Director's Update, January 11, 2025

Dear Patrons, 

I wanted to share an update on our Digital Navigator program at the Library, which is part of our Digital Equity Initiative. The Digital Equity Initiative is one of the key parts of achieving the Library’s mission. The Cambridge Public Library is committed to providing all patrons with the tools, knowledge, and tailored support to succeed in a connected world, fostering a community where digital equity is a reality for all. The Digital Navigator connects residents with a wide array of social services, including identifying and assessing individuals' digital needs, assisting residents in signing up with low-cost Internet providers, troubleshooting connectivity issues, and connecting residents to free or low-cost computers, hot spots, or related equipment.

Since 2024, our Digital Navigator has:

• Served 788 patrons
• Distributed 100+ devices
• Assisted 12 patrons in a 12-week MS Office workshop 

I’m excited to continue this progress in 2026! Learn more about the Digital Equity Initiative and the Digital Navigator on our website.

Upcoming Events

Join us on Wednesday, January 14, from 6-7:30 p.m. for the 51^st annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Lecture with Dr. Brandon M. Terry, the John L. Loeb Associate Professor of the Social Sciences at Harvard University and Co-director of the Institute on Policing, Incarceration, and Public Safety at the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research. Dr. Terry is the author of Shattered Dreams, Infinite Hope: A Tragic Vision of the Civil Rights Movement. Registration is required.

On Thursday, January 15, 6:30-8:30 p.m., stop by the Central Square Branch Library for a screening of Jeanie Finlay's documentary Your Fat Friend. Made over 6 years, Your Fat Friend charts the rise of writer and activist Aubrey Gordon from anonymous blogger to NYTimes best-selling author and beloved podcaster. Her aim? A paradigm shift in the way we see fat people and the fat on our own bodies. Registration is required.

Best,

Maria McCauley, Ph.D.
Director of Libraries

 

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Additional Programs and Events

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                       

• Drop-in Tech Help
• One-on-One Tech Help

Wellness for Older Adults: Zumba Gold (Virtual)
Monday, January 12
11-11:45 a.m.

Put on your dancing shoes to improve flexibility and balance, strengthen muscles and have fun! Certified Zumba Gold instructor Emily B. will lead you through 45 minutes of low-impact and easy-to-follow choreography in your own home through Zoom. Join us! Registration for each session is required. This is a virtual event. A Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants 1 hour before the event.  If you register after that time, please email bquinlan@cambridgema.gov to receive the link. 

Teen New Year Vision Board Collage (Valente)
Monday, January 12
3:30-4:30 p.m.

Join in to reflect on and identify goals for the new year as we create visual representations of those goals with collage! Crafting materials such as paper, magazines, scissors, and glue sticks are provided. No registration is required.

Chess Hour (Boudreau)
Monday, January 12
5-6 p.m.

Come join us at the Boudreau branch for a chess challenge. Players of all skill levels and all ages are welcome to participate. Chess sets will be provided, but feel free to bring your own if you prefer. This is not an instructional class, but rather a gathering for individuals who want to play and test their skills against other members of the community. There's no need to register in advance - simply drop by and challenge yourself to improve your mastery of this classic game! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at 617-349-4017 or via email: ipachoncaballero@cambridgema.gov or mmcglathery@cambridgema.gov. 

Budgeting with Google Sheets (Main)
Tuesday, January 13
11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Learn how to use Google Sheets (Google's version of Excel) to create a budget! You will learn how to use Google Sheets budgeting templates and enter data in a friendly learning environment. A Gmail account is required for this class - please remember your password! Registration is required. To view and register for other Basic Tech Classes at the Library, please go to tinyurl.com/basictechclass. 

Sit ‘n’ Knit (Main)
Tuesday, January 13
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.

Paint by Sticker (Collins)
Tuesday, January 13
4-5 p.m.

Choose a "Paint by Sticker" design and match the numbered stickers to the numbered spaces, then watch your artwork come alive. Recommended for children ages 6-12 and their caregivers.

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

Knitting Group (Boudreau)
Tuesday, January 13
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, January 14
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.! (Valente)
Wednesday, January 14
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. 

Read to a Dog (Valente)
Wednesday, January 14
3-4 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 Wednesday, January 7 by calling or visiting the Valente Branch (617-349-4015). 

Wiggle Party (O'Connell)
Wednesday, January 145
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 a new dance! For more information, please call the library at (617) 349-4019. 

Wednesday Night Creative Writing Group (Main)
Wednesday, January 14
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.

Puzzle Party (Main)
Thursday, January 15
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.

CPL Nature Club: Fresh Pond Nature Walk (Collins)
Thursday, January 15
10:15 -11:30 a.m.

Join us for a relaxing walk of Fresh Pond with Park Ranger Amanda Garms! No two weeks are the same in nature, and Amanda will share her insights about what's growing, changing, and blooming in the neighborhood. This walk is not on a paved path. We will walk on uneven terrain, down hills, and over roots. The meeting location for this walk will be in the courtyard of the Collins Branch Library at 64 Aberdeen Ave. We will walk to Fresh Pond together from there.

Registration is required. This event can only accommodate a certain number of participants. One registration is good for one person. If you do not register, you cannot participate. Those on the waitlist will be contacted if a space becomes available.

After-school Craft: 3D Pens (Boudreau)
Thursday, January 15
3-5 p.m.

Stop by the Boudreau Branch after school to create something using 3D pens! This drop-in event is intended for school-aged children and their families.

Teen Hangout (Valente) 
Thursday, January 15
3:30-5 p.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 3:30-5p.m. 

Fiber Arts Circle (Central Square)
Thursday, January 15
5-6 p.m.

Bring your project and come 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!

Your Fat Friend Documentary Screening (Central Square)
Thursday, January 15
6:30-8:30 p.m.

Join the Central Square Branch Library for a screening of Jeanie Finlay's documentary Your Fat Friend. Made over 6 years, acclaimed director Jeanie Finlay charts the rise of writer and activist Aubrey Gordon from anonymous blogger to NYTimes best selling author and beloved podcaster. Her aim? A paradigm shift in the way we see fat people and the fat on our own bodies. Her life changing work has brought her an ardent, international audience but also threats to her life. One of her biggest challenges is getting her parents to listen. Your Fat Friend, a film about fatness, family, the complexities of change and the deep, messy feeling we hold about our bodies. Registration is required.

Little Groove Music and Movement (O'Connell)
Friday, January 16
11-11:45 a.m.

This interactive 45-minute children’s show is designed to engage young audiences through music, movement, and play. A professional musician with an acoustic guitar leads the program, and an assistant guides the kids through activities with rhythm instruments, scarves, original songs, and familiar favorites to keep the kids engaged and excited. No registration required. Recommended for ages 0-4 with a caregiver.

Cambridge Young Authors' Squad - CYAS (Virtual)
Friday, January 16
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! Registration is required. For the month of January, we will be meeting virtually via Zoom. Please register to receive the Zoom meeting link!

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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.