Director's Update, July 19, 2026

Dear Patrons,  

It’s not too late to sign up for Summer Reading! Starting on Tuesday, July 21, if you have completed your entire board, you can redeem it for a special reward. 

 

In the News

Read my first article as president of the American Library Association in American Libraries Magazine: Save Our E-Rate. 

 

Service Alert: Red Line Shutdown July 21–30

The MBTA will suspend Red Line service between Alewife and Park Street from July 21 through July 30, replacing train service with shuttle buses at all Cambridge stations along the line. The MBTA is using this planned closure to complete critical track, signal, and infrastructure upgrades to improve long-term reliability. Riders should expect significant delays, allow extra travel time, and consider alternative routes during this period. For full details and real-time updates, visit mbta.com/RedLine or camb.ma/redline. 

 

Construction on Broadway next to the Library
Construction is currently taking place on Broadway outside the Main Library. The Main Library will be open for regular hours throughout construction, but the garage will be temporarily closed for a few days due to construction impacts. We currently expect the garage to be closed July 30-August 3, but this schedule is subject to change. We will post an update on the library website when the schedule is confirmed. We appreciate your patience and flexibility throughout construction.

 

Database Spotlight: NoveList Plus

Overwhelmed by lists of “Books You Simply MUST Read This Summer”? The Library can help you find books that are right for you. In addition to personalized recommendations from Your Next Great Read and staff suggestions at your local branch, you can use NoveList Plus, an online resource designed to connect you to titles that fit your mood and preferences.   

  

NoveList Plus lets you mix and match your favorite story elements, genres, themes, and subjects to create a list of just-right book suggestions. NoveList Plus also has many curated lists, including celebrity book club picks and trending titles.Visit camb.ma/cplonline to try NoveList Plus today or visit a CPL location to learn more. 

 

Upcoming Events

Celebrate Summer Sundays at the Valente Branch and National Ice Cream Day with soft serve from Frosty Ice Cream on Sunday, July 19, 2 p.m. Listen to some summer tunes and learn about our all-ages summer reading! 

 

On Monday, July 20, 6-8 p.m., join us to learn about the transformative power of prison gardens for people who are incarcerated with a screening and discussion of Seeds of Change. Registration is required.

 

Join us for CPL Adult Summer Camp on Tuesday, July 21, 6 p.m. to meet new people and have nostalgic fun outside in Cambridge! Play outdoor games with us in front of the Valente Branch: Bocce, lawn games, and more! Registration is recommended.

Best, 

Maria McCauley, Ph.D.
Director of Libraries  

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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.  

• Sing Alongs
• Story Times

Book Groups

Learn more about our Book Groups.

The Hive Workshops                              

Check out this week’s classes in The Hive.

ESOL Classes

Find an ESOL Class.

Tech Help

• Drop-in Tech Help
• One-on-One Tech Help

Summer Sundays Ice Cream Party (Valente)
Sunday, July 19
2-4 p.m.

Come celebrate Summer Sundays at the Valente Branch and National Ice Cream Day with soft serve from Frosty Ice Cream. Listen to some summer tunes and learn about our all-ages summer reading!

Expressive Art for Older Adults: Beading Workshop (Valente)
Monday, July 20
10:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Learn the basics of beaded jewelry making and the difference between semi-precious stones and precious stones.  Participants will keep all pieces they make. Space is limited to 10 participants. Registration is required. This workshop is led by Zangar Freeman.

Summer Reading: Chalk Art (O'Connell)
Monday, July 20
3-4 p.m.

Let's decorate the O'Connell Reading Garden with colorful chalk art! We’ll provide the chalk; you bring the creativity! For children of all ages and their caregivers.

"Seeds of Change" with the New Garden Society: Documentary Screening and Discussion of Prison Garden Programs in New England (Main)
Monday, July 20
6-8 p.m.

Join us to learn about the transformative power of prison gardens for people who are incarcerated. First, we’ll watch the award-winning 30-minute documentary, Seeds of Change, about a five-acre prison garden in Maine that has offered a gateway to wellness and dignity for prisoners.  Following the documentary, the New Garden Society will present and answer questions about the work they do with prison gardens in the Greater Boston area. Registration is required.

