Director's Update, March 5, 2023
3/6/2023 • 14 months ago
Dear Patrons,
The Library is pleased to host a bilingual reading and Q&A with the 2021 Jabuti Award winner Monique Malcher, the author of Flor de Gume, on Thursday, March 8, at 6 p.m. This book consists of 37 stories that draw inspiration from women Malcher encounters frequently, including those in her family, in academic texts, and in fiction. Malcher will be talking with the writer and filmmaker Ana Laura Malmaceda. Both English and Portuguese readings will be featured; questions can be asked in both languages. This event is sponsored by the Cambridge Public Library Foundation and the Manuel Rogers, Sr., and Mary R. Rogers Endowment Fund. Registration is required.
Join the Cambridge Public Library and the Cambridge Public Library Foundation on Wednesday, March 29, at 6:30 p.m. for Dream Big 2033, a discussion about the reinvention of journalism to support democracy and a more equitable and sustainable world. The panelists include David Bornstein, an award-winning journalist, a cofounder and CEO of Solutions Journalism, and the author of How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas and The Price of a Dream: The Story of the Grameen Bank; Deborah D. Douglas, coeditor-in-chief of The Emancipator, a news collaboration of the Boston Globe and BU's Center for Antiracist Research, and the author of U.S. Civil Rights Trail: A Traveler’s Guide to the People, Places, and Events That Made the Movement; and Amanda Ripley, a New York Times bestselling author, investigative journalist, and the author of High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out, The Smartest Kids in the World: And How They Got That Way, and The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes—and Why. You can register online by emailing info@cplfound.org or by calling 617-798-0959.
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Weekly Activities for Kids
This week, these programs will be offered at our Boudreau, Central Square, Collins, Main, O’Connell, O’Neill, and Valente locations.
Book Groups
Learn more about our Book Groups this week.
Baby Lapsit (Main)
Monday, March 6
10-10:20 a.m.
Just for you and your baby! Enjoy time together with other parents, caregivers, and babies to learn, play, and develop language and motor skills. Recommended for 0-12 months.
Come prepared to sit on the floor one-on-one with your baby in your lap. This program can accommodate 15 babies and their caregivers. 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.
Wellness for Seniors: Combo Dance Fitness & Let Your Yoga Dance® (Virtual)
Monday, March 6
11-11:45 a.m.
Join us for this fun, dynamic, and ultimately blissful combo. We start with some high-energy (low impact) dance fitness, then work our way through the seven energy centers (chakras) with Let Your Yoga Dance. You will leave with a good workout and a peaceful, happy mind/body/spirit. It’s good for everybody! Registration is required for each session.
LEGO Time (Main)
Monday, March 6
4-4:45 p.m.
It's a weekly block party! Join friends to design and build amazing LEGO structures. Let your imagination run wild! The Children's Room has plenty of LEGO pieces, so you don't need to bring your own. Be aware that LEGO pieces are choking hazards for young children, so this program is for children ages 5 and up and their caregivers. It can accommodate 30 builders. Children under age 7 must be accompanied by a caregiver. Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis on the day of the program. This program starts promptly, and any unclaimed seats will be offered to someone waiting. We appreciate your patience and understanding. Please call 617-349-4038 for more information. Learn more.
Sewing 101 (Main
Monday, March 6
3-4:30 p.m.
In this 90-minute class, you’ll learn the basics of sewing machine operation and safety. You’ll 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 before registering for this workshop. Registration is required.
Fall ESOL Class (Valente)
Monday, March 30
6-7 p.m.
Join us for an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) class! 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)
Tuesday, March 7, and Thursday, March 9
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 1-2:30 p.m., and 3-4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 8, and Friday, March 10
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.
Sit n Knit
Tuesday, March 7
2:30-3:30 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, and mend. Refreshments will be provided.
The Hive Safety Training (Main)
Tuesday, March 7
5-6 p.m.
Saturday, March 11
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Are you interested in using The Hive? In this workshop you will learn about our makerspace, how to use the resources we offer, and how to keep safe in The Hive. 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. Registration is required to participate in this workshop.
Eleanor Catton in Conversation with Nina MacLaughlin (Main)
Tuesday, March 7
6-7:30 p.m.
