Director's Update, April 14, 2024

Dear Patrons,

It was wonderful to see so many of you join us last week for the total solar eclipse. Thank you to every staff member who helped plan events leading up to this special event!

Happy School Vacation Week! The Library is presenting programs at several branches, such as an Alpaca Farm at Valente, Meet the Orchestra at O’Neill, and Arthropod Petting Zoo at Central Square. Check out our calendar for more Vacation Week programs. 

On Tuesday, April 16, celebrate National Poetry Month with a reading from five local poets. Join us in the Lecture Hall, or virtually, at 7 p.m. to hear Sam Cha, Imani Davis, Shangyang Fang, Julia Story, and Raisa Tolchinsky read their own work for fifteen to twenty minutes. Register here!

On Friday, April 19, from 11 a.m.to noon, join us at the Collins Branch to make your own sun-printed image with cyanotyping! Materials and instructions will be provided so you can create your very own monochromatic print. Registration is required.

All Library locations will be closed on Monday, April 15, for Patriots’ Day.

Activities for Kids

This week, these programs will be offered at our Boudreau, Central Square, Collins, Main, O’Connell, O’Neill, and Valente locations.   
  

Sing-Alongs     

Story Times          

Book Groups
Learn more about our Book Groups.        

Equipment and Studio Reservations (Main)
Tuesday, April 16, 3-6 p.m. 
Thursday, April 18, 3:30-8:30 p.m.
Friday, April 19, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 20,  11 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
 
During this period, anyone who has completed The Hive Safety Training and is badged to use equipment or studio(s) can reserve equipment or studio spaces. Staff will assist participants as they are able.  

Sewing 101 (Main)
Tuesday, April 16, 1-8:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 20, 3-4:30 p.m.

In this workshop, you’ll learn the basics of sewing machine operation and safety. This session will cover machine setup, basic functions, threading the machine, reloading the bobbin, sewing straight stitches, and recognizing when stitch tension has gone awry. We’ll also cover some safety best practices when operating a sewing machine. As we learn together, we’ll work on a simple project—a drawstring bag—which most students will be able to complete by the end of the class. Registration is required. You must complete The Hive Safety Training before registering for this workshop. This workshop is full; a waitlist is available.         

Vacation Week Program: "Meet the Orchestra," presented by the Boston Music Project (O'Neill)
Tuesday, April 16
2-3 p.m.

Join us for a performance of a youth chamber orchestra. A hands-on instrument petting zoo follows the performance, offering a chance for children to try playing a string instrument and to learn about different orchestral instruments.

Sit 'n' Knit (Main)
Tuesday, April 16
2:30-3:30 p.m.      
     
Bring your project and enjoy the company of other fiber crafters as you work, get inspired, pick up skills, and socialize. Knit, embroider, crochet, spin, and mend. Refreshments will be provided.

Create Resumes with Google Docs (Main)
Tuesday, April 16
3-4 p.m.

Learn how to create a resume using Google Docs in a friendly learning environment. A Google account is required for this class. Please remember your Gmail address and password! To view and register for other Basic Tech Classes at the Library, please go to tinyurl.com/basictechclass.

Drop-in Tech Help (Central Square)
Tuesday, April 16
4-6 p.m.
 
Looking for some basic computer or mobile device guidance? Want help using an online resource? Need someone to read your résumé and support navigating online job applications? Join us for our drop-in help hours. No registration is required. If you have any questions, please contact library@cambridgema.gov.

CPL Nature Club: Spring Birdwatching (O’Neill)
Tuesday, April 16
4-5:30 p.m.

Join us as we walk to our wildlife hotspot, Danehy Park, and search for birds! As we explore the urban outdoors, we will discuss birdwatching tips, how to identify an unfamiliar bird, and learn a little bit more about the birds we share our outdoor spaces with. A limited supply of binoculars will be available. Registration is required. For more information, contact the O'Neill Branch at 617-349-4023.

Crafternoon: Gel Pen Doodles and Notes (Collins)
Tuesday, April 16
4-5 p.m.

Have you ever tried drawing or writing with gel pens? These vivid and luminous colored inks add pizzazz to doodles, notes, and more. See how they pop on contrasting dark papers. Recommended for children ages 5-12 and their caregivers.

STEAM Academy: iFp Labs (Main)
Tuesday, April 16
4:30-6:30 p.m. 
 
