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Dear Patrons,
Summer Reading Bingo registration opens tomorrow, June 1! Start reading now and redeem prizes from June 20-August 14, 2026, while supplies last. This year’s theme is “Plant a Seed, Read,” celebrating the natural world we live in. To get started, register at camb.ma/summerreading! Pick up your bingo board from any Cambridge Public Library location. View the calendar of special Summer Reading events happening throughout the summer.
Funding for Summer Reading has been generously provided by the City of Cambridge, Cambridge Public Library Foundation, Friends of the Cambridge Public Library, and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.
Please note, all Library locations will be closed on Friday, June 5, for staff training.
Upcoming Events
On Monday, June 1, 6:30-7:30 p.m., kick off Pride Month with Drag Story Time at the O'Neill Branch! A special guest will present songs and stories about what makes each of us fabulous. This program is for children and their caregivers. No registration required.
Join us at the Main Library or online for a “Know Your Rights: Housing” presentation on Wednesday, June 3, 6-7:30 p.m., where you will learn about your rights as a tenant and Cambridge resources that support renters. We will be joined by attorneys from Cambridge and Somerville Legal Services and the City of Cambridge’s Office of the Housing Liaison. Registration is required.
Celebrate Caribbean Heritage Month on Saturday, June 6, 1 p.m., with a special Park Sounds concert featuring PanNeubean Steel. PanNeubean Steel is a dynamic steelpan guided ensemble delivering vibrant Caribbean rhythms with modern flair. PARK SOUNDS 2026 brings free outdoor musical performances for all ages featuring local artists to Joan Lorentz Park. Bring a chair, food, and loved ones to celebrate the summer! Registration is not 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
Wellness for Older Adults: Low-impact Fitness (Virtual)
Monday, June 1
11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
This class is designed for people of all levels to strengthen the muscles, the heart and the brain--all while having fun and moving to great music! Come as you are and take everything at your own pace. You will feel the benefits in mind and body! Registration for each session is required.
Zen Meditation Practice with Cambridge Zen Center (Central Square)
Monday, June 1
3-3:45 p.m.
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.
Summer Reading: Cambridge City Growers Seed & Seedling Swap (Main)
Monday, June 1
3-6 p.m.
Swap extra seeds, plants or harvested items from your garden at the Library! Learn informally about Cambridge's pollinator biodiversity and why it's so important to grow and share food, strengthen and grow our local food economy, and most of all...to get our hands dirty while we get to know our neighbors, our community and our place in the world around us. Kids can make a pollinator finger puppet or take home a kit to make one.
Teen Hangout (Valente)
Monday, June 1
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.
Chess Hour (Boudreau)
Monday, June 1
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 Family Story Time (Valente)
Monday, June 1
5:30-5:55 p.m.
Join us for 20-25 minutes of stories, songs and rhymes. For children of all ages and their caregivers.
Adult Gaming: Unplugged (Main)
Monday, June 1
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.
Drag Story Time (O’Neill)
Monday, June 1
6:30-7:30 p.m.
Kick off Pride Month with Drag Story Time at the O'Neill Branch! A special guest will present songs and stories about what makes each of us fabulous. This program is for children and their caregivers. No registration required.
Sit ‘n’ Knit (Main)
Tuesday, June 2
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.
CPL Nature Club: Alewife Afternoon Nature Walk (O’Neill)
Tuesday, June 2
3:30-4:30 p.m.
Come explore the nature in our urban backyard! We will take a leisurely walk as we observe and learn together about the animals and plants at Alewife Reservation. You are welcome to bring binoculars, magnifying glasses or any other observational tool. Registration is helpful but not required.
Crafternoon: Color Change Beads (Collins)
Tuesday, June 2
4-4:45 p.m.
Get creative after school! We will use solar UV pony beads in a variety of projects. These special beads change color when exposed to ultraviolet sunlight. Recommended for children ages 6-12 and their caregivers.
Youth Dungeons & Dragons Session 5/8 (Valente)
Tuesday, June 2
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.
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, June 2
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, June 3
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!
Wellness for Older Adults: Low-Impact Fitness (Valente)
Wednesday, June 3
11:15 a.m.-12 p.m.
