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Harvard Book Store and the Cambridge Public Library 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.

Harvard Book Store and the Cambridge Public Library welcome Thomas Levenson—professor of science writing at MIT and author of several books, including So Very Small and Einstein in Berlin—for a discussion of his new book, A Pox on Fools: The True Believers, Grifters, and Cynics Who Convinced Us to Reject Vaccines. Registration is required.

Join Dr. Beronda L. Montgomery—a writer, science communicator, and plant biologist—for a wide-ranging discussion of her new book, When Trees Testify: Science, Wisdom, History, and America’s Black Botanical History. The event will be moderated by Tracy K. Smith, a two-term U.S. Poet Laureate and the Boylston Professor of Rhetoric and Oratory at Harvard University. Registration is required.

Join us on Tuesday, April 2, at 6 p.m. for a reading and conversation with Ursula Villarreal-Moura.

This CPR class will cover life-saving skills for infants, children and adults. We will use multi-media and hands-on practice to be sure students acquire skills and confidence to assist in a life-saving medical situation. This class will also cover training and the use of AED (Automated External Defibrillator) for all ages, along with life-saving skills in choking situations. Students will receive their certificate upon completion of class. Please note that the City is not responsible for the content or training equipment. Space is limited (20 adults), registration is required. Note for CONFIRMED registrants: Your spot is held until the program start time. Once the program begins, we will fill in open spots from a day-of waiting list until the program reaches capacity. Please plan to arrive at the library approximately 15 minutes before the start time to ensure adequate time to check in before the program begins. We appreciate your patience and understanding. Funding for this program has been generously provided by the Cambridge Public Library Foundation.

This CPR class will cover life-saving skills for infants, children and adults. We will use multi-media and hands-on practice to be sure students acquire skills and confidence to assist in a life-saving medical situation. This class will also cover training and the use of AED (Automated External Defibrillator) for all ages, along with life-saving skills in choking situations. Students will receive their certificate upon completion of class. Please note that the City is not responsible for the content or training equipment. Space is limited (20 adults), registration is required. Note for CONFIRMED registrants: Your spot is held until the program start time. Once the program begins, we will fill in open spots from a day-of waiting list until the program reaches capacity. Please plan to arrive at the library approximately 15 minutes before the start time to ensure adequate time to check in before the program begins. We appreciate your patience and understanding. Funding for this program has been generously provided by the Cambridge Public Library Foundation.

Join Earthwise Aware for a thought-provoking workshop examining how land use and climate change influence the design, function, and future of urban green spaces. Starting at the library’s front lawn, we will explore how conventional designs can undermine biodiversity and tree health. What makes a space truly nature-friendly? Can a lawn, sidewalk, or plaza be transformed into habitat? We will compare low-functioning green spaces with examples of micro-forests, native plantings, and meadows. Along the way, we will observe seasonal changes in plants and wildlife through the lens of phenology, the study of nature’s calendar. We will also introduce simple participatory science tools that help monitor habitat quality, foster community engagement, and inform better decisions. Even a modest native plant patch can be a pocket of resilience. Come learn how to spot, support, and reimagine urban nature that works with the ecosystem, not just mimics it. The program will start with a workshop in the Rossi Room, then move outside to Joan Lorentz Park. Registration required.

Cambridge Cooks, Expressive Arts, Reopening of the Lewis Room, and Much More!

Festive Fanfare with the BFO, Holiday Cards, Homemade Gifts and More!

Meeting minutes of the Cambridge Public Library Board of Trustees meeting held November 18, 2025