The Chilmark Free Public Library is pleased to offer individuals, groups, or organizations the opportunity to display their art exhibits. 
Goals of the exhibits in the library include:

- Supporting community cultural and artistic activities
- Encouraging individuals to contribute to the appreciation of the arts
- Broadening horizons by presenting a wide range of art, collections, or displays
- Nourishing intellectual, aesthetic, and creative growth
- Reaching non-traditional library patrons

Exhibitions typically run for 3 weeks in the summer and 1 month during the rest of the year. The summer is defined as June, July, and August.

Email [email protected] for the application and rules. or call 508-645-3360 for more information.

The Chilmark Library of Things is a collection of games, tools, consumer electronics, and more that you can check out with your library card!  All items go out for two weeks.
Examples of items currently in our collection:

- Birding kit, with binoculars and device to recognize bird calls
- Handheld camcorder
- Gardening kit with a gloves, tools, and a sample of seeds
- Ukulele
- Electric keyboard
- Bongos
- Bocce ball set
- Spikeball set
- And much more!

Stop by the library today to check out an item! These items can be placed on hold at the Chilmark Library.

New Adult Programs

Please email Adult Programming Coordinator Tracy Thorpe at [email protected]g to sign up, get Zoom invite, and/or ask questions. 

Saturday, December 3, 3:30 PM at the West Tisbury Library: Martha’s Vineyard Atlas of Life (MVAL) with Matt Pelikan.

Join the Martha’s Vineyard Libraries and Atlas of Life program director Matt Pelikan as he shares highlights of the newly-launched MVAL website. This website will serve as an outlet for community members to share their sightings of flora and fauna, and a resource to learn more about the nature around them.

Launched in 2021 by BiodiversityWorks and the Betsy and Jesse Fink Family Foundation, the Martha’s Vineyard Atlas of Life project seeks to enlist a broad community of nature enthusiasts to document the distinctive biodiversity of Martha’s Vineyard. Along with acting as a destination to record and index the extraordinary biodiversity of the Island of Martha’s Vineyard; the website will also act as a centralized resource for the public to deepen its knowledge of the Island’s plants and animals.

During this event, Matt will explain how the program’s new website is recording species from across the Island using both archival information and modern resources to log sightings past and present. Anyone can contribute to this growing Island atlas by reporting plant and animal sightings using the iNaturalist mobile app or directly on the MVAL website. Join us in learning more about how you can get involved.

The event will be hosted at the West Tisbury Library, and sponsored by the West Tisbury, Chilmark, Vineyard Haven, Edgartown and Oak Bluffs and Aquinnah Public Libraries.

Free. Email or call your local library for more information.

Saturday, December 10, 1:00 PM: Writing for Young People: Join our Group!

Are you working on a picture book, Middle-Grade, Young Adult story, or nonfiction for young people? Or, have you always wanted to? Join our monthly virtual group and share your work, critique, and discuss favorite books in today’s and yesterday’s marketplace. Come experience the joy that is creating stories for kids. All levels welcome! Facilitated by Tracy Thorpe, programs coordinator at the Chilmark Library and MFA, Creative Writing for Young People, Lesley University.

Email [email protected] to sign up and get the Zoom invite.
Free. Sponsored by the Friends of the Chilmark Library. 508-645-3360.

Wednesday, December 21, at 5:00: Ayurvedic Self-Care Practices for the Winter

Ayurveda has its roots in ancient India. It is among the world’s oldest holistic healing systems, dating back over 3,000 years. Ayurveda is an elemental science, offering a framework of holistic healing which connects the individual to the qualities and rhythms of nature. Ayurveda teaches us that the five great elements of ether, air, fire, water and earth are present within the world at large, as well as in our bodies. Each season of the year presents us with an increase in certain qualities in the environment, therefore in order to maintain balance, we must adjust our diets and lifestyles accordingly. In this workshop we will explore balancing diet, lifestyle and self-care practices for the winter.

