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“Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” is in order of importance. It is better to reduce than reuse; better to reuse than recycle. Reducing and reusing prevent the environmental impact of making new items. All disposal has financial costs to the city. Recycling and composting cost the City less than trash. Still, preventing waste in the first place is best for Cambridge and the environment. It is one of the key recommendations in the Cambridge Zero Waste Master Plan.

Join us for this special summer reading edition of a fun, interactive, activity-based American Sign Language lesson, including: Everyday communication signs (greetings, help, common phrases, fun "Plant a seed, read!" summer reading themed signs) How to respectfully and effectively interact with Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals Basic expressive communication using facial expressions and body language How to navigate simple real-life scenarios using ASL Inclusive communication strategies that can be used immediately The session also includes: Silent communication challenges Interactive group practice Engaging sign language games This program is recommended for participants ages 10 and up. Funding for Summer Reading has been generously provided by the City of Cambridge, Cambridge Public Library Foundation, Friends of the Cambridge Public Library and Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. Artwork copyright iRead.

Join Earthwise Aware for a thought-provoking workshop examining how land use and climate change influence the design, function, and future of urban green spaces. Starting at the library’s front lawn, we will explore how conventional designs can undermine biodiversity and tree health. What makes a space truly nature-friendly? Can a lawn, sidewalk, or plaza be transformed into habitat? We will compare low-functioning green spaces with examples of micro-forests, native plantings, and meadows. Along the way, we will observe seasonal changes in plants and wildlife through the lens of phenology, the study of nature’s calendar. We will also introduce simple participatory science tools that help monitor habitat quality, foster community engagement, and inform better decisions. Even a modest native plant patch can be a pocket of resilience. Come learn how to spot, support, and reimagine urban nature that works with the ecosystem, not just mimics it. The program will start with a workshop in the Rossi Room, then move outside to Joan Lorentz Park. Registration required.

We’ll teach you the skills you need in recognizing and avoiding common scams, including, phone, text, email, and online fraud.

CALEA, the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, awarded the Cambridge Police Department Advanced Law Enforcement Accreditation in 2025. The department is now committed to the ongoing, multi-year process required to maintain this accreditation, which is considered the gold standard in law enforcement and aligns with our mission of procedurally just policing. CALEA’s primary focus is on improving how public safety services are provided, with a goal of strengthening crime prevention, maintaining fair and non-discriminatory hiring practices, and increasing interagency cooperation -- all to serve in increasing community and staff confidence in the department. As part of the process, Cambridge Police invites the public to comment directly to CALEA.The purpose of this public portal is to receive comments regarding an agency's compliance with CALEA standards, engagement in the service community, delivery of public safety services, and overall candidacy for accredited status. These comments can be in the form of commendations or concerns. The overall intent of the accreditation process is to provide the participating agency with information to support continuous improvement, as well as foster the pursuit of professional excellence. Click Here to Read More or Access the Comment Portal.

This month's selection: How I Won a Nobel Prize by Julius Taranto. While Collins is closed for construction, this book group will meet virtually and in person at the Boudreau Branch. Please register below if you would like to attend via Zoom. A Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants one hour before the event. Registration is encouraged, but not required. Print copies are available at the Boudreau Branch during library hours. For more information, contact Jo Percell (they/them) at jpercell@cambridgema.gov

Harvard Book Store and the Cambridge Public Library welcome Daniel Pollack-Pelzner—cultural historian, theater critic, and professor of English and theater at Portland State University—for a discussion of his highly anticipated biography of Broadway superstar Lin-Manuel Miranda, titled Lin-Manuel Miranda: The Education of an Artist. He will be joined in conversation by Dani Snyder-Young—esteemed Northeastern University theater professor, who appears in Lin-Manuel Miranda as his director for the Wesleyan production of Jesus Christ Superstar that launched him into collegiate superstardom. Registration is required.

August selection: Murder Must Advertise by Dorothy Sayers. This book group will meet virtually and in person at the Boudreau Branch. We will discuss current and classic mystery titles. Please register below if you would like to attend via Zoom. A Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants one hour before the event. How to get the book: Copies of the print book will be set aside at the Boudreau Branch (245 Concord Ave; current hours). Copies of the audiobook are available through Libby and the ebook is available through Hoopla. For more information, call 617-349-4017 or email Liz Danner at edanner@cambridgema.gov.

May Selection: Trace by Archer Mayor. This book group will meet virtually and in person at the Boudreau Branch. We will discuss current and classic mystery titles. Please register below if you would like to attend via Zoom. A Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants one hour before the event. How to get the book: Copies of the print book will be set aside at the Boudreau Branch (245 Concord Ave; current hours). Copies of the ebook are available through Libby. Copies of the audiobook are available through Hoopla. For more information, call 617-349-4017 or email Liz Danner at edanner@cambridgema.gov.

November Selection: A Case of Mice and Murder by Sally Smith. This book group will meet virtually and in person at the Boudreau Branch. We will discuss current and classic mystery titles. Please register below if you would like to attend via Zoom. A Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants one hour before the event. How to get the book: Copies of the print book will be set aside at the Boudreau Branch (245 Concord Ave; current hours). Copies of the ebook and audiobook are available through Libby. For more information, call 617-349-4017 or email Liz Danner at edanner@cambridgema.gov.