Director's Update, October 26, 2025

Dear Patrons, 

Join author Olivia Hoblitzelle as she talks about the process of reviewing your life on Monday, October 27, from 1:30-3 p.m. at the Main Library. Olivia will reflect on her recent spiritual memoir Ley Lines of Love: Adventures Along the Spiritual Path.  Registration is required.

On Tuesday, October 28, 5-6 p.m., join a guided 60-minute tour of the Universal Design Playground, an inclusive play area featuring public artworks designed with accessibility and sensory engagement in mind: Paintings by Dominic Killiany, Sensory Hilltop by Mitch Ryerson, and Pipe Dreams by NuVu Studio. We will meet at the Universal Design Playground, 66 Field St. entrance. Registration is required.

Come Shop for Free with Spot at the Central Square Branch Library on Saturday, November 1, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Gear up with fall and winter clothes, accessories, supplies, and more -- all for free! First come, first serve.  For more information: spotcambridge@karayallc.com.

Best,

Maria McCauley, Ph.D.
Director of Libraries

 

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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

Aging with Mindfulness (Virtual)
Monday, October 27
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 required. This is a virtual event. A Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants 1 hour before the event.

Wellness for Older Adults: Let Your Yoga Dance (Virtual)
Monday, October 27
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! Registration is required for each session. This is a virtual event. A Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants 1 hour before the event.

Meditation Mondays (Central Square)
Monday, October 27
12-1 p.m.

Start your week off right with some meditation at the Central Square Library. Led by the Library Social Worker, Brett Dixon, we combine gentle breathwork, visualization practice and mindful meditation, for a relaxing and recharging experience.

DIY Face-Painting (O'Neill)
Monday, October 27
3:30-5 p.m.

Kids in 6th, 7th and 8th grade can come to the Library to practice their face painting skills! We will have face paints and mirrors and kids can paint their own or each others' faces. Snacks provided. No registration necessary.

Angela Buchdahl presents: Heart of a Stranger (Main)

Monday, October 27
6-7:30 p.m.

Cambridge Public Library and Harvard Book Store welcome Angela Buchdahl—Senior Rabbi of Central Synagogue in New York City and the first Asian American to be ordained as a rabbi—for a discussion of her memoir Heart of a Stranger: An Unlikely Rabbi's Story of Faith, Identity, and Belonging. She will be joined in conversation by Allegra Goodman—local author of the bestselling novels Isola and The Chalk Artist. Registration is required.

Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services: Informational Discussion (Main)
Tuesday, October 28
10-11:30 a.m.

Join us for an informative discussion with representatives Viet Van, Community Support Services Manager, and Nina Cohen, Director of Adult Family Care, of Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES).  Since 1972, SCES has been the area's aging information and service center, helping older people and people living with disabilities remain safe and independent in their own homes.  Registration is requested but not required. SCES services are available to older residents of Cambridge and Somerville, as well as their caregivers.  Some services are open to adults with disabilities who are age 16 and older, and to residents of the Greater Boston area.  

Remembering Together: Grief Support Group (Central Square)
Tuesday, October 27
12-1 p.m.

The "Remembering Together" support group is for patrons who are grieving the loss of a loved one. Facilitated by the library social worker, this online group offers a safe and confidential online space for peers to come together, share common experiences and heal in community. If you are interested in participating, or simply learning more about this offering, please email Brett Dixon, the library social worker, at bdixon@cambridgema.gov. 

Wellness for Older Adults: Chair Yoga (Central)
Tuesday, October 28
1:30-2:30 p.m.

Join us each Tuesday afternoon at the Central Square Branch for Chair Yoga, led by experienced instructor Louise Parker.  No equipment needed. This is an in-person program taking place in the Lewis Room at Central Square.  Registration is required for each session. 

Sit ‘n’ Knit (Main)
Tuesday, October 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, mend. Refreshments will be provided.

Tarot Readings for Teens (Main)
Tuesday, October 28
3-5 p.m.

Tarot tells the story of your life in pictures and is known as a mirror to the soul. Join healer, artist and educator Laura Campagna of Laura Campagna Astrology for drop-in tarot readings at the library. This program is for teens ages 12-18

Free Drop-in Tutoring for Teens (Main)
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
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 required. Stop by the Teen Room or call 617-349-4027 to learn more.

Hetty Lui McKinnon presents Linger: Salads, Sweets and Stories to Savor: A Cookbook (Main)

Tuesday, October 28

6-7:30 p.m.

 

Cambridge Public Library and Harvard Book store welcome Hetty Lui McKinnon—James Beard Award-winning food writer and cook—for a discussion of her new cookbook Linger: Salads, Sweets and Stories to Savor. She will be joined in conversation by Irene Li—founder of Mei Mei Dumpling Company in South Boston and author of the cookbook Perfectly Good Food. Registration is required.

Knitting Group (Boudreau)
Tuesday, October 28
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, October 19
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!

Wednesdays of Wonder - W.O.W.! (O'Neill)
Wednesday, October 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 be making pretend potions!

Wednesdays of Wonder - W.O.W.! (O'Connell)
Wednesday, October 20
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. 

Trivia Night: Something Scary! (O'Neill)
Wednesday, October 29
6:15-7:15 p.m.

Test your knowledge with trivia questions about: Scary classics and horror movies! One bonus point per team will be awarded for: Dressing in a costume! Individuals and teams are welcome. Snacks provided. Registration is helpful but not required.

Puzzle Party (Main)
Thursday, October 29
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.

Fiber Arts Circle (Central Square)
Thursday, October 29
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!

Read to a Dog (Valente)
Thursday, October 29
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, October 23 by calling or visiting the Valente Branch (617-349-4015). 

Gabrielle Hamilton presents: Next of Kin: A Memoir (Main)

Wednesday, October 29

6-7:30 p.m.

Harvard Book Store and the Cambridge Public Library welcome Gabrielle Hamilton—chef and owner of Prune restaurant in New York City’s East Village, and award-winning author of Blood, Bones & Butter—for a discussion of her memoir Next of Kin. Registration is required.

Wellness for Older Adults: Zumba Gold (Main) 
Friday, October 31
11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.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.  Registration is required.  This workshop is full; a waitlist is available. 

Halloween Party! (O'Connell)
Friday, October 31
3-5 p.m.

Join us for a drop-in Halloween celebration with stories, music, coloring/activity sheets, and treats. Costumes are encouraged! This program is for children and their caregivers.

Kick Back & Watch a Movie (Central Square)
Friday, October 31
3-5 p.m.

Join us for a special Halloween screening of Hocus Pocus (PG) on Central Square Library’s big screen and eat free popcorn! No registration required.

Halloween Party! (Central Square)
Friday, October 31
3:30-5 p.m.

Join us for a drop-in Halloween celebration with stories, crafts, and treats. Costumes are encouraged! This program is for children and their caregivers.

Shop for Free with The Spot (Central Square)
Saturday, November 1
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Come Shop for Free with Spot at the Central Square Branch Library. Gear up with fall and winter clothes, accessories, supplies, and more -- all for free! First come, first serve.  For more information: spotcambridge@karayallc.com.

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Stay Connected                          

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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 websiteto learn more. Subscribe to our email list to stay up to date on our eventshere.