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Director's Update, May 21, 2023


5/21/202310 months ago

Main Library Lecture Hall

Dear Patrons,

Some exciting things are happening at the Library and in Cambridge in the coming weeks!

Resistance Through Joy Exhibition. May 22 through May 27
An exhibition of photographs celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Awareness Month will be on display at City Hall from Monday, May 22, through Friday, May 26. Titled Resistance Through Joy, the exhibition highlights the resilience of AAPI communities, invites us to think about the challenges these communities still face, and celebrates the joy that undergirds and sustains much of the community’s resistance. The exhibit is part of the 2023 Cambridge-Somerville Asian Festival and is presented by the Cambridge Families of Asian Descent, Somerville Asian and Asian American Family Network, Asian Educators Resource Group, Pan Asian Club of the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, and SomerViva Office of Immigrant Affairs. The exhibition is cosponsored by the Cambridge Public Library.

Cambridge families: Apply to DHSP After-school Programs Lottery through May 26 
 Are you looking for after-school options for the fall of 2023? Apply to the Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP) After-school Programs Lottery through May 26! With a single application, families can apply to three of the DHSP’s after-school programs for the 2023-24 school year: Child Care programs, Community Schools programs, and Youth Center Pre-Teen/Middle School programs.  For more information and to apply online, visit www.cambridgema.gov/AfterschoolLottery.

Get ready for Summer Sundays at the Valente Branch Library!
Take advantage of our wi-fi and computers, check out a STEAM kit, find your next book to read, and stay cool with us on Sunday afternoons all summer!
From July 2 through August 27, the Valente Branch will be open from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays! During this time, the Main Library will be closed.

Portuguese Poetry in Translation: Adam Mahler on Camilo Pessanha talking with Bruno Carvalho (Valente)
Wednesday, May 24 
6-7:30 p.m.

Join us in person for an exciting poetry event that will include readings in both Portuguese and English. It is free and open to the public and funded by the Manuel Rogers, Sr. & Mary R. Rogers Endowment Fund. Register here: https://cambridgepl.libcal.com/event/10509465.

Camilo Pessanha (1867-1926) was a Portuguese writer who spent much of his adult life in Macau, a Portuguese colonial enclave. The author of Clepsydra, an enigmatic collection of poems, Pessanha was a key figure in Portuguese modernism, emulated and admired by writers like Fernando Pessoa. Adam Mahler will present his new translation of Clepsydra and discuss its history and significance inPortuguese literature as well as the translation process. Mahler will be talking with the author Bruno Carvalho, a professor of Romance Languages and Literatures and African and African American Studies at Harvard University, where he also co-directs the Harvard Mellon Urban Initiative.

                                                                                             ###

Here are the week’s programs:

Activities for Kids    

This week, these programs will be offered at our Boudreau, Central Square, Collins, Main, O’Connell, O’Neill, and Valente locations.

Sing-Alongs    

Story Times    

Book Groups       

Learn more about our Book Groups.

Baby Lapsit (Main) 
Monday, May 22
10-10:20 a.m.  
   
Just for you and your baby! Enjoy time with other parents, caregivers, and babies to learn, play, and develop language and motor skills. Recommended for 0-12 months. Come prepared to sit on the floor with your baby in your lap. This program can accommodate 15 babies and their caregivers. Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis on the day of the program. The entire party must be present to receive a ticket. This program starts promptly. Unclaimed seats will be offered to someone waiting. We appreciate your patience and understanding. Please call 617-349-4038 for more information.

Fresh Pond Nature Walk (Collins)
Monday, May 22
10:15-11:15 a.m.

Join us for a relaxing walk at Fresh Pond with the park ranger Tim Puopolo! No two weeks are the same in nature, and Tim will share his insights about what's growing, changing, and blooming in the neighborhood. The walk will meet in the courtyard of the Collins Branch and leave for the pond at 10:15 a.m. For more information, please contact Lucy at LFlamm@CambridgeMA.gov. Register here. This workshop is full; a waitlist is available.

