Director's Update, October 11, 2026

Dear Patrons,  

All Library locations will be closed Monday, Oct. 12, for Indigenous Peoples Day. 

Library Card Design Contest: Adventure Awaits...At the Library! 
What adventures have you had at the Library? Stories you've read, new skills you've learned, or worlds you've imagined? In our inaugural library card design contest, share your illustration of a journey you've gone on through the Cambridge Public Library. 

Starting October 15, if you live, work, or go to school in Cambridge, you can submit your original designs to be featured on new, limited-edition library cards to come in 2027. One adult and one youth winner will see their design featured on library cards and be selected for a grand prize. Finalists will be displayed in the Library and featured on our website and social media. 

All entrants must agree to Creative Works Release and License and submit their designs online by Sunday, November 15, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. A parent or legal guardian must agree to the Creative Works Release and License on behalf of youth entrants. Only complete entries will be reviewed. If you are chosen as a winner, the Library will contact you directly. Winners will have the opportunity to be featured alongside their design.

CPL in the News 
At the annual American Library Association conference in June, I had the pleasure of speaking with the New York Times about America’s libraries. See what I and other library workers had to say: Librarians on Libraries.  I also spoke with USA Today about the growing prevalence of libraries of things: Americans are borrowing expensive items for free. Here's where.

Upcoming Events 
Join the Shadow, Sound, Spectacle ensemble on Thursday, October 15, from 6–7:30 p.m. at the O’Connell Branch for Literary Monsters: Spooky Stories! Shadow Puppets! Live Music! The evening will feature original live music, shadow puppetry, video projection, and gothic storytelling inspired by the works of Edgar Allan Poe, Mary Shelley, Washington Irving, Emily Dickinson, Bram Stoker, Anne Rice, and others. This imaginative multimedia performance reimagines iconic gothic figures—Frankenstein’s creature, Poe’s raven, the Headless Horseman—as symbols of resistance, transformation, and queer identity. This program is recommended for teens and adults. No registration is required.

Sharon Weinberger, veteran national security correspondent and former National Security Editor at The Wall Street Journal, joins the Cambridge Public Library and Harvard Book Store to discuss her new book, Valley of Death: How Big Tech Is Fueling the Future of War on Thursday, October 15, from 6-7:30 p.m. Weinberger is the author of several books on national security and has held fellowships at Harvard, MIT, and the Wilson Center. 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.  

• 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

Creative Aging: Feast of Poetry (Main)
Tuesday, October 13
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 workshop is full; a waitlist is available.

Wellness for Older Adults: Chair Yoga (Central)
Tuesday, October 13
1-2 p.m.

Join us each Tuesday afternoon at the Central Square Branch for Chair Yoga, led by experienced instructor Louise Parker.  No equipment needed. This is an in-person program taking place in the Lewis Room at Central Square.  Registration is required for each session. 

Sit ‘n’ Knit (Main)
Tuesday, October 13
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.

Teens: Focus Time! (Valente)
Tuesday, October 13
3:30-5 p.m.

Join peers in quiet time after school to complete homework, study, read your next favorite book, work on your graphic novel and art, or otherwise focus on a project. No registration required, drop-in anytime. Ages 12-18. 

Creative Aging: Beginner Improv (Main)
Tuesday, October 13
4-6 p.m.

A 12-week series of beginner's classes with instruction from Comedian Jack Simon. Learn how to seamlessly integrate interactive improv games, scenes, and skillful storytelling that all come together with performance. This will be an in-person program at the Main Library. Space is limited to 15 participants. Due to the popularity and to gain the most out of this program, we expect all participants to commit to all sessions in this 12-week course. Registration is required. Sponsored by the Cambridge Public Library Foundation

Board Game Night for Adults (Valente)
Tuesday, October 13
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. Registration is helpful.

Fiber Crafts Group - Drop-In (O'Connell)
Wednesday, October 14
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!

CPL Nature Club: Fresh Pond Nature Walk (Collins)
Wednesday, October 14
10:15-11:30 a.m.

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. The meeting location for this walk will be at the Fresh Pond Ranger Station at 250 Fresh Pond Parkway. Temporary parking passes can be provided on request. Registration is required. This event can only accommodate a certain number of participants. One registration is good for one person. If you do not register, you cannot participate. Those on the waitlist will be contacted if a space becomes available.

Wellness for Older Adults: Let Your Yoga Dance (Main)
Wednesday, October 14
11:15 a.m.-12 p.m.

A fun, dynamic, and ultimately blissful class.  We'll work our way through the seven energy centers (chakras) with Let Your Yoga Dance. You will leave with a good workout and a peaceful, happy mind/body/spirit. Good for everybody! Registration for each session is required. This is an in-person class taking place in the Community Room at the Main library. 

Lunch at the Library (O’Connell)
Wednesday, October 14
1-3 p.m.

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

Wednesdays of Wonder - W.O.W.! (O'Neill)
Wednesday, October 14
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 do "sink or float" experiments by making our own pirate ships!

