Director's Update, September 19, 2021

Dear Patrons,

Monday Evening Hours Resume at the Main Library 

Starting on Monday, September 20, the Main Library will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., with the Children’s Room open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Teen Room hours will remain 1 to 5 p.m. 

The Cambridge Room (Main)

The Cambridge Room hours will be Monday, 5-9 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; and Wednesday, 1-5 p.m. The home of the Library’s Archives and Special Collections, the Cambridge Room has nearly 200 collections and 5,000 books devoted to the history of Cambridge. One highlight is the family Bible of Robert Johnson, a formerly enslaved man and radical abolitionist. His Bible, along with photo albums and correspondence, is part of the Johnson-Cardozo Family Papers, which document four generations of African Americans in Cambridge. Stop by our Reading Room on the second floor of the Main Library to learn more about our archives and see the recently conserved Johnson Family Bible. 

Outdoor Programming for Kids 

This fall, weekly outdoor programs for young children will be offered (weather permitting) at our Central Square, Main, O’Connell, O’Neill, and Valente locations.  

•  Baby Lapsit: Just for you and your toddler! Enjoy time together with other parents, caregivers, and babies to learn, play, and develop language and motor skills.
• Sing Along: All ages are invited to sing and dance!
• Story Time: All ages are invited to join us for a half-hour of stories! 

Please see our events calendar for program details. Registration is not required. 

ESOL Classes (Virtual) 

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes occur virtually 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 calendarfor more details. 

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 Tuesday, September 21, at 3:30 p.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. 

Hive Safety Training & Glowforge 101 (Main)

• Wednesday, September 22, at 5:30 p.m. 

• Friday, September 24, at 1 p.m. 

In this hour-and-a-half workshop, 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 with this device. Registration is required. All makers must sign The Hive User Agreement and Waivers to participate.

Hive Equipment and Studio Reservations (Main) 

• Thursday, September 23, 1-5 p.m. 

• Friday, September 24, 2:30-4:30 p.m. 

Anyone who has completed The 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. Please make reservations.

Learn more about becoming a badged maker. 

Get In Gear! (Central Square)  

Bring your bike to the Central Square Branch Library courtyard for a free bike tune-up on Thursday, September 23, from 4 to 7 p.m.! (Rain date: Thursday, October 5, 4-7 p.m.) Bike experts from the Cambridge Community Development Department will help repair your bike, share bike maintenance advice, and get you ready for riding. Registration is not required. 

Zing Laser Cutting 101 (Main) 

On Thursday, September 23, at 6:30 p.m., you can learn how to use our Epilog Zing—an industry-standard laser cutting machine—and Inkscape graphics software to design and laser cut a cardboard virtual reality headset to explore virtual worlds. Complete this workshop to earn a badge for the Zing laser cutter. With a badge, you can reserve the Epilog Zing to use at designated times. Note: You must participate in the separate Glowforge 201 workshop in order to operate our Glowforge Pro laser cutter. Registration is required. You must complete Hive Safety Training & Glowforge 101 before registering for this workshop.

Tinkercad 101: Customized Phone Stand (Main) 

Would you like to make your own phone stand? On Saturday, September 25, at noon, you can learn the fundamentals of Tinkercad to design and edit objects for 3D printing. You can also learn how to use our 3D printers. Tinkercad is a free, web-based application. Basic computer skills are necessary. Computing devices will be provided. Registration is required.

 3D Printing 101 (Main) 

On Saturday, September 25, at 1:30 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.combefore 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. 

Stay Connected

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Best wishes,

Maria McCauley, Ph.D.

Director of Libraries