U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Director's Update, May 28, 2023


5/30/202310 months ago

New library at night

Dear Patrons,

Happy PRIDE month when we celebrate our LGTBQIA+ community members! Join us at the O’Neill Branch on Thursday, June 1, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. for Crafting for PRIDE. We’ll create wearable crafts like buttons, bracelets, and lanyards with messages of Pride and allyship. We will also be hosting a special Drag Story Time in celebration of PRIDE on Saturday, June 3, from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. at the Main Library. Learn more about PRIDE programs at the Main Library and Branch locations.

June is also Caribbean Heritage Month when we celebrate the contributions of our community members of Caribbean descent. I invite you to celebrate Caribbean Heritage month through one of these titles you can find at the Library.

Join us on Thursday, June 1, from 6-8 p.m. as we celebrate the 59 winners of the Library’s 24th Annual Poetry Contest. Poets from Kindergarten to Eighth Grade will read their winning poems and receive their prizes, generously funded by the Friends of the Library.

All Library locations will be closed on Sunday, May 28, and Monday, May 29 for Memorial Day.


Here are the week’s programs:

Activities for Kids    

This week, these programs will be offered at our Boudreau, Central Square, Collins, Main, O’Connell, O’Neill, and Valente locations.

Sing-Alongs   

Story Times   

Book Groups       

Learn more about our Book Groups.


ESOL Classes (Central Square)
Tuesday, May 30, and Thursday, June 1
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 1-2:30 p.m., and 3-4:30 p.m. 
Wednesday, May 31, and Friday, June 2
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.

Glowforge 101: Creative Laser Cutting (Main)
Tuesday, May 30
1-3 p.m.

Learn how to cut, engrave, and shape designs from a variety of materials using the Glowforge Pro laser cutter. This two-hour workshop replaces the previous two-part Glowforge 101 offering; the content and length of this workshop and the two-part series are the same. You will start by using the camera on the Glowforge to focus and scan your own images, properly select materials for your project, and fabricate your first design. You will create digital artwork for the Glowforge and learn file formatting for production. Note: This is a badging course for laser cutting. You must complete The Hive Safety Training before participating in this program.
Register here. This workshop is full; a waitlist is available.

Creative Aging: Storytelling: Planting Seeds, Growing Community (Main)
Tuesday, May 30
2-4 p.m. 

This series of classes, A Garden of Stories, is community-based storytelling, in which older adults learn how to tell personal stories through sharing and connecting with their community. The eight-week course will occur every Tuesday, 2-4 p.m., through June 27 and will be held in person. Space is limited to 15 participants. Register here. This workshop is full; a waitlist is available. Sponsored by the Cambridge Public Library Foundation.

Sit ‘n’ Knit (Main) 
Tuesday, May 30
2:30-3:30 p.m. 

Bring your project and enjoy the company of other fiber crafters as you work, get inspired,
pick up skills and socialize. Knit, embroider, crochet, spin, and mend. Refreshments will be provided.
  

Equipment and Studio Reservations (Main) 
Tuesday, May 30, 3:30-8:30 p.m. 
Friday, June 2, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. 
Saturday, June 3, 11 a.m.-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.      

Teen Advisory Board Meeting (Main)
Tuesday, May 30
4-5 p.m. 

Teens! Help us plan teen programming at the Library! Earn community service hours! Enjoy free snacks! We meet monthly during the school year. No registration required. Stop by the Teen Room or call 617-349-4027 to learn more.

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

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

Navigating Solo: Planning Tools for Aging Well (Virtual)
Every other Tuesday, May 2-June 27, 6:30-7:45 p.m.
Tuesday, May 30
6:30-7:45 p.m.

Join us for this 5-session workshop series exploring the needs of solo agers
(adults who, because of choice or circumstance, are without a family support structure). Ailene Gerhardt, board-certified patient advocate, will explore the special considerations and planning needs of solo agers related to health care and community and discuss the programs and resources available for solo agers. 

May 30: Evaluating Your Current Support System
June 13: Assessing and Enhancing Your Support System
June 27: Bringing It All Together & Developing an Organized Solo Aging Plan

Presented as part of the Cambridge Public Library’s Active Older Adults Lecture and Workshop Series in partnership with Cambridge Neighbors. Sponsored by the Cambridge Public Library Foundation. Registration is required for each session.


