Perler Bead Valentines (Collins)
Work with Perler Beads to follow a pattern or create your own unique design. We'll fuse the finished product into place for you to take home and share with your valentine.
Recommended for children ages 6-12 and their caregivers.
CPL Presents: McNamara at War with authors Philip and William Taubman (Main)
Join the Cambridge Public Library in welcoming Philip Taubman, former Washington Bureau Chief of The New York Times and Pulitzer Prize-winning author William Taubman for a discussion of their latest book, McNamara at War, a captivating and authoritative psychological portrait of Robert S. McNamara. Informed by newly discovered diaries, letters, and interviews with those closest to him, the authors uncover an emotionally tortured man—a man who mastered everything in life, until the Vietnam War mastered him.
The discussion will be moderated by Fredrik Logevall, the Laurence D. Belfer Professor of International Affairs at Harvard Kennedy School and the author of JFK: Coming of Age in the American Century.
Customizing phone accessibility settings (Main)
Learn how to make your smartphone (iPhone or Android) easier to use. Learn how to use different accessibility settings for vision, hearing and interacting with your smartphone. This class will be delivered by a DOORS program instructor. To learn more about the DOORS program, please go to https://www.digitalpsych.org/doors-program.html
To view and register for other Basic Tech Classes at the Library, please go to tinyurl.com/basictechclass.
Registration is encouraged, but not required.
Family Cookbook Book Group (Valente)
Children and their grown-ups are invited to this special kid-centered cookbook club!
This month, we're celebrating favorite characters and pop culture recipes! Bring a dish to share, or just come to talk about your experience with a chosen cookbook. No need to bring a dish to join.
Visit Valente for a selection of cookbooks that are ready to check out.
This book group is for children of all ages and their caregivers and families. For more information contact Maggie at mfrench@cambridgema.gov or call 617-349-4015.
CPL Presents: AAPI Heritage Month Celebration with Boston Festival Orchestra (Main)
The Boston Festival Orchestra returns to the Cambridge Public Library for the second year of its AAPI Heritage Concert, celebrating the extraordinary breadth of musical voices from Asian American and Pacific Islander composers. This program brings together works that reflect personal history, cultural inheritance, and bold contemporary expression — offering a powerful snapshot of the many ways identity and artistry intersect.
Join BFO Artistic Director Alyssa Wang, BFO musicians, and guest artists for an intimate chamber music experience that pairs performance with conversation, inviting audiences to engage with the cultural, historical, and human stories behind the music. This concert continues the BFO’s commitment to amplifying AAPI voices and creating space for meaningful artistic exchange.
For registration: https://patron.bforchestra.org/ticketing/bfo/AAPImonth
This concert is cosponsored by the Friends of the Cambridge Public Library.
Collins Branch Book Group (Collins)
October selection: An Indigenous People's History of United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz.
Join us to discuss a selection of fiction and nonfiction titles for adults. Print copies are available to pick up at Collins Branch during library hours.
Kindergarten Card Party! (Main)
Party like you just got your first library card! Kindergartners and their grown-ups are invited to a special party! Drop in between 5:30 and 6:30pm to enjoy pizza, create a collaborative mural, and learn about all the fun things you can do with your new library card! Kindergartners, along with their families and friends, are welcome to attend.
Wiggle Party (O'Connell)
Join us for a dance party to get your wiggles out! Play a freeze dance game, shake some shakers, or dance with scarves! For more information, please call the library at (617) 349-4019.
CPL Nature Club: Bug Walk (Boudreau)
Join us for a walk at Fresh Pond as we explore the wonderful world of bugs! We will learn about some common local insects, arachnids, and other invertebrates, and get to know some plants that host lots of bug species.
This program is open to all ages, from adults to children and their caregivers. Registration is required. For more information, contact Michael McGlathery at mmcglathery@cambridgema.gov or call the Boudreau Branch at 617-349-4017.
Park Sounds: Caribbean Heritage Month Edition with PanNeubean Steel
PanNeubean Steel is a dynamic steelpan guided ensemble delivering vibrant Caribbean rhythms with modern flair. Rooted in tradition and driven by innovation, the band brings energy, precision, and crowd-moving performances to every stage—celebrating culture, community, and the unmistakable sound of steel.
PARK SOUNDS 2026 brings free outdoor musical performances featuring local artists to the front lawn of the Cambridge Public Library Main Branch. These events are all-ages. Bring a chair, food, and loved ones to celebrate the summer! Funding is provided by the CPL Foundation in memory of Janet Axelrod.