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Director's Update, July 24, 2022


7/24/20221 year ago

caution sign The information on this page may be outdated as it was published 1 year ago.

Photograph from Reception for Sidewalk Poetry

Dear Patrons

Since 2015, Sidewalk Poetry has been a collaboration with the Department of Public Works, Cambridge Arts, and the Library. Each spring, Cambridge residents of all ages are invited to submit their poetry for a chance to get their words written in concrete as part of the City’s sidewalk repair program. At a celebration of the 2022 Sidewalk Poetry event, the winners and runners-up read their poems, and the Sidewalk Poetry exhibition, TRA•VERSE, was displayed in the Cambridge Arts Council’s Gallery 344. Guests were able to press the poems into coasters to take home. Thank you to the Adult Services librarian Drew Griffin, who served on the panel of poem reviewers (I’ve attached a photo). I love creative partnerships such as this one!

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ESOL classes at the Central Square Branch are pausing for the month of August and will resume on Tuesday, September 6. Summer ESOL at the Valente Branch will continue through Monday, August 29.

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We are pleased to offer the following programs this week.

Outdoor Programs for Kids   

This week, these programs will be offered (weather permitting) at our Boudreau, 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. 
  • Preschool Story Time: Recommended for children ages 3-5.
  • Sing-Along: All ages are invited to sing and dance!
  • Songs and Stories: All ages are invited to sing, dance, and share a story!
  • Story Time: All ages are invited to join us for a half hour of stories!    

Please see the events calendar for further details. Registration is not required.      

Book Groups 
Learn more about our Book Group offerings this week.  

Glowforge 101: Creative Laser Cutting, Parts 1 & 2 (Main) 
Monday, July 25 & Tuesday, July 26
3:30-4:30 p.m. 
Tuesday, July 26 & Wednesday, July 27
7-8 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 The Hive Safety Training before participating. Registration is required

Summer ESOL Class (Valente) 
Monday, July 25
6-7:30 p.m. 

Join us for an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) class this summer! This class will be taught at a beginner level. No testing is needed. Everyone is welcome. For more information, call Maria Balestrieri at 617-349-4013. Learn more.

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 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Intermediate ESOL is at 11 a.m., High Beginner ESOL is at 1 p.m., and Advanced ESOL is at 3 p.m. Beginner ESOL is at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays. Registration is not required. Learn more.    

Knitting Group (Boudreau)
Tuesday, July 26 
6:30-7:30 p.m. 

Bring your project and enjoy an hour in the company of other crafters. Learn more

Meet and Greet with the Library Social Worker (Collins)
Wednesday, July 27
10:30-11:30 a.m.

Join us at the Collins Branch to welcome our Library social worker, Marie Mathieu. She will be available to answer questions, to talk about her role at the Library, and to schedule one-on-one sessions for help with issues such as feelings of isolation, aging in place, child care resources, and connecting to other local organizations. Nuestra trabajadora social está disponible para conectarle con los servicios y recursos que necesita. Travayè sosyal nou an disponib pou konekte ou ak sèvis ak resous ke ou bezwen yo. Learn more.

Summer Reading: STEAM Kit Extravaganza (Central Square)
Wednesday, July 27
11 a.m.-Noon

Join us in the Children's Room and explore our STEAM kits! We'll have lots available for you to put together, get rolling, take apart, stare at, and more! Ages 7 and up can come alone; age 6 and under, bring your grown-up. Learn more.

Equipment and Studio Reservation (Main) 
Wednesday, July 27
1-4:30 p.m. 
Thursday, July 28
6-8:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 30
9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. 

Anyone who has completed The Hive Safety Training and is badged to use equipment or studio(s) can reserve The Hive’s equipment or studio spacesLearn more about becoming a badged maker. Staff will assist participants as they are able. Learn more

Summer Reading: Card Making (Boudreau)
Wednesday, July 27
3-7 p.m.

Drop in on Wednesdays in July to create cards for our neighbors at Cadbury Commons. Learn more.

Summer Reading: Teen Journaling (O'Connell)
Wednesday, July 27
6:30-7 p.m.

Decorate a journal and write what you feel. Blank journals will be provided. Ages 12-18. Learn more

Fiber Crafts Group - Drop In (O’Connell)
Thursday, July 28
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Bring your project and enjoy the company of other fiber crafters! Join 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! Learn more.

Videography 101 (Main) 
Thursday, July 28 
2-3 p.m.  

Step into The Hive's state-of-the-art recording studio and film a short video of yourself in front of our green screen. Then, become familiar with our video editing software while working with your footage. You must complete The Hive Safety Training before registering for this workshop.Registration is required.  

Summer Reading: Spatial Poetry for Teens (Valente)
Thursday, July 28
4-5:30 p.m.

Find poetry in your neighborhood! Explore the language of maps and create poetry from place. Recommended for ages 13 to 18. Registration is required.

Summer Reading Crafternoon (Collins)
Friday, July 29
2-3 p.m.

Make and take a hands-on project. Recommended for children ages 5-10 and their caregivers. Learn more.

3D 101: Design and Creation, Parts 1 & 2 (Main) 
Friday, July 29 & Saturday, July 30
3-4:30 p.m.  

Learn how to create objects in digital space and fabricate them using our Sindoh 3D printers in this two-part series. In Part 1, you will learn to run the 3D printer and gain fundamental 3D modeling skills using Tinkercad. In Part 2, you will create designs and practice setting up your own 3D print construction. You must complete The Hive Safety Training and create a free Tinkercad account before registering for this workshop. Registration is required

Note: This is a badging course for 3D Printing. Signing up for Part 1 allows you to participate in Part 2 the next day. You will be badged at the end of the Part 2 workshop. 

Summer Reading: Design Squad Maker - All About Rindge Avenue (O'Neill)
Saturday, July 30
2-4 p.m.

Design Squad Maker engages children and their caregivers in the engineering design process. Together, you’ll come up with problems that you want to solve, brainstorm solutions, build prototypes, and test them to see how they work. Experience the same steps that engineers use to solve real-world problems! The theme of the workshop will be Rindge Avenue. Who uses Rindge Avenue and in what ways? What community hubs are on Rindge Avenue? How can we improve the experience of Rindge Avenue, or something located on Rindge Avenue, for its inhabitants–humans, plants, and animals alike? This family workshop is geared toward children ages 8–11 and their caregivers. Learn more.

Stay Connected 

Please subscribe to our email list, follow us on TwitterInstagram,andFacebook, and visit our website.  

All the best, 

Maria McCauley, Ph.D.   
Director of Libraries