Meet the Director
Hi! I am Maria McCauley, the Director of Libraries. Learn more about upcoming Library programs and events in my weekly message.
Check out the Monthly Newsletter
Learn More
Design the Cambridge Public Library's next library card!
Submit your original design that answers the prompt "Adventure Awaits... at the Library!" by November 15 to be featured on new, limited-edition library cards to come in 2027.
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Fuchsia Dunlop presents: Five Tastes: Delicious Recipes for Chinese Flavors (Main)
Wednesday, October 21 @ 6:00 PM
Harvard Book Store and the Cambridge Public Library welcome Fuchsia Dunlop—James Beard Award–winning author The Food of Sichuan and the IACP Award finalist Invitation to a Banquet—for a discussion of her new cookbook, Five Tastes: Delicious Recipes for Chinese Flavors. Registration is required.
Learn More
News
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Director's Update, October 18, 2026
Library Card Design Contest, Understanding Deaf Culture, Crafternoon, and More! -
Director's Update, October 11, 2026
Library Card Design Contest, Literary Monsters, Arabic Story Time, and More -
Director's Update, October 4, 2026
Opera Untapped, Bicycle Workshop, Young Architects, and More! -
Director's Update, September 27, 2026
International Briefing, Pollinator Stories, Olé Flamenco, and More!
Coming Up
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Citizenship Preparation Classes (Central Square)
Come join this free 10-week class, in partnership with St. Mark Community Education Program. This series of classes prepares students for all parts of the Citizenship interview and includes the new 128 civics question list. This class is offered as a 10-week series. Attendance at all sessions is expected. Requirements: Intermediate-level English Legal Permanent Resident card for 4 years and 9 months (2 years and 9 months if married to a U.S. citizen) Class Meeting Dates: Wednesday, September 2, 2026 Wednesday, September 9, 2026 Wednesday, September 16, 2026 Wednesday, September 23, 2026 Wednesday, September 30, 2026 Wednesday, October 7, 2026 Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Wednesday, October 21, 2026 Wednesday, October 28, 2026 Wednesday, November 4, 2026 Registration is required. Click Here to Register For more information about registering or classes contact St. Marks at stmarkesol@gmail.com or 617-288-8515.
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Cookbook Club (Collins)
October Selection: Good Things: Recipes and Rituals to Share with People You Love: A Cookbook by Samin Nosrat. 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 Liz at edanner@cambridgema.gov or call the Collins Branch at 617-349-4021.
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English Conversation Practice, Intermediate (O'Neill)
Join us for an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Conversation Practice. This conversation group is for those with an intermediate or high level of English language skill. No testing is required. For more information on other ESOL classes, please call Maria Balestrieri at 617-349-4013.
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Fuchsia Dunlop presents: Five Tastes: Delicious Recipes for Chinese Flavors (Main)
Harvard Book Store and the Cambridge Public Library welcome Fuchsia Dunlop—James Beard Award–winning author The Food of Sichuan and the IACP Award finalist Invitation to a Banquet—for a discussion of her new cookbook, Five Tastes: Delicious Recipes for Chinese Flavors. Registration is required.
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Pokemon Club (O'Neill)
Twice a month, kids of all ages are invited to come to Pokemon Club at the O'Neill branch! Each biweekly drop-in event will feature a different Pokemon-themed craft or activity, along with opportunities to play the card game or trade with fellow Pokemon fans.
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Science Fiction & Fantasy Book Group (Main)
This Month's Read: The City in Glass, by Nghi Vo Reading Interests: The group concentrates on science fiction and fantasy. An advanced reading schedule is published each summer. Example selections include: Neuromancer by William Gibson and The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch. Requirements: A love of speculative fiction and a desire to talk about books. The group is friendly and informal. How to get the print book: Copies of the print book are set aside at the Main Library Question and Answer desk on the ground floor. Visit the Main Library at 449 Broadway during service hours and a staff member can help you check out a copy. E-books and digital audiobooks are available on Libby or Hoopla. For this meeting only, we'll meet in the Community Room on the L2 basement floor of the Main Library. For more information, contact Carrie at csauder@cambridgema.gov.
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Central Square Book Group (Central Square)
Join the Central Square Book Group! This month, we're reading The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka. Copies will be available for pickup at the Branch. Questions? Contact Theresa (tmitchell@cambridgema.gov).
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OUT HERE 10: An Evening with the Black Seed Writers (Central Square)
Since 2011, the Black Seed Writers Group has been providing a weekly space for homeless, transitional and recently housed writers. Out of this space has come a steady flow of poetry, reportage and prophetic witness from the streets of downtown Boston. Co-founded by Atlantic staff writer James Parker, the BSWG publishes these writers in its magazine The Pilgrim, and in the broadsheets produced by its private imprint No Fixed Address Press. Join Parker and the Black Seed writers, at 7pm on October 21st, for the next in their Out Here series of public readings. Photo credit Edward Boches.
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Songs and Stories (Boudreau)
Put on your dancing shoes and head over for a morning of singing and dancing! We'll sing and move together, and share a story or two. For children of all ages and their grown-ups.
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Songs, Stories and Play (Central Square)
Join us for songs, stories and rhymes followed by open play. Recommended for children of all ages and their caregivers. No registration is required. Please call 617-349-4012 for more information.
