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Director's Update, September 18, 2022


9/18/20221 year ago

caution sign The information on this page may be outdated as it was published 1 year ago.

New library at night

Dear Patrons,

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. In acknowledgment of the month, the Library is pleased to collaborate with the Public Health Department, and Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui to highlight the new 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Phone number. On Monday, September 19, from 1-2 p.m., Mayor Siddiqui will discuss this new resource with health advocate, Monica Luke. Registration is required.

The Library is pleased to host Arthur C. Brooks, the author of the New York Times bestsSeller, From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life, on Tuesday, September 20, from 4-5 p.m. Arthur C. Brooks is a professor at the Harvard Kennedy School and the Harvard Business School, where he teaches courses on leadership and happiness. He is also a columnist at The Atlantic, where he writes the popular column “How to Build a Life.”  This program is sponsored by the Cambridge Public Library Foundation.  Registration is required to participate in this program.

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On Thursday, September 22, the Library is kicking off a new series celebrating sacred songs and rituals. The Master kora player, Yacouba Sissoko, will kick off of the series with a performance based on the sacred songs and rituals of the Mandinka djely tradition which relies on the kora, a 21-string lute with a large gourd resonator. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Cambridge Public Library. Registration is required.

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We are pleased to offer the following programs this week.

Outdoor Programs for Kids    

This week, these programs will be offered (weather permitting) at our Boudreau, Central Square, Collins, 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.
  •  Preschool Story Time: Recommended for children ages 3-5.
  • Sing-Along: All ages are invited to sing and dance!
  • Songs and 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.       

Book Groups  

Learn more about our Book Group offerings this week.  
 

Wellness for Seniors: Low Impact Fitness (Virtual)
Monday, September 19
11-11:45 a.m.

Join us to strengthen the muscles, the heart and the brain while having fun and moving to great music in this low impact virtual fitness workshop! Come as you are and take everything at your own pace. You will feel the benefits in mind and body! This class is designed for people of all levels. Registration is required to participate in each session.

Glowforge 101: Creative Laser Cutting, Parts 1 & 2 (Main)
Monday, September 19, and Tuesday, September 20
3:30-4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, September 20, and Wednesday, September 21
7:30-8:30 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, you will use the camera to focus and scan your own 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. You must complete The Hive Safety Training before participating. Registration is required.

Housed in Cambridge Drop-in Hours (Main)
Monday, September 19
5-8 p.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? Come 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 on housing opportunities and housing related resources and services. Staff from the City Manager's Office of the Housing Liaison, the Housing Division of the Community Development Department, the Department of Human Service Programs Multi-Service Center, the Human Rights Commission, and the Social Work Staff of the Library will be on hand to answer your questions and provide information. Contact the Library Social Worker, Marie, at MMathieu@cambridgema.gov or Lucy, Librarian, at LFlamm@CambridgeMA.gov or by phone at 857-259-2647 with any questions.

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 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Intermediate ESOL is at 11 a.m., High Beginner ESOL is at 1 p.m., and Advanced ESOL is at 3 p.m. Beginner ESOL is at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays. Registration is not required. Learn more.

Arthur C. Brooks Presents: From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life (Main)
Tuesday, September 20
4-5 p.m.

Join us for a lecture and Q&A by Arthur C. Brooks, author of From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of LifeFrom Strength to Strength which shows you how to accept the gifts of the second half of life with grace, joy, and ever deepening purpose.

Arthur C. Brooks is a professor at the Harvard Kennedy School and the Harvard Business School, where he teaches courses on leadership and happiness. He is also a columnist at The Atlantic, where he writes the popular column “How to Build a Life.” This program is sponsored by the Cambridge Public Library Foundation. Registration is required.

Knitting Group (Boudreau)
Tuesday, September 20
6:30-7:30 p.m.

Bring your project and enjoy an hour in the company of other crafters. Learn more

Preschool Story Time
Tuesday, September 20
4-4:20 p.m.

We invite children and their caregivers for 20-25 minutes of stories and songs. Recommended for children ages 3-5.

This program can accommodate 45 people. Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis on the day of the program. The entire party must be present to receive a ticket. This program starts promptly. Unclaimed seats will be offered to someone waiting. We appreciate your patience and understanding. Please call 617-349-4038 for more information.

Pajama Story Time (O'Neill)
Tuesday, September 20
6:45-7:30 p.m.

Come to the library in your pajamas to listen to stories, read with your children, and enjoy a snack before bed! Pajama Story Time is presented by the Cambridge Public Library and the Center for Families. No registration is required to participate in this program.

