Library Resources
Reference Services
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The Oak Bluffs Public Library provides reference services to anyone
coming to the library in person, calling on the phone
(1-508-693-9433),or via
email: info@oakbluffslibrary.org - Reference questions will be answered on a first come-first serve basis, with in-person questions at the reference desk having priority over phone and email inquiries.
Other Reference Services
- Interlibrary Loan
- Lists & Reviews (of Library Materials)
- Teaching Research Skills
- Individual Computer Help
Interlibrary Loan - is a service that allows library card holders to obtain hard to find materials, not found in the CLAMS or Virtual catalogs. If you are unable to find a book, DVD, CD, or other type of library material through the library catalog, please see a staff member to find out if Interlibrary Loan may be used.
Lists & Reviews of Library Materials- if you are having trouble finding a new book to read, movie to watch, or music to listen to, the reference department will be able to assist you. We have a collection of print and online resources that are designed to help library patrons find new and interesting materials. We can help you find book reviews, newly published materials, books in a particular genre that you enjoy, movie & music reviews, and more! This service is often referred to as "readers advisory".Teaching Research Skills- consist of individual and
group instruction sessions on how to use computers and print resources
to fulfill all of your information needs. This includes learning how to
find, evaluate, and use information, through the use of traditional library
resources, the World Wide Web, and other online resources. This service
is otherwise known as "Information Literacy".
Individual Computer Help-
learn how to use email; search the World Wide Web; find books, magazine
and journal articles, through the library's catalog; research a topic
of your choice; or learn another computer skill that you are interested
in. Sessions last 30 minutes, please talk to a staff member or call the
library to make an appointment.
Find Books & More
Search the Library Catalog (CLAMS) now:
The Library is part of the "Cape Libraries Automated Materials Sharing System", commonly known by its acronym, CLAMS. Read more about this network of libraries below!
What can I do with CLAMS?
- Search the collections of all CLAMS libraries on Cape Cod and the Islands.
- Determine the location and availability of items you need.
- Request items to be delivered to the library of your choice.
- Manage your library account (i.e. renew books, check late fees, and more!)
In order to access CLAMS it is necessary to be a registered library
card holder
(How to get an Oak Bluffs Public
Library (CLAMS) card). Your barcode number, and PIN
(Personal Identification Number) may be obtained at any member library,
as long as you present a photo ID.
What else can I do with CLAMS?
- Find Magazine & Journal articles.
- Find Audiobooks, eBooks, & Music for download.
- Search recommended Internet Resources.
- Search Cape Cod & Island Websites.
Find Articles
If you are interested in finding magazine, newspaper, and journal articles for homework, business, or simply to learn about a subject you are interested in, try searching the library's online databases now:
From Inside the library: Click on the "Databases" tab at the top of the CLAMS library catalog web page to begin searching.
From Home: Type your library barcode into the box below and click on "Go":
You can learn more about the library's online databases that are used to find these articles by speaking with the Reference Librarian and picking up a handout in the Reference Department of the library.
There are also many free online resources that you may want to try searching, by going to our recommended websites section.
Ancestry Library Edition
The library has purchased a subscription to the Ancestry Library Edition website, a valuable resource for genealogy research. Over 5 billion names in approximately 3,400 databases, the website provides users with access to census, court, land, and many other records from the United States, Canada, and some European countries (including the UK).
The website may only be accessed from inside the library, simply click on the Ancestry Library Edition icon from the desktop of any public computer (except Children's & Library Catalog computers).
If you would like to learn more about how to use Ancestry Library Edition please refer to the help link on the Ancestry Library Edition website or speak with a librarian!
World Book Web
The library has discontinued it's subscription to the World Book Web - Kids & Student Editions as of January 1, 2010. Please contact us and we will help you find similar websites and resources to meet your information needs. Sorry for any inconvenience.
Mango Languages
The Oak Bluffs Public Library is proud to announce that it is now carrying the online language-learning software by Mango Languages. This premier website for libraries is a unique way to learn a foreign language. The library's subscription currently offers 6 language courses - Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish, French, German, Italian, and ESL for Brazilian Portuguese speakers.