This class is designed for people of all levels to strengthen the muscles, the heart and the brain--all while having fun and moving to great music! Come as you are and take everything at your own pace. This class is conducted from a standing position and incorporates exercises like modified lunges, cardio, and body resistance strength training. Registration for each session is required.
Wednesdays of Wonder - W.O.W.! (O'Neill)
Wednesday, June 3
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, June 3
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.
Pride Month Story Time (O’Connell)
Wednesday, June 3
5:30-5:50 p.m.
Join us for stories, songs and rhymes about being yourself!! Recommended for children of all ages and their caregivers.
Fabric Mending: Darning (Main)
Wednesday, June 3
6-7:30 p.m.
In this workshop, we’ll learn how to visibly mend holes and weak areas in sweaters, socks, and other knit fabrics using seed stitch and square darning techniques. You’ll leave with a sampler of both techniques that you can refer back to when tackling your own darning projects at home. Beginners welcome, though some experience with hand sewing is helpful. Registration is required.
Know Your Rights: Housing (Main)
Wednesday, June 3
6-7:30 p.m.
Join us for a “Know Your Rights: Housing” presentation, in which you will learn about your rights as a tenant and Cambridge resources that support renters. We will be joined by attorneys from Cambridge and Somerville Legal Services and the City of Cambridge’s Office of the Housing Liaison. Registration is required.
Low-stress Crafting for Adults: Embroidery (Valente)
Thursday, June 4
2-3 p.m.
Join us at the Valente Branch for a simple craft. This month we will be embroidering. Supplies are limited. Registration is required. This event is full but a waitlist is available.
Puzzle Party (Main)
Thursday, June 4
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, June 4
3-5 p.m.
Stop by the Boudreau Branch after school for a drop-in craft using fun STEAM equipment from the library!
Fiber Arts Circle (Central Square)
Thursday, June 4
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!
Wiggle Party (O’Connell)
Thursday, June 4
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.
Show Your Pride: Pride Button Making (Central Square)
Thursday, June 4
6-7 p.m.
Come share your Pride and play with our button maker! We'll have templates for Pride flag buttons and pronoun buttons and lots of supplies to make your own button design.
Playing with Poetry (Main)
Thursday, June 4
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.
Radius Ensemble Free Family Concert (Main)
Saturday, June 6
11 a.m.-12 p.m.
The concert, geared toward preschool children but appropriate for all ages, includes string quartets from around the globe, as well as a show-and-tell of the instruments of the string family. From Mozart to Scott Joplin, repertoire spans centuries and traverses continents, exposing children to a variety of musical traditions. For the final piece, we invite children to play along on hand percussion instruments, and each child receives a free colorful shaker to take home. Recommended for children ages 3 to 5 years with caregiver.
Park Sounds: Caribbean Heritage Month Edition with PanNeubean Steel (Main)
Saturday, June 6
1-2:30 p.m.
PanNeubean Steel is a dynamic steelpan guided ensemble delivering vibrant Caribbean rhythms with modern flair. Rooted in tradition and driven by innovation, the band brings energy, precision, and crowd-moving performances to every stage—celebrating culture, community, and the unmistakable sound of steel. PARK SOUNDS 2026 brings free outdoor musical performances featuring local artists to the front lawn of the Cambridge Public Library Main Branch. These events are all-ages. Bring a chair, food, and loved ones to celebrate the summer! Registration is not required.
Wait, Is That Real?: Exploring Truth, Trust and Safety in the AI Era (Main)
Saturday, June 6
2-4 p.m.
Think you can spot what’s real and what’s AI-made? Put your sleuthing skills to the test in this interactive workshop presented by Joint Family and the Cambridge Public Library. Through hands-on activities, we'll see how easy it is to create AI-generated images, voices, and videos and how hard it's becoming to tell the difference. Together we'll explore emerging trends in deepfakes and AI-generated content, real-world case studies of scams and misinformation, and practical strategies for protecting ourselves, our families, and our communities. No prior experience with AI necessary. Open to ages 13 and up. Bring someone you trust - a friend, a grandparent, a neighbor! Registration is required.
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About the Cambridge Public Library:
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