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The Cambridge Public Library will host special programming for youth during Cambridge Public Schools’ vacation week.

Community Chat about the Library's Future

Harvard Book Store and the Cambridge Public Library welcome Daniel Pollack-Pelzner—cultural historian, theater critic, and professor of English and theater at Portland State University—for a discussion of his highly anticipated biography of Broadway superstar Lin-Manuel Miranda, titled Lin-Manuel Miranda: The Education of an Artist. He will be joined in conversation by Dani Snyder-Young—esteemed Northeastern University theater professor, who appears in Lin-Manuel Miranda as his director for the Wesleyan production of Jesus Christ Superstar that launched him into collegiate superstardom. Registration is required.

The City of Cambridge is proud to announce that Dr. Maria McCauley, Director of Libraries, has been elected 2026-2027 American Library Association president.

When choosing native plants, you have to ask the right questions to get the best results. Kim Eierman will help you sort out the mysteries and complexities of native plant selection including: Am I buying a genetic clone, and does it matter? What are local ecotypes and where can I buy them? Are native cultivars ok? Are dwarf nativars ecologically-useful? What’s the tradeoff with double flowers? Which native plants require pollination partners (i.e. are dioecious) and how do I source them? What are the pros and cons of planting native seeds vs. live plants? Get the answers you need to make your native landscape both beautiful and eco-beneficial. This is event is cosponsored by the Cambridge Public Library. Kim Eierman is the Founder of EcoBeneficial LLC and author of The Pollinator Victory Garden: Win the War on Pollinator Decline with Ecological Gardening. She is an ecological landscape designer and environmental horticulturist specializing in native plants. Based in New York, Kim teaches at the New York Botanical Garden and Brooklyn Botanic Garden and is a Steering Committee member of The Native Plant Center. Visit Grow Native.

Landing page for the Cambridge Public Library's Strategic Planning Process

In honor of Black History Month, join Opera on Tap Boston for Shakespeare of Harlem, a concert celebrating the life, work, and enduring influence of Langston Hughes. The program weaves Hughes’ poetry and prose with art songs by composers such as Margaret Bonds and Florence Price, alongside the voices of his contemporaries, including Georgia Douglas Johnson and Countee Cullen. An ensemble of celebrated local actor-singers brings the text and music to life, illuminating the ideas, experiences, and cultural moments that shaped Hughes as a writer. The performance will be followed by a talkback, offering audiences a chance to discuss with the artists and the material in conversation. Featuring: Morgan Beckford, Soprano Melynda Davis, Soprano Todd McNeel, Baritone Fred C. VanNess Jr., Tenor Producers: Nina Evelyn and Kathryn McKellar Registration is not required but preferred.

Join us for an insightful conversation about community, bookselling, and publishing moderated by Perpetua Cannistraro, Publicist at Beacon Press, and Boston Publishing Chair of the National Women's Book Association. Panelists include Christina Pascucci-Ciampa, the owner of All She Wrote Books; Franchesca Viaud, the store Manager at JustBook-ish; Kayla Januchowski, the General Manager at Lovestruck Books; and Caroline Brink, the Director of Operations at Beacon Hill Books. Registration is required. Cosponsored by Cambridge Public Library.

AI is the most transformative technology of our time, yet decisions about its future are being shaped by a small group of people. As AI becomes embedded in our daily lives, the voices of young people, families, educators, and community members matter more than ever. Join us for an inclusive, intergenerational gathering where we explore what is at stake, what is possible, how we can collectively shape a more humane and equitable future in the age of AI. AI and Us Showcase — Discover how young people, researchers, and community organizations are shaping AI for humanity. Town Hall Conversations — Hear from thought leaders and youth voices on why our participation in AI’s future is not optional. Community Commitment Wall — Add your hope or promise for a future where everyone belongs in the story of AI Panelists include digital artist Dr. Nettrice Gaskins; Dr. Pedro Reynolds-Cuellar, a Research Scientist at the Robotics and AI Institute; Mark Lannigan, the Regional Director for Senator Ed Markey; Dr. Nathan Sanders, a Data Scientist at the Harvard Berkman Klein Center; Dr. Maria Madison, the Principal Investigator in the Racial Justice and Tech Program at Brandeis University’s Heller School for Social Policy and Management; Dr. Deb Roy, the Director of the Constructive Communication Center at the MIT Media Labs; and Dr. Dia Ghosh, the Founder of Joint Family. Panelists will also include Gianluca Álvarez and Jeremy Miranda Casildo, youth AI Research Interns with Innovators for Purpose.

Join us in a lively discussion once a month on books tailored to the 10-12 age range. This month we'll be reading To Night Owl From Dogfish by Holly Goldberg Sloan & Meg Wolitzer. Read the book, share your thoughts, and engage with an activity related to it. Snacks and food provided. Register online to ensure your spot. Please call 617-349-4038 for more information.