Director's Update, September 8, 2024

Dear Patrons, 

September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month! This month, if you sign up for a library card at any Cambridge Public Library branch, you can get your very own CPL tote bag. We will also be bringing the Library to you at the Alewife T station on Wednesday, September 11, to check out books, register people for Library cards, and give away some Library goodies. 

On Monday, September 9, from 1 to 2 p.m., join us for a discussion with representatives Viet Van, Community Support Services Manager, and Nina Cohen, director of Adult Family Care, of Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES). Since 1972, SCES has been the area's aging information and service center, helping older people and those with disabilities remain safe and independent in their own homes. 

On Wednesday, September 11, 5:45-6:45 p.m., join the Cambridge Community Development Department for a cycling workshop at the Valente Branch Library. You will learn about traffic safety, preparing your bike for riding in an urban environment, and biking signals and timing. Registration is required.

Open Archives is back! Buckle up for a fun-filled afternoon on Saturday, September 14, as we hit the road to the archives. This free annual event, hosted at Joan Lorentz Park by the Cambridge Historical Commission, invites you to explore the rich history of our city with the help of archivists from multiple repositories. Chat with the passionate individuals who keep our city's history alive. With activities for youngsters and plenty of engaging exhibits for all ages, it's a treat for the whole family. Learn more here. 

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Weekly Activities for Kids     

 

This week, these programs will be offered at our Boudreau, Central Square, Main, O’Connell, O’Neill, and Valente locations.   

• Sing-Alongs
• Story Times

 

Book Groups   

Learn more about our Book Groups. 

 

The Hive Workshops

Check out this week’s classes in The Hive. 

 

ESOL Classes 

Find an ESOL Class.

 

Tech Help

• Basic Tech Classes

• One-on-One Tech Help 

CPL Nature Club: Fresh Pond Nature Walk (O’Neill)

Monday, September 9

10:15-11:30 a.m. 

Join us for a relaxing walk of Fresh Pond with the park ranger Tim Puopolo! No two weeks are the same in nature, and Tim will share his insights about what's growing, changing, and blooming in the neighborhood. This walk is not on a paved path. We will cover uneven terrain, going down hills and over roots. We will meet in front of the Fresh Pond Ranger Station at 250 Fresh Pond Parkway (under the clock tower). Registration is required. 

Wellness for Older Adults: Zumba Gold (Virtual)

Monday, September 9

11-11:45 a.m. 

 

Put on your dancing shoes to improve flexibility and balance, strengthen muscles, and have fun! The certified Zumba Gold instructor Emily B. will lead you through 45 minutes of low-impact and easy choreography in your own home through Zoom. Join us! Registration for each session is required. A Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants 1 hour before the event.

Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services: Informational Discussion (Main)

Monday, September 9

1-2 p.m.

Join us for a discussion with representatives Viet Van, Community Support Services Manager, and Nina Cohen, director of Adult Family Care, of Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES). Since 1972, SCES has been the area's aging information and service center, helping older people and people with disabilities remain safe and independent in their own homes. 

SCES services are available to older residents of Cambridge and Somerville as well as their caregivers. Some services are open to adults with disabilities who are age 16 and older and to residents of Greater Boston.  

Chess Hour (Boudreau)

Monday, September 9

5-6 p.m.

Come join us for a chess challenge. Players of all ages and skill levels are welcome. Chess sets will be provided, but feel free to bring your own. This is not an instructional class, but rather a gathering for individuals who want to test their skills against other members of the community. No registration is required. Simply drop by and challenge yourself to improve your mastery of this classic game! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at 617-349-4017 or via e-mail: ipachoncaballero@cambridgema.gov or mmcglathery@cambridgema.gov. 

Sit 'n' Knit (Main) 

Tuesday, September 10

2:30-3:30 p.m.  

 

Bring your project and enjoy the company of other fiber crafters. Drop in with this informal group to work on your craft, get inspired, pick up skills, and socialize. Knit, embroider, crochet, spin, and mend. Refreshments will be provided. 

 

Knitting Group (Boudreau)

Tuesday, September 3

6:30-7:30 p.m.

Bring your project, yarn, and needles to enjoy an hour with other crafters. Registration is not required.

 

Death Cafe (Virtual)

Tuesday, September 10

7-8 p.m.

Join us for a virtual Death Cafe - an evening of open, lively, and insightful discussion about death for adults aged 18 and older. While not a support group or a venue for bereavement, a Death Cafe seeks to provide an unscripted, nonjudgmental platform for those wishing to explore the many facets of this often taboo subject. It’s facilitated by Richard Davis, a long- time Death Cafe organizer and hospice volunteer. Come with an open mind, a healthy curiosity, and a willingness to share your thoughts, feelings, and questions with other like-minded individuals. Questions? Contact Daryl at dcabrol@cambridgema.gov. Registration is required. 

Wellness for Older Adults: Tai Chi Paradigm-Intermediate (Main)

Wednesday, September 11

10-11 a.m.

 

Join us in this 12-week Tai Chi Paradigm practice, which focuses on the mind and body connection. Tai Chi is a fluid sequence of movements choreographed in a low-impact routine. Due to the popularity of Sifu Diaz's classes, we expect participants to attend all sessions. Participants are decided by lottery and have been notified. 

