Director's Update, September 13, 2026

Dear Patrons,  

National Recovery Month is a national observance held every September to promote awareness that substance use treatment and mental health services can enable those with a mental and/or substance use disorder to live a healthy and rewarding life. To honor this important event, here is a list of book selections to browse on this topic.

 

In need of support? Please contact:  

• MA Substance Use Helpline
• Community Behavioral Health Center
  
  

Your local librarians are also happy to connect you with important resources pertaining to this topic. You can also connect with the Library Social Worker.

 

Participatory Budgeting 

The City of Cambridge has launched the 13th cycle of Participatory Budgeting (PB) and is seeking your ideas for how to spend $500,000 on projects to improve your community. Community members can submit ideas now through October 11, 2026, by visiting pb.cambridgema.gov, emailing ideas to pb@cambridgema.gov, calling the Budget Office at 617-349-4270, or in-person at various community events around the city. If you are interested in getting more involved in the PB process, the Budget Office is recruiting volunteer PB Delegates to research and review all submitted PB ideas to prepare them for the PB ballot. Visit pb.cambridgema.gov to learn more about PB and volunteering as a PB Delegate. 

 

Upcoming Events

On Tuesday, September 15, 1-3 p.m., join the Main Library for Lights of Your World, an introductory astrological workshop with Laura Campagna that uses the birth chart as a portal for engagement with the cosmos. We will explore how the planets connected to the location of your Sun, Moon, and Rising help us gain insight and understanding into our own essential nature. For full participation, please bring your complete birth data: date, time, and location. Registration is required.

 

On Tuesday, September 15, 6:30 p.m. join the Library and the Cambridge Peace Commission for a community supper at the Central Square Branch Library. We'll have conversations and connection in celebration of Meet Your Neighbor Month. Catering by Chilacates. Registration required. 

 

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

Wellness for Older Adults: Let Your Yoga Dance (Virtual)
Monday, September 14
11:45 a.m.-12 p.m.

A fun, dynamic, and ultimately blissful class.  We'll 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. Good for everybody! Registration is required for each session. This is a virtual event. A Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants 1 hour before the event.

Chess Hour (Boudreau)
Monday, September 14
6-7 p.m.

Come join us at the Boudreau branch for a chess challenge. Players of all skill levels and all ages are welcome to participate. Chess sets will be provided, but feel free to bring your own if you prefer. This is not an instructional class, but rather a gathering for individuals who want to play and test their skills against other members of the community. There's no need to register in advance - simply drop by and challenge yourself to improve your mastery of this classic game! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at 617-349-4017 or via email: ipachoncaballero@cambridgema.gov or mmcglathery@cambridgema.gov. 

Adult Gaming: Unplugged (Main)
Monday, September 14
6-7:30 p.m.

Are you suffering from chronic information overload? Feeling overwhelmed by too much technology in your life? Join us for an evening of old school board gaming! Relax and recharge your internal battery with one of our classic board games or bring your own personal fave. Adult Gaming: Unplugged takes place on the first Monday of the month from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Rossi Room. Be there or be square!

Lights of Your World Astrology Workshop (Main)
Tuesday, September 15
1-3 p.m.

Lights of Your World is an introductory astrological workshop with Laura Campagna that uses the birth chart as a portal for engagement with the cosmos. We will explore how the planets connected to the location of your Sun, Moon, and Rising help us gain insight and understanding into our own essential nature. In this fun 2-hour workshop, we will explore the seasons, elements, and planetary days of the week, color, and gems to enchant your life through astrology. For full participation, please bring your complete birth data: date, time, and location. Registration is required.

Sit ‘n’ Knit (Main)
Tuesday, September 15
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.

Wellness for Older Adults: Chair Yoga (Central)
Tuesday, September 15
1-2 p.m.

Join us each Tuesday afternoon at the Central Square Branch for Chair Yoga, led by experienced instructor Louise Parker.  No equipment needed. This is an in-person program taking place in the Lewis Room at Central Square.  Registration is required for each session. 

Teens: Focus Time! (Valente)
Tuesday, September 15
3:30-5 p.m.

Join peers in quiet time after school to complete homework, study, read your next favorite book, work on your graphic novel and art, or otherwise focus on a project. No registration required, drop-in anytime. Ages 12-18.

Creative Aging: Beginner Improv (Main)
Tuesday, September 15
4-6 p.m.

A 12-week series of beginner's classes with instruction from Comedian Jack Simon. Learn how to seamlessly integrate interactive improv games, scenes, and skillful storytelling that all come together with performance. This will be an in-person program at the Main Library. Space is limited to 12 participants. Due to the popularity and to gain the most out of this program, we expect all participants to commit to all sessions in this 12-week course. Registration is required. Sponsored by the Cambridge Public Library Foundation.

Stephen Greenblatt presents: Dark Renaissance (Main) In-Person
Tuesday, September 15
6-7:30 p.m.

Harvard Book Store and the Cambridge Public Library welcome Stephen Greenblatt—Cogan University Professor of the Humanities at Harvard University, a leading scholar of English Renaissance literature, and author of sixteen books, including the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award–winner The Swerve—to celebrate the paperback release of Dark Renaissance: The Dangerous Times and Fatal Genius of Shakespeare's Greatest Rival, which released in hardcover in 2025 and received immense praise from The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, and The Wall Street Journal. In addition to the paperback release of Dark Renaissance, Greenblatt's first work Sir Walter Ralegh: The Renaissance Man and His Roles, originally published in 1973 and based on Greenblatt's dissertation, will be rereleased in paperback on September 1, 2026, with a new foreword from Greenblatt. Registration is required.

Knitting Group (Boudreau)
Tuesday, September 15
6:30-7:30 p.m.

