Director's Update, October 16, 2022
10/16/2022 • 1 year ago
The information on this page may be outdated as it was published 1 year ago.
Dear Patrons,
We are happy to celebrate Latinx Heritage Month from September 15 until October 15. To mark it, we will be hosting Brenda Lozano, the author of Witches, talking with Heather Cleary, who translated the novel from Spanish to English. Learn more about Brenda Lozano and register here.
The Library is pleased to host an exhibition of work by the Cambridge artist Lori Lander from October to November 15 on Level 2 of the Main Library. Titled "Morning Market: The Work of Women," these 12 oil paintings portray the daily rhythms of women across the world working in morning markets. The opening reception will take place on Thursday, October 20, from 4 to 6 p.m., in the Community Room. Lander will speak about her work on Monday, November 7, from 5 to 6 p.m., in the Lecture Hall. You can visit this exhibition during the dates and times listed here.
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:
- 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.
Creative Aging: Visual Life History (Main)
Monday, October 17-Monday, December 5
10 a.m.-Noon
Learn the basics of life history interviewing and turn these interviews into beautiful works of art to reflect the lives of our fellow community members using clay, journaling, collage, and mixed media.
The 8-week course will occur every Monday starting October 17 and run through December 5. Space is limited to 20 participants. To gain the most from this program, participants should commit to all 8 sessions in this course. Registration is required. This workshop is sponsored by the Cambridge Public Library Foundation.
The Cambridge Public Library's Creative Aging series offers adults 55+ opportunities to learn new skills and to further appreciate the Library as a center for lifelong learning. In addition, it will provide participants a chance to make new connections with other community members.
Baby Lapsit (Main)
Monday, October 17
10-10:20 a.m.
Learn more.
Wellness for Seniors: Low-Impact Fitness (Virtual)
Monday, October 17
11-11:45 a.m.
This class is designed for adults 55+ of all levels to strengthen the muscles, the heart, and the brain--all while having fun and moving to great music! Come as you are and take everything at your own pace. You will feel the benefits in mind and body!
This is a virtual event. A Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants 1 hour before the event. Registration for each session is required.
Glowforge 101: Creative Laser Cutting, Parts 1 & 2 (Main)
Monday, October 17 & Tuesday, October 18
3:30-4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, October 18 & Wednesday, October 19
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 2-day workshop. These workshops replace the previous Glowforge 101 and Glowforge 201 offerings.
In Part 1, you will use the camera for focusing and scanning 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 and learn file formatting for production.
Note: This is a badging course for laser cutting. Signing up for Part 1 registers you to participate in Part 2 the next day. You will be badged at the end of the Part 2 workshop and can reserve the Glowforge Pro for use during the designated times.
You must complete The Hive Safety Training before participating in this program. Registration is required.
Housed in Cambridge: Drop-in Hours (Main)
Monday, October 17
5-7:30 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? 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 on housing opportunities and resources and services related to housing. 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.
Do you have any questions? Contact the Library Social Worker, Marie, at MMathieu@cambridgema.gov or by calling 857-259-2647. Learn more.
Fall ESOL Class (Valente)
Monday, October 17
6-7 p.m.
Join us for an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) class this fall! It will be taught at a beginner level. No testing is needed, and everyone is welcome. For more information, call Maria Balestrieri at 617-349-4013. Learn more.
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.
Knitting Group (Boudreau)
Tuesday, October 18
6:30-7:30 p.m.
Bring your project and enjoy an hour in the company of other crafters. Learn more.
Equipment and Studio Reservations (Main)
Wednesday, October 19 & Thursday, October 20
1-4:30 p.m.
Friday, October 21
9:30 a.m.-Noon
Saturday, October 22
1:30-4:30 p.m.
During this time period, anyone who has completed The Hive Safety Training and is badged to use equipment or studio(s) can reserve The Hive’s equipment or studio spaces. Staff will assist participants as they are able. Learn more.
Half-Day Hangout: An Afternoon at the Movies (Valente)
Wednesday, October 19
1-3 p.m.
Unwind after school! We will watch a fun family movie, create colorful bookmarks, and eat some snacks! Learn more.
Résumé and Job Application Support (Central Square)
Wednesday, October 19
1-3 p.m.
Would you like assistance creating a résumé or finding a job? Drop by for help with a résumé, conducting a job search online, and completing online applications. No registration is required. Learn more.
Half-Day Hangout: Perler Beads (Collins)
Wednesday, October 19
1-2 p.m.
Design a Perler bead creation. We'll fuse the beads into a one-of-a-kind work of art for you to take home. Recommended for children ages 5-10 and their caregivers. Learn more.
After School Stories and Crafts (Central Square)
Wednesday, October 19
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. Learn more.
Latinx Heritage Month: Brenda Lozano Presents Witches in Conversation with Heather Cleary (Virtual)
Wednesday, October 19
6-7:15 p.m.