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Intermediate ESOL (Central Square)
Join us for an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Class. This class will be taught at an intermediate level. No testing is needed. For more information call Maria Balestrieri at 617-349-4013.
-
Citizenship Preparation Classes (Central Square)
Come join this free 10-week class, in partnership with St. Mark Community Education Program. This series of classes prepares students for all parts of the Citizenship interview and includes the new 128 civics question list. This class is offered as a 10-week series. Attendance at all sessions is expected. Requirements: Intermediate-level English Legal Permanent Resident card for 4 years and 9 months (2 years and 9 months if married to a U.S. citizen) Class Meeting Dates: Wednesday, September 2, 2026 Wednesday, September 9, 2026 Wednesday, September 16, 2026 Wednesday, September 23, 2026 Wednesday, September 30, 2026 Wednesday, October 7, 2026 Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Wednesday, October 21, 2026 Wednesday, October 28, 2026 Wednesday, November 4, 2026 Registration is required. Click Here to Register For more information about registering or classes contact St. Marks at stmarkesol@gmail.com or 617-288-8515.
-
Cookbook Club (Collins)
October Selection: Good Things: Recipes and Rituals to Share with People You Love: A Cookbook by Samin Nosrat. 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 Liz at edanner@cambridgema.gov or call the Collins Branch at 617-349-4021.
-
English Conversation Practice, Intermediate (O'Neill)
Join us for an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Conversation Practice. This conversation group is for those with an intermediate or high level of English language skill. No testing is required. For more information on other ESOL classes, please call Maria Balestrieri at 617-349-4013.
-
Fuchsia Dunlop presents: Five Tastes: Delicious Recipes for Chinese Flavors (Main)
Harvard Book Store and the Cambridge Public Library welcome Fuchsia Dunlop—James Beard Award–winning author The Food of Sichuan and the IACP Award finalist Invitation to a Banquet—for a discussion of her new cookbook, Five Tastes: Delicious Recipes for Chinese Flavors. Registration is required.
-
Pokemon Club (O'Neill)
Twice a month, kids of all ages are invited to come to Pokemon Club at the O'Neill branch! Each biweekly drop-in event will feature a different Pokemon-themed craft or activity, along with opportunities to play the card game or trade with fellow Pokemon fans.
-
Science Fiction & Fantasy Book Group (Main)
This Month's Read: The City in Glass, by Nghi Vo Reading Interests: The group concentrates on science fiction and fantasy. An advanced reading schedule is published each summer. Example selections include: Neuromancer by William Gibson and The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch. Requirements: A love of speculative fiction and a desire to talk about books. The group is friendly and informal. How to get the print book: Copies of the print book are set aside at the Main Library Question and Answer desk on the ground floor. Visit the Main Library at 449 Broadway during service hours and a staff member can help you check out a copy. E-books and digital audiobooks are available on Libby or Hoopla. For this meeting only, we'll meet in the Community Room on the L2 basement floor of the Main Library. For more information, contact Carrie at csauder@cambridgema.gov.
-
Central Square Book Group (Central Square)
Join the Central Square Book Group! This month, we're reading The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka. Copies will be available for pickup at the Branch. Questions? Contact Theresa (tmitchell@cambridgema.gov).
-
OUT HERE 10: An Evening with the Black Seed Writers (Central Square)
Since 2011, the Black Seed Writers Group has been providing a weekly space for homeless, transitional and recently housed writers. Out of this space has come a steady flow of poetry, reportage and prophetic witness from the streets of downtown Boston. Co-founded by Atlantic staff writer James Parker, the BSWG publishes these writers in its magazine The Pilgrim, and in the broadsheets produced by its private imprint No Fixed Address Press. Join Parker and the Black Seed writers, at 7pm on October 21st, for the next in their Out Here series of public readings. Photo credit Edward Boches.
-
Citizenship Preparation Classes (Central Square)
Come join this free 10-week class, in partnership with St. Mark Community Education Program. This series of classes prepares students for all parts of the Citizenship interview and includes the new 128 civics question list. This class is offered as a 10-week series. Attendance at all sessions is expected. Requirements: Intermediate-level English Legal Permanent Resident card for 4 years and 9 months (2 years and 9 months if married to a U.S. citizen) Class Meeting Dates: Wednesday, September 2, 2026 Wednesday, September 9, 2026 Wednesday, September 16, 2026 Wednesday, September 23, 2026 Wednesday, September 30, 2026 Wednesday, October 7, 2026 Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Wednesday, October 21, 2026 Wednesday, October 28, 2026 Wednesday, November 4, 2026 Registration is required. Click Here to Register For more information about registering or classes contact St. Marks at stmarkesol@gmail.com or 617-288-8515.
-
Cookbook Club (Collins)
October Selection: Good Things: Recipes and Rituals to Share with People You Love: A Cookbook by Samin Nosrat. 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 Liz at edanner@cambridgema.gov or call the Collins Branch at 617-349-4021.
-
English Conversation Practice, Intermediate (O'Neill)
Join us for an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Conversation Practice. This conversation group is for those with an intermediate or high level of English language skill. No testing is required. For more information on other ESOL classes, please call Maria Balestrieri at 617-349-4013.