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Director's Update, July 4, 2021


7/5/2021 • 2 years ago

caution sign The information on this page may be outdated as it was published 2 years ago.

New library at night

Patrons,

This week, the Cambridge Public Library is thrilled to officially open The Hive, our collaborative makerspace for making, learning, exploring, and sharing.

The Hive Opens!

A hub for the Cambridge STEAM Initiative, The Hive opens to the public on Tuesday, July 6. You can find our makerspace in the lower level of the Main Library. It consists of a hands-on Fab Lab (Fabrication Lab) stocked with digital and traditional fabrication tools, a Multimedia Studio for creating audio and video content, a Podcasting Studio, and an Extended Reality Lab for experiencing and experimenting with virtual and augmented reality. The Hive is part of the City's effort to foster equity and access to STEAM education. STEAM at the Library is an expansion of the CPL's literacy efforts.

This space is entirely free and open to the public. All you need is a Minuteman Library card to get started! Come see what all the buzz is about!

Independence Day Holiday

Please note that all Library locations will be closed on Monday, July 5, in celebration of Independence Day. Have a wonderful Independence Day!

Virtual ESOL Classes

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes occur virtually on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Introductory ESOL takes place at 11 a.m., beginner ESOL at 1 p.m., and intermediate ESOL at 3 p.m. Registration is required for each class. Please see the Library’s online events calendar for more details.

Hive Safety Training and Glowforge 101

Tuesday, July 6, 1:30 and 3:30 p.m.
Wednesday, July 7, 5 and 7 p.m.
Thursday, July 8, 2:30 p.m.
Friday, July 9, 1 p.m.
Saturday, July 10, 11:30 a.m.

In this 90-minute workshop that you will attend in person, 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 with our Glowforge laser cutter and learn how to use it  to cut and engrave your own creations. Registration is required.

NOTE: You must complete Hive Safety Training to work in our makerspace. Makers must also sign The Hive User Agreement and Waivers.

Join us for Story Time

We invite children and their grown-ups to join us from home for 20-25 minutes of engaging stories. STEAM Story Times include hands-on activities to explore science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math. Plan to sing along and move around!

We are happy to offer these Story Time programs this week:

  • Outdoor Story Time: Tuesday, July 6, at 4 p.m. Held in Joan Lorentz Park, outside the Main Library. In the event of rain, the program will move indoors.
  • STEAM Story Time: Wednesday, July 7, 11 a.m. Held outside at the Valente Branch.

No registration is required.

Summer Reading: ASL Night at the Library (Virtual)

On Wednesday, July 7, at 6 p.m., join SIGNING Basics for an American Sign Language event with games and activities that will have you learning ASL while smiling, giggling, or outright laughing. This is an excellent event for beginners, and can also be enjoyed by those with more advanced skills. ASL Night events are taught in ASL without any sound. Sign language interpreting is not provided. For children of all ages and their caregivers -- no signing skills are necessary! Registration is required.

Funding for Summer Reading has been generously provided by the City of Cambridge, the Cambridge Public Library Foundation, the Friends of the Cambridge Public Library, and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.

Breath Taking: The Power, Fragility, and Future of our Lungs (Virtual)

On Wednesday, July 7, at 6:30 p.m., join Michael J. Stephen, M.D., virtually to talk about our lungs, his experience with COVID as a health care provider and as a patient, and how poverty, pollution, and climate change are making it harder to breathe. A pulmonologist at Thomas Jefferson University, Dr. Stephen has treated COVID patients in the ICU and was himself hospitalized with the virus. He’s the author of Breath Taking: The Power, Fragility, and Future of Our Extraordinary Lungs. Registration is required.

Family Build Night: Wigglebots (Virtual)

On Thursday, July 8, at 6:30 p.m., investigate modeling a 3D structure out of 2D shapes and design a motorized creature that stands on three legs and moves by vibrating! Caregivers are encouraged to engage in hands-on activity with their children. Materials will be available to pick up at all library locations. Registration is required.

Sing-Along

Children and their grown-ups, please join us in Joan Lorentz Park, outside the Main Library, on Friday, July 9, at 11 a.m., for 20-25 minutes of singing and dancing! Plan to sing and move around! Caregivers are asked to participate with their children. Registration is not required.

Please note, in the event of rain, this program will be canceled.

Stay Connected

Please subscribe to our email list, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, and visit our website.

Best wishes,

Maria McCauley, Ph.D.
Director of Libraries