Director's Update, May 17, 2026

Dear Patrons, 

The Friends of the Cambridge Public Library are hosting their biannual Secret Garden tour on Sunday, June 7, 2026, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. This special self-guided tour is held in June, just as spring turns to summer. For the 2026 edition we expect to have approximately 45 gardens from East Cambridge to the Belmont border. All proceeds benefit the Friends of the Public Library and help provide funding for important library resources and events! Tickets are on sale now.

CPL in the News

Check out this article in the Boston Globe in which I and other library reps are quoted about the importance of library services for immigrants: Libraries are for everyone’: How immigrants are finding community in Massachusetts libraries.

Upcoming Events

On Tuesday, May 19, 5-8 p.m., in celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month, join Cambridge Public Health Department, Community Safety Department, the Cambridge Public Library and Find It Cambridge for a panel discussion and tabling event. Learn from local mental health providers about how to access support for yourself or a loved one. Light refreshments will be provided. Registration requested.

On Wednesday, May 20, 6 p.m., don’t miss 2026 Pulitzer Prize winner Yiyun Li as she reads and discusses her memoir Things in Nature Merely Grow. This hybrid event is cosponsored by the Cambridge Public Library Foundation. Registration is required.

On Saturday, May 23, 1-2:30 p.m., the Boston Festival Orchestra returns for the second year of its AAPI Heritage Concert, celebrating the extraordinary breadth of musical voices from Asian American and Pacific Islander composers. This program brings together works that reflect personal history, cultural inheritance, and bold contemporary expression. Registration is required.  

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.

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

Aging with Mindfulness (Virtual)
Monday, May 18
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.

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.  Meet at the Fresh Pond Ranger Station at 250 Fresh Pond Parkway. Registration is required. 

Wellness for Older Adults: Zumba Gold (Virtual)
Monday, May 18
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.gov to receive the link.

Join us every first and third Monday of the month to learn and practice Zen meditation with our neighbors at the Cambridge Zen Center! Each session consists of 15 minutes of introduction meditation, 20 minutes of sitting, followed by 10 minutes for questions.

Monday Mindfulness for Teens (Main)
Monday, May 18
3:30-4:30 p.m.

Learn to meditate, share your experiences, and build community with others. Meditation can be a profound skill to find more ease, joy, and spaciousness in your life. It can also help make the world more livable, just, and peaceful. Come check this out! No registration required. 

Teen Hangout (Valente)

Monday, May 18

3:30-4:30 p.m.

Hangout with other teens in the Valente Branch Community Room after school to socialize, unwind, and participate in a rotating activity.

Bicycle Spoke Cards for Middle Schoolers (O’Neill)

Monday, May 18

3:30-5 p.m. 

Kids in 6th, 7th and 8th grade can come to the Library to make their own bicycle spoke cards! Snacks provided. No registration necessary.

Chess Hour (Boudreau)

Monday, May 18

5-6 p.m.

Join us 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.

Evening Baby Lapsit (Valente)

Monday, May 18

5:30-5:55 p.m.

Bounces and rhymes for caregivers and babies to learn, play and develop language and motor skills. Recommended for babies ages 0-18 months and their caregivers. 

The Essentials of Writing Poetry (Main) 

Monday, May 18

6-8:30 p.m. 

Want to try your hand at poetry, or need a refresher on the fundamentals? Jacob Anavisca will go over some of the building blocks of poetry (musicality, imagery, forms, etc.). Participants will be given generative exercises and learn about submitting their work for publication. Jacob Anavisca is an assistant editor of Only Poems literary magazine. His work has appeared in HNDL MAG. Registration is required.

Creative Aging: Feast of Poetry (Main)
Tuesday, May 19
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. This program is full; a waitlist is available.

iPhone and iPad Basics (Main)

Tuesday, May 19

11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Learn how to manage and clean up your iPhone's or iPad's memory. This class will focus on iPhone and iPads. Please remember to bring your device with you! To view and register for other Basic Tech Classes at the Library, please go to tinyurl.com/basictechclass.

Sit ‘n’ Knit (Main)
Tuesday, May 19
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 Dungeons & Dragons Session 3/8 (Valente)
Tuesday, May 19
4-5 p.m.

Youth ages 10-16 are welcome to join this eight-session campaign of Tuesdays in May and June of the table-top game Dungeons and Dragons (DnD), as we build our cooperative role-play and storytelling skills. Registration is required, as the program is capped at 8 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.

Paper Eyeglasses (Collins)

Tuesday, May 19

4-4:45 p.m. 

May is Healthy Vision Month. Join the Collins Branch in celebrating by decorating your own unique pair of paper eyeglasses. Color, cut and assemble an imaginative style to take home. Recommended for children ages 6-12 and their caregivers.

Learn Where to Turn: Mental Health Awareness Month (Main)

Tuesday, May 19

5-8 p.m.

In celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Cambridge Public Health
Department in collaboration with the Community Safety Department, the Cambridge Public
Library and Find It Cambridge will be sponsoring a panel discussion and tabling event. Learn from our panel of local mental health providers as they discuss how to access support for
yourself or a loved one and what to expect when reaching out. Light refreshments will be provided. Registration requested.

