Adult Programs
We have a lot going on! Scroll down for all our adult programs. Programs that require registration contain links below the promotion.
Summer Reading Programs
Celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence by reading 1776 by David McCullough. Then join the All-Island Book Discussion led by retired constitutional scholar and author, Jack Fruchtman, Saturday, July 11th at 3:00 pm at the West Tisbury Library. We have multiple copies to lend. Come pick one up and get ready for the conversation!
June 1st - August 31st
Join your neighbors and friends in the library's Adult Summer Reading Challenge from June 1st to August 31st. Come by the library and pick up the brochure or use the link below to download and print your copy. Read three books to make a tic-tac-toe on our challenge grid. Once three books are complete, come back to the library to choose a small prize and get entered into the grand prize drawing that includes a library tote bag stuffed with goodies for the avid reader.
CLICK HERE to download the brochure.
Weekly Recurring Programs
Technology Tuesdays
1:00pm - 3:00pm or by appointment
Need help with your computer, tablet or phone? Our adult program manager, Lynne McCormack is here to help you. And when she's not available Drew Dubno, our youth services librarian and deputy director is available. From help with library apps, Libby, Hoopla and Kanopy to almost anything else, we can assist you navigate the digital world. Stop by anytime between 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm on Tuesdays. Or feel free to make an appointment outside these hours by clicking on the link below.
CLICK HERE to make an appointment.
Mah Jongg
Tuesdays
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Come play Mah Jongg at the library! We have three tables set up each week for experienced, intermediate and beginning players. Asst. librarian, Ann DeWitt is on hand most weeks to assist new players learn the game. Please click the link below to be added to our Mah Jongg email reminder. And if you are a new player looking for help, please be in touch before you join your first session so we can be ready to assist!
CLICK HERE to join the email list.
Chilmark Coffee & Conversation
Wednesdays
10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Come to the library on Wednesday mornings for, what is always, a wonderful conversation about our town. We discuss the unique qualities and values that define Chilmark. From oral histories of the town to current events, the lightly facilitated conversation is always lively and interesting! Guest speakers are occasionally invited. Coffee, tea and breakfast treats from 7a are provided.
Sponsored by the Friends of Chilmark Library
No registration required.
Community Knitting Circle
Thursdays
June 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Come to the library with your work in progress to sit and stitch in the lovely Martha's Vineyard Room or during the warmer months outside on our patio. We welcome all levels of knitters and offer assistance to those looking for tips or to learn new techniques. We have some very experienced knitters who are happy to share their knowledge. And if you are hoping to learn to knit, please come join us! We are happy to start you on your way with some of the materials in our knitting stash. And don't be shy if you are in a different category of fiber and needle arts. Please feel free to join us too!
No registration required. Please note the new time as of June 2026.
June Programs
Lunch & Learn: Menemsha Harbor Current and Historical Photographs
with Barbara Armstrong, photographer & CHC member
Friday, June 5th
11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Join the Up Island Council on Aging, The Chilmark Free Public Library and the Chilmark Historical Commission to welcome Barbara Armstrong, photographer and member of the CHC.
Barbara will present a slide show that expands upon the show of photographs on display June 2nd - 20th in the library meeting room. This collection of historic photographs of Menemsha Harbor juxtaposed with contemporary photographs, taken by Barbara, of the same locations. The collection includes photos curated from a Vineyard Gazette article of the 1938 Hurricane and antique images courtesy of the the Martha’s Vineyard Museum Photo Collection. Soup and bread will be served.
Sponsored by the Friends of Up Island Council on Aging, the Friends of the Chilmark Library and the Chilmark Historical Commission.
NO REGISTRATION NECESSARY
Book Club
Tuesday, June 9th
12 pm - 1:30 pm
Join us at the library for our monthly Book Club. All books in our book club are chosen by attendees. There is no set subject matter but in general the group chooses books that focus on the human condition, community and hope. We read non-fiction and fiction works.
This month's book is To Save the Man, by John Sayles.
In the vein of Never Let Me Go and Killers of the Flower Moon, one of America’s greatest storytellers sheds light on an American tragedy: the Wounded Knee Massacre, and the ‘cultural genocide’ experienced by the Native American children at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School . . .
