Director's Update, April 6, 2025

Dear Patrons,  

It’s National Library Week, an annual celebration highlighting the valuable role libraries, librarians, and library workers play in transforming lives and strengthening our communities. Please stop by your library branch to show support for your local libraries and the staff who work there. There may even be a few surprises throughout the week! Visit ala.org to learn more.  

• Monday, April 7: Right to Read Day, a day for readers, advocates, and library lovers to take action to protect, defend, and celebrate the right to read.  

• Tuesday, April 8: National Library Workers Day, a day for library staff, users, administrators, and Friends groups to recognize the valuable contributions made by all library workers. 

• Wednesday, April 9: National Library Outreach Day , a day to celebrate library outreach. 

• Thursday, April 10: Take Action for Libraries Day, a day to rally advocates to support libraries. 

On Monday, April 7, we are welcoming Cindy Hohl, the president of the American Library Association, to Cambridge. Cindy will be hosted to breakfast by the Vice Mayor and later will tour the Main Library and meet with library patrons, staff and local library leaders. We're excited to showcase the great work we are doing at the Library to meet community needs.

CPL in the News  

The Horn Book wrote a lovely recap of the Curious George Lecture: Jerry Craft at Cambridge Public Library.  

Cambridge Day interviewed Cristanne Miller, who will be presenting at the Main Library this Wednesday, April 2, and highlighted our event: In the new, expanded ‘Letters of Emily Dickinson,’ get to know the poet like never before.  

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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.  

• Sing Alongs 

• Story Times 

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                         

• One-on-One Tech Help 
   

Wellness for Older Adults: Chair Yoga (Central) 
Monday, April 7 
10:30-11:30 a.m. 
 
Join us each Monday at the Central Square Branch for Chair Yoga, led by experienced instructor Louise Parker. This is an in-person program taking place in the Lewis Room at Central Square. Registration is required for each session. Louise Parker has been practicing yoga for close to 20 years. She is trained in the Yoga Shanti method of practice, which is rooted in the Iyengar and Ashtanga yoga traditions.  

Wellness for Older Adults: Let Your Yoga Dance (Virtual) 
Monday, April 7 
11-11:45 a.m. 
 
A fun, dynamic, and ultimately blissful class. We'll work our way through the seven energy centers (chakras) with Let Your Yoga Dance. You will leave with a good workout and a peaceful happy mind/body/spirit. Good for everybody! This is a virtual event. A Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants 1 hour before the event. Registration for each session is required. 
 
STEAM Academy: iFp Studio (Main) 
Monday, April 7; Tuesday, April 8; Wednesday, April 9, and Thursday, April 10 
3:30-7:30 p.m. 

Innovators for Purpose (iFp) Studio is a teen-powered design and innovation program where teens channel their energy and creative vision to imagine and build a better world. Blending art, design, science, technology, and storytelling within a social justice framework, teens engage in real-world client-sponsored projects. Teens are invited to learn more on the iFp website and submit an application. 
 
STEAM Academy: iFp Labs (Main) 
Monday, April 7 
4:30-6:30 p.m. 
 
In Innovators for Purpose (iFp) Labs, students dive into the exciting world of social robots—machines designed to interact, learn, and connect. From brainstorming ideas to building prototypes, students explore how AI and robotics can foster fairer, more inclusive communities. They design robots that serve as friendly companions, offering support, connection, and solutions to real-world challenges. Teens in 7th and 8th grade are invited to learn more and apply on the iFp website: Innovators for Purpose. Skills Learned: Human-Centered Design, Mechanics, Electronics, Computer Programming, AI, and more. 

Drop-in Hours with the Social Worker (Central Square) 
Monday, April 7 
2-5 p.m. 
Get support from our Library social worker! Registration is not required. 

Buttons and Magnets for Middle Schoolers (O'Neill) 
Monday, April 7 
3:30-5 p.m. 
 
Kids in grades 6 through 8 grade can come to the Library to make buttons and magnets. Snacks provided. No registration necessary. 
 
Tween Hangout (Main Library) 
Monday, April 7 
5:30-6:30 p.m. 
 
On the first and second Mondays we’re opening up the Curious George Room on the third floor for ages 10 –12 to snack, relax, and play video games. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and we invite all tweens to make this space their own! There are no tickets or registration required. Please call 617-349-4038 for more information. 

Introduction to Forest Bathing for Elders (Central) 
Tuesday, April 8 
10:30-11:30 a.m. 
 
Curious about “forest bathing” (spoiler alert: no water required) and how to experience it indoors? Then join us for a calming and restorative indoor introduction to the practice of Forest Bathing, specially designed for people 55 and over. 