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, May 19
6:30-7:30 p.m.

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

Pajama Story Time (O’Neill)

Tuesday, May 19

6:45-7:30 p.m.

Come to the library in your pajamas to listen to stories, read with your children, and enjoy a snack before bed! This program is recommended for children of all ages and their caregivers. Pajama Story Time is presented by the Cambridge Public Library and the Center for Families.

Documentary Photography with your Smartphone [55+] (Main)
Wednesday, May 20
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. You need only bring two things to this class: your smartphone and your imagination. The workshop will be led by Jerry Russo. Registration is required.

Fiber Crafts Group - Drop-In (O'Connell)
Wednesday, May 20
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, May 20
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, May 20
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.

Wiggle Party (O’Connell)

Wednesday, May 20

5:30-6 p.m. 

Join us for a dance party to get your wiggles out! Play a freeze dance game, shake some shakers, or dance with scarves! For more information, please call the library at (617) 349-4019. 

CPL Presents: Yiyun Li (Main) 

Thursday, May 21

6-7:30 p.m. 

Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month by welcoming Yiyun Li, the author of several award-winning novels, including The Book of Goose, as well as the widely acclaimed memoir, Things in Nature Merely Grow. Registration is required.  

Freedom of Expression: A Movement Workshop (O'Neill) 

Wednesday, May 20

6-7:30 p.m. 

It’s an act of rebellion to use your body in a public space, articulating power and transcending awkwardness or beauty.  Two community workshops, led by Professor of Dance Christine Bennett, will involve movement as a path toward understanding and resiliency in our own bodies and community spaces. Wear comfortable clothes.  Register for one or both classes (5/13 & 5/20). Registration is required.  

Blood Drive (Main) 

Thursday, May 21

9 a.m.-2 p.m. 

The Bloodmobile is coming to Cambridge Public Library! The blood donation process is safe, simple, and satisfying. All donations will go directly to Massachusetts General Hospital where your 1 donation can save 3 different people. Register here. (Walk-ins welcome!) 

Branch Walk (55+) (Valente)

Thursday, May 21

10:30-11:45 a.m. 

Join guide Stefanie Haug while exploring our neighborhood nature and history. As a group, we'll connect with and explore the neighborhood mindfully with a gentle walk and draw on contemplative practices. Registration is encouraged.

Puzzle Party (Main)
Thursday, May 21
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 (Boudreau)

Thursday, May 21

3-5 p.m. 

Stop by the Boudreau Branch after school for a drop-in craft using fun STEAM equipment from the library!  This week we’ll be using the button maker. 

Fiber Arts Circle (Central Square)
Thursday, May 21
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!

Robot Story Time with the Museum of Science (O’Connell) 

Thursday, May 21

4:40-5:10 p.m. 

Can a robot be a friend? Can a robot help do your chores? An educator from the Museum of Science leads Robot Storytime to explore these questions through an original story. After the story, participants can interact with a robot dog! This program will happen twice. Come to either the 10:30 AM or 11:30 AM session. No registration required. Recommended for ages 0-7 with a caregiver.

Playing with Poetry (Main) 

Thursday, May 21

6-7:30 p.m. 

Join Bee & Ivy in this experimental writing workshop where you will engage with: music, rhyme, blackout poetry, letter writing, and more! Create, share your work, get feedback - at the final session we’ll have a poetry reading. Registration is required. 

CPL Nature Club: Morning Bird Watching Walk at Mt. Auburn Cemetery

Friday, May 22

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. Meet at the Collins Branch courtyard and we will walk over together. Registration is required. This event is full but a waitlist is available.

Coffee And Games!  (Boudreau)

Friday, May 22 

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!

Wellness for Older Adults: Zumba Gold (Main)
Friday, May 22
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.

Kids’ Zine Collective (O’Neill)

Friday, May 22 

4-5 p.m. 

What's a zine? And how do I make one? Come find out! Kids are invited to explore making, copying, sharing, and swapping zines. Making zines will include activities like writing, drawing, and using a photocopier. For kids ages 7 and up. Snacks are provided! 

Reading Group: How We Get Free: Black Feminism and the Combahee River (Central Square)

Saturday, May 23

11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. 

This is a 4-part reading group to discuss How We Get Free: Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor. Participants are encouraged to come to as many sessions as they can — and all are welcome! Copies of the book are available for pickup at the Central Square Branch. This event was created in partnership with Community Conversations: Sister to Sister, the Cambridge LGBTQ+ Commission, and the Cambridge Women’s Commission.

CPL Presents: AAPI Heritage Month Celebration with Boston Festival Orchestra (Main) 

Saturday, May 23

1-2:30 p.m. 

The Boston Festival Orchestra returns for the second year of its AAPI Heritage Concert, celebrating the extraordinary breadth of musical voices from Asian American and Pacific Islander composers. This program brings together works that reflect personal history, cultural inheritance, and bold contemporary expression — offering a powerful snapshot of the many ways identity and artistry intersect. Registration is required.  

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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.