Director's Update, April 12, 2026

Dear Patrons,

CPL in the News

Check out this article about the Library’s new Coding and Web Development workshop: Demand high for CPL’s first web development workshop - Cambridge Day

 

Upcoming Programs and Events
On Tuesday, April 14, join the LUCE Immigration Justice Network of Massachusetts for a Bystander Training to learn how to respond to immigration enforcement in your community. LUCE volunteers will cover bystanders’ rights when witnessing immigration enforcement, as well as how to identify potential Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity and how to safely engage. You will also learn more about LUCE and how their statewide hotline works. This is a hybrid event. Registration is required.

 

On Wednesday, April 15, from 6-7:30 p.m., children and families are invited to meet Jasmine Warga, award-winning and best-selling author of many popular middle-grade novels, including Massachusetts Children's Book Award-winner A Rover’s Story and Newbery Honor winner Other Words for Home. Warga will talk about her work, answer questions from the audience and sign books. Recommended for ages 8 and up. Registration is not required. Warga’s newest release, The Unlikely Tale of Chase and Finnegan, explores the bond between a rescue dog named Finnegan and a cheetah cub named Chase. Inspired by true stories from zoos across the country, award-winning author Jasmine Warga creates a deeply moving tale about how the power of friendship can transcend anything – even species.

 

Join us on Thursday, April 16, from 6-7:30 p.m., to celebrate National Poetry Month with a reading and talk by the acclaimed poet and author Tracy K. Smith. A former Poet Laureate of the United States, as well as the recipient of a Pulitzer Prize, Smith is one of the nation's foremost experts on poetry and its unique power to—as she writes in Fear Less: Poetry in Perilous Times—“help you to love every other thing in the world around you.” Registration is required. This program is cosponsored by the Cambridge Public Library Foundation.

 

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, 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 ESOLClass.
               

Tech Help

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

Aging with Mindfulness (Virtual)
Monday, April 13
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: Zumba Gold (Virtual)
Monday, April 13
11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.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 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.  If you register after that time, please email bquinlan@cambridgema.govto receive the link.

 

Adult Gaming: Unplugged (Main)
Monday, April 12
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 fave. Gaming: Unplugged takes place on the first Monday of every month from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Rossi Room. Be there or be square! For the month of April, Adult Gaming: Unplugged will be held on Monday, April 9th, 2026. It will return to its first Monday of the month schedule on May 4th (Star Wars Day!) 2026.

 

Robert J. Sampson presents: Marked by Time: How Social Change Has Transformed Crime and the Life Trajectories of Young Americans (Main)
Monday, April 13
6-7:30 p.m.

Cambridge Public Library and Harvard Book Store welcome Robert J. Sampson—Woodford L. and Ann A. Flowers University Professor at Harvard University, Affiliated Research Professor at the American Bar Foundation, and a member of the National Academy of Sciences—for a discussion of his new book Marked by Time: How Social Change Has Transformed Crime and the Life Trajectories of Young Americans. He will be joined in conversation by Robert D. Putnam—Malkin Research Professor of Public Policy, Emeritus at Harvard University and recipient of the National Humanities Medal by President Barack Obama. Registration is required.

How to use MyChart, Spotify and many more apps (Main)
Tuesday, April 14
11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Learn how to use apps on your phone (iPhone or Android) for wellness and fun. You will learn how to use MyChart, Spotify and how to download apps on your phone. 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 totinyurl.com/basictechclass.  Registration is encouraged but not required. 

Creative Aging: Feast of Poetry (Main)
Tuesday, April 14
10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

Poetry lovers and skeptics alike are invited to this weekly workshop where we’ll read poems that nourish the mind and spirit. We’ll consult a diverse selection of contemporary and classic poets on meaningful topics, share personal reactions, and engage in reflective writing. Sample topics include identity, community, resilience, home, and more. You don’t need to be a writer—or a poetry expert—to participate. Join us and see what’s on the menu! Registration is required.

 

Narcan Distribution (Central Square)
Tuesday, April 14
1-3 p.m.

Swing by the Central Square Branch Library to restock on Narcan and learn more about how to reverse overdoses. 

Paint Party at the Library (O'Connell) 
Tuesday, April 14
2-5 p.m.

Treat yourself to an afternoon of fun, creativity, and community while a local artist guides us step-by-step through the process of creating a beautiful acrylic painting. We'll provide tea and light refreshments. No experience necessary. All are welcome. Acrylic paint can stain clothing. Please wear old clothing. Seating is limited to 8. Registration is required and will open at least two weeks before the event.

Remembering Together: Grief Support Group (Central Square)
Tuesday, April 14
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.  

