It's no secret: we love the Cambridge Public Library staff! From circulation to admin, facilities to youth services - the enthusiasm, warmth, and dedication of the library’s team makes Cambridge an amazing place to live, learn and explore.
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The Cambridge Public Library Foundation is taking you on a virtual tour of the library and introducing some of the library’s superstar staff. Our next stop is Borrower Services with Becky Rowlands!

This week we’re excited to introduce you to Becky Rowlands! Becky oversees the amazing Borrower Services team that helps patrons navigate the library and reshelves the library’s highly sought-after materials. From the front lines to behind the scenes, the Borrower Services team is steeped in knowledge about the library, and we can’t wait to share this with you!

What is your position at the library?
I am the Manager of Borrower Services. I have worked at the library for six years now, and I love it! I previously worked at a much smaller library in Massachusetts where we used to handle five bins of materials a day compared to the 60 bins a day we see here, so coming to the Cambridge Public Library was a big, exciting change! I oversee a lively team of 20 people who are dedicated to helping patrons. 
 
Could you please tell me more about Borrower Services and the important role your team plays at the library? 
The role of Borrower Services is two fold: we are frontline staff welcoming patrons to the library and answering their questions, and we also work behind the scenes scanning materials back into the system and reshelving.
 
The Borrower Services desk is located on the left immediately when you walk into the Main Library, so we are often the first people that patrons see when they enter the library. We issue library cards, answer questions about patrons’ library accounts, help them check out materials and more. I like to think that by giving people their library card we are giving them their key to the library, unlocking the door and providing access to everything the library has to offer. Beyond books, patrons can use their library cards to check out magazines, e-books, DVDs, take out technology (which can be checked out at Tech Bar), and even STEAM kits! 
 
The library has a broad range of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) kits that include non-traditional, educational materials that engage people of all ages and interests. When a STEAM kit is checked out, the Borrower Services team member goes through the STEAM kit with the patron, tells them how the kit is returned, and prepares patrons for the fun and exploration they are about to have! STEAM kits are available at all Cambridge Public Library locations and can be checked out by Minuteman Library cardholders.  
 
We also connect patrons with other materials in the network by managing requests on library items. Patrons can pick up their books on hold at the ‘hold’ shelving area to the right side of the Main Library’s lobby. If you have a logistical question about a particular item you’ve borrowed, returned or requested, our team will happily investigate for you.
 
Could you please tell me more about Borrower Services’ role behind the scenes?
Members of our team split their time between working at the Borrower Services Desk and handling materials behind the scenes. Our library is a very high-circulation, high-volume library, and the Borrower Services team handles thousands of items per day, whether we are checking them out, checking them back in, or receiving them in delivery bins from other libraries. When library materials are returned, we rescan the items back into our system and reshelve almost all of the materials, except for books in the Teen Room and the Children’s Room. 
 
Our team receives up to 60 bins full of materials per day from other libraries – that’s approximately 3,000 items per day just through delivery! Plus, two to three thousand more materials through check-in and check-out. Our goal is to have all materials reshelved in 24 hours of their return.
 
Borrower Services maintains a ‘Staff Picks’ display in the lobby that showcases books from the genre each staff member prefers, so patrons can see what staff gravitate towards based on their interests. The library has been doing this for about seven or eight years, and we are always encouraging new staff to participate! We also occasionally create fun pop up displays, like a display of Batman books that you can find by our self-checkout machines right now. Collection Services and Adult Services collaborate on the displays in the lobby area that feature the newest fiction and non-fiction titles, and Borrower Services assists with those as well.
 
Could you please tell us a bit about the lifecycle of a book?
The Library Foundation and a member of the Borrower Services team, Alden, recently collaborated to showcase the lifecycle of a library book. A book arrives at the library from a vendor and makes its way to Collection Services. Here, the book is given a sticker and is scanned into the library’s system that is shared by all libraries in the Minuteman Library Network. Collection Services then brings the new library book to find its home on the shelf. 
 