Join Eleanor Catton, a screenwriter and the author of the international bestseller The Luminaries, for a discussion of her new novel,Birnam Wood, an electrifying ecothriller grounded in a provocative and sly exploration of some of the most pressing issues of our times. Catton's award-winning debut novel, The Rehearsal was published in 2008 and has been adapted into a 2016 film of the same name. Her second novel, The Luminaries, won the 2013 Booker Prize, making Catton the youngest author ever to win the prize and only the second New Zealander. It was adapted into a television miniseries, with Catton as screenwriter. Catton will be talking with the local author Nina MacLaughlin, the author of the lauded Wake Siren: Ovid Resung, a retelling of Ovid's Metamorphoses, told from the perspective of the female figures transformed. Her first book was the acclaimed memoir Hammer Head: The Making of a Carpenter. Formerly an editor at the Boston Phoenix, she worked for nine years as a carpenter and is now a book columnist for the Boston Globe. This program is presented by the Harvard Book Store and the Cambridge Public Library. Registration is required.
Community Quilt Celebration (O'Neill)
Tuesday, March 7
6:30-7:30 p.m.
Come to a reception to celebrate the creation and completion of O'Neill's Community Quilt! Quilts and quilt pieces will be on display in the display case for the month of March. Refreshments will be provided.
Knitting Group (Boudreau)
Tuesday, March 7
6:30-7:30 p.m.
Bring your project and enjoy an hour in the company of other crafters. Learn more.
Résumé and Job Application Support (Central Square)
Wednesday, March 8
1-3 p.m.
Looking for assistance creating a résumé or finding a job? Join us for help with résumés, job hunting, and online applications. No registration is required. Learn more.
The Hive Teen Hangout (Main)
Wednesday, May 8
3:30-5:30 p.m.
Have you checked out The Hive yet? Teens are welcome to come learn about our space and try their hand at making stickers, recording videos in our studio, and more. This is a drop-in event for patrons ages 12-18.
Monique Malcher Presents Fleur de Gume
Wednesday, March 8
6-7:30 p.m.
Join us for a bilingual reading and Q&A with the 2021 Jabuti Award winner Monique Malcher, the author of Flor de Gume! This book consists of 37 stories that draw inspiration from women Malcher encounters frequently, including those in her family, in academic texts, and in fiction. Malcher will be talking with the writer and filmmaker Ana Laura Malmaceda. The readings are in both English and Portuguese; questions can be asked in both languages. This event is sponsored by the Cambridge Public Library Foundation and the Manuel Rogers, Sr., and Mary R. Rogers Endowment Fund. Registration is required.
Fiber Crafts Group - Drop-In (O'Connell)
Thursday, March 9
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! Please call 617-349-4019 if you have questions.
Equipment and Studio Reservations (Main)
Wednesday, February 15, 1-6 p.m.
Thursday, March 9, 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Friday, March 10, 12:30-4:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 11, 12:30.-4:30 p.m.
During this time, 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.
Puzzle Party (Main)
Thursday, March 9
2-3:30 p.m.
Join our librarians for tea, cookies, and a jigsaw puzzle. It’s an hour of fun and conversation on a Thursday afternoon.
Afternoon Games (O’Neill)
Thursday, March 9|
3-5p.m.
Join us to play your favorite board game or complete a puzzle after school! No registration is required.
One-on-One Tech Help by Appointment (Boudreau)
Thursday, March 9
4-4:45 p.m.
Would you like help navigating the library's e-resources like Libby or Hoopla? Or maybe you need some basic computer or mobile device guidance? Book a free one-on-one tech help session at the Boudreau Branch. Some topics we cover include: downloading library eBooks, audiobooks, and magazines to your tablet, smartphone, or laptop; navigating databases and other library resources such as LinkedIn Learning; Using the Internet, and e-mail; setting up devices like smartphones or streaming devices. Scheduled sessions run between 30 and 45 minutes. Please bring your device, cords, and any necessary account information. Library staff cannot be held responsible for damage to patrons’ equipment. If you have questions, please send them to ipachoncaballero@cambridgema.gov.
XR Lab 101 (Main)
Friday, March 10
9:30-10:30 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. Registration is required. You must complete The Hive Safety Training before registering for this workshop.
Teen Room x The Hive (Main)
Friday, March 10
3:30-5 p.m.
Grab a friend for some creative exploration and play! Try your hand at making a sticker, 3D doodling, immersive VR, and more in the Teen Room. This is a drop-in event designed for ages 12-18.
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All the best!
Maria McCauley, Ph.D.
Director of Libraries