In September of 1890, the academic year begins at the Carlisle School, a military-style boarding school for Indians in Pennsylvania, founded and run by Captain Richard Henry Pratt. Pratt considers himself a champion of Native Americans. His motto, “To save the man, we must kill the Indian,” is severely enforced in both classroom and dormitory: Speak only English, forget your own language and customs, learn to be white.
As the young students navigate surviving the school, they begin to hear rumors of a “ghost dance” amongst the tribes of the west—a ceremonial dance aimed at restoring the Native People to power, and running the invaders off their land. As the hope and promise of the ghost dance sweeps across the Great Plains, cynical newspapers seize upon the story to whip up panic among local whites. The US government responds by deploying troops onto lands that had been granted to the Indians. It is an act that seems certain to end in slaughter.
As news of these developments reaches Carlisle, each student, no matter what their tribe, must make a choice: to follow the white man’s path, or be true to their own way of life . . .
CLICK HERE to sign up for Book Club
Felted Landscapes with Laura Hearn
For Teens and Adults
Saturday, June 13th
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Each participant in this workshop will create a landscape "painting" from felt. Laura Hearn will bring examples for inspiration or use your own photograph as a guide. Everyone will leave with a finished piece to take home.
Specializing in needle-felted sculptures and richly textured wool paintings, Laura Hearn transforms loose wool fibers into expressive animals, coastal scenes, and nature-inspired pieces full of depth and personality. Each piece is created entirely by hand, building layers of color and texture one careful poke at a time — a process that is as meditative as it is detailed and truly special. All materials will be provided. Space is limited. Registration is required.
Sponsored by the Friends of Chilmark Library
THIS CLASS IS FULL AND NO LONGER ACCEPTING REGISTRATIONS
Sound Bath with Trish Ginter
Saturday, June 20th
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
A Sound Bath is a full body immersive experience, enveloping participants in the enchanting tones and vibrations of crystal singing bowls and tuning forks. In this serene space, there is nowhere to go and nowhere to be. Just here. Exhaling, releasing tension and stress. It's a sanctuary to let go of everything, if only for the moment. This liminal space is an opening to lose oneself in, a sonic cocoon where one feels safely suspended. The gentle melodies of the singing bowls continually guide participants back to the present moment, offering a nurturing and therapeutic environment for deep exploration of the mind and body. Sound baths offer several benefits, both physical and mental.
Trish Ginter, a sound bath practitioner discovered the transformative power of sound during a personal healing journey. In her quest for alternative healing methods, she sought a place of safety and rest, which led her to study with renowned sound therapist Sara Auster. She has completed Sara's Level 3 ASM certification program, and is dedicated to helping others experience the profound benefits of sound.
Sponsored by the Friends of Chilmark Library
CLICK HERE to register.
Public Health Lunch & Learn: Intro to Lifestyle Medicine
Friday, June 26th
11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Physical Therapist Kristen Siminski, who is Board Certified in Lifestyle Medicine. will meet with us virtually to explore the 6 Pillars of Health. These include physical activity, nutrition, social connections, sleep health, stress management, and avoidance of risky substances. This presentation aims to help you learn how to integrate simple techniques into your day for improved quality of life. Participants can join the virtual call or come to the library to enjoy watch on zoom and have lunch!
Free Lunch to the first 10 people to register!
CLICK HERE to register by noon on Thursday, June25th. Once capacity is reached, additional attendees are welcome to join the session. Lunch is limited to the first 10 registrants.
Patio Music with David Mintz
Saturday, June 27th
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Join us for a concert on our patio featuring local musician David Mintz. The program will emphasize show tunes and pop songs from the 1930s and 1940s by Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, and others. Join us as we dive into this richly inventive and entertaining music! This event is free and open to the public.
David Mintz was once an accomplished classical guitarist, then a Spanish-English interpreter in federal court in Manhattan for most of his working life. Since retiring and washing ashore in 2020, he has emerged as actor and singer-guitarist, performing in various venues including MV Playhouse, Built On Stilts and First Fridays festivals, and Pathways Arts. Specializing in the Great American Songbook — popular songs and jazz standards of the early to middle 20th century — his simple and direct approach emphasizes the elegance and beauty of the compositions. This program is generously supported with a grant from the Martha's Vineyard Cultural Council.