Director's Update, October 31, 2021
10/31/2021 • 2 years ago
The information on this page may be outdated as it was published 2 years ago.
Dear Patrons,
I am feeling very grateful as we enter the month of November! I hope you are all enjoying this lovely fall season. Please enjoy some of this week’s Library’s offerings!
Adult Book Groups
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:
- Great Books (Main/Virtual): Tuesday, November 9, at 7 p.m. Articles on climate change
- Boudreau (Virtual): Wednesday, November 10, at noon. The Mountains Sing by Nguyẽ̂n Phan Qué̂ Mai
- Science Fiction and Fantasy (Virtual): Wednesday, November 10, at 6 p.m. A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher
- O'Neill Branch (O'Neill/Virtual): Monday, November 15, at 6:30 p.m. The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich
- Contemporary: Tuesday, November 16, at 6 p.m. What Are You Going Through by Sigrid Nunez
- Collins Branch (Virtual): Thursday, November 18, at 6 p.m. The Ungrateful Refugee: What Immigrants Never Tell You by Dina Nayeri
- O'Connell (O'Connell Branch/Virtual): Thursday, November 18, at 6:30 p.m. Erotic Stories for Punajbi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal
- Great Books (Main/Virtual): Tuesday, November 23, at 7 p.m. "Lycidas," by John Milton and selections from Paradise Lost
- Nonfiction (Main/Virtual): Monday, November 29, at 1 p.m. Yellow Bird: Oil, Murder, and a Woman's Search for Justice in Indian Country by Sierra Crane Murdoch
Kids’ Book Groups
Book groups enable kids to share in the joy of reading! Registration is required. You can join these book groups this month:
- Book Buzz (Ages 10+) (O'Neill/Virtual): Thursday, November 4, at 4 p.m. Snapdragon by Kat Leyh
- Parent/Child (Ages 7-10) Book Group (Virtual): Tuesday, November 9, at 6 p.m. Welcome Back, Maple Mehta-Cohen by Kate McGovern
- Parent/Child (Ages 10-13) Book Group (Virtual): Wednesday, November 10, at 6 p.m. The Canyon's Edge by Dusti Bowling
- Chapter Chat (Ages 7-10) (O'Neill/Virtual): Thursday, November 18, at 4 p.m. Witch Boy by Molly Ostertag
Outdoor Programming for Kids
Weekly outdoor programs for young children will be offered (weather permitting) at our Central Square, 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 join us for a half hour of stories!
Please see our events calendar for all outdoor youth program details. Registration is not required.
Wellness for Seniors: Zumba Gold (Virtual)
On Monday, November 1, at 11 a.m., join us virtually 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.
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 Equipment and Studio Reservations (Main)
Tuesday, November 2, 1–3:30 p.m.
Thursday, November 4, 1–6 p.m.
Saturday, November 6, 12:30–3 p.m.
Anyone who has completed Hive training and is badged to use equipment or studio(s) can reserve equipment or studio spaces. Staff will assist participants as they are able. Make reservations. Learn more about becoming a badged maker.
Hive Safety Training (Virtual)
Tuesday, November 2, at 4 p.m.
Thursday, November 4, at 7 p.m.
In this workshop, you will learn about our makerspace, how to use our resources, and how to keep safe in The Hive. Registration is required.
Before taking in-person workshops in The Hive, all makers must bring signed copies of The Hive User Agreement and Waivers.
Financial Literacy 101: Budgeting and Saving (Virtual)
In this session on Tuesday, November 2, at 6 p.m., we explore preparing a budget and comparing different ways to save money for the future. Learning to budget effectively can help reduce stress and prove critical in helping us reach our financial goals. Register for this event.
This event is part of four interactive workshops in collaboration with The Cambridge Savings Bank:
You are welcome to register for just one or all of the workshops. If you have any questions, please contact Lucy at lflamm@cambridgema.gov or (617) 349-4010.
ASL Basics for Beginners (Part 2) (Virtual)
SIGNING Basics, LLC, is returning to the Library on Tuesdays this November through virtual Zoom classes! A live sign language instructor will teach you additional signing phrases that will complement the phrases and signs learned in ASL Basics for Beginners Part 1.
This 4-part course begins on Tuesday, November 2, at 7 p.m. and will include handouts and supporting videos of instructors signing the vocabulary you learn during class. You are expected to attend all four sessions. Space is limited. Registration is required.
Résumé and Job Application Support (Central Square)
Would you like assistance creating a résumé or looking for jobs? Join us on Wednesday, November 3, from 1 - 3 p.m., at the Central Square Branch for help with résumés, job hunting, and online applications. No registration is required.
XR Lab 101 (Main)
Extended reality (XR) opens the door to worlds and experiences outside the everyday through virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality equipment. In this workshop on Wednesday, November 3, at 1 p.m., test drive our Microsoft HoloLens augmented reality glasses, Structure Sensor 3D scanner, Merge headsets, and more. Registration is required.
You must complete Hive Safety Training & Glowforge 101 before registering for this workshop.
The Writing Process with Nathan Harris (Virtual)
On Wednesday, November 3, at 6 p.m., join author of The Sweetness of Water, Nathan Harris, virtually as he discusses the writing process with fiction writer Jason Brown. In his first novel, The Sweetness of Water, he depicts Georgia in the violent crucible of Reconstruction. Equal parts beauty and terror, as gripping as it is moving, The Sweetness of Water is an epic whose grandeur finds humanity and love amid the most harrowing circumstances. It has been longlisted for the 2021 Booker Prize. Registration is required.
Studio Recording 101 (Main)
Are you interested in podcasting, audio production, or video production? The Hive has two state-of-the-art recording studios! On Friday, November 5, at 1 p.m., 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 Saturday, November 6, at 11 a.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.
Stay Connected
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Best wishes,
Maria McCauley, Ph.D.
Director of Libraries