It's alright, has a friendly neighborhood feel.