Director's Update, January 4, 2026

 Dear Patrons, 

Happy New Year! Join us on Wednesday, January 14, at 6 p.m. for the 51^st annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Lecture at the Main Library. This year, 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, will deliver the keynote address. This event is cosponsored by the Mayor's Office, the City Manager's Office, Cambridge Public Library, and the Cambridge Public Library Foundation. Register here.

New Book Group Alert! Are you a true crime fan? Then don’t miss the first meeting of the Main Library’s new True Crime Book Group on Monday, January 12, 2-3 p.m. Our first book will be The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. Sign up here!

The O’Neill Branch will close tomorrow, January 5, for routine HVAC maintenance, and is scheduled to reopen in early February. Some O’Neill programs have been rescheduled or moved to other branches. Please visit the website calendar for the most up to date information.

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, Collins, 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

Vacation Week: Music Class with Rockabye Beats (Collins)
Monday, January 5
11-11:45 a.m.

Hands on learning through music, dancing, Spanish and fun! Rockabye Beats brings the magic of music to babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Little ones and their caregivers will enjoy live music, instrument jams, musical games and even a little Spanish, all designed to spark creativity, joy and connection. No registration required.

Wellness for Older Adults: Zumba Gold (Virtual)
Monday, January 5
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. Registration is required.

Evening Family Story Time (Valente)
Monday, January 5
5:30-5:55 p.m.

We invite children and their grown-ups to join us for our monthly evening story time event. This program will run for 20-25 minutes, with songs, stories and rhymes. No registration is required. 

Watercolor Workshop (Boudreau)
Monday, January 5
5:30-7:30 p.m.

In this class you will be introduced to painting with watercolor, including techniques in color mixing, observational painting, and composition. At your own pace you will learn how to paint still life using watercolor in a relaxed and welcoming environment.

Adult Gaming: Unplugged (Main)
Monday, January 5
6-7:30 p.m.

Are you suffering from chronic information overload? Feeling overwhelmed by too much technology in your life? Join us for an evening of old school board gaming! Relax and recharge your internal battery with one of our classic board games or bring your own personal favorite.

Sit ‘n’ Knit (Main)
Tuesday, January 6
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.

Crafternoon: Cardboard Loom Weaving (Main)
Tuesday, January 6
4:30-5:30 p.m.

Learn a new hobby and make a textured art piece with cardboard loom weaving! All materials are provided. Recommended for ages 5 and up. Registration is not required for this event.

Free Drop-in Tutoring for Teens (Main)
Tuesday, Wednesday, and 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 6
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 (O’Connell)
Wednesday, January 7
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 7
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. 

Alphabet Craft Time (O’Connell)
Wednesday, January 7
5:30-6:30 p.m.

Come hear stories and songs about things that start with the letter E, and make an elephant craft. We will be using scissors and glue. Recommended for ages 4-6 with a caregiver.

Brewery Book Club (Lamplighter Brewing)
Wednesday, January 7
7-8:30 p.m.

Lamplighter and the Cambridge Public Library team up to highlight contemporary works from marginalized voices while having a beer. Meet at Lamplighter Brewing Co., 284 Broadway, in the back taproom. This month we’ll read The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden. Registration is encouraged but not required.

Puzzle Party (Main)
Thursday, January 8
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.

Creative Journaling for Teens (Main)
Thursday, January 8
3:30-4:30 p.m.

Take a screen break and get organized! Plan your day, track your workouts, remember your friends’ birthdays, all with a pen and paper. Join other teens to learn the basics of the bullet journal and how you can use your doodles to plan your future.

Teen Hangout (Valente)
Thursday, January 8
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!

Fiber Arts Circle (Central Square)
Thursday, January 8
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!

Healthy Mouth, Healthy Life (Central Square)
Thursday, January 8
6:30 – 8 p.m.

The Harvard School of Dental Medicine’s Students for Smiles Club and the Central Square Branch Library are hosting a free community event on oral health. Learn how to brush and floss the right way through a short talk and hands-on practice, including tips for preventing common dental problems and when to see a dentist. Free toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, and local dental care resources will be available for everyone. Registration required.

Shop for Free with The Spot (Central Square)
Friday, January 9
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.

All Love and Safety to Our Neighbors: Storytelling and Art Making (Main)
Saturday, January 10
10:30-11:30 a.m.

Join social justice project Wee The People for a free, immersive, intergenerational event of storytelling and art-making to celebrate belonging, safety, and immigrant communities. This program can accommodate 45 people and is recommended for youth ages 6 and up and their caregivers.

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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.