Director's Update, May 1, 2022

Dear Library Patrons,

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, which celebrates Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans and their contributions to society. In recognition, we have planned several exciting programs at the Library.

We will be hosting Homeira Qaderi, the author of Dancing in the Mosque: An Afghan Mother's Letter to Her Son, on Thursday, May 12. Qaderi will be in conversation with the poet Aria Aber. Aber is the recipient of a 2020 Whiting Award in Poetry and is currently a Wallace Stegner Fellow in Poetry at Stanford University. Registration is required.

Join Katie Kitamura, the author of Intimacies, on Wednesday, May 18. Kitamura will be in conversation with Rivka Galchen, a staff writer at the New Yorker and the author of Everyone Knows Your Mother Is a Witch. Registration is required.

On Thursday, May 26, the Library will be hosting two poets, Yanyi, the author of the collection Dream of the Divided Field, and Victoria Chang, the author of the collection The Trees Witness Everything. Registration is required to participate in this virtual program.

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Book Groups

Wellness for Seniors: Zumba Gold (Virtual)
Monday, May 2
11-11:45 a.m.

Put on your dancing shoes to improve flexibility and balance, strengthen muscles, and have fun! The certified Zumba Gold instructor Emily B. will lead you through 45 minutes of low-impact and easy choreography in your own home through Zoom. Registration is required.

Zing Laser Cutting 101 (Main)
Monday, May 2
3:30-4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 4
4:30-5:30 p.m.

Complete this workshop to earn a badge for the Epilog Zing laser cutter. You must complete Hive Safety Training before registering for this workshop. Registration is required.

Note: The Epilog Zing laser cutter and Glowforge laser cutter require separate training. You must participate in the Glowforge 101: Creative Laser Cutting workshop in order to operate our Glowforge Pro laser cutter.

Lamp x the CPL Present: A Book Club Walks into a Bar (Lamplighter Brewing Co.)
Monday, May 2
7-8:30 p.m.

You’re invited to our May brewery book club, where Lamplighter and the Cambridge Public Library team up to highlight contemporary works from marginalized voices while having a beer. This month, we’ll read The Startup Wife by Tahmima Anam. We’ll gather in the Lamplighter’s back taproom to discuss the book – what we learned from it, what we found ourselves touched by – and all other thoughts. Registration is required.

ESOL Classes (Central Square)
Tuesdays and Thursdays
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 1-2:30 p.m., and 3-4:30 p.m.
Wednesdays and Fridays
10:30 a.m.-Noon

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes occur at the Central Square Branch on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Intermediate ESOL is at 11 a.m., High Beginner ESOL at 1 p.m., Advanced ESOL at 3 p.m., and Beginner ESOL at 10:30 a.m. Registration is required for each class.

Equipment and Studio Reservation (Main)

Tuesday, May 3
2-6 p.m.
Thursday, May 5
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Friday, May 6
10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 7
1:30-4:30 p.m.

During this time period, anyone who has completed Hive Safety Training and is badged to use equipment or studio(s) can reserve Hive equipment or studio spaces. Learn more about becoming a badged maker. Staff will assist participants as they are able. Learn more.

Gentle Movement (Collins)
Tuesday, May 3
5-5:45 p.m.

Join us in the Collins Branch courtyard for an afternoon of gentle yoga with Cambridge-based Carol Faulkner. She will guide us through a 45-minute period of movement, stretching, and reflection. We will move our bodies slowly through introductory yoga poses. All abilities are welcome. Please bring your own mat, towel, blanket, or piece of clothing to practice on. Don't have something to use? No problem! Contact Lucy at lflamm@cambridgema.gov. This is an outdoor event. Registration is required.

Bicycle Maintenance Clinic (Valente)
Tuesday, May 3
5:30-7:30 p.m.

Would you like to tune your bike up for spring riding? This hands-on workshop, held in collaboration with Cambridge’s Community Development Department, will cover the ABCs (Air, Brakes, Chain) of bicycle maintenance, with time at the end for any specific questions you may have about basic repairs. Bring your own bike or work on one provided by the instructor. Registration is required.

To watch videos of previous workshops or to find out about more bicycle workshops through the City of Cambridge, visit: www.cambridgema.gov/bikeworkshops.

Career Skills: Interview Workshop (Virtual)
Tuesday, May 3
6-7:30 p.m.

The online Career Skills workshop series is presented by the employment specialist Gary Gekow. On May 3, we will cover tips for a Successful Virtual Interview. Registration is required.

Glowforge 101: Creative Laser Cutting, Parts 1 & 2 (Main)
Tuesday, May 3, and Wednesday, May 4
7:30-8:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 5, and Friday, May 6
3-4 p.m.

Learn how to cut, engrave, and shape designs from a variety of materials using the Glowforge Pro laser cutter in this two-part series. In Part 1, you will use the camera for focusing and scanning your own images, properly select materials for your project, and fabricate your first design.

In Part 2, you will create digital artwork for the Glowforge Pro and learn file formatting for production. You must complete Hive Safety Training before participating in this program. Registration is required.

Résumé and Job Application Support (Central Square)
Wednesday, May 4
1-3 p.m.

Are you looking for assistance creating a résumé or looking for a job? Drop by the Central Square Branch for help with preparing a résumé, conducting a job search online, and completing online applications. No registration is required. Learn more.

The Hive Small Business Open House (Main)
Wednesday, May 4
6-7 p.m.

Are you a Cambridge entrepreneur or business owner who wants to prototype a new item? Perhaps you are thinking about starting a cottage food business and aren’t sure where to make labels? Come to our Hive Small Business Open House to learn about the state-of-the-art makerspace at the Main Library! The Hive's mission is to provide free, hands-on learning opportunities and resources for personal projects, and to serve as a hub for sharing skills and creative collaboration. Refreshments will be served. Registration is required.

This event is offered in collaboration with the City of Cambridge Community Development Department as part of National Small Business Week. Learn more about the department's events for National Small Business Week.

Hike the Good Hike (Main)
Thursday, May 5
6-7:30 p.m.

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, please join us for a presentation by Jesse Cody about the relationship between mental health and nature. Learn about Cody’s experiences restoring his own mental health through hiking. Cody, a Cambridge native currently living in Santa Fe, is the founder of Hike the Good Hike, a movement and nonprofit in the making.

Hive Safety Training
Thursday, May 5 (Virtual)
5:30-6 p.m.
Saturday, May 7 (Main)
10:30-11:30 a.m.

In this workshop, you will learn about our makerspace, how to use our resources, and how to keep safe in The Hive. Before attending workshops in The Hive, all makers must bring signed copies of The Hive User Agreement and Waivers. Registration is required.

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All the best,

Maria McCauley, Ph.D.
Director of Libraries