Director's Update, April 24, 2022
4/24/2022 • 1 year ago
The information on this page may be outdated as it was published 1 year ago.
Dear Patrons,
I am inspired by our Reading Together Book Group to share an excerpt of Ada Limón’s poem Instructions on Not Giving Up:
"Patient, plodding, a green skin
growing over whatever winter did to us, a return
to the strange idea of continuous living despite
the mess of us, the hurt, the empty. Fine then,
I’ll take it, the tree seems to say, a new slick leaf
unfurling like a fist to an open palm, I’ll take it all"
We are pleased to offer the following programs and events at the Cambridge Public Library.
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We are now accepting submissions for the 23rd Annual Youth Poetry Contest for K-8 students who live or attend school in Cambridge. Submit your original poems by Saturday, April 30. Visit our website for instructions on how to submit your poem.
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Book Groups
- Nonfiction Book Group (Main/Virtual): Monday, April 25, 1-2 p.m. Owls of the Eastern Ice: A Quest to Find and Save the World's Largest Owl by Jonathan C. Slaght
- Reading Together Book Group (Valente/Virtual): Tuesday, April 26, 6:30-7:30 p.m. The April theme is Pick a Poem.
- Chapter Chat (O’Neill/Virtual): Thursday, April 28, 4-5 p.m. The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo
Outdoor Programs for Kids
This week, these outdoor programs for young children will be offered (weather permitting) at our Boudreau, Central Square, Collins, Main, O’Connell, O’Neill, and Valente locations:
- Baby Lapsit: Just for you and your baby! Enjoy time with other parents, caregivers, and babies to play and develop language and motor skills.
- Songs & 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 theevents calendar for further details. Registration is not required.
Wellness for Seniors (Virtual)
Monday, April 25
11-11:45 a.m.
Breathe, stretch, and dance your way to a blissful body, joyous heart, and a steady, quiet mind! Open to all levels and abilities.Registration is required for each session.
Read to a Dog (O’Neill)
Monday, April 25
3-4 p.m.
Read with a cuddly friend! Trained therapy dogs provide warm and nonjudgmental reading companions for new or experienced readers up to age 14.Registration is required for each 10-minute time slot, and it begins on Wednesday, April 13, by visiting or calling the O’Neill Branch (617-349-4023).
Equipment and Studio Reservation (Main)
Monday, April 25
1-3:30 p.m.
During this time period, anyone who has completed Hive Safety Training and is badged to use equipment or studio(s) can reserve Hive equipment or studio spaces. Learn more about becoming a badged maker. Staff will assist participants as they are able.Learn more.
Spatial Poetry with Cambridge GIS (Virtual)
Monday, April 25
6-7:30 p.m.
Join the Cambridge Public Library and Cambridge GIS to explore the language of Cambridge maps, the history of Cambridge, and create poetry from place. Learn about Cambridge GIS's amazing work, data, and resources to gain a better understanding of Cambridge. This program is supported by MIT's Public Library Innovation Exchange (PLIX). Registration is required.
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 at the Central Square Branch on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Intermediate ESOL is at 11 a.m., High Beginner ESOL at 1 p.m., Advanced ESOL at 3 p.m., and Beginner ESOL at 10:30 a.m.Registration is required for each class.
3D 101: Design and Creation, Parts 1 & 2 (Main)
Tuesday, April 26, and Wednesday, April 27
3:30-5 p.m.
Wednesday, April 27, and Thursday, April 28
7-8:30 p.m.
Friday, April 29, and Saturday, April 30
11 a.m.-12:30 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 get hands-on experience running 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 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.
Studio Recording 101 (Main)
Tuesday, April 26
7-8 p.m.
Saturday, April 30
3:30-4:30 p.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 the studio equipment and software. You must complete Hive Safety Training before registering for this workshop.Registration is required.
Résumé and Job Application Support (Central Square)
Wednesday, April 27
1-3 p.m.
Would you like help creating a résumé or looking for a job? Drop by the Central Square Branch for assistance with a résumé, conducting a job search online, and completing online applications. No registration is required. Learn more.
