Following our secession of January 1907, 110 years ago, we changed our name from Cottage City to Oak Bluffs. The new town government took special care to provide for the year-round community’s needs including the library. In March 1881, the Rural Improvement Society of Cottage City formed a committee to develop a public library. In April 1884, a room was rented in the arcade for $40 a year. The arcade was the first commercial building built by the Land and Wharf Company and is where Sharky’s is today. By 1896, the library had 1,422 books. In 1907 it was moved to the Eldridge Building that once upon a time housed Amaral’s Plumbing, Eldridge’s Insurance, the Unicorn, Nick’s Lighthouse, the Oyster Bar, Balance and the Oyster Bar Grill. Today it is owned by Edgartown National Bank (soon to be Rockland Trust).

In the 1930s, the library moved to what is now Conroy Apothecary and in 2005, for the first time in its 124-year history, the Oak Bluffs Public Library had a new home in a building built specifically as a library. Coincidentally, its next door neighbor is the hand-me-down town hall.

This coming year may see the demolition of the 102-year-old Island movie theatre.

Last Friday the Library Friends of Oak Bluffs, supporters and library staff celebrated Dick Brown Day. Richard (Dick) Brown, who died in 2013, was a founding member of the library friends who he worked with for almost 20 years. The celebration announced a scholarship to memorialize Mr. Brown and his generosity. The Oak Bluffs Public Library Director, and new mom, Allyson Malik shares with all that the library experienced its largest attendance in 2016.

Last year the library started with a carnival celebrating Brazilian food, music and culture. The annual indoor Mini Golf party, which returns later this month, brought out hundreds of fans last year. One of the library’s biggest highlights last year was the first annual African American Literature and Culture Festival with many local and national artists, authors and scholars. Expect more creative children’s events like the very successful Star Wars Extravaganza, Apple Fest and the Summer Reading program that included over 700 summer readers in 2016. Plans for the New Year include helping to build an informed community by spotlighting fake news stories, offering information literacy workshops and finding accurate resources. In addition to thanking the hard-working and generous Library Friends, local partners, authors, artists and organizations, Allyson is particularly thankful for the ingenious, creative, friendly and dedicated Oak Bluffs Library staff. Email Allyson at amalik@clamsnet.org.

Saturday, Jan. 7 from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. is Move and Groove Storytime for folks to listen to stories, share favorite dance moves and sing along in a spirited celebration of reading for children of all ages.

The Federated Church will offer a free lasagna lunch every Sunday beginning this Sunday, Jan. 8 to March 26, from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at the Federated Church Parish House at 45 South Summer street in Edgartown. For more information, call 508-627-4421 or email admin@federatedchurchmv.org.

Hopefully you will note that our Island Churches coordinate days and times with which to support those in need, especially with meals.

On Thursday, Jan. 12 from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Martha’s Vineyard Community Services is hosting the Massachusetts Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning (LGBTQ) Youth. There will be discussions on progress already made and the commission’s policy work with state partners and priorities for the upcoming year. For more information, visit mvcommunityservices.com/events.

Martha’s Vineyard Community Services Island Counseling Center will be hosting a Transgender Support Group for adults and youth of all ages. For questions and to schedule an initial meeting, call Rikki Pashen at 508-693-7900, ext. 241.

There will be a Meditations of Peace service at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital Chapel on Saturday, Jan. 7 at 3 p.m. The theme is light in darkness, and the gatherings include readings, reflections, prayer, music, guided meditation and contemplative times of quiet. For more information, call 973-879-9813.

Once again we’ve arrived at that time when we can look forward to a week of forgetting what year it is. In 2017 remember the Rolling Stones lyrics; you can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes . . . you just might find, you get what you need.

Keep your foot on a rock.

Send Oak Bluffs news to sfinley@mvgazette.com.