Innovators for Purpose (iFp) Labs start with students' interest in building a better world and introduce them to the underlying science and math principles that will bring their solutions to life. Youth in 7th and 8th grades are invited to join iFp on a journey into the world of artificial intelligence with “Smart Cars AI: Driving Innovation for All.” This 13-week adventure invites students to dive into the world of self-driving cars at the intersection of technology and innovation.

Budgeting & Smart Spending (Valente)
Tuesday, April 16
6:30-7:30 p.m.

Need to get better at managing your money? Join this workshop on how to make a budget and manage your finances. This program is sponsored by the East Cambridge Savings Bank. Registration is helpful.

Knitting Group (Boudreau)
Tuesday, April 16
6:30-7:30 p.m.      

Bring your project, yarn, and needles to enjoy an hour in the company of other crafters. 

Wellness for Seniors: Tai Chi Paradigm
Wednesday, April 17
Friday, April 19
10-11 a.m.
 
Join us in this 12-week Tai Chi practice, which focuses on the mind and body connection. Tai Chi is a fluid sequence of movements choreographed in a low-impact routine. Sifu Mynor Diaz has been learning and teaching Tai Chi classes for over 20 years. He has taught at five VA Boston Healthcare System locations and at Senior Centers. Note: We will be running two separate Tai Chi Paradigm series this year, a Wednesday series and a Friday series. Due to its subject matter, we expect participants to attend all the classes. Please register for only one series. Sponsored by the Cambridge Public Library Foundation. Registration is required.

CPL Nature Club: Morning Bird Watching Walk at Mount Auburn Cemetery (Collins)
Wednesday, April 17
10:15-11:30 a.m.

Join us for a morning walk at the renowned birdwatching spot in our own backyard, Mount Auburn Cemetery! We will help you identify birds, learn birdwatching tips and tricks, and familiarize yourself with migratory birds as well as those that can be spotted year-round. A limited supply of binoculars will be available. Registration is required.

The walk will meet at the courtyard of the Collins Branch (64 Aberdeen Ave.) at 10:15 a.m. and head over to Mount Auburn Cemetery together. For more information, contact Michael Roberson at mroberson@cambridgema.gov or call 617-349-4021.

Vacation Week Program: Arthropod Petting Zoo with Professor Bugman (Boudreau)
Wednesday, April 17
10:30-11:30 a.m.

Kids learn all about arthropods, the most diverse group of animal life on the planet, during this exciting show-and-tell-and-touch program!  Learn, see, hear, touch, and even smell the incredible adaptations these creatures have that help them survive in the wild world. Registration will begin at noon on April 1. Recommended for children ages 3 and up and their caregivers.

Google Drive Basics (Main)
Wednesday, April 17
11 a.m.-Noon

Learn how to create folders and organize your files on Google Drive, your online file storage that is connected to your Google account. You will learn how to use Google Drive to manage your files and images. 

A Google (Gmail) account is required for the class. Please remember your email address and password; you will need them to sign in and practice during the class. Laptops will be provided for the class. To view and register for other Basic Tech Classes at the Library, please go to tinyurl.com/basictechclass.

Résumé and Job Application Support (Central Square)  
Wednesday, April 17
1-3 p.m.    
     
Looking for assistance creating a résumé or finding jobs? Join us for assistance with job hunting and online applications. No registration is required. For more information, call Maria Balestrieri at 617-349-4013.        

3D Printing 101: Game Piece Design (Main)
Wednesday, April 17
1-2:30 p.m.

Learn how to create your favorite game piece in digital space and print it out using our Sindoh 3D printers. In this workshop, you will get hands-on experience running the 3D printer, gain fundamental 3D modeling skills using Tinkercad, and earn your 3D Printing badge for future reservations in The Hive. Before taking this workshop, you will need to complete The Hive Safety Training and create a free Tinkercad account at www.tinkercad.com. Parents may need to assist users under the age of 18 to create an account. Register here. This workshop is full; a waitlist is available.

English Conversation Practice, Intermediate (O'Neill)
Wednesday, April 17
1-2:30 p.m. 
 
Join us for an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Conversation Practice. This group is for those with an intermediate or high level of English language skill. No testing is required. For more information on other ESOL classes, please call Maria Balestrieri at 617-349-4013.

Beyond the Census: Other Resources in ancestry.com (Main)
Wednesday, April 17
2-3 p.m.

