Director's Update, February 22, 2025

Dear Patrons,

Ming Hui Academy Boston hosted a wonderful Lunar New Year Celebration at the Main Library! The event featured stage performances by students, along with free offerings of Chinese folk arts, crafts, and traditional festival foods.

Planning for the Library’s Future

There's still time to share your input about the Library’s future! The Community Engagement phase of our strategic planning process will conclude on Tuesday, February 24. You can participate in the conversation by taking an online survey, or join a community chat about the Library’s future. To learn more about planning for the Library’s future, visit: Planning for the Library's Future.

Upcoming Programs and Events

On Wednesday, February 25, from 5:30-8:30 p.m., join us at the Central Square Branch to edit and create Wikipedia pages related to Black history, with a focus on Black Cantabrigians. We will use resources from the Library's Archives and Special Collections and the Black Voices Collection at the Central Square Branch. This event is in partnership with the Cambridge Black History Project. Registration is required.

Join us for the second and final session of the A for AI Series, AI for Content Creation, on Thursday, February 27, from 6-7:30 p.m. Discover how AI can make creative work more fun and accessible. Registration is required. Led by The Hope Group, an award-winning Boston-based AI education team, in collaboration with the Cambridge Public Library. 

Join us on Thursday, February 28, from 6-7:30 p.m. for a concert celebrating the life, work, and enduring influence of Langston Hughes with Opera on Tap’s Shakespeare of Harlem: Exploring the Life and Legacy of Langston Hughes. The program weaves Hughes’ poetry and prose with art songs by composers such as Margaret Bonds and Florence Price. Registration is not required but preferred.

 

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                       

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

Aging with Mindfulness (Virtual)
Monday, February 23
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.

Chess Hour (Boudreau)
Monday, February 23
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 

Community Chat (O’Neill)
Monday, February 23
6-7 p.m.

Cambridge Public Library is planning for the future, and your voice matters! Drop by to share your ideas, speak with library staff, and learn more about our recent accomplishments. Your feedback will help us improve services and set priorities for the coming years in our next strategic plan. 

Welcome Back Community Potluck (O'Neill)
Monday, February 23
6-7:30 p.m.

What's hot & cold & read all over? The O'Neill Branch Library's new HVAC system! Bring a hot or cold dish to share as we celebrate community and our new heating and cooling system. We'll provide a hot fudge sundae bar, plates, napkins, and cutlery. Library staff will also be on hand to ask how we can be the best library for you. Tell us how you use our collections, technology, programs, services, and spaces. Share what library services have the biggest impact on you. Your feedback will help us improve services and set priorities for the coming years.

Navigating the internet and online safety (Main)
Tuesday, February 24
11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Learn how to safely navigate the internet using your smartphone (iPhone or Android). You will learn how to use a web browser on your smartphone, how to use search engines, and to stay safe on the internet. This class will be delivered by a DOORS program instructor. To learn more about the DOORS program please go to: https://www.digitalpsych.org/doors-program.html. To view and register for other Basic Tech Classes at the Library, please go to tinyurl.com/basictechclass. Registration is encouraged but not required. 

Remembering Together: Grief Support Group (Central Square)
Tuesday, February 24
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. 

The Power of Poetry with Writers without Margins (Central Square)
Tuesday, February 24
1-2:30 p.m.

Join us for artistic exploration and guided exercises to reimagine and reinvigorate your life's stories. We provide a supportive structure and process to encourage insight and healing. Come join us to reclaim your narrative! Registration is required.

Sit ‘n’ Knit (Main)
Tuesday, February 24
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.

Teen Advisory Board (Main)
Tuesday, February 24
3-4 p.m.

Teens! Help us plan teen programs for the Library. Earn community service hours. Enjoy free snacks. We meet monthly during the school year. No registration is required. Stop by the Teen Room or call 617-349-4027 to learn more.