Sewing 101 (Main)
Wednesday, April 27
1-2:30 p.m.
Friday, April 29
9-10:30 a.m., and 3-4:30 p.m.
In this 90-minute class, you’ll learn the basics of sewing machine operation and safety. This session will cover setting up a machine, basic functions, threading the machine, reloading the bobbin, sewing straight stitches, and recognizing when stitch tension has gone awry. We’ll also cover some safety best practices when operating a sewing machine. As we learn together, we’ll work on a simple sewing project—a drawstring bag—which most students will be able to complete by the end of the class. You must complete Hive Safety Training or Hive Safety Training & Glowforge 101 before registering for this workshop. Registration is required.
Mending Matters (Valente/Virtual)
Wednesday,April 27
6:30-8 p.m.
Learn how to get more life out of your clothes or put household textiles to new uses in this monthly hands-on workshop! The artist Jessamy Kilcollins will demonstrate different techniques and provide guidance on your projects. A limited number of supply kits will be available for registered participants to pick up at the Valente Branch. Registration is required.
Pajama Story Time (Virtual)
Wednesday, April 27
6:45-7:30 p.m.
We invite children and their grown-ups to join us for 20-25 minutes of songs, stories, and rhymes to wind down the day. Feel free to wear your favorite pajamas! Caregivers are asked to participate with their children.Registration is required.
Cambridge Room Lecture Series: Central to It All: A Look at Central Square, the Nightclub ManRay, and Twenty Years of Change (Main)
Wednesday, April 27
7-8:30 p.m.
ManRay was one of many anchors of the dynamic cultural scene in Cambridge in the 1980s. A nightclub that offered what they called “The Art of Nightlife,” ManRay promoted dance nights for many cultures, subcultures, and scenes, such as Goth, Industrial, Fetish, New Wave, and those in the LBGTQIA community. Like the other music venues in the square, ManRay presented a dynamic roster of artists and bands, including Divine, Peter Murphy, KMFDM, Sleep Chamber, and, most notably, Nirvana. Join Shawn Driscoll, the author of We Are But Your Children: An Oral History of the Nightclub Manray, and a distinguished group of panelists for a look into Central Square during ManRay’s existence. Registration is required.
Navigating Alone: Tools for Creating Your Plan for Aging Well (Virtual)
Thursday, April 28
10:30-11:30 a.m.
In this lecture and workshop series for active older adults, Ailene Gerhardt of Beacon Patient Solutions LLC will explore the special considerations and planning needs of people aging alone (adults who, because of choice or circumstance, are without the support structure of adult children or other close family). In session 7, we’ll examine living options. Presented in collaboration with Cambridge Neighbors. Registration is required.
Collaborative Composition: A Songwriting Workshop by Eric Hendrix and Miguel Petris (Main)
Thursday, April 28
6:30-8 p.m.
Songwriting is for everyone! Join Eric Hendrix and Miguel Petris in this workshop to learn about the songwriting process. You’ll work in small groups to write a song that Eric and Miguel will put to music and perform live for you. Registration is required.
Housed in Cambridge Drop-in Hours (Main)
Friday, April 29
9:30-11:30 a.m.
Do you have a question related to housing? Do you want to learn more about affordable rental opportunities? Need help navigating financial assistance programs for housing? Looking for advice about housing rights? Drop in to meet the Housed in Cambridge team and find out about housing resources in Cambridge! Housed in Cambridge is a citywide campaign designed to educate and inform residents about housing opportunities and housing-related resources and services. Learn more.
Fresh Pond Fungi Tour (Collins)
Saturday, April 30
2-4:30 p.m.
Join the local mycologist Lawrence Millman for an educational walking tour of Fresh Pond Reservation. Millman is the author of Fascinating Fungi of New England, the first guidebook dedicated to understanding New England mushrooms. Together we will learn about existing species, the history of different species, and their role in our ecosystem. Participants will receive an email with information about the meeting site before the event. Registration is required.
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All the best,
Maria McCauley, Ph.D.
Director of Libraries