 

Fiber Crafts Group, Drop-In (O'Connell)

Wednesday, September 11

11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Bring your project and enjoy the company of other fiber crafters. Drop in with this informal group to work on your craft, get inspired, pick up skills, and socialize. Knit, embroider, crochet, spin, mend, cross stitch, and more. All crafts are welcome! Registration is not required.

 

CPL Nature Club: Elder Walk (Main)

Wednesday, September 11

12:30-1:30 p.m.

 

Join our guide Stefanie Haug while exploring nature and celebrating Elderhood. Dr. Louise Aronson is responsible for naming "Elderhood" as the penultimate vital and rich phase of human life. Nature likewise offers many examples of Elders that continue to grow, connect, and contribute to the world around us. As a group, we'll connect with nature mindfully with a gentle walk and draw on contemplative practices. Throughout and together, we'll explore how nature invites us to connect from the inside out and the outside in. Come share your wisdom and celebrate your Elderhood. Bring layered clothing, comfortable shoes, and water. Registration is required.

 

Wednesdays of Wonder - W.O.W.! (O’Neill)

Wednesday, September 11

2:30-4 p.m.

Come to the Library for games and a different activity each week! Kids of all ages can hang out and do crafts or STEAM activities. No registration is required. This week we will be decorating Library card holders.

Urban Cycling Basics (Valente)

Wednesday, September 11

5:45-6:45 p.m.

 

Join the Cambridge Community Development Department for a cycling workshop at the Valente Branch Library. You will learn about traffic safety, preparing your bike for riding in an urban environment, and biking signals and timing. Registration is required.

Aging with Mindfulness (Virtual)

Thursday, September 12

9:30-10:30 a.m. 

This 8-week virtual program will use mindfulness techniques to help us examine and regulate everyday life changes with a focus on aging.  Participants will benefit from the development of a mindfulness practice to enable responding to getting older in a calm, clear, and thoughtful manner. Led by Zeenat Potia, a meditation teacher with over 15 years of training and experience. Registration is required. A Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants 1 hour before the event.

CPL Nature Club: Fall Birdwatching at Fresh Pond Reservation (O’Neill)

Thursday, September 12

10-11:30 a.m.

 

All ages are welcome to join us as we search the water and trees for birds! Fresh Pond Reservation attracts many birds as they migrate south for the winter and provides many others with year-round homes. You never know what you might see during the fall migration! The walk will meet outside the ranger station/water department building at Fresh Pond. A limited supply of binoculars will be available. Registration is required. This event is currently full, but a waitlist is available. For more information, contact the O'Neill Branch at 617-349-4023.

Puzzle Party (Main)

Thursday, September 12

2:30-3:30 p.m.

Join our librarians for tea, cookies, and a jigsaw puzzle. It’s an hour of fun and conversation. Registration is not required.

CPL Arts Collective: Kintsugi Boston

Thursday, September 12

6-7:30 p.m.

 

Join us for a hands-on, beginner-friendly kintsugi workshop led by the local artist Tad Murao! Kintsugi embraces the philosophy of wabi-sabi, highlighting "imperfections" with metal powders and transforming your broken piece into a unique piece of art.
In this comprehensive 1.5-hour workshop, you will:

·       Explore the history and philosophy of kintsugi

·       Learn basic modern kintsugi repair techniques

·       Repair a broken ceramic piece with step-by-step guidance

Due to cure time, we'll use a fast-drying epoxy, allowing you to take your creation home at the end. Please bring:

·       One broken ceramic piece (no more than 4 pieces, repairable within 8 inches)

·       A container large enough to hold the repaired piece for safe transport

Please note that pieces not meeting these requirements may not be finished during the workshop. If you aren’t sure about whether your piece is suitable for the workshop, please e-mail us with a description and photo of your piece to kintsugi.boston@gmail.com. Open to ages 18+.  Registration is required. This event is currently full, but a waitlist is available. 

Fiber Arts Circle (Central Square)

Thursday, September 12

7-8 p.m.

 

Bring your project and come join other fiber crafters in your community! Crochet, sew, embroider, knit, cross stitch, spin, mend, and more at this informal, drop-in fiber arts circle. All crafts are welcome!

 

Creative Aging: Drawn to Nature (Main)

Friday, September 13

1:30-3:30 p.m.

Drawn to Nature is an introductory drawing course, focusing on the plant world as a basic subject. Botanical drawing is an ancient art, and we will examine how scientists and artists have drawn the natural world through the ages. Over 10 weeks, we will focus on a variety of plant life as we explore line, volume, space, and color with graphite and watercolor. Students will keep notebooks recording both the plants they draw and the techniques they learn. All levels are welcome. 

Registration is required. Space is limited to 10 participants. Due to its popularity and to gain the most out of this program, we expect participants to commit to all sessions in this 10-week course.

Open Archives 2024: Archives Roadtrip (Main/Joan Lorentz Park)

Saturday, September 14

1-3 p.m.

 

Buckle up for a fun-filled afternoon as we hit the road to the archives. This free annual event, hosted by the Cambridge Historical Commission, invites you to explore the rich history of our city with the help of archivists from multiple repositories. Chat with the passionate individuals who keep our city's history alive. With activities for youngsters and plenty of engaging exhibits for all ages, it's a treat for the whole family. Learn more here. 

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Stay Connected

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All the best!

  

Maria McCauley, Ph.D.  

Director of Libraries 

 

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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.