NEW DATE: Summer Reading: Cyanotype Printmaking (Central Square)
Explore our outdoor world, get creative, and make sun prints (aka cyanotypes) at the Central Square Branch.
A selection of flora, other natural materials, and simple found objects will be available to create a collage and then print with the sun. Or bring your own materials! Participants will have the opportunity to display their work in the Branch during the month of August.
In the case of rain or inclement weather, we'll be indoors painting botanical water colors.
Become a Cambridge Firefighter - Be a Team Member of our Class 1 Fire Department.
Being a Firefighter is a noble, rewarding, and exciting profession where you have the opportunity to help people when they are most vulnerable. In addition to firefighting, the job includes a wide variety of skills including emergency medical care, control of hazardous materials releases, protection of the environment, extrication of trapped people (and animals), collapse rescue, water/ice rescue, elevator rescue, public fire education, fire prevention, etc. The deadline to register for the MA Civil Service Firefighter Entrance Examination is 8-27-24.
News and Current Projects
On the News and Current Projects page, we describe the art conservation program's year-round active care for Cambridge's public art collection. Here we feature the most recent exciting projects.
Baker-Polito Administration Launches Tool for Residents to Access COVID-19 Digital Vaccine Card
The Baker-Polito Administration today announced a tool that gives residents a new way to access their COVID-19 digital vaccine card and vaccination history. The new tool, called My Vax Records, allows people who received their vaccination in Massachusetts to access their own vaccination history and generate a COVID-19 digital vaccine card, which would contain similar vaccination information to a paper CDC card. The COVID-19 digital vaccine cards produced by the system utilize the SMART Health Card platform and generate a QR code that can be used to verify vaccination. The Administration is not requiring residents to show proof of vaccination to enter any venue, but this tool will help residents who would like to access and produce a digital copy of their record.
[RESCHEDULED] Create Habitat to Support Biodiversity Year-Round (Main/Virtual)
Learn how to garden to support pollinators, birds and other species so they can overwinter, reproduce, and thrive year-round.
Amy will cover specifics of how to:
Provide food, water, shelter and nesting sites
Build healthy soil
Remove invasive plants
Avoid chemical use
Minimize nighttime light
Reduce your lawn
Create year-round beauty in your garden
This is a hybrid event. A Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants 1 hour before the event. The in-person event will take place in the Community Room.
CANCELLED: Summer Reading: Bug Walk (Boudreau)
This event has been cancelled due to extreme heat. We encourage you to sign up for our next Bug Walk on July 15th.
Join us for a walk at Fresh Pond as we explore the wonderful world of bugs! This program is open to all ages, from adults to children and their caregivers.
Registration is required. We will meet at the Cambridge Water Department parking lot at the beginning of the event.
For more information, contact Michael McGlathery at mmcglathery@cambridgema.gov or call the Boudreau Branch at 617-349-4017.
Climate Action Book Club (Collins)
Join the Collins Branch Library in collaboration with the Cambridge Climate Leaders Initiative for a monthly discussion of a climate-related topic. Each month the group will discuss a book on the topic at hand then hear about a related local program or initiative and how you can take action.
Topic: Water in a Warming World
Book: The High House by Jessie Greengrass
Meetings will be held on the fourth Thursday of each month from 6-7:30 p.m. Copies of the book will be available at the Collins Branch during library hours.
Registration is encouraged, but not required. For more information contact Jo at jpercell@cambridgema.gov.
CPL Nature Club - Spring Birdwatching at Fresh Pond (O'Neill)
All ages are welcome to join us as we observe birds at Fresh Pond. We will look for birds migrating to or through our area as well as year-round resident birds. As we walk we will discuss general birdwatching tips and learn more about the birds we share our outdoor spaces with. A limited supply of binoculars will be available.
Registration is required for this event.
The walk will meet outside the ranger station/water department building at Fresh Pond: https://maps.app.goo.gl/G1bJGhMG17mAaFgL9
In case of inclement weather, this event will be canceled.
For more information, contact the O'Neill Branch at 617-349-4023.
CANCELED: CPL Nature Club - Spring Birdwatching at Fresh Pond (O'Neill)
All ages are welcome to join us as we observe birds at Fresh Pond. We will look for birds migrating to or through our area as well as year-round resident birds. As we walk we will discuss general birdwatching tips and learn more about the birds we share our outdoor spaces with. A limited supply of binoculars will be available.
Registration is required for this event.
The walk will meet outside the ranger station/water department building at Fresh Pond: https://maps.app.goo.gl/G1bJGhMG17mAaFgL9
In case of inclement weather, this event will be canceled.
For more information, contact the O'Neill Branch at 617-349-4023.
[New Date] Branch Walk [55+] (O'Connell)
Meet neighborhood locations and greet your neighbors! Join Stefanie Haug, local mindful nature guide, as we explore Cambridge one neighborhood at a time, with a local library branch as our home base. These leisurely walks blend local history, nature, and contemplative practices, with lots of time to pause and share. Participants are encouraged to bring their own neighborhood stories, discover something new, and build connections with people and places.
The our final neighborhood walk through East Cambridge, launching from the lovely O'Connell Library. The walk will conclude at Elmendorf Baking Store & Cafe close to the library.
What to bring: layered clothing, comfortable shoes and water.
Where to meet: At the O'Connell Branch entrance.
Registration is requested but not required.