Director's Update, August 29, 2021

Dear Patrons,

I hope you are all enjoying a final week of summer before the new school year begins!

September Is National Recovery Month

National Recovery Month is a national observance held each September to make it clear to everyone that substance use treatment and mental health services can help those with these disorders enjoy healthy and rewarding lives. The Cambridge Public Health Department and the Library have created a curated selection of books about addiction and recovery that you may find helpful.

Boudreau Branch Library to Temporarily Close Due to Construction

The Boudreau Branch, located at 245 Concord Ave., will close due to building construction from August 30 through the end of September. The book drop will not be available during the closure.

If you currently have library materials on hold for pickup at Boudreau, they will be available until Friday, August 27. For new holds, please select another pickup location. Contact us for assistance with any current holds.

All other locations will remain open. Visit the Library website for more information about our hours of operation.

Book Groups in September

Book groups are an excellent way to join neighbors and friends in the joy of reading! Registration is required. You can take part in these book groups this month:

• Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Group (Virtual): Wednesday, September 8, at 6 p.m. Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik.
• Collins Branch Book Group (Virtual): Thursday, September 9, at 6 p.m. How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell.
• O'Neill Branch Book Group (O’Neill): Monday, September 20, at 6:30 p.m. Afterlife by Julia Alvarez.
• Central Square Branch Book Group (Virtual): Tuesday, September 21, at 6 p.m. Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking by Samin Nosrat.
• Contemporary Book Group (Main): Tuesday, September 21, at 6 p.m. Red Island House by Andrea Lee.
• O'Connell Branch Book Group (O’Connell/Virtual): Thursday, September 23, at 6:30 p.m. The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton.
• Nonfiction Book Group (Main/Virtual): Monday, September 27, at 1 p.m. Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom by David W. Blight.

Virtual ESOL Classes

Virtual English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes occur on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Introductory ESOL takes place at 11 a.m., beginner ESOL at 1 p.m., and intermediate ESOL at 3 p.m. Registration is required for each class. Please see the Library’s online events calendar for more details.

3D Printing 101 (Main)

On Tuesday, August 31, at 3:30 p.m., learn how to use our Sindoh 3D printers and create a design for your first 3D print in The Hive. This workshop includes a design tutorial in Tinkercad. Create a Tinkercad account at www.tinkercad.com before arriving. Parents may need to assist users under the age of 18 to create an account. Registration is required. You must complete Hive Safety Training & Glowforge 101 before registering for this workshop.

Outdoor Story Time (Valente)

We invite children and their grown-ups to join us for 20-25 minutes of engaging stories on Tuesday, August 31, at 4 p.m. This program will be held at the Valente Branch Library. Plan to sing along and move around! In the event of rain, this program will move indoors. Registration is not required.

Hive Safety Training & Glowforge 101 (Main)

In this hour-and-a-half workshop on Thursday, September 2, at 3:30 p.m., you will learn about our makerspace, how to use our resources, and how to keep safe in The Hive. You will also create your Hive badge ID using our Glowforge laser cutter and learn how to cut and engrave your own creations using this device. Registration is required. All makers must sign The Hive User Agreement and Waivers to participate.

Glowforge 201 (Main)

On Thursday, September 2, at 6 p.m., learn how to select materials for your project, optimize the artwork and file format, use the camera for focusing and scanning, and maintain the Glowforge Pro machine. Completion of this workshop earns you a badge for the Glowforge laser cutter. As a badged maker, you can reserve the Glowforge Pro to use during designated times. Registration is required. You must complete Hive Safety Training & Glowforge 101 before registering for this workshop.

Hive Equipment and Studio Reservations (Main)

On Thursday, September 2 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, September 4 at 11:30 a.m., anyone who has completed Hive training and is badged to use equipment or studio(s) can reserve Hive equipment or studio spaces. Staff will assist participants as they are able. Make reservations. Learn more about becoming a badged maker.

Google Drawings 101: Sticker Design (Main)

Do you want to design your own vinyl stickers? On Friday, September 3, at 3 p.m., you will learn the fundamentals of Google Drawings to design and edit images for distinctive stickers. Google Drawings is a free, web-based application. Basic computer skills are necessary for this course. Computing devices will be provided. Registration is required.

Vinyl Cutting 101 (Main)

Would you like to make your own vinyl signs, stickers, or images to transfer to T-shirts and other textiles? In this workshop on Saturday, September 4, at 11:30 a.m., you can learn how to use our Roland Camm-1 GS-24 vinyl cutter. You can then design a sticker and cut it with our vinyl cutter! Registration is required. You must complete Hive Safety Training & Glowforge 101 before registering for this workshop.

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Best wishes,

Maria McCauley, Ph.D.
Director of Libraries