"Set in Mexico, Witches is a layered, kaleidoscopic and powerful story exploring relationships, fluidity, pain, healing, power and patriarchy." —Karla Strand, Ms. Magazine.
Brenda Lozano is a fiction writer, essayist, and editor. Her books include Todo nada (All or Nothing, 2009), followed by Cuaderno ideal (Loop, 2019), and a book of short stories Cómo piensan las piedras (How Stones Think, 2017). In 2015 she was selected by Conaculta, the Hay Festival, and the British Council as one of Mexico's best fiction writers under 40. In 2017 she was added to the Bogota 39 list, a selection of the best fiction writers under 40 from across Latin America. Witches, her most recent novel, was translated into English by Heather Cleary.
This program is sponsored by the Cambridge Public Library Foundation. Registration is required.
The Hive Safety Training (Virtual)
Wednesday, October 19
6-6:30 p.m.
Are you interested in using The Hive? In this workshop you will learn about our makerspace, how to use our resources, and how to keep safe in The Hive. You will also create your Hive badge ID using our laser cutter. Find out what you need to get started as a maker in The Hive here.
Completion of The Hive Safety Training is the entry point to making, innovating, and collaborating in this space. Makers must also sign The Hive User Agreement and Waivers.
Jazz Performance by the Lilly Jazz Project (O'Neill)
Wednesday, October 19
6:30-7:30 p.m.
The Lilly Jazz Project was formed in San Diego in 2014 to bring musicians of every level together to perform in the community. By 2021, LJP’s band leader, Darr Lilly, moved to Boston to attend Berklee College of Music. With a calling to make music stand for something more meaningful, such as activism, the band reformed to perform some original music that speaks to social justice issues like mental health and mass incarceration. Now a diverse group of musicians with members from Berklee schools, LJP is driven to keep jazz alive in communities where people don’t often get to go out to listen to jazz. LJP performs familiar classic jazz songs, blending musical styles such as Bossa nova, funk, blues, rock, and modern jazz. Learn more.
Fiber Crafts Group -- Drop-in (O’Connell)
Thursday, October 20
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Bring your project and enjoy the company of other fiber crafters! Join 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)
Tuesday, October 20
6-7:30 p.m.
In this 90-minute class, you’ll learn the basics of sewing machine operation and safety. It 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 of us will be able to complete by the end of the class. You must complete The Hive Safety Training first. Learn more.
Financial Literacy 101: Credit (Central Square)
Thursday, October 22
7-8 p.m.
Managing one’s own money in today’s world is tricky. Managing credit well opens many opportunities for us, including becoming approved for auto and other loans and purchasing a home. Through an innovative game, “My Credit Score, Help or Hurt?” we can learn exactly how to make credit decisions that will help us reach these goals. Obtaining credit is tempting but costly and dangerous if not handled responsibly. Repairing one’s credit history takes time and patience. By seeking proper guidance, we can restore positive credit and enjoy the benefits of an improved credit history.
This workshop is part of four workshops in collaboration with the Cambridge Savings Bank. By learning and applying the concepts from these interactive workshops, participants will better understand and practice managing their money wisely, begin to build savings, avoid unmanageable debt, improve their credit, and shield themselves from fraud. Participants are welcome to register for just one or all of the workshops. Registration is required.
- October 20: Credit
- October 27: Fraud
Zing Laser Cutting 101 (Main)
Thursday, October 20
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 training. 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, October 22
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. You must complete The Hive Safety Training before registering for this workshop. Registration is required.
Outdoor Family Story Time with Author Ellen Mayer (Main)
Saturday, October 22
11-11:30 a.m.
Join us for stories, songs, and activities with the author Ellen Mayer, who is celebrating her new book, Leaves to My Knees (Star Bright Books, 2022), a playful introduction to the early math concepts of size comparison and measurement. We’ll experience the story both as a read-aloud and as an interactive story walk in Joan Lorentz Park.
Star Bright Books will have books available for sale and autographing. In the event of bad weather, the program will move indoors. Please call 617-349-4038 for more information. Learn more.
Fresh Pond Fungi Tour (Collins)
Saturday, October 22
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.
Registration is required. One registration per person. Participants will receive an email with information about the meeting site before the event. If you are on the waitlist, your participation is not confirmed. Should spots become available, you will be contacted. If you have any questions, contact Lucy at LFlamm@CambridgeMA.gov or by phone at 617-349-4021.
Outdoor Fall Nature Crafts (O'Neill)
Saturday, October 22
2-3:30 p.m.
Explore nature and make arts and crafts. Gather supplies from around the Library grounds or bring your own from your neighborhood (leaves, twigs, pinecones, etc.). Try to pick up things that have already fallen to the ground (unless you have permission to pick them). We will create beautiful fall nature art together! In the event of bad weather, the program will move indoors. Learn more.
Stay Connected
Please subscribe to our email list, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook, and visit our website.
All the best,
Maria McCauley, Ph.D.
Director of Libraries