Come once or join every workshop in this 6-part series to explore the concept of "Shinrin-yoku" (“forest bathing”) which is the practice of being mindful and contemplative within nature, using all your senses. The experiential portion of the workshops will focus on our senses one at a time, workshop-by-workshop, through simple mindfulness exercises, gentle guided nature imagery, and other grounding activities that promote relaxation and (re-)connection with ourselves and with nature. No level of physical ability or prior experience with meditation or mindfulness is necessary — just an openness to relax and explore a new way of calming and connecting. Registration is required. Questions? Please email bquinlan@cambridgema.gov or call 617-349-4035. 

Cybersecurity Basics: Avoiding Online Scams (Main) 
Tuesday, April 8 
11 a.m.-12 p.m. 
 
Learn how to be safer online with accounts and passwords. We will provide an overview of frauds and scams to watch out for. To view and register for other Basic Tech Classes at the Library, please go to tinyurl.com/basictechclass. Registration is encouraged, but not required.  

Sit 'n' Knit (Main)   
Tuesday, April 8 
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.     

Drop-In Tech Help at the Library (Central Square) 
Tuesday, April 8 
3:30-5:30 p.m. 
 
Looking for some basic computer or mobile device guidance? Want help using an online resource? Need someone to read your resume and support navigating online job applications? Join us for our drop-in help hours between 4 and 6pm. No registration required. If you have any questions, please contact library@cambridgema.gov. 
 
Free Drop-in Tutoring for Teens (Main)  
Tuesday, April 8, Wednesday, April 9, and Thursday, April 10 
5-6 p.m. 
 
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.  

Goal Setting for Teens (Main) 
Tuesday, April 8 
3:30-4:30 p.m. 
 
Thinking about the future can be exciting and nerve-racking. In this workshop, we will be discussing goal setting for our future by creating vision boards to help visualize our goals and discuss the steps to achieve them and any obstacles that we may encounter. Presented by the CHA Teen Clinic. 
 
Read to a Dog (O'Neill) 
Tuesday, April 8 
4-5 p.m. 
 
Read with a cuddly friend! Trained therapy dogs provide warm and nonjudgmental reading companions for new or experienced readers up to age 14. Registration for each 10-minute time slot is required and begins on Tuesday, April 1 by calling or visiting the O’Neill Branch Library at 617-349-4023. 

Barry Schneier Presents: The Song is Still Being Written (Main) 
Tuesday, April 8 
6-7:30 p.m. 

Internationally renowned photographer Barry Schneier captures Boston's unique and impacting folk music scene in his new book The Song is Still Being Written, released in September 2024. The book is a collection of photos and narratives capturing stories of singer-songwriters, past, present, and future who have made the Boston/Cambridge area their home for artistic development and specifically from those who have graced one of the most heralded performance spaces in folk history, Harvard Square's Passim (originally Club 47). The program includes a performance by Kemp Harris, one of the artists profiled in the book. Schneier will be in conversation with James Sullivan, arts and culture correspondent for the Boston Globe. 

Board Game Night for Adults (Valente) 
Tuesday, April 8 
6-7:30 p.m. 
 
Join us for an evening of board games. We have: Wingspan, Ticket to Ride, Settlers of Catan, Azul, Splendor, Scrabble, chess, checkers, Boggle, Bananagrams, and more! Feel free to bring a board game to play with others. We will provide pizza and beverages. Registration is helpful. 

Knitting Group (Boudreau) 
Tuesday, April 8 
6:30-7:30 p.m. 
 
Bring your project, yarn and needles to enjoy an hour in the company of other crafters.  

Fiber Crafts Group - Drop-In (O'Connell) 
Wednesday, April 9 
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! 

Expressive Arts for Older Adults: Open Studio (Main) 
Wednesday, April 9 
1:30-3:30 p.m. 
 
Looking for a space to unleash your creativity? Join instructor Marguerite White, Wednesday afternoons March 5 through April 30 (No group on April 2), 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. Registration required for each session. If you have any questions, please reach out to Brynne Quinlan at bquinlan@cambridgema.gov or (617)349-4041.  

Wednesdays of Wonder - W.O.W.! (O'Neill) 
Wednesday, April 9 
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 be doing 5-minute portraits. 

Wednesdays of Wonder - W.O.W.! (Valente) 
Wednesday, April 9 
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. 

Family Board Game Night (Valente) 
Wednesday, April 9 
5:30-6:30 p.m. 
 
Challenge your family or meet new friends over board games in the Community Room at Valente. The library will supply games and snacks. No registration is required for this drop-in event. This event is recommended for children ages 5 and up, with their caregivers. Contact the library at 617-349-4015 for more information.  

