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City Seal of Cambridge

Director's Update, January 26, 2025

 Dear Patrons,

Join Cambridge Arts and the Cambridge Public Library on Monday, January 27, at 5:30 p.m., for a guided tour of the Gallery 344 exhibition The Community Grafting Project and Town Green, Mike Glier's mural site in the City Hall Annex. Meet at the Cambridge City Hall Annex building at 344 Broadway in Cambridge. Registration is required.

On Wednesday, January 29, from 6-7:30 p.m., join the Cambridge Public Library in welcoming three award-winning authors—Nina MacLaughlin, Joan Wickersham, and Lucy Ives—for readings from their latest books. After the reading, there will be a short audience Q&A and book signing. Registration is required for in-person and virtual attendance.

On Thursday, January 30, from 6:30-8 p.m., join Kyera Singleton, Executive Director of the Royall House and Slave Quarters in Medford, MA, for a presentation about the history of slavery in the North, the origins of the Royall House and Slave Quarters and the importance of remembering hard histories.  Registration is required.

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Weekly Activities for Kids             

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

Book Groups           

Learn more about our Book Groups.        

       

The Hive Workshops       

Check out this week’s classes in The Hive.        

ESOL Classes         

Find an ESOL Class.           

Tech Help 

Wellness for Older Adults: Low-Impact Fitness (Valente/Virtual)
Monday, January 27
11-11:45 a.m. 
   
This class is designed for people of all levels to strengthen the muscles, the heart and the brain--all while having fun and moving to great music! Come as you are and take everything at your own pace. You will feel the benefits in mind and body! Registration for each session is required. This is a hybrid event, available online and screened at the Valente Branch. A Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants 1 hour before the event. Class will not be available at the Valente Branch on January 27 or February 3.

Central Square Shares the Love: Community Mosaic (Central Square)
Monday, January 27
4-5 p.m.

Contribute to the Central Square Library Branch's Community Mosaic and share what you love about Central Square and the Central Square Branch Library. In February, we'll display our community contributions on our On the Wall gallery. Throughout the month of January, we're inviting patrons of all ages into the Library to contribute through our community art sessions. For this session, we'll have supplies to collage on individual paper mosaic pieces. All supplies provided.

Chess Hour (Boudreau)
Monday, January 27
5-6 p.m.

Come join us for a chess challenge. Players of all ages and skill levels are welcome. Chess sets will be provided, but feel free to bring your own. This is not an instructional class, but rather a gathering for individuals who want to test their skills against those of other members of the community. No registration is required. Simply drop by and challenge yourself to improve your mastery of this classic game! If you have any questions, please contact us at 617-349-4017 or via e-mail: ipachoncaballero@cambridgema.gov or mmcglathery@cambridgema.gov.

Winter Art Tour: Gallery 344 at Cambridge City Hall Annex (City Hall Annex)
Monday, January 27
5:30-6:30 p.m.

Join Cambridge Arts and the Cambridge Public Library for a guided tour of the Gallery 344 exhibition The Community Grafting Project and Town Green, Mike Glier's mural site in the City Hall Annex. More information about the gallery and the Cambridge Arts Council can be found here: https://www.cambridgema.gov/arts/publicart/gallery344 We will meet at the Cambridge City Hall Annex building at 344 Broadway in Cambridge.

Artful Evenings: Open Crafting for Adults (O'Neill)
Monday, January 27
6-7:30 p.m.

Unleash your creativity at our open crafting program for adults! Bring your own projects or start something new with our assortment of materials and supplies. This self-guided, relaxed environment is perfect for crafting enthusiasts of all levels to enjoy a casual evening and connect with others. Snacks provided! Registration suggested. 

Sit 'n' Knit (Main)
Tuesday, January 28
2:30-3:30 p.m.      

Bring your project and enjoy the company of other fiber crafters.Drop in with this informal group to work on your craft, get inspired, pick-up skills, and socialize. Knit, embroider, crochet, spin, and mend. Refreshments will be provided. 

Teen Advisory Board (Main)
Tuesday, January 28
4-5 p.m.

Teens! Help us plan teen programs for the Library! Earn community service hours! Enjoy free snacks! We meet monthly during the school year. No registration is required. Stop by the Teen Room or call 617-349-4027 to learn more.        
  