Wellness for Seniors: Zumba Gold® (Virtual) 
Monday, May 22
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. Join us! Registration is required for each session. Thank you to our Adult Services librarians for coordinating. 

Equipment and Studio Reservations (Main)  
Monday, May 22, 1-4:30 p.m.  
Tuesday, May 23, 3-6 p.m.  
Wednesday, May 24, 6-8:30 p.m.  
Thursday, May 25, 2-5 p.m.   
   
During this time, 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 spaces. Staff will assist participants as they are able. Learn more. 

LEGO Time (Main)
Monday, May 22
4-4:45 p.m.  
   
It’s a weekly block party! Bring friends to design and build amazing LEGO structures. Let your imagination run wild! The Children's Room has plenty of LEGO pieces, so you don’t need to bring your own. Be aware that LEGO pieces are choking hazards for young children, so this program is for children ages 5 and up and their caregivers. It can accommodate 30 builders. Children under age 7 must be accompanied by a caregiver. Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis on the day of the program. This program starts promptly, and any unclaimed seats will be offered to someone waiting. We appreciate your patience and understanding. Please call 617-349-4038 for more information. Learn more.

ESOL Class (Valente) 
Monday, May 22
6-7 p.m.  
   
Join us for an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) class at a beginner level. No testing is needed, and everyone is welcome. For more information, call Maria Balestrieri at 617-349-4013. Learn more.

Kay Redfield Jamison Presents: Fires in the Dark: Healing the Unquiet Mind (Main)
Monday, May 22
6-8 p.m.

Harvard Book Store and the Cambridge Public Library welcome Kay Redfield Jamison, an author and professor of psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, for a discussion of her new book, Fires in the Dark: Healing the Unquiet Mind.

Dr. Jamison is the Dalio Professor in Mood Disorders and a professor of psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, as well as an honorary professor of English at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. She is the coauthor of the standard medical text on bipolar disorder and the author of An Unquiet Mind, Night Falls Fast, Exuberance, and Touched with Fire. Her most recent book, Robert Lowell: Setting the River on Fire, was a Pulitzer Prize finalist. Dr. Jamison is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. She is a recipient of the Lewis Thomas Prize, the Sarnat Prize from the National Academy of Medicine, and a John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Fellowship. Registration is required.

ESOL Classes (Central Square) 
Tuesday, May 23, and Thursday, May 25
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 1-2:30 p.m., and 3-4:30 p.m.  
Wednesday, May 24, and Friday, May 26
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.

Zing Laser Cutting 101 (Main) 
Tuesday, May 23
1-2:30 p.m.
   
Learn how to use our Epilog Zing, an industry-standard laser cutting machine. Complete this workshop to earn a badge for the Zing laser cutter. With a badge, you can reserve the Zing to use on our equipment at designated times. Note: The Epilog Zing laser cutter and Glowforge laser cutter require separate trainings. You must participate in the Glowforge workshop to operate our Glowforge Pro laser cutter. You must complete The Hive Safety Training before registering for this workshop. Register here. This workshop is full; a waitlist is available.

Creative Aging: Storytelling: Planting Seeds, Growing Community (Main) 
Tuesday, May 23
2-4 p.m.  

This series of classes, A Garden of Stories, is community-based storytelling, in which older adults learn how to tell personal stories through sharing and connecting with their community. The eight-week course will occur every Tuesday, 2-4 p.m., through June 27 and will be held in person. Space is limited to 15 participants. Register here. This workshop is full; a waitlist is available. Sponsored by the Cambridge Public Library Foundation.

Sit ‘n’ Knit (Main)  
Tuesday, May 23
2:30-3:30 p.m.  

Bring your project and enjoy the company of other fiber crafters as you work, get inspired,
pick up skills, and socialize. Knit, embroider, crochet, spin, and mend. Refreshments will be provided.      

