About The Library
Mission Statement
The Oak Bluffs Public Library provides materials, services and programming to support cultural awareness, meet the general information needs, and address current topics and popular titles for the citizens of Oak Bluffs.
Please view our Long Range Plan to learn more about the library's efforts and goals.
Library History
The roots of the Oak Bluffs Public Library trace back to the 1880s, when a small but enthusiastic group of (then Cottage City) residents formed the Rural Improvement Association.
Among the group's many improvement goals was to "quicken the social
and intellectual life of the people." By 1883 this had led to the
recognition of the need for a town library.
Lillie Chapman was put in charge and a call for book donations
went out. Books accumulated and the collection grew quickly in the Chapman
home on Lake Avenue.
Within a year, it was clear that the library needed a home of its own, and it moved to a room upstairs in the Arcade Building on Circuit Avenue. The collection steadily increased, as did the responsibility of running the library. In 1905 the association offered the library as a gift to the town, which they voted to accept at the 1906 Town Meeting.
Subsequently, the library moved once again, this time to the Eldredge Building, which now houses the restaurant Balance. During the 1930s the library purchased and moved to the two-story building at the corner of Circuit and Pennacook Avenues.
The first floor had formerly housed William McNeil's grocery store, and the second floor at one time had been used by a local post of the Grand Army of the Republic. Eventually, this building also proved too small and an addition was built by the Oak Bluffs Highway Department and dedicated in 1990.
With help from a state grant, construction of a brand new library began in spring 2004, and opened in October 2005. For the first time in its history, The Oak Bluffs Public Library operates in a building that was created specifically as a library.
Floor Plans
Lower Level
Upper Level
Library Staff
Library Director: Danguole Budris
Assistant Director/Reference Librarian: Mathew Bose
Childrens Librarian: Jessica Bowers
Administrative Assistant/Technical Services: Rosemary Hildreth
Library Assistant: Anita Parker
Library Assistant: Pam Speir
Library Assistant: Anna Marie D'Addarie
Library Trustees
Chairperson: Beatrice Green
Trustee: Robert Ford
Trustee: Lloyd Henke
Trustee: Robert Huss
Trustee: Ann Ross
Trustee:
Library Friends of Oak Bluffs
Who are the Friends? The Library Friends of Oak Bluffs are a community organization made up of volunteers, from all walks of life, who share an appreciation and love of the Oak Bluffs Public Library. All are welcome to join by becoming supporting or active members. The Friends welcome your membership, your moral support, your financial support, your participation in developing and presenting Friends programs and events to support the Oak Bluffs Public Library.
The Mission To promote the library as an active, dynamic, education and information center in the community and to support and enhance our library's programs, services and collections.
Friends Activities The Library Friends of Oak Bluffs
promote the Library’s programs
and services, raise funds through membership dues, sale of their cookbook,
“Tastes of Cottage City”, and the annual Summer Book Sale.
The Friends developed and presented the Community Outreach Program, “A
SENSE OF PLACE AND PRIDE” to an overflow crowd in August 2009 and,
each December, they host a Holiday Open House for Library staff, patrons
and the community. The Library Friends are always looking for more ways
to support our Library and volunteers to help.
How you can help
- Support the Library Friends with your membership dues (Membership Form).
- Support the Library Friends with your time, interests and skills.
Check out
Volunteer Opportunities for ways you can help. - Support the Library Friends with your book donations.
How to make book donations You can support the Friends
annual Summer Book Sale by donating your used books. You may drop them
off at the library. Please call ahead if you have a lot
of books to donate. If you can’t get your books to the library,
you may
contact the Friends to arrange a pick-up. Please refer to book donation
guidelines for details (available online or at the library check-out desk).
For more information Upcoming projects and events are
posted on the Library’s
Events
Calendar and in local newspaper and online community calendars. Meetings
are held the first Monday of the month at 7:00 PM at Town Hall.
Library Friends of Oak Bluffs
PO Box 1421
Oak Bluffs, MA 02557-1421
e-mail: LibraryFriendsOB@gmail.com
Newsletter
The library is publishing a new quarterly newsletter! Copies of the Books & Beyond newsletter are available at the library's checkout desk and at our web site (see below) for online viewing.
Learn about the latest library programs, resources, services, staff recommendations and much more by reading our new publication. Read the latest issue of Books & Beyond today!