You can access this resource from home using your library barcode number, or from inside the library at any public computer.
Recommended Websites
Local Information |
General Reference |
Homework Help |
| Town of Oak Bluffs - Town's website | Virtual Reference Shelf - Created by the Library of Congress | IPL Teenspace - Homework help, entertainment, & more... |
| MV Times - MV Gazette - News | Infoplease | Librarians' Internet Index - Directory of websites created by librarians |
| MVY.com - MV Chamber of Commerce | Answers.com | Library Spot - Links to reference websites and more |
| MVOL.com - Martha's Vineyard information | Bartelby - Reference & Online Books | Citing Sources - Bibliography creation |
| National Weather Service - Weather | Refdesk | Webrary - Websites arranged by Dewey Decimal System |
Martha's
Vineyard Commission - regional planning commission of Dukes County
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Search Engines & Directories |
Medical & Legal |
Find Articles & News |
| Internet Public Library - Directory | Healthfinder | Newslink - Newspapers & Magazines |
| Open Directory Project - Directory | Medline Plus | Find Articles |
| Google - Popular Search Engine | Merck Manual - Medical Information | Google Scholar - For Finding Scholarly Articles |
| Yahoo - Popular Directory | Mass.gov - State of Massachusetts Website | ERIC - Education Resources |
| Dogpile - Search multiple search engines at once - for rare topics. | Barnstable Law Library | DOAJ - A Directory of Open Access Journals |
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Lists & Reviews of Library Materials
Try these fun & informative websites:
- NoveList is a website designed to help readers find new and interesting reading material. It offers book lists, reviews, book & author read-a-likes, and more! Please remember that you need an Oak Bluffs library barcode number in order to log-in!
- Visit the OBPL - Staff Reading Recommendations Goodreads web page for 2006 - 2008 Book Discussion Group selections and staff created reading lists.
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What do your favorite celebrities read? Try the
Who Reads What: Celebrity Name Index created by the Gardiner Public Library. - Looking for a new book, or information about a series that you really like, try the Fantastic Fiction website.
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Need help finding a good book, try the Hennepin County Library's,
Find A Good Book web page. - New Addition - Try using the Book Spot website to find book reviews, reading lists, award winners, bestsellers, and much more!
- For more book reviews, new books, or to find information about a book that you have heard about, try going to Amazon.com.
The library's reference department also has newspapers, magazines, and books that will help you to find new reading material. Ask a librarian to show you where these resources are!
GRN: MV - Grant Resources
Thanks to the collaboration of Associated Grant Makers of Massachusetts (AGM), The Oak Bluffs Public Library, and the Martha’s Vineyard Donor Collaborative, and a grant from the Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation, Island non-profit grant seekers will no longer have to travel to Boston for grant research.
Grant Resource Network: Martha's Vineyard (GRN: MV) will duplicate the resources and expertise available at AGM's center in Boston, including their research database of 400 local funders, and bring much needed grant seeking support to the Vineyard.
Housed at the Oak Bluffs Public Library and available free to the public, Grant Resource Network: Martha's Vineyard will also be a Foundation Center Cooperating Collection so the full resources of that national organization, including their research database of 97,000 grant makers, will also be available to Vineyarders.
Visit the Resources web page to see a partial list of print materials and databases. The GRN: MV resources may be used during the library's open hours. Please speak to a library staff member to learn how to access the Foundation Center & AGM databases.
More than 15 people with grant writing and research experience have been trained and are available by appointment to assist those using Network resources. To make an appointment for someone to help you use the center, contact Peter Temple at 508-645-3690 or send an E-mail to grnmv@mvdonors.org
Please read our GRN:MV Help page to learn more about using the grant resources at the library.
The center will open officially to the public on March 12, 2009.
Ask a Librarian
To ask a librarian at the Oak Bluffs Public Library a reference question you may call the library by phone at 1-508-693-9433, email us: info@oakbluffslibrary.org, or come to the library in person during our open hours.