Summer Reading: Live Animal Program with Mass Audubon
Tuesday, July 21 (O’Neill)
11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Thursday, July 23 (Central Square)

What better way to learn about wildlife than by observing them in person? Meet local wildlife ambassadors and discover the amazing adaptations that help them survive in the wild. Ask questions and learn what you can do to protect the wildlife of Cambridge. For children of all ages and their caregivers.

Summer Reading: Make Your Own Flower Press (Boudreau)
Tuesday, July 21
11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Join our friends from New England Botanic Garden to create an upcycled press for preserving leaves and petals. We will also learn about the lifecycle changes from flower to fruit and dissect a tulip. Recommended for age 7 and up with a caregiver.

Summer Reading: Plant Pantry Botany Workshop with New England Botanic Garden (Valente)
Tuesday, July 21
2-3 p.m.

Learn about the structure of the plants we eat from root to fruit and what portions of different plants are or are not edible. Recommended for ages 5 and up.

Sit ‘n’ Knit (Main)
Tuesday, July 21
2:30-3:30 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. Refreshments will be provided.

Read to a Dog (O'Connell)
Tuesday, July 21
4-5 p.m.

Read with Pumpkin the Therapy Dog from Dog B.O.N.E.S.! Therapy dogs provide warm and non-judgmental reading companions for new or experienced readers of all ages. Registration for each 10-minute time slot is required and begins a week in advance. Sign up by phone or in person at the O'Connell Branch (617-349-4019).

Summer Reading: Animate a Story with Gif-O-Graf machines (O'Neill)
Tuesday, July 21
5:30-6:30 p.m.

Turn paper cut-outs into animations with the Gif-O-Graf machine! See your stories come to life! This program is for families with children who are elementary school-age or older. No registration or experience is required.

CPL Adult Summer Camp: Outdoor Game Night (Valente)
Tuesday, July 21
6-7:30 p.m.

Join us for one, two, or all CPL Adult Summer Camp activities to meet new people and have nostalgic fun outside in Cambridge! Play outdoor games with us in front of the Valente Branch: Bocce, lawn games, and more! Rain/High Heat Location: Valente Branch Library. Registration is Recommended.

Knitting Group (Boudreau)
Tuesday, July 21
6:30-7:30 p.m.

Bring your project, yarn and needles to enjoy an hour in the company of other crafters.

Summer Reading: Music and Movement with Rockabye Beats (Central Square)
Wednesday, July 22
11-11:45 a.m.

Rock out with rhythm sticks, tambourines and shakers in this interactive music and movement program. Recommended for ages 0-5 and their caregivers. Registration is not required for this event.

Fiber Crafts Group - Drop-In (O'Connell)
Wednesday, July 22
11 a.m.-12:30 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!

Wellness for Older Adults: Low-impact Fitness (Valente)
Wednesday, July 22
11:15 a.m.-12 p.m. 

This class is designed for people 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. This class is conducted from a standing position and incorporates exercises like modified lunges, cardio, and body resistance strength training. Registration is required for each session. This is an in-person event in the Community Room of the Main Library. This program is full; a waitlist is available.

Summer Reading: Board Game Afternoon (Main)
Wednesday, July 22
2-3 p.m.

Join us for an afternoon of board games! Recommended for children ages 5 and up and their caregivers.

Wednesdays of Wonder - W.O.W.! (O'Neill)
Wednesday, July 22
2:30-4 p.m.

Come to the Library for games and a different activity each week! Kids of all ages can hang out and do crafts or STEAM activities. No registration required. This week we will make origami flowers!

Wednesdays of Wonder - W.O.W.! (Valente)
Wednesday, July 22
2:30-4 p.m. 

Come to the Library for games and a different activity each week! Kids of all ages can hang out and do crafts or STEAM activities. No registration required.

Summer Reading: Choose Your Own Adventure (Central Square)
Wednesday, July 22
3-4 p.m.

Try out our new 3D pens, explore one of our many STEAM kits, or learn a new board game for this "choose your own adventure" afternoon. This program is recommended for children ages 5 and up and their caregivers. No registration required. Please call 617-349-4012 for more information. 

Summer Reading Film Screening: Annihilation (Central Square)
Wednesday, July 22
6-9 p.m.

