Director's Update, April 3, 2022
4/4/2022 • 2 years ago
The information on this page may be outdated as it was published 2 years ago.
Dear Patrons,
April 3-9 is National Library Week, when we celebrate the many people who make libraries work! Please join me in recognizing our amazing CPL staff members who deliver the exceptional services, programs, and materials you enjoy each time you visit our libraries. I also want to thank Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui and the City Council for the resolution passed in recognition of our staff during National Library Week.
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It is with great excitement that we gear up for the Sixth Annual Margret and H.A. Rey Curious George lecture with Rita Williams-Garcia, the New York Times best-selling author of novels for children and teen readers! This virtual event will take place on Saturday, April 9, from 11 a.m. to Noon. Registration is required.
On April 7, we are hosting the award-winning author Louise Erdrich in a virtual reading and discussion of her latest novel, The Sentence. The book asks what we owe to the living, to the dead, to the reader, and to the book. Louise Erdrich is the author of many novels as well as volumes of poetry, children’s books, and a memoir of early motherhood. Her novel The Round House won the National Book Award for Fiction. Love Medicine and LaRose received the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction. Her 2021 book, The Night Watchman, won the Pulitzer Prize.
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Here are some service updates:
The Hive makerspace at the Main Library is resuming in-person workshop offerings and expanding its hours of operation beginning on Monday, April 4. The Hive’s new hours are Monday, 1-5 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday, 1-9 p.m.; Thursday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; and Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
The Boudreau Branch Library will be expanding its hours beginning on Monday, April 4. Its new hours will be Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., and Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
The Valente Branch Library will be expanding its hours beginning on Monday, April 4. Its new hours will be Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Saturday, 1-5 p.m.
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The Friends of the Cambridge Public Library is bringing back the popular Secret Gardens of Cambridge tour on Sunday, June 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine. Online registration opens on Sunday, May 1. For more information, including sponsorships, see the Secret Gardens of Cambridge webpage.
Outdoor Programs for Kids
This week, these outdoor programs for young children will be offered (weather permitting) at our Central Square, Collins, Main, O’Connell, O'Neill, and Valente locations:
- Outdoor 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 the events calendar for further details. Registration is not required.
Baby Lapsit (Main)
Monday, April 4
10-10:20 a.m.
Enjoy time with other parents, caregivers, and babies to learn, play, and develop language and motor skills. Come prepared to sit with your baby in your lap. Registration is required.
Wellness for Seniors (Virtual)
Monday, April 4
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.
Glowforge 101: Creative Laser Cutting, Parts 1 & 2 (Main)
Monday, April 4 & Tuesday, April 5
1:30-2:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 5 & Wednesday, April 6
7:30-8:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 7 & Friday, April 8
3:30-4:30 p.m.
Learn how to cut, engrave, and shape designs from a variety of materials using the Glowforge Pro laser cutter in this two-part series. In Part 1 of this course, you will use the camera for focusing and scanning your own custom images, properly select materials for your project, and fabricate your first design. In Part 2, you will create digital artwork for the Glowforge Pro, and learn file formatting for production. Registration is required.
XR Lab 101 (Main)
Monday, April 4
3-4 p.m.
Thursday, April 7
10:30-11:30 a.m. & 7:30-8:30 p.m.
Friday, April 8
1:30-2:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 9
10:30-11:30 a.m.
Extended reality (XR) opens the door to worlds and experiences outside the everyday through virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality equipment. Test drive our Microsoft HoloLens augmented reality glasses, Structure Sensor 3D scanner, Merge headsets, and more. You must complete Hive Safety Training before registering for this workshop. Registration is required.
Career Skills Workshop (Virtual)
Tuesday, April 5
6-7:30 p.m.
Join us for the online Career Skills workshop series, presented by the employment specialist Gary Gekow. On April 5, we will cover the Importance of LinkedIn. Registration is required.
Hive Safety Training (Virtual)
Wednesday, April 6
5:30-6 p.m.
In this workshop, you will learn about our makerspace, how to use our resources, and how to keep safe in The Hive. Before attending workshops in The Hive, all makers must bring signed copies of The Hive User Agreement and Waivers. Registration is required.
Résumé and Job Application Support (Central Square)
Wednesday, April 6
1-3 p.m.
Are you looking for assistance creating a résumé or looking for a job? Drop by the Central Square Branch for assistance with preparing a résumé, conducting a job search online, and completing online applications. No registration is required. Learn more.
ESOL Classes (Virtual)
Tuesdays and Thursdays
11 a.m.-Noon, 1-2 p.m., and 3-4 p.m.
Wednesdays and Fridays
10:30 a.m.-Noon
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes occur virtually on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Beginner ESOL takes place at 1 p.m., Intermediate ESOL at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., and Higher Beginner ESOL at 10:30 a.m. Registration is required for each class.
Cambridge Room Lecture Series: Old House Do’s and Don’ts (Virtual)
Wednesday, April 6
12-1 p.m.
As times change, so do families' needs and desires when it comes to modern living. Historic homes are often altered to realize these dreams, but it can be hard to know how to make changes that are sensitive to the existing character of the house. Join us for a lecture by Elizabeth Paliga, Preservation Services Manager for Historic New England, and learn how to read changes that have been made to old houses, discover new ideas for how to recapture the historic character of an old house, and learn how to improve its energy efficiency. Registration is required.
Louise Erdrich Presents The Sentence (Virtual)
Thursday, April 7
6-7:15 p.m.
Join the Pulitzer Prize-winning author Louise Erdrich in a virtual reading and discussion of her latest novel, The Sentence. Erdrich will be in conversation with Joan Naviyuk Kane, a poet and professor at Harvard University. This event is sponsored by the Cambridge Public Library Foundation. Registration is required.
Margret and H.A. Rey Curious George Lecture (Virtual)
Saturday, April 9
11 a.m.-Noon
Join us for the Sixth Annual Margret and H.A. Rey Curious George Lecture with Rita Williams-Garcia, the New York Times bestselling author of novels for children and teen readers. Pick up a free copy of one of Williams-Garcia’s books at a branch location near you. Available while supplies last. Registration is required.
Equipment and Studio Reservation (Main)
Saturday, April 9
1:30-4:30 p.m.
During this time period, anyone who has completed Hive 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. Registration is required.
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Warm regards,
Maria McCauley, Ph.D.
Director of Libraries