Director's Update, August 25, 2024

Dear Patrons, 

Here at the Library, we set goals each year for our initiatives, programs, and services. Some of our key goals for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) were to offer an excellent slate of programming and services and to steward ongoing relationships with vital community partners. This year, we had a successful year of delivering a host of programs and services related to our mission to welcome all, inspire minds, and empower community. We welcomed over 960,000 visitors and circulated 1.8 million items across our seven libraries. This was the second year of offering summer Sunday hours at the Valente Branch and the first full year of increased hours across our branches. We have received a lot of positive feedback about these additional hours. 

Our STEAM at the Library program and Takeout Technology saw its fourth year and welcomed hundreds of students in its programs, and our Digital Equity work expanded with dedicated staff and City collaborations. We served the elder community with 104 programs and a total of 2,088 participants. We hosted 1,760 programs for children and teens with 46,259 attendees, and we created 388 new library cards for kindergarten students through our ongoing partnership with the Cambridge Public Schools. We held 470 Adult Literacy and ESOL programs with 10,878 participants, including many recent immigrants, as well as 1,036 STEAM programs with 13,392 attendees.

Much of our work was completed in collaboration with other organizations and City departments. We continued to work with Innovators for Purpose, Department of Human Service Programming and the STEAM Initiative, IT Department, CCTV, Just-A-Start, Hip Hop Transformation, Loop Lab, the Cambridge Historical Commission, the Cambridge Black History Project, the Cambridge Commission for Persons with Disabilities, the Cambridge Public Schools Department, the Harvard Book Store, the Harvard Museum of Art, Porter Square Books, the Friends of the CPL, and the CPL Foundation, to name a few. 

I look forward to a year of excellent programming and services ahead. Thank you to everyone who has helped us achieve our goals.

+++

 

The Library is pleased to offer the following programs during the week that begins on August 25.

 

Weekly Activities for Kids     

 

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

• Sing-Alongs

• Story Times

 

Book Groups   

Learn more about our Book Groups. 

 

 

 

Baby Lapsit (Main) 

Monday, August 26

10-10:20 a.m. 

 

Just for you and your baby! Enjoy time with other parents and caregivers to help babies learn, play, and develop language and motor skills. Recommended for 0-12 months. Come prepared to sit on the floor with your baby in your lap. This program can accommodate 15 babies and their caregivers. 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.

 

CPL Nature Club: Magazine Beach Storytime (Central Square)

Monday, August 26

10-10:30 a.m.

 

Discover a world outdoors with stories read by staff from the Central Square Branch. This event will be held at the Mass Audubon Magazine Beach Park Nature Center (668 Memorial Drive). 

 

Wellness for Seniors: Low-impact Fitness (Virtual)

Monday, August 26

11-11:45 a.m.

 

This class is designed for people of all levels to strengthen the muscles, the heart, and the brain—all while having fun and moving to great music! Come as you are and take everything at your own pace. You will feel the benefits in mind and body! 

Registration for each session is required. A Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants 1 hour before the event.

Serger Training (Main)

Monday, August 26

3-4:30 p.m.

Are you an intermediate or advanced sewer? This workshop will cover serger machine setup, threading a serger, and identifying correct tension settings with different types of fabric. You will learn about ways to use our Elna Extend 864 Air serger to take your sewing skills to the next level by producing special finishing styles, hemming, trimming, and assembling your garments. This workshop is designed for patrons who have experience using a sewing machine. If you are new to machine sewing, we recommend you take our Sewing 101 workshop before using our serger. Registration is required.

 

LEGO Time (Main) 

Monday, August 26

4-4:45 p.m.

 

It’s a weekly block party! Bring friends to design and build amazing LEGO structures. Let your imagination run wild! The Children's Room has plenty of LEGO pieces, so you don’t need to bring your own. Be aware that LEGO pieces are choking hazards for young children, so this program is for children ages 5+ and their caregivers. It can accommodate 30 builders. Children under age 7 must be accompanied by a caregiver. Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis on the day of the program. This program starts promptly, and any unclaimed seats will be offered to someone waiting. We appreciate your patience and understanding. Please call 617-349-4038 for more information.

 

Chess Hour (Boudreau)

Monday, August 26

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 if you prefer. 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. 

ESOL Conversation Class (Valente)

Monday, August 26

6-7:30 p.m.

Join us for an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) class! This class will be taught at a beginner level. No testing is needed. Everyone is welcome. For more information, call Maria Balestrieri at 617-349-4013.

 

Google Drive Tips and Tricks (Main)

Tuesday, August 27

11 a.m.-Noon

Get more practice with Google Drive, your online file storage that is connected to your Gmail account. Learn some tips and tricks to organize your files and images.  A Gmail (Google) account is required for the class. Please remember your Gmail and password; you will need them to sign in and practice during the class. To view and register for other Basic Tech classes at the Library, go to tinyurl.com/basictechclass. 