Wednesdays of Wonder - W.O.W.! (Valente)
Wednesday, October 14
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. 

Board Game Afternoon (Main)
Wednesday, October 14
3-4 p.m.

Join us for an afternoon of board games! Recommended for children ages 5 and up and their caregivers.

Family Mario Kart Tournament (Valente)
Wednesday, October 14
5:30-7 p.m.

Race against friends and family on the library's gaming consoles to emerge victorious in this Mario Kart competition! The library will provide all materials. This program is recommended for children ages 5+ and their guardians. 

Citizenship Preparation Classes (Central Square)
Wednesday, October 14
6-8 p.m.

Come join this free 10-week class, in partnership with St. Mark Community Education Program. This series of classes prepares students for all parts of the Citizenship interview and includes the new 128 civics question list. This class is offered as a 10-week series. Attendance at all sessions is expected.

Requirements:

• Intermediate-level English
• Legal Permanent Resident card for 4 years and 9 months (2 years and 9 months if married to a U.S. citizen)

Click Here to Register. For more information about registering or classes contact St. Marks atstmarkesol@gmail.com or 617-288-8515.

Wednesday Night Creative Writing Group (Main)
Wednesday, April 14
6:30-8:30 p.m.

Writers of all experience levels are invited to join a casual, peer-supported writing group. In this group, participants take turns bringing short in-progress or completed pieces of any genre. The group reads several pieces each month, sharing feedback and constructive criticism in a supportive and inclusive environment. We may practice in-class writing exercises and read samples of published writing as time allows. Registration is required. NOTE: Registration is for this month's meeting only. For more information, please email Susannah at sbtkacz@cambridgema.gov.

Branch Walk [55+] (Central)
Thursday, October 15
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.  What to bring: layered clothing, comfortable shoes and water.
Where to meet: Central Square Branch Lobby. Registration is requested but not required.

Low-stress Crafting for Adults: Spooky Ghost Pillow (Valente)
Thursday, October 15
2-3 p.m.

Join us at the Valente Branch for a simple craft. This month we will be making a ghost pillow. Supplies are limited. Registration is required.

Solo Aging Series (Virtual)
Thursday, October 15
2-3:30 p.m.

Join Marni Blank, founder of Begin with the End, for a three-part series designed to give solo agers and those preparing for that possibility the practical tools, emotional support, and community connection they need to plan with confidence.  In session 3, Taking Action: Mindset, Legacy, and Making it Stick, we'll address the emotional barriers that keep us stuck, reframing planning as something we do for ourselves and not a sign of decline. This is a virtual presentation and a link will be provided one hour before each program. Registration is required. Presented in partnership with Cambridge Neighbors. 

Puzzle Party (Main)
Thursday, October 15
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.

Teens: Foursquare!
Thursday, October 15
3:30-5 p.m.

Play the classic court game of four-square (also known as box ball) with peers! Bounce a ball into other player's squares to eliminate them and advance to the highest-ranking square. Indoor, no registration required, drop-in at any time. We play by outlined Library Foursquare Rules. Ages 12-18. 

Fiber Arts Circle (Central)
Thursday, October 15
4-5 p.m.

Bring your project and come 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!

Puppetry Studio (Main)
Thursday, October15
5-6:30 p.m.

We will read folktales about cats and compare the different stories as inspiration to write an original tale to be performed on a tiny stage. Using a ChompSaw (a kid-safe power tool), participants will safely cut cardboard to create shadow puppets. We'll host a performance of our masterpiece for family and friends on the final session. This four-week puppetry workshop is for youth ages 8-12 and meets 5:00-6:30 p.m. on Thursdays October 8, 15, 22 and 29. Participants must attend all sessions and have read any folktale about cats before the first session. Visit the Children's Room to pick up a copy of a book. For questions about Puppetry Studio, please email Natalie at nzylicz@cambridgema.gov or call 617-349-4038. Registration is required.

Wellness for Older Adults: Zumba Gold (Main)
Friday, October 16
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 every week and will open at 11:30 a.m., the Monday before each class.  Please be aware that if you are on the waitlist, we likely cannot accommodate patrons once we've reached capacity to safely run the program. 

Cambridge Young Authors' Squad - CYAS (O'Neill)
Friday, October 16
4-5 p.m.

Young people ages 10 to 14 who love to write are invited to join us and share their ideas and creativity. Each session includes time for optional share‑outs and workshopping, as well as opportunities for both group and independent writing. Snacks are provided! If you’re attending for the first time, registration is helpful but not required. All are welcome.

Arabic Story Time (Main) 
Saturday, October 17
11 a.m.-12 p.m.

The Library is pleased to be working with dedicated community members to offer a special story time in Arabic! This program will be conducted primarily in Arabic with the intention of helping young Arabic language learners to improve their skills. This program is suitable for children up to age 7. Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis on the day of the program. The entire party must be present to receive a ticket. This program starts promptly, and any unclaimed seats will be offered to someone waiting. We appreciate your patience and understanding. Please call 617-349-4038 for more information.

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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.