Wiggle Party (O'Connell) 
Wednesday, April 9 
5:30-6 p.m. 
 
Join us for a dance party to get your wiggles out! Play a freeze dance game, shake some shakers, and learn the steps to the Macarena! This program will take place indoors at the O'Connell Branch Library. For more information, please call the library at (617) 349-4019.  

CPL Nature Club: Seed Swap (O'Neill) 
Wednesday, April 9 
6:30-7:30 p.m. 
 
Bring the extra garden seeds you don't think you will plant this year! See what your neighbors have before you purchase more! We will have envelopes and pens to help keep them straight. If you don't have seeds, come anyway, as we will have extras. This event is co-hosted by Cambridge City Growers, a group of volunteers across Cambridge working to start up gardens in neighborhoods to increase access to healthy, organic, and locally grown food. 

Aging with Mindfulness (Virtual) 
Thursday, April 10 
10-11 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. Presented in Partnership with Cambridge Insight Meditation Center (CIMC). Rooted in the Theravada Buddhist tradition, CIMC is a welcoming refuge and teaching Center for all who seek inner peace through the liberating practice of Insight Meditation (vipassana). As an urban center, and now as an online community, CIMC is dedicated to the integration of practice into every aspect of community and daily life. Registration is required. This is a virtual event. A Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants 1 hour before the event. 
 
Creative Aging: Improv (Main) 
Thursday, April 10 
1:30-3:30 p.m. 
 
A series of classes with instruction from Comedian Jack Grey. Learn how to seamlessly integrate interactive improv games, scenes, and skillful storytelling that all come together with performance. The 10-week course will take place every Thursday, from 1:30pm-3:30pm, starting February 27 through May 1. This will be an in-person program at the Main Library. Space is limited to 15 participants. Due to the popularity and to gain the most out of this program, we expect all participants to commit to all sessions in this 10-week course. Instructor Jack Grey is a local comedy performer with over nine years of combined improv and stand-up comedy experience. They produce their own shows and workshops in Camberville, believing that kindness and community can be born from laughter. Learn more at constellationcomedy.com. Registration is required. This workshop is full; a wait list is available. Sponsored by the Cambridge Public Library Foundation. 

Puzzle Party (Main) 
Thursday, April 10 
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 at the Cambridge Main Library. 

Read to a Dog (Valente) 

Thursday, April 10 
3:30-5 p.m. 
 
Read to Dante, our local cuddly therapy dog! Trained therapy dogs provide warm and non-judgmental reading companions for new or experienced readers up to age 14. Registration for each 15-minute time slot is required and begins on Thursday, April 3 by calling or visiting the Valente Branch (617-349-4015). 

Fiber Arts Circle (Central Square) 
Thursday, April 10 
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! 

The Practitioner's Story: Black Mens’ Perspective on The Core of Restorative Practice (Main) 
Thursday, April 10 
6-7:30 p.m. 
 
Join us for a discussion with 5 Black men working restoratively in different contexts: at home with family, through meditation and yoga, on the sports field, in business, and in the courts providing health and mental wellness. Panelists include Sam Williams, a yogi, professor and healer; Damon Banks, a Social Worker and Chief Probation Officer; Omo Moses, the CEO of Math Talk and the author of The White Peril; Herman Banks, an educator and consultant; and Vinson Givans, a mitigation manager and football coach. The conversation will be moderated by Indi Wit The Tea, a Boston-based journalist and social media personality. 
 
Wellness for Older Adults: Tai Chi Paradigm - Beginner (Valente) 
Friday, April 11 
10:30-11:30 a.m. 
 
Join instructor Darren Hairston for Zumba Gold – the fun and energizing dance fitness class tailored for active older adults and beginners! Set to vibrant, upbeat music, Zumba Gold features low-impact, easy-to-follow dance moves that make staying fit enjoyable and accessible for all fitness levels. Improve your balance, flexibility, and cardio health while having a great time in a supportive and friendly environment. No dance experience needed—just bring your smile and a willingness to move! Registration is required. This workshop is full; a waitlist is available. 

Kick Back and Do a Puzzle! (Central Square) 
Friday, April 11 
3-5 p.m. 
 
Drop by the Central Square Branch's Lewis Room to do jigsaw puzzles and chat with your neighbors. Puzzles and snacks will be provided. No registration required. 
 
Kids' Zine Collective (O'Neill) 
Friday, April 11 
4-5 p.m. 
 
What's a zine? And how do I 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 using a photocopier. For kids ages 7 and up. Snacks are provided! 

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All the best!  
Maria McCauley, Ph.D.                             

Director of Libraries        

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About the Cambridge Public Library:  
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.