Director's Update, November 9. 2025

Dear Patrons, 

 

On Thursday, November 13, 6-7:30 p.m., celebrate Native American Heritage Month by welcoming Morgan Talty, author of the award-winning story collection, Night of the Living Rez, as well as the novel, Fire Exit. Fire Exit is a novel about family secrets and how they inform the stories we tell ourselves about who we are and where we live. After reading from his work, Talty will answer questions from the audience and sign books. Registration is required.

 

On Saturday, November 15, 2-3:30 p.m., learn about your rights as a tenant and Cambridge resources that support renters from attorneys from Cambridge and Somerville Legal Services and the City of Cambridge's Office of the Housing Liaison. We will be providing interpretation in Spanish and Haitian Creole on location during the event. The City of Cambridge can provide you with an interpreter for free. To request an interpreter, please email AccessHelp@CambridgeMA.gov by November 3, 2025. 

 

Join José Mateo Ballet Nutcracker cast members in the Lecture Hall on Saturday, November 15 at 11 a.m. for a fun story time reading of The Nutcracker coupled with live ballet dancing. Learn some ballet moves and meet the dancers as well! 

 

All Library locations will be closed on Tuesday, November 11, for Veterans’ Day. 

  

 

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, November 10
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: Low-impact Fitness (Virtual)
Monday, November 10
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 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, November 10
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.

Medicare Open Enrollment Workshop (Main)
Monday, November 10
1:30-3:30 p.m.

Learn about how Open Enrollment works and discover tools available to help you review your options. Medicare Open Enrollment is the one time of the year when all people with Medicare can review, compare, enroll or dis-enroll in Medicare Advantage, Original Medicare, and Part D drug plans. Medicare Open Enrollment runs from mid-October to early December.  Coverage of all plans begins January 1 of the following year. Registration requested but not required.

From Revolution to Remembrance: Memory of the American Revolution (Main/Virtual)
Monday, November 10
6-7:30 p.m.

To mark the 250th anniversaries of the American Revolution and the founding of the United States, a coalition of local non-profits and government agencies will present Washington in American Memory, a seven-part speaker series. Registration is required.

Explore how Americans have remembered, reinterpreted, and reshaped the meaning of the American Revolution from 1776 to today, featuring: 

• Michael Hattem, author of Past and Prologue: Politics and Memory in the American Revolution and Associate Director of the Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute 
• Nikki Stewart, Executive Director of Old North Illuminated 

Fiber Crafts Group - Drop-In (O'Connell)
Wednesday, November 12
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, November 12
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 crafts with fabric.

Wednesdays of Wonder - W.O.W.! (Valente)
Wednesday, November 12
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. 

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

Wednesday Night Creative Writing Group (Main)
Wednesday, November 12
6:30-8:30 p.m.

Writers of all experience levels are invited to join a casual, peer-supported writing group.

In this group, participants take turns bringing short in-progress or completed pieces of any genre. The group reads several pieces each month, sharing feedback and constructive criticism in a supportive and inclusive environment. We may practice in-class writing exercises and read samples of published writing as time allows. Registration is required. NOTE: Registration is for this month's meeting only. For more information, please email Susannah at sbtkacz@cambridgema.gov.

Medicare Open Enrollment (Valente)
Thursday, November 13
12-2 p.m.

Medicare Open Enrollment is the one time of the yearwhen all people with Medicare can review, compare, enroll or dis-enroll in Medicare Advantage, Original Medicare, and Part D drug plans. Medicare Open Enrollment runs from mid-October to early December.  Coverage of all plans begins January 1 of the following year. Open Enrollment is your annual opportunity to review health and drug plans. Registration is required.

Puzzle Party (Main)
Thursday, November 13
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.

Introduction to Book Collecting (Main)
Thursday, November 13
3-4:30 p.m.

Learn the ins an outs of book collecting, what to collect, how to identify certain types of books, the most important considerations, and how to buy. Registration is required.

Teen Hangout (Valente Branch)
Thursday, November 13
3:30-5p.m.

Hangout with other teens in the Valente Branch Community Room after school: socialize, unwind, play a game, make some art - your choice! No registration required, drop-in between

Fiber Arts Circle (Central Square)
Thursday, November 13
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!

Cozy Crafternoon for Adults (Collins)
Thursday, November 13
4:30-6 p.m.

Come get creative at Collins! Join your neighbors at this casual, self-guided afternoon craft session for adults. Bring your own projects or find inspiration from a planned craft with materials provided. November's craft will be yarn painting, inspired by Huichol yarn art. No expertise required. Registration is encouraged.

Shop for Free with The Spot (Central Square)
Friday, November 14
3:30-5:30 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.

Cambridge Young Authors' Squad - CYAS (O'Neill)
Friday, November 14
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.

Youth Dungeons & Dragons Session 2/3 (Valente Branch)
Friday, November 14
4-5:30 p.m.

Youth ages 10-16 are welcome to join for three sessions of cooperative role-play and storytelling as we build out skills playing the table-top game DnD. The first session will include a character-building introduction followed by play continued into the next two sessions. No prior DnD experience is required, and experienced players are also welcome to join. Registration is required, as the program is capped at 8 players. Please plan to attend all sessions! (Registration is attached to the first DnD session on 11/7 and closed on that date.)

José Mateo Ballet Theatre Presents: Storytime Excerpts from The Nutcracker (Main) 
Saturday, November 15
11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Join José Mateo Ballet Nutcracker cast members in the Lecture Hall for a fun story time reading of The Nutcracker coupled with live ballet dancing. Learn some ballet moves and meet the dancers as well! All ages.

Fandom Days: Minecraft (Main)
Saturday, November 15
2-2:45 p.m.

Join us at the Main Library to celebrate your favorite fandoms! We're throwing a Minecraft party, where you can make Minecraft themed crafts, get snacks, and play Minecraft trivia! Grab your diamond axe, saddle up your chicken, and get ready to mine. This program is intended for ages 9 - 12. For more information, contact Ellen Kaluza at ekaluza@cambridgema.gov.

Housing Know Your Rights Workshop (Main/Virtual)
Saturday, November 15
2-3:30 p.m.

Come and learn about your rights as a tenant along with Cambridge resources that support renters! In this workshop, you will hear from attorneys from Cambridge and Somerville Legal Services and the City of Cambridge's Office of the Housing Liaison.

This is a hybrid event. A Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants 1 hour before the event. We will be providing interpretation in Spanish and Haitian Creole on location during the event. The City of Cambridge can provide you with an interpreter for free. To request an interpreter, please email AccessHelp@CambridgeMA.gov by November 3, 2025.

 

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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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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.