Join us for a special screening of Annihilation starring Natalie Portman and based on Jeff VanderMeer's novel of the same name. Popcorn and movie candy provided! Our horror book club will be reading and discussing this novel for our July 9 meeting for those interested in reading and discussing the novel before watching the film. 

Teen Crafternoon (Main)
Thursday, July 23
2-5 p.m.

Take over the Teen Room and pick up a craft! From button making to paper bead bracelets, take over the tables and learn something new. Crafts will be set out as first come, first serve. For more information contact Ellen at ekaluza@cambridgema.gov.

Puzzle Party (Main)
Thursday, July 23
2:30-3:30 p.m.

Join our librarians for tea, cookies and a jigsaw puzzle. An hour of fun and conversation on a Thursday afternoon at the Cambridge Main Library.

Fiber Arts Circle (Central Square)
Thursday, July 23
4-5 p.m.

Bring your project and join other fiber crafters in your community! Crochet, sew, embroider, knit, cross stitch, spin, mend, and more at this informal drop-in fiber arts circle. All crafts are welcome!

Twilight Music and Movement (Central Square)
Thursday, July 23
5:30-6 p.m.

Join us to sing, play with musical props and move together. Recommended for children of all ages and their caregivers. No registration is required. Please call 617-349-4012 for more information. 

Coffee and Games! (Boudreau)
Friday, July 24
11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Join us for coffee, treats, and games (Chess, Cribbage, Rummikub, etc.). Bring a friend or meet a new one at the library!

Summer Reading: Wingmasters, Birds of Prey (Main)
Friday, July 24
11 a.m.-12 p.m.

This presentation incorporates 4-5 live birds of prey that all native to New England. The program is designed to explain predation, the birds' place at the top of the food web, their different hunting adaptations and their status in a rapidly changing world. Because many birds of prey are declining in number, this presentation also features one or more of the endangered raptors that Wingmasters cares for and explains why these species face an uncertain future. Recommended for children ages 6 and up and their caregivers. This program can accommodate 75 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.

Read to a Dog (O'Neill)
Friday, July 24
3-4 p.m.

Read with a cuddly friend! Trained therapy dogs provide warm and nonjudgmental reading companions for new or experienced readers up to age 14. Registration for each 10-minute time slot is required and begins on Friday, July 17 by calling or visiting the O’Neill Branch (617-349-4023).

Signs for Inclusion: Fun & Practical ASL for Everyday Communication (Main)
Saturday, July 25
11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Join us for this special summer reading edition of a fun, interactive, activity-based American Sign Language lesson, including:

• Everyday communication signs (greetings, help, common phrases, fun "Plant a seed, read!" summer reading themed signs)
• How to respectfully and effectively interact with Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals
• Basic expressive communication using facial expressions and body language
• How to navigate simple real-life scenarios using ASL
• Inclusive communication strategies that can be used immediately

The session also includes:

• Silent communication challenges
• Interactive group practice
• Engaging sign language games

This program is recommended for participants ages 10 and up.

Summer Reading: Cyanotype Printmaking (Central Square)
Saturday, July 25
12-1 p.m.

Explore our outdoor world, get creative, and make sun prints (aka cyanotypes) at the Central Square Branch. A selection of flora, other natural materials, and simple found objects will be available to create a collage and then print with the sun. Or bring your own materials! Participants will have the opportunity to display their work in the Branch during the month of August. In the case of rain or inclement weather, we'll be indoors doing botanical watercolors.

Summer Reading: Fun with Bubbles (O'Neill)
Saturday, July 25
2-3:30 p.m.

Join us outdoors to explore and learn with bubbles! We will blow bubbles of all sizes, make bubble wands, and play bubble games! For children of all ages with a caregiver. In case of rain or bad weather there will be modified activities inside the Library.

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About the Cambridge Public Library:
At the Cambridge Public Library, we welcome all, inspire minds, and empower community. We support a Cambridge where everyone has equitable opportunities to learn, people live their best lives and democracy thrives. The Library’s programming provides an opportunity for civic dialogue, conversation, and learning, which includes exploring a wide range of views. Visit our website to learn more. Subscribe to our email list to stay up to date on our events here.