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Is it true the book is always better? Join our new book club at the O'Connell Branch to delve into this question! Each month we will read a book selection with a movie adaptation, and discuss the relationship between the two and the merits and/or drawbacks of each. The Reel Reads book club will meet the first Tuesday evening of each month at the O'Connell Branch Library on 48 Sixth St. For our inaugural meeting in May, we will be discussing Forrest Gump by Winston Groom, and the 1994 film of the same name. How to get the print book and physical movie: Copies of the book and DVD are set aside at the O'Connell Branch. Click here for O'Connell Branch Hours This book group meets in person at the O'Connell Branch. No registration is needed. Drop-ins welcome. For more information contact the branch at 617-349-4019.

Welcome to the River Street Construction Webpage! This is the place to find current information and updates related to construction of the River Street Infrastructure and Streetscape Project. The project includes utility and surface reconstruction of the following streets and public spaces: • River Street from Memorial Drive to Massachusetts Avenue • Carl Barron Plaza (the major public space at the intersection of River Street/Western Ave/Mass Ave in Central Square) • The MBTA bus stops and busway at Magazine/Green/River Street adjacent to Carl Barron Plaza • Pleasant Street and Tubman Square between Pleasant Place and River Street • Green Street between Magazine and Pearl Street • Magazine Street between Franklin and Green Street • Blackstone Street In addition, the project includes the following nearby neighborhood streets which are due for reconstruction under the City's Five Year Sidewalk and Street Reconstruction Plan • Fairmont Avenue / Fairmont Street / Rockwell Street / Laurel Street / Kelly Road

Join us as we edit and create Wikipedia pages related to Black history, with a focus on Black Cantabrigians. We will use resources from the Library's Archives and Special Collections and the Black Voices Collection at the Central Square Branch. At this Wikipedia edit-a-thon, we'll work together to contribute to Wikipedia, focusing on expanding our knowledge of underrepresented groups. You might add to the information on an existing page, create a new one, find reliable sources for others to use, or copyedit and format a page. All experience levels welcome! You do not need to have experience editing Wikipedia to attend and contribute! Laptops will be provided. If you have a Wikipedia account and want to join our dashboard for this event, please do so at this link: https://outreachdashboard.wmflabs.org/courses/Cambridge_Public_Library/Wikipedia_Highlights_Black_Cambridge_(February_25_2026) This event is in partnership with the Cambridge Black History Project.

“If Black women were free, it would mean that everyone else would have to be free since our freedom would necessitate the destruction of all the systems of oppression.” - Combahee River Collective, April 1977 This event is part 2 of 4 of our reading group to discuss How We Get Free: Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor. We will read and discuss the book in sections as follows: Session 1 - Intro, Barbara Smith Session 2 - Beverly Smith, Demita Frazier Session 3 - Alicia Garza, Angela Davis, comments Session 4 – Reflections on Cambridge present and future Participants are encouraged to come to as many sessions as they can — and all are welcome! Copies of the book are available for pickup at the Central Square Branch. This event was created in partnership with Community Conversations: Sister to Sister, the Cambridge LGBTQ+ Commission, and the Cambridge Women’s Commission.

“If Black women were free, it would mean that everyone else would have to be free since our freedom would necessitate the destruction of all the systems of oppression.” - Combahee River Collective, April 1977 This event is part 3 of 4 of our reading group to discuss How We Get Free: Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor. We will read and discuss the book in sections as follows: Session 1 - Intro, Barbara Smith Session 2 - Beverly Smith, Demita Frazier Session 3 - Alicia Garza, Angela Davis, comments Session 4 – Reflections on Cambridge present and future Participants are encouraged to come to as many sessions as they can — and all are welcome! Copies of the book are available for pickup at the Central Square Branch. This event was created in partnership with Community Conversations: Sister to Sister, the Cambridge LGBTQ+ Commission, and the Cambridge Women’s Commission.

“If Black women were free, it would mean that everyone else would have to be free since our freedom would necessitate the destruction of all the systems of oppression.” - Combahee River Collective, April 1977 This event is part 2 of 4 of our reading group to discuss How We Get Free: Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor. We will read and discuss the book in sections as follows: Session 1 - Intro, Barbara Smith Session 2 - Beverly Smith, Demita Frazier Session 3 - Alicia Garza, Angela Davis, comments Session 4 – Reflections on Cambridge present and future Participants are encouraged to come to as many sessions as they can — and all are welcome! Copies of the book are available for pickup at the Central Square Branch. This event was created in partnership with Community Conversations: Sister to Sister, the Cambridge LGBTQ+ Commission, and the Cambridge Women’s Commission.

“If Black women were free, it would mean that everyone else would have to be free since our freedom would necessitate the destruction of all the systems of oppression.” - Combahee River Collective, April 1977 This event is part 4 of 4 of our reading group to discuss How We Get Free: Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor. We will read and discuss the book in sections as follows: Session 1 - Intro, Barbara Smith Session 2 - Beverly Smith, Demita Frazier Session 3 - Alicia Garza, Angela Davis, comments Session 4 – Reflections on Cambridge present and future Participants are encouraged to come to as many sessions as they can — and all are welcome! Copies of the book are available for pickup at the Central Square Branch. This event was created in partnership with Community Conversations: Sister to Sister, the Cambridge LGBTQ+ Commission, and the Cambridge Women’s Commission.

November Selection: Appetizers! We have selected three books for this month's potluck. Choose one book to cook from (or more than one if you're feeling adventurous). The books: Brilliant Bites: 75 Amazing Small Bites for Any Occasion by Maegan Brown Martha Stewart's Appetizers: 200 recipes for dips, spreads, snacks, small plates, and other delicious hors d'oeuvres, plus 30 cocktails by Martha Stewart I'll Bring the Apps: Bites, Bowls, Boards & Beverages by Marissa Mullen Join friends and neighbors for a potluck! Try a recipe and bring your results or thoughts to share and discuss with other cooks. All experience levels welcome. No need to bring a dish to join. Books will be available for pick up at the Boudreau and Collins Branches during library hours. This event will take place indoors at the Collins Branch - 64 Aberdeen Ave. For more information contact Emily at egonzalez@cambridgema.gov or call the Collins Branch at 617-349-4021.

Start the year off right by getting to know Cambridge birds! All ages are welcome to join us as we observe birds at Fresh Pond, which provides habitat for many different species at all times of the year. This event will focus on birds that can be found in the winter in Cambridge, including several species of ducks, sparrows and more. We may also see some of our year-round resident birds, and 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. Please dress accordingly as we will be outside for the entire walk. 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 or conditions, this event will be rescheduled to Saturday, January 24th. For more information, contact the O'Neill Branch at 617-349-4023.

Start the year off right by getting to know Cambridge birds! All ages are welcome to join us as we observe birds at Fresh Pond, which provides habitat for many different species at all times of the year. This event will focus on birds that can be found in the winter in Cambridge, including several species of ducks, sparrows and more. We may also see some of our year-round resident birds, and 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. Please dress accordingly as we will be outside for the entire walk. 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 or conditions, this event will be rescheduled to Saturday, February 6th. For more information, contact the O'Neill Branch at 617-349-4023.