Dear Patrons,
I hope you are keeping well and warm this Fall 2020!
Equity and inclusion is a priority for the City of Cambridge, and with that in mind, I invite you to note the significance of Vice-President-elect, Kamala Harris, who is breaking ground as the first female, African American and South Asian person in this role. As the Vice President-elect commented in her remarks last week, she is the first woman to hold the position of Vice President but certainly will not be the last. It is also significant that more females, persons of color, and LGBTQ+ persons will be represented in Congress, as well. In acknowledgment of this milestone, our librarians have curated a Breaking Barriers book list for your enjoyment.
ComCat Catalog Available
With access to millions of titles, the Commonwealth Catalog extends our reach to all participating libraries throughout Massachusetts, with convenient pick-up/return at Cambridge Public Library. Once you request an item, it usually only takes a few days for us to receive it and notify you to come pick it up via our Contactless Holds Pickup service.
New Online Resource: Learning Express
The Library now offers Learning Express as part of our database offerings, replacing the Testing and Education Reference Center (TERC) that you may have used in the past. Learning Express has interactive tutorials, practice tests including GED and prep for college exams, flashcards, and articles for academic skill building and career development.
Community Yoga Series on Sundays this November
Join us Sunday, November 15, at 10 a.m. for virtual community yoga in partnership with Cultural Fabric. Yoga can help us discover greater ease, balance, and resilience within. Come experience it for yourself! Registration is required.
Stop the Violence: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in the U.S.
Join the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women on Monday, November 16, at 7 p.m. for a presentationon missing and murdered Indigenous women across the U.S. We will look at reasons why violence continues to be perpetuated and the resources available. Registration is required.
CPL Crafts: Tulle Embroidery with Lisa Purdy
On Wednesday, November 18, at 6:30 p.m., let local artist and curator Lisa Purdy teach you tocreate delicate messages on tulle. Bring a phrase or a drawing to life with tulle embroidery and leave with it on a beautiful piece of fabric. Or start a project and come away with the skills to complete it. Beginners and all skill levels are welcome. Please gather your materials in advance.Registration is required.
Join us for Story Time
We invite children and their grownups to join us from home for 20-25 minutes of engaging stories. Plan to join in, sing along, and move around! Caregivers are asked to participate in the program with their children.
STEAM Story Times include hands-on activities to explore science, technology, engineering, arts, and math; please gather your activity materials before the event.
We are excited to offer additional Story Time programs this week:
Registration is required for each event.
This Should Not Be Exhibit
Cambridge Public Library STEAM Academy presents This Should Not Be, an augmented reality exhibit that examines systemic racism in America, particularly in light of the coronavirus pandemic. This immersive experience is on exhibit in Joan Lorentz Park, in front of the Main Library.
Walking through the park, participants will encounter seven display cubes on signposts created by teens participating in the STEAM Academy. Participants must download and open the free Hoverlay app on their Smartphones. When they are in range of one of the display cubes, a digital image will appear in the phone app, enhancing the physical space of the park with virtual images and video content.
STEAM Academy, a partnership between the Library and Innovators for Purpose (iFp) launched in January 2020 to offer high-quality immersive STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) learning opportunities to youth and emerging adults. Funding for the STEAM Academy is provided by the City of Cambridge’s Office of Workforce Development, Cambridge Trust, the Cambridge Public Library Foundation, the Cambridge STEAM Initiative, the Margret and H.A Rey Curious George Fund, the Eric and Jane Nord Family Fund, and Verizon.
The STEAM Academy is an important element of the Cambridge STEAM Initiative, a partnership between the City’s Department of Human Service Programs, the Cambridge Public Library and Cambridge Public Schools. The Cambridge STEAM Initiative is committed to creating, enhancing, and expanding equitable access to quality STEAM learning experiences from birth to adulthood.
Best wishes,
Dr. Maria McCauley
Director of Libraries
The information on this page may be outdated as it was published 3 years ago.
