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Director's Update, October 3, 2021


10/3/2021 • 2 years ago

caution sign The information on this page may be outdated as it was published 2 years ago.

New library at night

Dear Patrons,

This week, in addition to a story time celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day with Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui, several Hive workshops, outdoor kids programs, and a discussion of considerations for elders living alone, we are very excited to resume our popular Read to a Dog program at the O’Neill Branch!

Branch Closures and Reopenings

The reopening of the Boudreau Branch, 245 Concord Ave., is delayed due to ongoing construction. An announcement will be made when a revised opening date is confirmed.

The Collins Branch, located at 64 Aberdeen Ave., will close from Monday, October 4, until Monday, November 1, for upgrades to the roof, gutters, and ventilation system. The book drop will be closed during construction.

Book Groups in October

Book groups are an excellent way to join neighbors and friends in the joy of reading! Registration is required. You can join these book groups this month:

Outdoor Programming for Kids

Weekly outdoor programs for young children will be offered (weather permitting) at our Central Square, Collins, Main, O’Connell, O’Neill, and Valente locations:

  • Outdoor Baby Lapsit: Just for you and your baby! Enjoy time with other parents, caregivers, and babies to play and develop language and motor skills.
  • Outdoor Sing Along: All ages are invited to sing and dance!
  • Outdoor Story Time: All ages are invited to gather for a half hour of stories!

This week, we will also be holding a special Outdoor Story Time with the Mayor on Thursday, October 7, at 11 a.m. outside the Main Library! Please see our events calendar for all outdoor youth program details. Registration is not required.

ESOL Classes (Central Square/Virtual)

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes occur virtually on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Beginner ESOL takes place at 1 p.m. and Intermediate ESOL at 3 p.m.

Intermediate classes will also be offered in person at the Central Square Branch  on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11 a.m., and Intro ESOL will be offered on Wednesdays and Fridays at 10:30 a.m.

Registration is required for each class.

Hive Safety Training & Glowforge 101 (Main)
Tuesday, October 5, at 1:30 p.m.
Thursday, October 7, at 6:30 p.m.

In this hour-and-a-half workshop, you will learn about our makerspace, how to use our resources, and how to keep safe in The Hive. You will also create your Hive badge ID using our Glowforge laser cutter and then use it to cut and engrave your own creations. Registration is required.

All makers must sign The Hive User Agreement and Waivers to participate.

Résumé and Job Application Support (Central Square)

Would you like help creating a résumé or looking for a job? Join us on Wednesday, October 6, from 1  to 3 p.m., at the Central Square Branch for assistance. No registration is required.

Read to a Dog (O'Neill)

On Wednesday, October 6, at 3 p.m., read with a cuddly friend at the O'Neill Branch! Trained therapy dogs provide warm and nonjudgmental reading companions for new or experienced readers up to age 14. Registration for each 10-minute time slot is required. It begins on Wednesday, September 29, by calling or visiting the O’Neill Branch (617-349-4023).

Studio Recording 101 (Main)
Wednesday, October 6, at 4 p.m.
Saturday, October 9, at 11 a.m.

Are you interested in podcasting, audio production, or video production? The Hive has two state-of-the-art recording studios! Join this workshop to become familiar with the basics of the equipment and software. Registration is required.

You must complete Hive Safety Training & Glowforge 101 before participating in this program.

Vinyl Cutting 101 (Main)

Would you like to make your own vinyl signs, stickers, or images to transfer to T-shirts and other textiles? In this workshop on Wednesday, October 6, at 6 p.m., you can learn how to use our Roland Camm-1 GS-24 vinyl cutter. You can then design a sticker and cut it with our vinyl cutter Registration is required.

You must complete Hive Safety Training & Glowforge 101 before registering for this workshop.

O'Neill Reads (Virtual)

Join us for a special online story time with four talented North Cambridge authors on Wednesday, October 6, at 6:30 p.m. Adria Karlsson (My Sister Daisy), Kaija Langley (When Langston Dances), Sara Levine (A Peek at Beaks) and Alison Goldberg (I Love you for Miles and Miles) will read from their books and answer questions from young readers. Registration is required.

The Unique Considerations of Solo Agers (Virtual)

On Thursday, October 7, at 10:30 a.m., join Ailene Gerhardt to explore the needs and unique considerations of solo agers -- their specific needs about health care and community, tips and strategies for avoiding loneliness and isolation, and tools for creating and identifying a support system. This program is co-sponsored by Cambridge Neighbors. Registration is required.

Hive Equipment and Studio Reservations (Main)
Thursday, October 7, from 1 to 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 9, from 12:30 to 3 p.m.

Anyone who has completed Hive training and is badged to use equipment or studios can reserve Hive equipment or studio spaces. Staff will assist participants as they are able. Make reservations.

Learn more about becoming a badged maker.

3D Printing 101 (Main)

On Friday, October 8, at 3:30 p.m., learn how to use our Sindoh 3D printers and create a design for your first 3D print in The Hive. This workshop includes a design tutorial in Tinkercad. Create a Tinkercad account at www.tinkercad.com before arriving. Parents may need to assist users under the age of 18 to create an account. Registration is required.

You must complete Hive Safety Training & Glowforge 101 before registering for this workshop.

Stay Connected

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Best wishes,

Maria McCauley, Ph.D.
Director of Libraries