Wellness for Seniors: Tai Chi Paradigm - Level 2 (Main)
Wednesday, May 31
10-11 a.m.

Join us in this 12-week Tai Chi Paradigm - Level 2 practice, which focuses on the mind-body connection. Tai Chi is a fluid sequence of movements choreographed in a low-impact routine. Participants must have completed Tai Chi Paradigm - Level 1. Sifu Mynor Diaz has been learning and teaching Tai Chi for over 20 years. He has taught at five VA Boston Healthcare System locations and at senior centers. This event is held in person.
Register here. This workshop is full.

Healthy Hearing (Virtual)
Wednesday, May 31
12:30-1:45 p.m. 

Join us for a presentation and Q&A on healthy hearing with clinical audiologists from the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. They will share their experiences and knowledge on hearing loss in older adults and raise awareness of the potential adverse social, mental, and neurological impacts of hearing impairment when hearing loss is untreated.

In partnership with the Living Well Network, a community that fosters a strong, connected, engaged, and healthy community of residents 55 and up who continue to thrive as they age.
Register here.

Zing Laser Cutting 101 (Main)
Wednesday, May 31
1-2:30 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 Zing to use on our equipment at designated times. Note: The Epilog Zing laser cutter and Glowforge laser cutter require separate trainings. You must participate in the Glowforge workshop to operate our Glowforge Pro laser cutter. You must complete The Hive Safety Training before registering for this workshop.
Register here. This workshop is full; a waitlist is available.

Résumé and Job Application Support (Central Square)
Wednesday, May 31
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 31
3:30-5:30 p.m. 
   
Have you checked out The Hive yet? Teens are welcome to 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 ages 12-18.

Free Drop-in Tutoring for Teens (Main)
Wednesday, May 31
5-6 p.m.   
   
Need help with a class? Have a question before an exam? Tutors are available to help you! Cambridge School Volunteers and the Library are pleased to offer tutoring services in the Teen Room. Just drop by! Please contact Megan Andres (
mandres@cpsd.us) with any questions.

Hear About It—Ask About It! A Forum About Teen/Tween Health in Cambridge (Hybrid)
Wednesday, May 31
6-8 p.m.

Join the Healthy Children Task Force for a hybrid community conversation about the
2022 Cambridge Teen and Middle Grades Health Survey. Bring your questions and concerns and learn about how the survey was administered, what it says about our teens’ and tweens’ health, and what the Cambridge Public Schools and the Cambridge Department of Public Health are taking action on. Panelists include:

  • Jamie McCarthy, Coordinator Cambridge Public Schools Physical Education, Health & Wellness
  • Alice Cohen, Youth Services Planner at City of Cambridge
  • Rachel B. Weinstein, Vice-Chair, School Climate Subcommittee of the Cambridge School Committee
  • Caroline Hunter, Chair of School Climate Subcommittee of the Cambridge School Committee

Register here to participate in this event. A Zoom link will be sent to registrants prior to the event.

Sewing 101 (Main)
Wednesday, May 31
6:30-8 p.m. 

In this 90-minute class, you will learn the basics of sewing machine operation and safety. You will cover machine setup, basic functions, threading the machine, reloading the bobbin, sewing straight stitches, and recognizing when stitch tension has gone awry. Register here.
These workshops are full; waitlists are available.

Cheese 101 with Formaggio Kitchen (Boudreau)
Wednesday, May 31
8:15-9:15 p.m.

Join the experts at Formaggio Kitchen for their Cheese 101 workshop! Taste and learn about delicious cheeses while enjoying time with neighbors. All participants will receive a cheese bundle at the time of the class courtesy of the Cambridge Public Library. This event will take place on-site in Huron Village. Space is limited.
Registration is required. Please contact Lucy at lflamm@cambridgema.gov or Liz at edanner@cambridgema.gov with any questions. This workshop is full; a waitlist is available.

Vinyl Cutting 101 (Main)   
Thursday, June 1
10-11 a.m.

Would you like to make your own vinyl signs, stickers, or images to transfer to T-shirts and other textiles? In this workshop, you can learn how to use our Roland Camm-1 GS-24 vinyl cutter. You can then design a sticker and cut it with the vinyl cutter! You must complete The Hive Safety Training before registering.
Registration is required.

Fiber Crafts Group - Drop In (O'Connell)
Thursday, June 1
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. 

