Friends of the Cambridge Public Library Book Sale
Back by popular demand! Join the Friends of the Cambridge Public Library for their used book sale! They'll be selling gently used children’s and adult fiction and nonfiction books at low prices to benefit the Cambridge Public Library. The book sale will be held on June 7-8 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at 20 Holyoke Street. Funds from the sales will be used to support Library programs.
(CANCELED) Read to a Dog (Valente)
Read to Dante, our local cuddly therapy dog! Trained therapy dogs provide warm and non-judgmental reading companions for new or experienced readers up to age 14. Registration for each 15-minute time slot is required and begins on Wednesday, December 10 by calling or visiting the Valente Branch (617-349-4015).
The City of Cambridge does not discriminate, including on the basis of disability. We may provide auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures to people with disabilities. For more information contact us at library@cambridgema.gov, 617-349-4032 (voice), or via relay at 711
Community Build (Valente)
Join us for a community building party at Valente as we build structures with LEGOS, wooden sticks, cards, and any other materials we can get our hands on!
The library will provide all building materials. This event is recommended for children ages 5+ and their guardians.
Community Build (Valente)
Join us for a community building party at Valente as we build structures with LEGOS, wooden sticks, cards, and any other materials we can get our hands on!
The library will provide all building materials. This event is recommended for children ages 5+ and their guardians.
CPL Adult Summer Camp: Tie Dye T-Shirts & Bags (Valente)
Update: This event has been moved inside the Valente Branch Community Room due to the heat emergency declared by the City of Cambridge.
Join us for one, two, or all CPL Adult Summer Camp activities to meet new people and have nostalgic fun outside in Cambridge!
Make Tie Dye T-shirts & Bags with us in the Reading Garden next to Valente.
Rain/High Heat Location: Valente Branch Library
Registration Required.
CANCELLED: Beatmaking (Main)
Learn basic music production skills with FL Studio, a digital music workspace. In this hands-on introductory class, become familiar with core tools for creating and arranging digital beats and melodies. Registration is required.
You must complete Hive Safety Training and Studio Recording 101 before registering for this workshop.
American Sign Language Workshop: The Basics (O'Neill)
Signs for Inclusion: Fun & Practical ASL for Everyday Communication
Join us for a fun, interactive introduction to American Sign Language (ASL) and inclusive communication. Participants will learn practical everyday signs, respectful ways to interact with Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, expressive communication techniques, and simple real-life ASL scenarios. This activity-based workshop includes silent communication challenges, group participation, and engaging sign language games designed to build confidence and connection through communication. Learn more at Signing Basics.
Recommended for ages 10 and up.
Maple Sugaring with Land's Sake Farm (Valente)
Learn about the local tradition of turning maple sap into maple syrup with Land's Sake Farm! Enjoy a maple sugaring themed story time, touch and explore the tools we use to make maple syrup, and try using hand drills to tap a demonstration log.
This program is recommended for children ages 4 and up. Children under the age of 7 must be accompanied by an adult.
Registration is required - please register only the children who will be attending the program.
CPL Presents: On Mindful Democracy (Main/Virtual)
Join the Cambridge Public Library in welcoming Jeremy David Engels for a reading and discussion of his latest book, On Mindful Democracy: A Declaration of Interdependence to Mend a Fractured World. We find ourselves living through a time when much-needed political discourse seems to be getting increasingly inflammatory and partisan—Jeremy David Engels, in On Mindful Democracy, proposes the benefits of mindfulness in the sociopolitical sphere. Smithsonian called the book "a practical guide to staying open and curious while engaging with all sorts of people and ideas." Registration is required.
Adult Gaming: Unplugged (Main)
Are you suffering from chronic information overload? Feeling overwhelmed by too much technology in your life? Join us for an evening of old school board gaming! Relax and recharge your internal battery with one of our classic board games or bring your own personal fave. Gaming: Unplugged takes place on the first Monday of every month from 6:00 -- 7:30 PM in the Rossi Room. Be there or be square!
Do you want to learn how to play Mah Jong? Stop by Adult Gaming: Unplugged on Monday, Feb. 9th for a fun and free-spirited tutorial. Learn the basics of the game and even try your hand for a turn!
For the month of February, Adult Gaming: Unplugged will be held on Monday, February 9th, 2026. It will return to its first Monday of the month schedule on March 2nd, 2026.