Knitting Group (Boudreau) 
Tuesday, May 23
6:30-7:30 p.m.  

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

Glowforge 101: Creative Laser Cutting (Main) 
Tuesday, May 23
6:30-8:30 p.m. 
Friday, May 27
2:30-4:30 p.m.

Learn how to cut, engrave, and shape designs from a variety of materials using the Glowforge Pro laser cutter. This two-hour workshop replaces the previous two-part Glowforge 101 offering; the content and length of this workshop and the two-part series are the same. You will start by using the camera on the Glowforge to focus and scan your own images, properly select materials for your project, and fabricate your first design. You will create digital artwork for the Glowforge and learn file formatting for production. Note: This is a badging course for laser cutting. You must complete The Hive Safety Training before participating in this program. Register here. These workshops are full; waitlists are available.

Wellness for Seniors: Tai Chi Paradigm - Level 2 (Main) 
Wednesday, May 24
10-11 a.m. 

Join us in this 12-week Tai Chi Paradigm - Level 2 practice, which focuses on the mind-body connection. Tai Chi is a fluid sequence of movements choreographed in a low-impact routine. Participants must have completed Tai Chi Paradigm - Level 1. Sifu Mynor Diaz has been learning and teaching Tai Chi for over 20 years. He has taught at five VA Boston Healthcare System locations and at senior centers. This event is held in person.. Register here. This workshop is full.

Serger 101 (Main) 
Wednesday, May 24
1-2 p.m. 

Are you an intermediate or advanced sewer? This workshop will cover serger machine setup, threading a serger, and identifying correct tension settings with different types of fabric. You will learn about ways to use our Elna Extend 864 air serger to take your sewing skills to the next level by producing special finishing styles, hemming, and trimming and assembling your garments. This workshop is designed for patrons who have experience using a sewing machine. If you are new to machine sewing, we recommend you take our Sewing 101 workshop first. Registration required. This workshop is full; a waitlist is available.

Résumé and Job Application Support (Central Square) 
Wednesday, May 24
1-3 p.m.  

Looking for assistance creating a résumé or finding a job? Join us for help with résumés, job hunting, and online applications. No registration is required. Learn more.  

Read to a Dog (O'Neill)
Wednesday, May 24
3-4 p.m.  

Read with a cuddly friend! Trained therapy dogs provide warm, nonjudgmental reading companions for new or experienced readers up to age 14. Registration for each 10-minute time slot is required and begins on Wednesday, May 17, by calling or visiting the O’Neill Branch (617-349-4023).

The Hive Teen Hangout (Main) 
Wednesday, May 24
3:30-5:30 p.m.  
   
Have you checked out The Hive yet? Teens are welcome to learn about our space and try their hand at making stickers, recording videos in our studio, and more. This is a drop-in event for ages 12-18.

One-on-One Tech Help by Appointment (Boudreau) 
Wednesday, May 24
4-4:45 p.m. 

Would you like help navigating the Library's e-resources, such as Libby or Hoopla? Or maybe you need some basic computer or mobile device guidance? Book a free one-on-one session at the Boudreau Branch. Some topics we cover are downloading Library eBooks, audiobooks, and magazines to your tablet, smartphone, or laptop; navigating databases and other resources such as LinkedIn Learning; using the Internet and e-mail; and setting up devices like smartphones or streaming devices. Scheduled sessions run between 30 and 45 minutes. Please bring your device, cords, and any necessary account information. Library staff cannot be held responsible for damage to patrons’ equipment. If you have questions, please send them to ipachoncaballero@cambridgema.gov. Register here. This workshop is full; a waitlist is available.

Safety Improvement Project Open House (Collins)
Wednesday, May 24
4:30-6 p.m.    