Sonja Josephson is a Kripalu certified Ayurvedic Health Counselor. She is the founder of Seasons of Life Ayurveda. In her work, she incorporates her knowledge of Western herbalism with the framework of Ayurveda. Sonja specializes in offering individual Ayurvedic consultations and group workshops. Her offerings aim to uncover the innate wisdom and intuition of her clients.

In person. Email [email protected] for more information.
Free. Sponsored by the Friends of the Chilmark Library. 508-645-3360

Thursday, December 22, 3:00 PM: Tea Club

Join our monthly tasting and talk with teas from around the world. Pick up your tea previous to our discussion, and either brew beforehand or brew during our monthly Zoom meeting where we will discuss the taste, origin, history and producer of the specific tea in hand (or cup.) December’s tasting is Vanilla Tea from Mauritius.

Email [email protected] to sign up, receive your tea, and get the Zoom invite.
Free. Sponsored by the Friends of the Chilmark Library. 508-645-3360.

Technology help by appointment on Tuesdays from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Bring your tablet, ereader, computer, phone, or any questions about library technology services. Call the library at 508-645-3360 or email [email protected] to reserve an appointment.

Art Shows Are Back!

Youth Services

Create dried orange garlands to celebrate the winter solstice and bring cheerful brightness into your home! Join Caroline and Tracy on Saturday December 17 at 2 PM to string together your own one-of-a-kind garland. All supplies provided, but bring any additional supplies you may want to add to your garland (dried flowers, beads, bells, winter greenery, etc). This event is for adults and supervised children. Free and open to the public.

Call 508-645-3360 to learn more information. 

Join us every Wednesday from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM in the Chilmark Library Meeting room to play with LEGOs. We provide the LEGOs, you provide the creativity! This program is free and open to the public. Registration is not required.

Join Caroline on Saturdays at 11 AM for an in-person story time. This event is free and open to the public, but the stories and songs are geared toward toddlers and preschoolers. 

Masks are required for all patrons aged 2+, regardless of vaccination status. Children aged 10 and younger must be accompanied by a caregiver.

NOTE: LEGO club will still be held on Wednesday 12/28 at its regular time.

Did you know that 85% of what we learn, we learn by listening? Give kids access to their favorite books on the audiobook player built just for them. No downloads or internet needed.

Simply plug in headphones and press play. Learn more at playaway.com/audiobooks/kids

Borrow their favorite audiobooks today at the Chilmark Free Public Library. Our brand new collection includes favorite kid titles: Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Warrior Cats, and more!

Virtual Resources

Libby: https://www.overdrive.com/apps/libby
Libby is an Overdrive app designed to make borrowing and enjoying eBooks and audiobooks easier than ever. Try it out on your smartphone or tablet! Download it for free from your app store, and log in using your library card number and PIN.

Kanopy: chilmark.kanopy.com
Kanopy is an on-demand streaming video service for West Tisbury Library cardholders.  Download the free app from the app store or log in through your browser. Kanopy allows you 20 borrows per month. Enjoy critically-acclaimed movies, inspiring documentaries, award-winning foreign films, and more! Log in with your library card number and PIN.

Visit https://www.chilmarkma.gov/referenceeresources/read for free access to the NY Times and the Washington Post.

Complimentary access to NYTimes.com and WashingtonPost.com is sponsored by the Martha's Vineyard Library Association.

The Martha’s Vineyard Library Association has partnered with Brainfuse, a national online education company, to provide free online tutoring and homework help to all Martha's Vineyard library cardholders. The program is available seven days a week to anyone with a library card issued by any of the six Martha's Vineyard libraries. Click here to learn more about Brainfuse and get started!

Martha's Vineyard Library Association presents Creativebug! This online service provides access to thousands of award-winning art and craft video classes taught by recognized design experts and artists! Click here to get started, log in with your library card number, and get crafting!

Introducing a new digital database for children and kids: ComicsPlus! Read comics on your digital device wherever or whenever. No holds, no waitlists, no borrowing limits. Read ALL the comics and graphic novels! Patrons must have a Chilmark library card to register (a library card that begins with 1600000) for ComicsPlus. Click here to register today!