Free Drop-in Tutoring for Teens (Main)
Tuesday, January 28, Wednesday, January 29, and Thursday, January 30
5-6 p.m. 

Do you need help with a class? Have a question before an exam? Tutors are available to help you! Cambridge School Volunteers and the Library are pleased to offer tutoring services in the Teen Room. No registration is required. Stop by or call 617-349-4027 to learn more. 
 
Knitting Group (Boudreau)
Tuesday, January 28
6:30-7:30 p.m.       

Bring your project, yarn, and needles to enjoy an hour in the company of other crafters. Registration is not required.    

Fiber Crafts Group - Drop-In (O'Connell) 
Wednesday, January 29
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. 
 
Bring your project and enjoy the company of other fiber crafters. Drop in with this informal group to work on your craft, get inspired, pick up skills, and socialize. Knit, embroider, crochet, spin, mend, cross stitch, and more. All crafts are welcome!
Registration is not required. 

Wednesdays of Wonder - W.O.W.! (O'Neill)
Wednesday, January 29
2:30-4 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 required. This week we will make pipe cleaner dolls.

Local Wildlife Stories and Craft with Green Cambridge (Central Square)
Wednesday, January 29
4-5 p.m.

Show everyone what animals you have seen in Cambridge with your art!  Green Cambridge joins us in inviting you to a special After School Stories & Crafts this week to launch the Sixth Annual Cambridge City Nature Art Challenge (for grades 1–5 and upper school students). Come to learn about and draw, collage, or build your local creature or another wild, living thing that calls Cambridge home. We'll talk and learn about the animals right in your backyard. No registration required. This program is recommended for children 5 and up and their caregivers.

Read to a Dog (O'Connell)
Wednesday, January 29
4-5 p.m.

Read with Bowie the Therapy Dog from Pets & People! Therapy dogs provide warm and non-judgmental reading companions for new or experienced readers of all ages. Registration for each 10-minute time slot is required and begins a week in advance. Sign up by phone or in person at the O'Connell Branch (617-349-4019).

Cocoa and Crochet (Main Library)
Wednesday, January 29
6-7 p.m.

What could be cozier than sipping a warm beverage and crocheting with friends and family, especially in the depths of winter? Join us for this three-week program in which you'll learn how to crochet by making an adorable mug cozy (mugs and materials will be supplied). No registration is required.

Aging with Mindfulness (Virtual)
Thursday, January 30
9-10 a.m.

This program, led by Zeenat Potia, will introduce and utilize mindfulness techniques to help us examine and regulate everyday life changes with a focus on aging.  Participants will learn and benefit from the development of a mindfulness practice to enable responding to getting older in a calm, clear and thoughtful manner.
Registration is requiredThis is a virtual event. A Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants 1 hour before the event.

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

Join our librarians for tea, cookies, and a jigsaw puzzle. It’s an hour of fun and conversation.Registration is not required.   

Fiber Arts Circle (Central Square)
Thursday, January 30
4-5 p.m.

Bring your project and join other fiber crafters in your community! Crochet, sew, embroider, knit, cross stitch, spin, mend, and more at this informal drop-in fiber arts circle. All crafts are welcome!

Writing Workshop: Finding and Refining Your Voice in Nonfiction (Main)

Thursday, January 30
6:30-8 p.m.

This series of four workshops – which can be taken independently or sequentially – will help you nurture your unique perspective in nonfiction. We will cover how to refine your topic, research effectively, define your point of view, and build effective arguments and narratives. This will be suitable for writers of many types of nonfiction – essays, feature writing, creative nonfiction, biography, cultural criticism, memoir, and more. The last workshop in the series will be about
Building an Argument that Sticks. Registration is required. Note: Because these workshops can be taken independently, patrons must register for each session they wish to attend. Follow the links above to each session's registration page.

Baby Sign with Sheryl White of Baby Kneads (Central Square)
Friday, January 31
10:30-11:30 a.m.