Join city staff from Traffic, Parking, + Transportation to learn about changes to Mount Auburn Street near the intersection of Aberdeen Avenue to improve safety and mobility for everyone on the street, whether they’re walking, biking, driving, or taking buses. The Mount Auburn Street at Aberdeen Avenue Intersection Safety Improvement Project will include a full replacement and upgrade of all traffic signal equipment at the intersection of Mount Auburn Street and Aberdeen Avenue and changes to the layout of Mount Auburn Street between Belmont Street and Brattle Street. Community members can stop by to review draft plans and learn more about the project. The City will post draft plans on the project webpage in the coming weeks, before the open house on May 24. This open house will take place in the courtyard of the Collins Branch.

Free Drop-in Tutoring for Teens (Main) 
Wednesday, May 24
5-6 p.m.    
   
Need help with a class? Have a question before an exam? Tutors are available to help you! Cambridge School Volunteers and the Library are pleased to offer tutoring services in the Teen Room. Just drop by! Please contact Megan Andres (mandres@cpsd.us) with any questions.

Portuguese Poetry in Translation: Adam Mahler on Camilo Pessanha
Wednesday, May 24
6-7:30 p.m.

Please join us for a discussion and reading of Camilo Pessanha's poetry by the translator Adam Mahler, talking with Bruno Carvalho. This event is free and open to the public; registration is required. Funded by the Manuel Rogers, Sr. & Mary R. Rogers Endowment Fund.

Camilo Pessanha (1867-1926) was a Portuguese writer who spent much of his adult life in Macau, a Portuguese colonial enclave at the time. The author of Clepsydra, an enigmatic collection of poems, Pessanha was a key figure in Portuguese modernism, emulated and admired by writers like Fernando Pessoa. The translator Adam Mahler will present his new translation of Clepsydra and discuss the work’s history and significance to Portuguese literature, as well as the translation process. This bilingual event will include readings in both Portuguese and English.

Adam Mahler is a writer and translator of Spanish and Portuguese poetry. His first book of translations, Camilo Pessanha's Clepsydra and Other Poems, was published by the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth Press. His translation of Luz Pichel's Cativa en su lughar (A Daughter in His Stead), for which he was awarded a PEN/Heim 2022 Translation Fund Grant, will be published by Deep Vellum, and his translation of the Ibero-Jewish poet Shem Tov Ardutiel’s Moral Proverbs is forthcoming with Harvard University Press.

Bruno Carvalho’s research and teaching include relationships between literature, culture, and the built environment, with a focus in the Portuguese-speaking world. He often works on cities as lived and imagined spaces. Carvalho has published widely on topics related to poetry, film, architecture, cartography, city planning, and migration. He is the author of, among other books, Porous City: A Cultural History of Rio de Janeiro. Currently, he is finishing a book called The Invention of the Future: A Transatlantic History of Urbanization, on the experiences and aspirations of city dwellers and urban planners from the 1750s onward. Carvalho is a professor of Romance Languages and Literatures and African and African American Studies at Harvard University, where he also co-directs the Harvard Mellon Urban Initiative. He is a native of Rio de Janeiro and a current resident of Cambridge.

Studio Recording 101 (Main) 
Thursday, May 25
10:30.-11:30 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 studio equipment and software. You must complete The Hive Safety Training before registering. Registration is required

Fiber Crafts Group - Drop In (O'Connell) 
Thursday, May 25
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.  

Bring your project and enjoy the company of other fiber crafters. Work on your craft, get inspired, pick up skills, and socialize. Knit, embroider, crochet, spin, mend, cross stitch. 

Puzzle Party (Main)
Thursday, May 25
2-3:30 p.m.  
   
Join our librarians for tea, cookies, and a jigsaw puzzle. It’s an hour of fun and conversation.   

Afternoon Games (O’Neill)
Thursday, May 25
3-5 p.m.  

Join us to play your favorite board game or complete a puzzle! No registration is required. 