Wellness for Seniors: Tai Chi Paradigm (Main)
Wednesday, September 21
10-11 a.m.

Join us for this in-person, seven-week Tai Chi practice focusing on the mind and body connection.  The instructor, Sifu Mynor Diaz, will walk you through the basics of Tai Chi, a fluid sequence of movements choreographed in a low impact routine. This program is sponsored by the Cambridge Public Library Foundation. Registration is required.

Résumé and Job Application Support (Central Square)
Wednesday, September 21
1-3 p.m.

Would you like assistance creating a résumé or finding a job? Drop by the Central Square Branch for help with a résumé, conducting a job search online, and completing online applications. No registration is required. Learn more

Scrabble Hour (Collins)
Wednesday, September 21
10:30-11:30 a.m.

Use your B-R-A-I-N (7 points) for a game of Scrabble at the Collins Branch! Bring a friend or get to know new neighbors. Boards will be provided. Players of all levels are welcome.

Registration is not required but you are welcome to register if you would like a reminder before the event. For more information, please contact Lucy at LFlamm@CambridgeMA.gov or call 617-349-4021.

Equipment and Studio Reservation (Main)
Wednesday, September 21, and Thursday, September 22
1:00-4:30 p.m.
Friday, September 23
9:30 a.m. -12 p.m.
Saturday, September 24
1:30-4:30 p.m.

During this reservation period, anyone who has completed Hive training and is badged to use equipment or studio(s) can reserve Hive equipment or studio spaces. Staff will assist participants as they are able. Learn more.

Half-Day Hangout: Take & Make Mosaic Box Activity Kits (Valente)
Wednesday, September 21
1-3 p.m.

Looking for a fun afternoon activity? Stop by the Valente Branch after school to grab a STEAM-based activity kit. Make it in the Children's Area OR take it home with you! Take & Make kits will be available on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 1:00 p.m. while supplies last. For more information, call the Valente Branch at 617-349-4015.

The Hive Safety Training (Virtual)
Wednesday, September 21
6-6:30 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.

After School Stories and Crafts (Central Square)
Wednesday, September 21
4-5 p.m.

Join us in the Children's Room for a fun craft and related stories. For more information, call 617-349-4010. Recommended for ages 5-10.

Fiber Crafts Group - Drop-In (O’Connell)
Thursday, September 15
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Bring your project and enjoy the company of other fiber crafters! Drop in with this informal group to work on your craft, get inspired, pick up skills, and socialize. Knit, embroider, crochet, spin, mend, cross stitch, and more. All crafts are welcome! Learn more

Sewing 101 (Main)
Wednesday, August 10
5:30-7 p.m.

In this 90-minute class, you’ll learn the basics of sewing machine operation and safety. This session will cover machine setup, 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 The Hive Safety Training. Learn more.

Sacred Songs and Rituals: Master kora player Yacouba Sissoko (Main)
Thursday, September 22
6:30-8 p.m.

Join us for an evening of sacred songs based on Mandinka djely tradition with master Kora player, with Yacouba Sissoko. Throughout West African history, djelys, or storytellers, were respected oral historians, jurists, interpreters of current events, and advisers to rulers. The djely’s signature instrument is the kora, a 21-string lute with a large gourd resonator. The kora and djely play an important role in the founding of the Mali Empire which, at the height of its power and influence in the 14th century, encompassed today's Chad, Niger, Mali, Senegal, and the Gambia.  Registration is required. Sponsored by the Friends of the Cambridge Public Library.

Read to a Dog (O’Neill)
Friday, September 23
3-4 p.m.

Read with a cuddly friend! Trained therapy dogs provide warm and non-judgmental reading companions for new or experienced readers up to age 14. Registration for each 10-minute time slot is required and begins on Thursday September 8 by calling or visiting the O’Neill Branch (617-349-4023).

Zing Laser Cutting 101 (Main)
Friday, September 23
3:30-4:30 p.m.

Learn how to use our Epilog Zing, an industry-standard laser cutting machine. Complete this workshop to earn a badge for the Zing laser cutter. With a badge, you can reserve the Epilog Zing to use at designated times.

Note: The Epilog Zing laser cutter and Glowforge laser cutter require separate trainings. You must take part in a Glowforge workshop to operate our Glowforge Pro laser cutter. You must first complete The Hive Safety Training before registering for this workshop. Registration is required.

Studio Recording 101 (Main)
Saturday, September 24
10-11 a.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 studio equipment and software. Registration is required.  You must complete Hive Safety Training before registering for this workshop.

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All the best,

Maria McCauley, Ph.D.
Director of Libraries