Director's Update, May 18, 2020

Hello again, Cambridge Public Library community!

We recently added TumbleBooks and TumbleMath to our CPL library e-collection. TumbleBooks offers more than 1100 e-books, audiobooks and videos for kids including animated talking books, read-along chapter books, graphic novels, National Geographic videos, nonfiction books and playlists. Books in Spanish and French are available. TumbleMath allows kids to learn math concepts through a large collection of animated talking books. Supplementary materials such as lesson plans and quizzes accompany each book. Both collections are available without limits through August 31, 2020.

As a reminder, our first virtual author event, Porsha Olayiwola presents I Shimmer Sometimes, Too, will take place tonight (Monday, May 18) at 7:00 p.m. EST. Olayiwola is a writer, performer, educator and curator who uses afro-futurism and surrealism to examine historical and current issues in the Black, woman, and queer diasporas. Registrants will receive a Zoom link prior to the event. A few spaces are still available; registration for this event will close at 5 p.m.

Registration continues for The Hope Storytelling Project @ the Cambridge Public Library, a virtual series of five biweekly poetry workshops discussing the theme of hope. Participants can share their own stories through poetry to create community during this time of social isolation. Registration closes at 11:59 p.m. on May 24.

I am excited to announce a new CPL virtual event, Classical Music in Quarantine, which will take place on Saturday, June 13, from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Musician Deberly Kauffman will play a mostly-Bach program, featuring songs for solo viola. The program is designed to be uplifting, restoring, and introspective. Registration is required.

Children and their grownups are invited to join our Virtual Family Story Time on Thursdays at 11 a.m. This free program includes songs, stories, rhymes and FUN! Registration is required.

Wishing you a healthy and balmy week ahead.

Maria McCauley
Cambridge Public Library Director