Join us for an in-depth look at the many types of records at ancestry.com, from marriage and death to military and immigration records. Registration is required.

Vacation Week Program: "Meet the Orchestra," presented by the Boston Music Project (O'Connell)
Wednesday, April 17
2-3 p.m.

Join us for a performance of a youth chamber orchestra. A hands-on instrument petting zoo follows the performance, offering a chance for children to try playing a string instrument and to learn about different orchestral instruments.

Wednesdays of Wonder - WOW! (O'Neill)

Wednesday, April 17

2-4 p.m.

Come to the Library for games and a different activity each week! Kids of all ages can hang out and do crafts or STEAM activities. No registration is required. This week we will be building a cardboard neighborhood.

Sewing Circle (Main)
Wednesday, April 17
5:30-8:30 p.m.

Continue building your machine-sewing skills and receive support as you work on your own projects with our Library sewing community. Participants must register but may drop in at any time during the program. This program is designed for patrons who know the basics of how to use our Janome sewing machines. Registration is required.

XR Lab 101 (Main)
Wednesday, April 17
7-8 p.m.

Extended reality (XR) opens the door to worlds and experiences outside the everyday through virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality equipment. Test drive our Microsoft HoloLens augmented reality glasses, Structure Sensor 3D scanner, Merge headsets, and more. Registration is required. You must complete The Hive Safety Training before registering for this workshop.

Vinyl Cutting 101 (Main)
Thursday, April 18, 10-11 a.m.
Saturday, April 20, 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Would you like to make your own vinyl signs, stickers, or images to transfer to T-shirts and other textiles? In this workshop, you can learn how to use our Roland Camm-1 GS-24 vinyl cutter. You can then design a sticker and cut it with our vinyl cutter! Registration is required. You must complete The Hive Safety Training before registering for this workshop.

Nintendo Switch Party for Ages 10-13 (Main)
Thursday, April 18
1:30-3 p.m.

Join our Nintendo Switch party! We'll have two multiplayer games available to play on our library consoles. Feel free to bring your own Switch console to play other library Switch games. This program is for ages 10-13. There will be a party for younger kids in May.  

This program can accommodate 16 gamers. Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis on the day of the program. The gamer must be present to receive a ticket. This program starts promptly, and any unclaimed spots will be offered to someone waiting. We appreciate your patience and understanding. Please call 617-349-4038 for more information.

Vacation Week Program: Family Movie at the Library (O'Neill)
Thursday, April 18
2-3:45 p.m.

Join us for a nature-themed family movie (Migration, Universal Pictures - PG, 87 minutes) at the Library! Snacks will be provided.

Puzzle Party (Main)
Thursday, April 18
2:30-3:30 p.m.

Join our librarians for tea, cookies, and a jigsaw puzzle. An hour of fun and conversation on a Thursday afternoon.

The Hive Safety Training (Virtual)
Thursday, April 18
6-6:30 p.m.

In this workshop, you will learn about our makerspace, how to use our resources, and how to keep safe in The Hive. The Zoom link will be sent out an hour before the workshop starts. Registration is required.

Before taking workshops in The Hive, all makers must bring signed copies of The Hive User Agreement and Waivers.

Vacation Week Program: Terrific Turtles (Collins)
Thursday, April 18
3-3:30 p.m., 4-4:30 p.m.

What is the difference between a turtle and a tortoise? How big can a sea turtle grow? Are all turtle shells the same? Find out for yourself in this program presented by The Joys of Nature. Learn more about our wonderful, shelled friends and meet some real turtles at the end. Recommended for children ages 4 and up with a caregiver. Please note: This is a 30-minute program that will be presented from 3 to 3:30 p.m. and again from 4 to 4:30 p.m. Participants are invited to arrive in time for either program.

CPL Nature Club: Earth Day Story Time (O'Connell)
Thursday, April 18
3:30-4 p.m.

We invite children and their grown-ups to join us for 20-25 minutes of songs, stories, and rhymes celebrating Earth Day, with a craft to take and make at home while supplies last). No registration is required. Please call 617-349-4019 for location and details.

Vacation Week: Watercolor Bookmarks for Kids (Valente)
Thursday, April 18
4-5 p.m.

Get creative and make your own bookmarks using watercolor paint! All painting materials are provided by the library. Please wear clothes suitable for painting. 