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

Meet Your Neighbor: Around the Table (Central Square)
Tuesday, September 15
6:30-9 p.m.

Join CPL and the Cambridge Peace Commission for a community supper. We'll have conversations and connection in celebration of Meet Your Neighbor Month.  Catering by Chilacates. Registration required.

Fiber Crafts Group - Drop-In (O'Connell)
Wednesday, September 16
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!

AI & Disinformation (Main)
Wednesday, September 16
2-3 p.m.

In this class, we'll take a friendly, no-pressure look at how artificial intelligence is being used to create fake photos, videos, and even cloned voices, and how scammers use these tools to trick people. We'll talk about real examples you may have seen in the news, learn some simple tips for spotting when something's not quite right, and share trustworthy tools and websites you can use to double-check information before you trust it, or share it with family and friends. You don't need any tech background to join us. Just bring your questions and your curiosity, we'll walk through everything together, step by step. This class is a part of the AARP curriculum. To learn more about AARP please go to: www.oats.org.  To view and register for other Basic Tech Classes at the Library, please go to tinyurl.com/basictechclass.  Registration is encouraged but not required. 

Summer Reading: Observing the Partial Solar Eclipse with #Popscope (O'Neill)
Wednesday, August 12
1-2:30 p.m.

Join us during the partial solar eclipse and learn how to safely observe it! Eclipse glasses will be provided. Participants will also have the chance to explore a walkable model of the solar system and create a related craft. This program will happen outside. In case of bad weather, this program will happen inside the Peabody School gym

Wednesdays of Wonder - W.O.W.! (O'Neill)
Wednesday, September 16
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. This week we will do shadow drawings! No registration required.

Wednesdays of Wonder - W.O.W.! (Valente)
Wednesday, September 16
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.

Citizenship Preparation Classes (Central Square)
Wednesday, September 16
6-8 p.m.

Come join this free 10-week class meeting every Wednesday beginning on September 2 through November 4, in partnership with St. Mark Community Education Program. This series of classes prepares students for all parts of the Citizenship interview and includes the new 128 civics question list. This class is offered as a 10-week series. Attendance at all sessions is expected.

Requirements:

• Intermediate-level English
• Legal Permanent Resident card for 4 years and 9 months (2 years and 9 months if married to a U.S. citizen)

Registration is required. For more information about registering or classes contact St. Marks at stmarkesol@gmail.com or 617-288-8515.

Solo Aging Series (Virtual)
Thursday, September 17
2-3:30 p.m.

Join Marni Blank, founder of Begin with the End, for a three-part series designed to give solo agers and those preparing for that possibility the practical tools, emotional support, and community connection they need to plan with confidence. 

Session 1 (September 17): Building Your Support System
Who shows up when life changes? Take an honest look at your current support circle, identify gaps, and understand why the right people in the right roles matters more than we think.

This is a virtual presentation, and a link will be provided one hour before each program. 
Presented in partnership with Cambridge Neighbors.  Registration is required.

Puzzle Party (Main)
Thursday, September 17
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.

Teens: Foursquare! (Valente)
Thursday, September 17
3:30-5 p.m.

Play the classic court game of four-square (also known as box ball) with peers! Bounce a ball into other player's squares to eliminate them and advance to the highest-ranking square. Indoor, no registration required, drop-in at any time. We play by outlined Library Foursquare Rules. Ages 12-18. 

Fiber Arts Circle (Central Square)
Thursday, September 17
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!

Craft & Art Supply Swap (Main)
Thursday, September 17
6-8 p.m.

Exchange your surplus paint, fabric, fiber, and other supplies with fellow crafters and artists in the community!  Donations accepted at the Main Library Q&A desk starting September 8, 2026. Make & Mend Somerville has generously offered to accept leftover supplies, so please make sure your donations follow their guidelines: https://makeandmendshop.com/pages/donate.

Wellness for Older Adults: Zumba Gold (Main)
Friday, September 18
11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Join instructor Darren Hairston for Zumba Gold – the fun and energizing dance fitness class tailored for active older adults and beginners! Set to vibrant, upbeat music, Zumba Gold features low-impact, easy-to-follow dance moves that make staying fit enjoyable and accessible for all fitness levels. Improve your balance, flexibility, and cardio health while having a great time in a supportive and friendly environment. No dance experience needed—just bring your smile and a willingness to move!  Registration is required every week and will open at 11:30 a.m. the Monday before each class.  Please be aware that if you are on the waitlist, we likely cannot accommodate patrons once we've reached capacity to safely run the program. 

Teens: Felt Crafts for Hispanic Heritage Month (Valente Branch)
Friday, September 18
3-5 p.m.

Ages 12-18. Craft a felt food, flag, or something else that is special to Hispanic Heritage! Felt, paper and pencil, needle and thread, and wet glue and hot glue will be provided. No registration needed, drop-in. 

Cambridge Young Authors' Squad - CYAS - Fall 2026 Kickoff (O'Neill) 
Friday, September 18
4-5 p.m.

Help us kick off the new school year with CYAS- Cambridge Young Authors' Squad. Young people ages 10 to 14 who love to write are welcome to share their ideas and writing. There will be time for share-outs/workshopping, as well as group or solo writing. Snacks are provided! If you are attending for the first time, registration is helpful but not required.

Drop-in Maker Studio (O'Neill)
Saturday, September 19
1-3 p.m.

Come to the Library to create something special! Use your own supplies or try out our equipment! You can use our 1-inch button maker, 2.5 inch button maker, 3-D Doodle pens, or Janome sewing machines. The Library will provide basic supplies. This drop-in program is for people who feel comfortable using these machines on their own. The Library will not provide instruction. Anyone wishing to use the sewing machines must have completed a Sewing 101 training through the Library. Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

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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.