Beginner's Line Dancing Workshop: 55+ (Main)
Tuesday, April 14
2-3 p.m.

It’s fun, it’s easy... it’s exercise? Yes!  Come try your hand at line dancing! This class is a great way to get low-impact exercise while dancing to (mostly) Country Western music. It requires no experience, no equipment, and no partner; just bring your two left feet. We’ll start from the very beginning, learning easy dances.Registration is required. 

Sit ‘n’ Knit (Main)
Tuesday, April 14
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.

Youth Tabletop Game Design Session 2/2 (Valente)

Tuesday, April 14
3:30-5 p.m.

 

Create your very own one-page tabletop role playing game. In this two-session class, you will learn how to design your own game from scratch. We will cover themes, mechanics, and get started on making your idea a reality. No prior experience needed, all materials provided. Ages 10-14. Registration is required. (Registering for the first session includes the second session.)

Free Drop-in Tutoring for Teens (Main)
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursdays
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.

 

Knitting Group (Boudreau)
Tuesday, April 14
6:30-7:30 p.m.

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

Documentary Photography with your Smartphone [55+] (Main)
Wednesday, April 15
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. Registration is required.

Fiber Crafts Group - Drop-In (O'Connell)
Wednesday, April 15
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!

 

Lunch at the Library & Uno Tournament for Teens (O'Connell)
Wednesday, April 15
1-3 p.m.

Take a break from your studies and join us for lunch and Uno! Free pizza will be provided while supplies last. This is a drop-in event designed for patrons ages 11-18. No registration required.

Wednesdays of Wonder - W.O.W.! (O'Neill)
Wednesday, April 15
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.  

Wednesdays of Wonder - W.O.W.! (Valente)
Wednesday, April 15
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.

 

Mend & Make Meetup (Valente)
Wednesday, April 15
6-7:30 p.m.

Have clothes to mend or craft projects to work on? Join us for our new monthly meetup! Bring what you are working on and we will provide basic mending supplies. Registration is required.

Puzzle Party (Main)
Thursday, April 16
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.

Poetry Workshop (O'Connell)
Thursday, April 16
3:30-4:30 p.m.

Celebrate National Poetry Month by creating your own poetry at the O'Connell Branch Library! Try writing a haiku, a limerick, or an acrostic! All supplies will be provided. Recommended for ages 6 and up.

Teen Hangout (Valente)
Thursday, April 16
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, April 16
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! 

Dove of Peace: Art Treasures and History from the Cambridge-Yerevan Sister City Association (Main)
Thursday, April 16
7-8:30 p.m.

Join us as we celebrate the official acceptance of the Cambridge-Yerevan Sister City Association Records into the Cambridge Public Library’s Archives and Special Collections.  Learn about the collection and three significant objects given by Yerevan to the city of Cambridge with guest speaker, Gary Lind-Sinanian, Collections Curator of the Armenian Museum of America.  We’ll be treated to a selection of traditional Armenian music sung by a local student.  A sampling of hors d’oeuvres and Eastern Armenian desserts will be served following the program.

 

Wellness for Older Adults: Zumba Gold (Main)
Friday, April 17
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. No dance experience needed—just bring your smile and a willingness to move!  Registration is required for each class. 

Cambridge Young Authors' Squad - CYAS (O'Neill)
Friday, April 17
4-5 p.m.

Young people ages 10 to 14 who love to write are welcome to share their ideas and writing. Snacks are provided! CYAS is currently working on a group story. At this meeting we will be working collaboratively on writing/editing. If you are attending for the first time, registration is helpful but not required.

CPL Nature Club - Spring Birdwatching at Fresh Pond (O'Neill)
Saturday, April 18
10-11:30 a.m.

 All ages are welcome to join us as we observe birds at Fresh Pond. We will look for birds migrating to or through our area as well as year-round resident birds. As we walk, we will discuss general birdwatching tips and learn more about the birds we share our outdoor spaces with. A limited supply of binoculars will be available. The walk will meet outside the ranger station/water department building at Fresh Pond https://maps.app.goo.gl/G1bJGhMG17mAaFgL9. In case of inclement weather, this event will be canceled. For more information, contact the O'Neill Branch at 617-349-4023. Registration is required for this event. 

Kidney Disease Info Session & Screening (Central Square)
Saturday, April 18
10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Join us at the Central Square Branch Library for an informational session about kidney disease followed by a free kidney-focused screening and physician consultation. This program is in partnership with the Harvard Kidney Disease Screening and Awareness Program (KDSAP) whose mission is to provide kidney focused health screenings and health education to underserved communities. For more information, please visit their website: KDSAP About Page. Questions? Contact Daryl by email at dcabrol@cambridgema.gov.

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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.