3D Printing: Game Piece Design (Main)

Tuesday, August 27

1-2:30 p.m.

Learn how to create your favorite game piece in digital space and print it out using our Prusa 3D printers. You will get hands-on experience running the 3D printer, gain fundamental 3D modeling skills using Tinkercad, and earn your 3D Printing badge for future reservations in The Hive. Register for this event.

Beginner ESOL Class (Valente)

Tuesday, August 27

2:30-4 p.m.

Join us for an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) class. This class will be taught at a beginner level. All are welcome. No registration or testing is necessary. For more information, call Maria Balestrieri at 617-349-4013 or Kerri McQuown at 617-349-4015.

Sit 'n' Knit (Main) 

Tuesday, August 27

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. 

 

Equipment and Studio Reservations (Main)

Tuesday, August 27, 3:30-8:30 p.m.

Thursday, August 29, 4:30-8:30 p.m.

Friday, August 30, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Saturday, August 31, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. 

 

During this reservation period, anyone who has completed The Hive training and is badged to use equipment or studio(s) can reserve The Hive equipment or studio spaces. Staff will assist participants as they are able.

 

Drop-in Tech Help (Central Square)

Tuesday, August 27

4-6 p.m.

 

Looking for some basic computer or mobile device guidance? Want help using an online resource? Need someone to read your résumé and support navigating online job applications? Join us for our drop-in help hours. Registration is not required. If you have any questions, please contact library@cambridgema.gov.

 

Knitting Group (Boudreau)

Tuesday, August 27

6:30-7:30 p.m.

 

Bring your project, yarn, and needles to enjoy an hour in the company of other crafters. Registration is not required.

 

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

Wednesday, August 28

10-11 a.m. 

Join us in this twelve-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 were decided by lottery.

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

Wednesday, August 28

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 walk on uneven terrain, 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. 

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

Wednesday, August 28

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.

Résumé and Job Application Support (Central Square)

Wednesday, August 28

1-3 p.m.

 

Looking for assistance creating a résumé or finding jobs? Join us for assistance with résumés, job hunting, and online applications. No registration is required. For more information, call Maria Balestrieri at 617-349-4013.

 

Sewing 101 (Main)

Wednesday, August 28

1-2:30 p.m.

 

In this 90-minute workshop, you’ll learn the basics of sewing machine operation and safety. This session will cover machine setup, basic functions, threading the machine, reloading the bobbin, sewing straight stitches, and recognizing when stitch tension has gone awry. We’ll also cover some safety best practices when operating a sewing machine. As we learn together, we’ll work on a simple sewing project—a drawstring bag—which most students will be able to complete by the end of the class. Registration is required. You must complete The Hive Safety Training before registering for this workshop. This class is full, but a waitlist is available. 

Vinyl Cutting 101 (Main)

Wednesday, August 28, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Saturday, August 30, 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Would you like to make your own vinyl signs, stickers, or images to transfer to T-shirts and other textiles? In this workshop, you can learn how to use our Roland Camm-1 GS-24 vinyl cutter. You can then design a sticker and cut it with our vinyl cutter! Registration is required. You must complete The Hive Safety Training before registering for this workshop. 

The Hive Safety Training (Main)

Thursday, August 29

10-11 a.m. 

In this workshop, you will learn about our makerspace, how to use our resources, and how to keep safe in The Hive. Before taking workshops in The Hive in person, all makers must bring signed copies of The Hive User Agreement and Waivers. Registration is required.

Wellness for Seniors: Low-impact Fitness (Main)

Thursday, August 29

11-11:45 a.m.

This class is designed for people of all levels to strengthen the muscles, the heart, and the brain—all while having fun and moving to great music! Come as you are and take everything at your own pace. You will feel the benefits in mind and body! Registration is required.

One-on-One Tech Help (Main, by appointment)

Thursday, August 29

11 a.m.-1 p.m.

 

Looking for some basic computer or mobile device guidance? Want to access audiobooks and eBooks? Stop by during our drop-in hours! These sessions will be limited to 30 minutes for each patron. If you have any questions, please contact gjosette@cambridgema.gov. Registration is required.

 

Glowforge 101: Creative Laser Cutting (Main)

Thursday, August 29 

2-4 p.m.

Learn how to cut, engrave, and shape designs from a variety of materials using the Glowforge Pro laser cutter. This 2-hour workshop replaces the previous two-part Glowforge 101 offering; the content and length of this workshop and the two-part series are the same. You will start by using the camera on the Glowforge to focus and scan your own images, properly select materials for your project, and fabricate your first design. You will create digital artwork for the Glowforge and learn file formatting for production. Note: This is a badging course for laser cutting. You must complete The Hive Safety Training before registering for this program. View The Hive's workshop schedule here. Registration is required.

Puzzle Party (Main)

Thursday, August 29

2:30-3:30 p.m.

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

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

Friday, August 30

10-11 a.m.

Join us in this twelve-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 were decided by lottery.