Bring your project and enjoy the company of other fiber crafters. Work on your craft, get inspired, pick-up skills and socialize. Knit, embroider, crochet, spin, mend, cross stitch.

Videography 101 (Main)
Thursday, June 1
2-3 p.m. 

Step into The Hive's state-of-the-art recording studio and film a short video of yourself in front of our green screen. Then spend some time becoming familiar with video editing software while working with your footage. You must complete The Hive Safety Training before registering. Registration is required.

Crafting for Pride (O'Neill)
Thursday, June 1
3-4:30 p.m. 

Celebrate Pride month with wearable crafts at the Library! We will make buttons, bracelets and lanyards with messages of Pride and allyship.

Afternoon Games (O’Neill)
Thursday, June 1
3-5 p.m. 

Join us to play your favorite board game or complete a puzzle! No registration is required.

24 Annual Youth Poetry Awards (Main)
Thursday, June 1
4:30-8:30 p.m.

Join us we celebrate the 59 winners of the 24th Annual Poetry Contest. Poets from Kindergarten to Eighth Grade will read their winning poems and receive their prizes, generously funded by the Friends of the Library.


Fiber Arts Adventure with Lenni: A Machine-Sewing Workshop Series (Main)
Thursday, June 1
5:30-8:30 p.m.

Continue building your machine-sewing skills and create bespoke sewn crafts! Design your own fiber arts adventure as you make dinner napkins, high-visibility patches for being seen at night, and wearable Hive-made creations. This four-part series is led by the fiber artist and designer Lenni Armstrong!

The skills include identifying and straightening a fabric's grain, straight stitching, making hems, and more. Registration is required. Those registered for the first session will automatically be enrolled in the following weeks. Spots are very limited; kindly enroll only if you plan to attend all four workshops: May 18, May 25, June 1, and June 8. This workshop is designed for patrons who know how to use our Janome sewing machines. Register here.

Wellness for Seniors: Introduction to Tai Chi Paradigm (Main)
Friday, June 2
10-11 a.m.

Join us in this 12-week Introduction to Tai Chi Paradigm practice, which focuses on the mind-body connection. Tai Chi is a fluid sequence of movements choreographed in a low-impact routine. No previous experience is necessary. Sifu Mynor Diaz has been learning and teaching Tai Chi for more than 20 years. He has taught classes at five VA Boston Healthcare System locations and at senior centers. This event is held in person.  Due to the popularity of this series, we expect participants to attend all the classes.
Register here. This class is full. Sponsored by the Cambridge Public Library Foundation.

ASL at the Library - Signing Rocks! (O'Connell)
Friday, June 2
4:30-5:30 p.m.

Join us for a party and an American Sign Language class rolled into one!
SIGNING Basics hosts this excellent event for beginners or people looking to brush up their skills. Get ready to have some fun! Signing Rocks! events are conducted in ASL. Sign language interpreting is not provided; you will learn the vocabulary as you go throughout the class. This program is great for adults, teens, and families with kids ages 7+! Registration required.

XR Lab 101 (Main)
Saturday, June 3
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 Hive Safety Training before registering for this workshop.
Registration required.

Drag Story Time (Main)
Saturday, June 3
11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Kick-off Pride Month with Drag Story Time at the Cambridge Public Library! Join us on Saturday, June 3 at 11 a.m. in the Main Library Curious George Room for songs and stories about what makes each of us fabulous. This program is for children and their caregivers.

Crafting Corner (O'Neill)
Saturday, June 3
1:30-3 p.m. 

Fiber crafters of all skill levels are welcome to drop in for companionable crafting! Bring your project and enjoy tea, snacks, and conversation with other crafters. Chat, share tips, and even inspire others. No registration is required.


ASL at the Library - Signing Rocks! (O'Connell)
Saturday, June 3
3:30-4:30 p.m.

Join us for a party and an American Sign Language class rolled into one!
SIGNING Basics hosts this excellent event for beginners or people looking to brush up their skills. Get ready to have some fun! Signing Rocks! events are conducted in ASL. Sign language interpreting is not provided; you will learn the vocabulary as you go throughout the class. This program is great for families with kids ages 7 and up!  For younger children, it is recommended to attend with an adult who can assist them with the signs. This event will take place in the Community Room at the Valente Branch Library. Registration is required. Please contact the library at 617-349-4015 for more information. Registration required.

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