Join Sheryl White of Baby Kneads for an introduction to sign language for caregivers and babies. In this one-hour class, participants will:

  • Learn the benefits of signing with babies
  • Learn and practice several signs
  • Watch the instructor sign with your baby
  • Learn how to teach American Sign Language to your child

This program is appropriate for babies two months of age or older and pre-verbal. Registration is required. For more information about this program, please contact the Central Square Children's Room at 617-439-4012. Registration is required. Funding for this program has been generously provided by the Cambridge Public Library Foundation. 

Expressive Arts for Older Adults: Open Studio (Main)
Friday, January 31
1:30-3:30 p.m.

Looking for a space to unleash your creativity? Join instructor Marguerite White, Friday afternoons January 10 through February 28, for two hours each week to work on a drawing or watercolor project of your choice.  A still-life arrangement and basic supplies will be provided.   If you have any questions, please reach out to Brynne Quinlan at bquinlan@cambridgema.gov or (617)349-4035.  Registration required for each session.  

Cambridge Young Authors' Squad - CYAS (O'Neill)
Friday, January 31
4-5 p.m.

Young people ages 10 to 14 who love to write are welcome to share their ideas and writing. There will be time for share-outs/workshopping, as well as group or solo writing. Snacks are provided! If you are attending for the first time, 
registration is helpful but not required.

Among the Stars: Celebrating Dr. Mae Jemison (Main)
Saturday, February 1
11-11:45 a.m.

Join Tanya from Little Uprisings as we celebrate Black history in this interactive workshop exploring Dr. Jemison’s incredible journey as the first Black woman astronaut to go to space. A person that contained multitudes, Jemison is an inspiration who defied expectations and paved her own path to the stars. Workshop includes storytelling, a teach-in about Black identity and exploration and a craft-making activity to imagine how they can reach for the stars in their own lives. This program can accommodate 30 youth in grades K - 2 and their caregivers. Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis on the day of the program. The entire party must be present to receive a ticket. This program starts promptly. Unclaimed seats will be offered to someone waiting. We appreciate your patience and understanding. Please call 617-349-4038 for more information.

Zine Making: Craft-Along With Papercut Zine Library (Main)
Saturday, February 1
1-3 p.m.

Come join the Papercut Zine Library for an afternoon of learning about and making zines! In this workshop you will learn about the history and culture of zines, browse some zines from Papercut’s collection, and even get to make your own! Please register in advance to attend. All supplies will be provided. The workshop will run from 1-2:30, and after that there will be time for questions and browsing the collection. If you're on the waitlist, feel free to stop by for this second part of the program. Registration is required.

CPL Nature Club: Birdwatching at Fresh Pond (O'Neill)
Saturday, February 1
1-2:30 p.m.

All ages are welcome to join us as we search the water and trees for birds! Fresh Pond Reservation attracts many birds throughout the year, and winter is no different. We will look for interesting ducks, sparrows, finches and more! A limited supply of binoculars will be available. We will be outside for the duration of the walk so dress accordingly. Registration is required for this event. Registration opens on Saturday January 18. The walk will meet outside the ranger station/water department building at Fresh Pond. In case of inclement weather, this event will be canceled. For more information, contact the O'Neill Branch at 617-349-4023.

Saturday Songs & Stories honoring Ella Jenkins (O'Neill)
Saturday, February 1
3:30-4 p.m.

Music, movement and stories! Join local storyteller and community member ashley herring as we honor the late Ella Jenkins, the "first lady of children's music!" For children of all ages and their grown-ups. ashley herring (she series) has enjoyed being in her imagination for countless years and promised she would never stop playing. With her ancestors, she dreamed up blackyard, a local grass roots organization, which lifts up and centers the love for Black children in Cambridge and surrounding greater area. ashley is excited to share songs and stories with you today. 

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Stay Connected       

Please subscribe to our e-mail list, follow us on X, Instagram, or Facebook, and visit our website.            

All the best!       

Maria McCauley, Ph.D.
Director of Libraries
       

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At the Cambridge Public Library, we welcome all, inspire minds, and empower community. We support a Cambridge where everyone has equitable opportunities to learn, people live their best lives and democracy thrives. The Library’s programming provides an opportunity for civic dialogue, conversation, and learning, which includes exploring a wide range of views. Visit our website to learn more. Subscribe to our email list to stay up to date on our events here.

 

 

Page was posted on 1/27/2025 9:04 AM
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