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Director's Update, November 28, 2021


11/28/2021 • 2 years ago

caution sign The information on this page may be outdated as it was published 2 years ago.

Ashley C. Ford Carousel

Dear Patrons,

This week, we are excited to kick-off our December book groups, offer the third Financial Literacy workshop on Credit, and welcome the author Ashley C. Ford for a virtual event!

Boudreau Branch Update

The Boudreau Branch Library continues to be closed due to construction impacts related to external (non-municipal) work that was being done to the buildings, likely attributed to nearby roofing work. The external contractor is working with the City on remediation of the construction impacts and will ensure that the work is complete before allowing patrons and staff back into the Boudreau Branch site. We anticipate being able to re-open the Boudreau Branch in the new year.

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:

Kids’ Book Groups

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 29, at 11 a.m., join us virtually to improve flexibility and balance, strengthen muscles and have fun! 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 this week virtually on Tuesday. 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 Tuesday at 11 a.m. and Intro ESOL will be offered on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.

Registration is required for each class.

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 Tuesday, November 30, 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 or Hive Safety Training & Glowforge 101 before registering for this workshop.

Hive Safety Training (Virtual)

In this workshop on Tuesday, November 30, at 4 p.m., you will learn about our makerspace, how to use our resources, and how to keep safe in The Hive. Registration is required.

Before attending workshops in The Hive, all makers must bring signed copies of The Hive User Agreement and Waivers.

Financial Literacy 101: Credit (Virtual)

In this session on Tuesday, November 30, at 6 p.m., we will see how obtaining credit can be costly and dangerous if not handled responsibly. By seeking proper guidance, you can create or restore positive credit and enjoy the benefits that good credit history can afford you. Register for this event.

This event is part of four interactive workshops in collaboration with the Cambridge Savings Bank. The final workshop on Fraud will take place Tuesday, December 14. Participants are welcome to register for just one or all of the workshops. For more information or with any questions, please contact Lucy at lflamm@cambridgema.gov or (617)-349-4010.

Résumé and Job Application Support (Central Square)

Would you like help creating a résumé or looking for jobs? Join us on Wednesday, December 1, from 1 to 3 p.m., at the Central Square Branch for help with résumés, job hunting, and online applications. No registration is required.

Ashley C. Ford presents Somebody's Daughter: A Memoir (Virtual)

On Wednesday, December 1, at 6 p.m., join us for a virtual author event with Ashley C. Ford! Ford’s instant New York Times best-selling memoir, Somebody’s Daughter, steps into the world of growing up a poor Black girl in Indiana with a family fragmented by incarceration, exploring how isolating and complex such a childhood can be. As Ashley battles her body and her environment, she embarks on a powerful journey to find the threads between who she is and what she was born into, and comes to recognize the complicated familial love that often binds them. Registration is required.

Lamp x the CPL Present: A Book Club Walks into a Bar (Lamplighter/Virtual)

On Wednesday, December 1, at 7 p.m., we’re meeting in person in Lamplighter's back taproom to discuss Sigh, Gone: A Misfit’s Memoir of Great Books, Punk Rock, and the Fight to Fit In by Phuc Tran. Registration is required.

Family Story Time (Virtual)

Children and their grownups, join us from home on Thursday, December 2 at 4 p.m. for 20-25 minutes of songs, stories, and rhymes. Caregivers are asked to participate in the program with their children--it will be as important as ever to model movement and song for your little one during this virtual session. Plan to join in, sing along, and move around! Registration is required.

Stay Connected

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

Best wishes,

Maria McCauley, Ph.D.
Director of Libraries