This program is for children ages 8-12. Registration is required. Please contact the library at 617-349-4015 for more information.

CPL Nature Club: Cyanotyping Workshop (Collins)
Friday, April 19
11 a.m.-Noon

Join us to make your own sun-printed image with cyanotyping! Materials and instructions will be provided to allow you to create your very own monochromatic print. Recommended for adults and children above the age of 5. This event will take place in the Collins Branch courtyard and is contingent on sunny weather. Due to the limited amount of supplies, registration is required.

Vacation Week Program: Toe Jam Puppet Band (O'Connell)
Friday, April 19
2-2:45 p.m.

Join the toe-tapping, finger-snapping fun of the Toe Jam Puppet Band, with lots of singing, dancing, and laughter! Performances are interactive, encouraging audience members to sing and dance along with the band. For children of all ages and their caregivers.

Vacation Week Program: Sea Life and Sea Perch (O'Neill)
Friday, April 19
2-4 p.m.

The MIT Sea Grant Marine Biology and Robotics Labs will host hands-on activities, including driving a Sea Perch ROV, microscopes with local marine life, and a touch tank with live animals to interact with!

Kids' Zine Collective (O'Neill)
Friday, April 19
4-5 p.m.

What's a zine? And how do you make one? Come find out! Kids are invited to explore making, copying, sharing, and swapping zines. Making zines will include activities like writing, drawing, and collage. Recommended for ages 7 and up. Snacks are provided!

CPL Nature Club: The Poop Museum (Main)
Saturday, April 20
11 a.m.-Noon

The Poop Museum is the place to come if you’re curious and have questions about poop! Susie Maguire is a poop expert who thinks poop is the most interesting subject in the world. She has studied poop for years and loves nothing more than sharing her expansive knowledge. Just a few of the poopers you will meet include:

• the world’s messiest pooper

• the animal that has poop attack power

• the insect that uses poop as protection

• the animal that can poop every color of the rainbow

• the insect that cannot poop in the winter

• the animal that has poop diapers

• and many, many more

Recommended for children ages 5-10 and their caregivers.

A Crankie Musical Storytelling Performance: "Shterna and the Lost Voice"
Saturday, April 20
11 a.m.-Noon

This new folktale by A. C. Weaver is inspired by the mythical stories of Elyahu Hanovi and traditional Yiddish folklore and produced by members of Mamaliga Klezmer Band. Shterna and the Lost Voice follows a young woman’s quest from the realms of the dead to the celestial gardens of the immortal – all to restore her friend's lost voice. Shterna’s epic adventure is accompanied by live, original klezmer music while the narrative unfolds through a papercut crankie. This dynamic performance is geared toward audiences of all ages!

Shterna and the Lost Voice is presented by the Magid Ensemble (magid, meaning “storyteller” in Yiddish) – a new collaboration featuring award-winning klezmer musicians and composers Mattias Kaufmann, Raffi Boden, and Rachel Leader, the Yiddish storyteller A. C. Weaver, and the visual artist Kiah Raymond.

This event is generously sponsored by Combined Jewish Philanthropies and the Cambridge Local Cultural, a local agency supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Isha Kriya at the Library (Main)
Saturday, April 20
11 a.m-Noon.

In this one-hour session, you will learn Isha Kriya, a simple 12-18-minute practice, to help you become meditative effortlessly. For beginners and experienced meditators alike! 

Daily practice of Isha Kriya meditation offers:

·   Enhanced clarity

·   Improved health

·   Heightened focus and energy

·   Greater prosperity and a state of peacefulness and joy

Note: While registration is preferred, it is not required. Walk-ins are welcome!

Saturday Songs and Stories with Ellen Mayer (O'Neill)
Saturday, April 20
3:30-4 p.m.

Stories, songs, and activities with our guest author Ellen Mayer celebrating her new book, Gift and Box (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2023).

Families with children of all ages can join us for a story time plus a singalong with a bluegrass trio, The Incorrigibles. Children can explore and touch the instruments and do an activity that lets them experience what it's like to be the story character Gift inside of story character Box.

Stay Connected

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All the best!

Maria McCauley, Ph.D.
Director of Libraries     

 

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The City of Cambridge does not discriminate, including on the basis of disability. We may provide auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures to people with disabilities. For more information, contact us at library@cambridgema.gov, 617-349-4032 (voice) or via relay at 711.