Fiber Arts Adventure with Lenni: A Machine-Sewing Workshop Series
Thursday, May 25
5:30-8:30 p.m.

Continue building your machine-sewing skills  and create bespoke sewn crafts! Design your own fiber arts adventure as you make dinner napkins, high-visibility patches for being seen at night, and wearable Hive-made creations. This four-part series is led by the fiber artist and designer Lenni Armstrong!

The skills include identifying and straightening a fabric's grain, straight stitching, making hems, and more. Registration is required. Those registered for the first session will automatically be enrolled in the following weeks. Spots are very limited; kindly enroll only if you plan to attend all four workshops: May 18, May 25, June 1, and June 8. This workshop is designed for patrons who know how to use our Janome sewing machines. Register here.

Studio Recording 101 (Main) 
Friday, May 26
9:30.-10:30 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 studio equipment and software. You must complete The Hive Safety Training before registering. Registration is required


Wellness for Seniors: Introduction to Tai Chi Paradigm (Main)
Friday, May 26
10-11 a.m. 

Join us in this 12-week Introduction to Tai Chi Paradigm practice, which focuses on the mind-body connection. Tai Chi is a fluid sequence of movements choreographed in a low-impact routine. No previous experience is necessary. Sifu Mynor Diaz has been learning and teaching Tai Chi for more than 20 years. He has taught classes at five VA Boston Healthcare System locations and at senior centers. This event is held in person.  Due to the popularity of this series, we expect participants to attend all the classes. Register here. This class is full. Sponsored by the Cambridge Public Library Foundation.

Drop-in Studio (Main) 
Friday, May 26
1-4:30 p.m. 

This is an opportunity to check out what The Hive is all about and get started exploring and making right away! Learn about our workshop offerings, special programs, and more. Equipment and studios will be available for limited time slots on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration is not required. Staff will assist patrons as they are able. Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by a guardian 18 or older.

Cambridge Young Authors' Squad (O'Neill) 
Friday, May 26
4-5 p.m. 
 
Young people ages 10-14 who love to write are welcome to share their ideas and writing. There will be time for share-outs/workshopping as well as group or solo writing. Snacks are provided! Registration is helpful but not required.

The Hive Safety Training (Main) 
Saturday, May 27
9:30-10:30 a.m.    
 
Are you interested in using The Hive? In this workshop you will learn about our makerspace, how to use our resources, and how to keep safe in The Hive. Find out what you need to get started as a maker in The Hive here. Completion of The Hive Safety Training is the entry point to making, innovating, and collaborating in this space. Makers must also sign The Hive User Agreement and Waivers. Register here. This workshop is full; a waitlist is available.

Qi Gong with Sunling Liew (Joan Lorentz Park, Main)
Saturdays in May 
10-11 a.m. 

Every Saturday in May, the Library will offer a Qi Gong workshop led by Sunling Liew, an experienced Qi Gong practitioner. Qi Gong is a traditional Chinese mind-body practice that consists of five easy exercises and meditation. It is influenced by the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance. The practice component includes four gentle exercises that are done while standing along with a peaceful sitting meditation. Space is limited and registration is required.

Videography 101 (Main) 
Saturday, May 27
11:30 a.m.-12:30 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 spend some time becoming familiar with video editing software while working with your footage. You must complete The Hive Safety Training before registering. Registration is required.

Crafting Corner (O'Neill)
Saturday, May 27
1:30-3 p.m.  

Fiber crafters of all skill levels are welcome to drop in for companionable crafting! Bring your project and enjoy tea, snacks, and conversation with other crafters. Chat, share tips, and even inspire others. No registration is required.

Saturday Screens (O'Neill)
Saturday, May 27
3-4:45 p.m.

Join us on the last Saturday of the month for family movies! Snacks will be provided. The May film will be Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022 - Universal Pictures), rated PG, running time 100 minutes.

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All the best!

  

Maria McCauley, Ph.D.  
Director of Libraries