Youth Dungeons and Dragons (DnD) (Valente)
Tuesday, February 24
4-5 p.m.

Youth ages 10-16 are welcome to join three sessions of the table-top game Dungeons and Dragons (DnD), as we build our cooperative role-play and storytelling skills. The first session will include time to build characters and review rules of gameplay. Following sessions will follow a storyline through to the final session. Registration is required, as the program is capped at 6 players. Please plan to attend all sessions! Registering for Session 1 includes the following weekly sessions. No prior DnD experience is required, and experienced players are also welcome to join. 

OctoStudio Playtest (O'Neill)
Tuesday, February 24
5-6:30 p.m.

Families with school-age children can come to the Library to play with the creative coding app OctoStudio. Help test brand new animation features on the app and provide your feedback! Please register in advance. Devices will be provided. Only one registration is needed per family, and adults are encouraged to participate alongside their children!

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.

Board Game Night for Adults (Valente)
Tuesday, February 24
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, February 24
6:30-7:30 p.m.

Bring your project, yarn and needles to enjoy an hour in the company of other crafters.

Death Cafe (Virtual)
Tuesday, February 24
7-8 p.m.

Join us for a virtual Death Cafe - an evening of open, lively, and insightful discussion about death for adults aged 18 and older. While not a support group nor a venue for bereavement, a Death Cafe seeks to provide an unscripted, non-judgmental platform for those wishing to explore the many facets of this often-taboo subject. Facilitated by Richard Davis, a long time Death Cafe organizer and hospice volunteer. Come with an open mind, a healthy curiosity, and a willingness to share your thoughts, feelings, and questions with other like-minded individuals. This is a virtual event on Zoom. Space is limited. Registration is required. Questions? Contact Daryl at dcabrol@cambridgema.gov.

CPL Nature Club: Morning Bird Watching Walk at Mt. Auburn Cemetery (Collins) 
Wednesday, February 25
10:15-11:30 a.m.

Join us for a morning walk at one of the most renowned bird watching spots in Cambridge, Mount Auburn Cemetery! We will help you identify birds, learn birdwatching tips and tricks, and familiarize yourself with migratory birds as well as those that can be spotted all year round. A limited supply of binoculars will be available. The walk will meet at the Collins Branch Library at 64 Aberdeen Ave. Registration is required. This walk is full; a waitlist is available.

Documentary Photography with your Smartphone [55+] (Main)
Wednesday, February 25
10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

We live in an age where we carry our smartphones everywhere we go. Built into this device is a camera that can help us document the world around us. Whether it’s taking family portraits, beautiful landscapes, or in some cases the meal we just sat down to eat, we’re all constantly taking photos. This class will not only teach you to take the best possible photos, but how to edit your photos to make them look as good as they possibly can. We will also cover how to organize the photos on your phone. We will learn how to become visual storytellers through projects I'll assign each week followed by thoughtful group discussions of your photos. You need only bring two things to this class: your smartphone and your imagination. The workshop will be led by Jerry Russo. Russo received a BFA from Tufts University and a studio diploma from The School of Fine Arts Boston. His photographs are held in the collection of the W.E.B. Du Bois Library at UMass Amherst and the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston. He was a Traveling Scholar Recipient from The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Registration is required.

Fiber Crafts Group - Drop-In (O'Connell)
Wednesday, February 25
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, February 25
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 hand-sewn stuffed animals and pillows!

Wednesdays of Wonder - W.O.W.! (Valente)
Wednesday, February 25
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. 

Wikipedia Highlights Black Cambridge: Wikipedia Edit-a-thon (Central Square)
Wednesday, February 25
5:30-8:30 p.m.

Join us as we edit and create Wikipedia pages related to Black history, with a focus on Black Cantabrigians. We will use resources from the Library's Archives and Special Collections and the Black Voices Collection at the Central Square Branch.

