Summer Reading: Crafternoon (Collins)
Join us for activities celebrating the theme of "Plant a Seed, Read" all summer long.
Today's activity is bird and bug suncatchers. Explore color, light and creativity as you design a suncatcher to look like a stained-glass window. We will use colored tissue paper to fill frames shaped like birds, butterflies and dragonflies. Hang the finished masterpiece in a window to watch the sun transform it into a glowing display of color.
Recommended for children ages 6-12 and their caregivers.
July 7 - Tissue Paper Flowers
July 14 - Bird and Bug Suncatchers
July 21 - no activity on this date
July 28 - Perler Bead Plants
August 4 - Paint by Sticker
August 11 - Origami Peace Cranes
Yard Waste Pick Up
The City offers free weekly collection of yard waste, April 1-December 31 for residents with recycling collection from the City. Yard waste is banned from landfills and incinerators in Massachusetts. Leaves and other yard waste that fall on your property should be gathered as needed. Leaves and twigs on sidewalks and curbs adjacent to your property are the responsibility of the property owner to collect and set out as yard waste.
Summer Reading: Crafternoon with Pop Up Art School (Main)
Learn about the centuries-old art of reverse glass painting and create your own reverse painting! Choose from three images and paint it using acrylic paint on clear acetate.
This program can accommodate 30 youth ages 11 to 18 years old. Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis on the day of the program. The entire party must be present to receive a ticket. This program starts promptly. Unclaimed seats will be offered to someone waiting. We appreciate your patience and understanding. Please call 617-349-4038 for more information.
Funding for Summer Reading has been generously provided by the City of Cambridge, Cambridge Public Library Foundation and Friends of the Cambridge Public Library.
Songs, Stories, and Conversation in Mandarin (Valente)
Join us for an hour of songs, stories, and social meet-up in Mandarin Chinese with JingJing and Chelsea, two local mothers and educators. This fun and interactive session brings families together in a warm, welcoming environment.
This event is for children and their caregivers. In the first half, listen to engaging stories and sing lively songs. In the second half, children will do an activity, and everyone will have an opportunity to socialize.
There will be two events in this special Valente series:
Saturday, May 28
Saturday, June 14
Registration is helpful. Register for each session separately to receive an email reminder the day before the program. Include the total number of expected attendees in your registration.
Your Fat Friend Documentary Screening (Central Square)
Join the Central Square Branch Library for a screening of Jeanie Finlay's documentary Your Fat Friend.
Made over 6 years, acclaimed director Jeanie Finlay charts the rise of writer and activist Aubrey Gordon from anonymous blogger to NYTimes best selling author and beloved podcaster. Her aim? A paradigm shift in the way we see fat people and the fat on our own bodies.
Her life changing work has brought her an ardent, international audience but also threats to her life. One of her biggest challenges is getting her parents to listen.
Your Fat Friend, a film about fatness, family, the complexities of change and the deep, messy feeling we hold about our bodies.
yrfatfriendfilm.com / @yrfatfriendfilm
Park Sounds: Juneteenth Celebration with Tim Hall (Main)
Join us for a special Park Sounds in celebration of Juneteenth with saxophonist Tim Hall, an award-winning musician, performance poet, and producer from Detroit, MI, now based in Boston. His poetry draws inspiration from his lived experiences - charting the nuances of blackness, masculinity, and the beauties of life. Tim's music is used to underscore his vivid storytelling with warm neo soul, jazz, and hip hop influences.
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.
Improve My Reading, Writing, and Math Skills
The Community Learning Center helps adult learners improve their reading, writing, and math skills; prepare to earn their high school equivalency (HiSET or GED); or qualify for a training program.
Summer Reading: Live Animal Story Time with Land's Sake Farm (O'Neill)
Get up close and personal with chickens! This program includes a chicken-themed story time and educational games about chicken behavior and anatomy. The highlight of the program is the Chicken Circle, where youth are able to touch and interact with live chickens. Recommended for children of all ages and their caregivers.
This program will happen indoors due to the heat.
Registration is required. When registering, please list how many children are attending. Adults do not need to be included in the numbers for registration
Funding for Summer Reading has been generously provided by the City of Cambridge, Cambridge Public Library Foundation, Friends of the Cambridge Public Library and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.
Summer Reading: BioDesign with the Rhode Island Computer Museum (Main)
Delve into the wonders of the natural world. Attendees will learn about different types of animal homes and use them to inspire their own creation. Recommended for ages 8-13. This program can accommodate 12 people. Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis on the day of the program. The entire party must be present to receive a ticket. This program starts promptly. Unclaimed seats will be offered to someone waiting. We appreciate your patience and understanding. Please call 617-349-4038 for more information.
Funding for Summer Reading has been generously provided by the City of Cambridge, Cambridge Public Library Foundation, Friends of the Cambridge Public Library and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.
CPD’s Harvard Square-Central Square Unit Builds Relationships as Part of Its Approach
Harvard and Central Squares in Cambridge have their own unique personalities. Our Harvard Square/Central Square Unit has spent a long time getting to know them. Sgt. Sean Lowe and Officer Joe Grassi primarily staff the Harvard Square Unit while Officers Frank Gutoski and Billy Simmons work in the Central Square Unit. These officers, who are embedded in the squares, work closely with businesses, residents, and associations to identify and resolve potential issues. “It’s vital to have familiar faces in the business districts in the neighborhoods,” said Sgt. Lowe. “Having a level of trust so that they can get whatever they need and whatever we can provide and help them through the process,” explained Officer Grassi.