At this Wikipedia edit-a-thon, we'll work together to contribute to Wikipedia, focusing on expanding our knowledge of underrepresented groups. You might add to the information on an existing page, create a new one, find reliable sources for others to use, or copyedit and format a page. All experience levels welcome! You do not need to have experience editing Wikipedia to attend and contribute! Laptops will be provided. If you have a Wikipedia account and want to join our dashboard for this event, please do so at this link: https://outreachdashboard.wmflabs.org/courses/Cambridge_Public_Library/Wikipedia_Highlights_Black_Cambridge_(February_25_2026). This event is in partnership with the Cambridge Black History Project. Registration is required.

Communicating via emails and text messages (Virtual)
Wednesday, February 25
6-7 p.m.

Learn how to use smartphones (iPhone or Android) to communicate with others. You will learn about text messages, emails and how to send attachments. This class will be delivered by a DOORS program instructor. To learn more about the DOORS program please go to: https://www.digitalpsych.org/doors-program.html. To view and register for other Basic Tech Classes at the Library, please go to tinyurl.com/basictechclass. 

This is a virtual event. A Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants 1 hour before the event. Registration is encouraged but not required.

Estate Planning for All (Virtual)
Thursday, February 26
10-11:30 a.m.

The Cambridge Public Library and Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School are excited to offer Estate Planning for All. Estate plans can help you prepare for unexpected changes, offer a sense of security in uncertain times, and ensure that your wishes will be carried out if you become ill, incapacitated, or die unexpectedly. Everyone—regardless of background or financial situation—can have an estate plan. 

We will discuss:

• Financial issues during our lifetimes: power of attorney, homestead declaration, and trusts
• Health and medical issues: health care proxy, medical directives, and HIPAA authorization
• Preparing for death: wills and declaration as to remains

Estate planning issues specific to veterans and individuals with disabilities will also be discussed. This webinar will be presented on Zoom. Registration is required. Registrants may phone in if preferred. Zoom information will be sent to registrants before the session.

Puzzle Party (Main)
Thursday, February 26
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.

After-school Craft: 3D Pens (Boudreau)
Thursday, February 26
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, February 26
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, February 26
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!

Coffee and Games! (Boudreau)
Thursday, February 26
11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Join us for coffee, treats, and games (Chess, Cribbage, Rummikub, etc.). Bring a friend or meet a new one at the library!

Kick Back & Watch a Movie (Central Square)
Friday, February 27
3-5 p.m.

Join us to watch a movie on Central Square Library’s big screen and eat popcorn! No registration required.

Cambridge Young Authors' Squad - CYAS (O'Neill)
Friday, February 27
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.

250th Anniversary of the Henry Knox "Noble Train" of Artillery (Main)
Saturday, February 28
2-3 p.m.

Join Revolution 250, Boston Celebrations, Hobby Knolls Stables & the Henry Knox Artillery as wells as citizens of the towns of Weston, Waltham, Watertown, and Cambridge for a commemoration of the 250th Anniversary of the epic 1776 adventure of Henry Knox and his "Noble Train or Artillery" trekking across Massachusetts on their way to Boston.
The commemoration at 2 p.m. follows a procession from the Cambridge Common at 1p.m. that will travel to Joan Lorentz Park led by the Sudbury Ancient Fyfe & Drum Corps and finishing with teams of Clydesdales pulling replica sleds and cannons which began their journey in upstate New York.

Castle of our Skins Presents: A Little History (Main)
Saturday, February 28
2-3 p.m.

Presented by Castle of our Skins, "A Little History" is a 60-minute interactive recital that tells the simplified stories of nine legendary figures in Black History through original music, poetry, and engagement.  Recommended for school-age children and their caregivers.

Kindergarten Party (O'Neill)
Saturday, February 28
2-3 p.m.

Party like you just got your first library card! All Kindergartners, along with their families and friends, are welcome to attend. We will have activities, crafts and snacks.

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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 website to learn more. Subscribe