Patrons can peruse the shelves to find a book, but they can also easily and conveniently place a hold on the next available copy in the CPL or Minuteman Library Network. You can place a request online, or call the library and our staff can help you out! Once your book has arrived at your library branch ‘hold’ shelving area, patrons can come within five days to check out the book. After it’s checked out, the book is ready to go home with you!
 
After finishing your book, it is time to return it to the library. When patrons put the book into the book chute at the Main Library, the book slides down the chute into a large red bin that is collected by Borrower Services. The book is then scanned back into the system and is returned to the shelf. Each item returned is touched by three to four people as it’s scanned back into the system, out on a cart to go upstairs, and reshelved. About 10% of materials returned to the Main Library have to be transported back to different branches. 
 
As you search for your next read, Adult Services and Borrowers Services staff can answer questions, recommend books, and help you locate materials in the library. 
 
[Editor’s Note: You can see the Library Foundation’s posts following the lifecycle of a book on our Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.]
 
What is your favorite part about working at the library?
I love the fact that we are not a quiet library. While there are dedicated quiet spaces in the library - like the Second Floor of the Main Library, which is a quiet floor and has an additional Silent Study Room - this is also a place where you can and will find unexpected things. A Thriller flash mob in the hallway, the Honk! Band playing in the lobby at our Summer Reading kickoff one year, a “laughing room” – set up like a sitcom set – in our Rossi meeting room - these are only a few things that have happened in the six years I’ve been here. I love that we mix study and research with singing, dancing, and laughing. The library has it all!
 
What is your favorite book?
One of my all time favorites is The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, which I read for the first time at least 20 years ago. I find that book to be even more poignant and chilling since it’s set in and around Cambridge. I love Margaret Atwood’s style of writing, she is one of my favorite authors of all time!
 
Is there anything else you'd like patrons to know?
There are so many wonderful things about the library, and there’s a lot that I would like patrons to know about! 

First off, it is absolutely free to use the library! You’d be surprised how many times we are asked “How much does a library card cost?” and we can happily say “Zero!” The library recently did away with overdue fines, so we are 100% fine-free and the Borrower Services team was key in delivering this good news to the community. This is an important step in the library becoming more equitable, and increasing access to the library for all users.

I also want patrons to know that you don't have to live in Cambridge to get a library card! There are nine library networks in Massachusetts, and as long as you live or own property anywhere in Massachusetts, the Cambridge Public Library is happy to give you a library card. Your library card will work at all libraries in the Minuteman Library Network, which Cambridge is a part of. Prior to the pandemic, library staff including members of the Borrower Services team went to the Alewife T-Station to get people excited about the library and show them how easy it is to get a library card!

​Finally, we have certain technology and automated processes – like self-checkout and open holds – that’s designed to make it easier for patrons to check out their books. We always have plenty of staff who are happy to assist you with those things, too. If self-checkout is not your thing, or you have a question, you can absolutely bring your books to a person at the Borrower Services desk who will gladly check them out for you and answer any questions!

Contributions from the City of Cambridge and our generous donors support the library’s staff and their growing collection of materials. If you would like to support the Cambridge Public Library, please reach out to katie@cplfound.org. 

We are deeply saddened to share that Janet Axelrod, a beloved Cambridge Public Library Foundation Board member and Chair of the Library’s Board of Trustees for more than 20 years, died on Sunday, December 26th at her home in Cambridge. To have known Janet was a blessing. Quick to laugh, quick to call out injustice, quick to suggest a solution, Janet was an integral part of elevating Cambridge’s beloved library system.

Committed to progressive work in both her professional and personal life, Janet dedicated decades to improving, expanding and enhancing the Cambridge Public Library. She knew that the library could (and should) actively promote equity and accessibility, privacy and dignity for all people.

In the early 2000s, Janet led the Library Trustees during the robust community process advocating for the construction of the new library, which she did with determination, humor, and kindness. She was resolute in her support of Susan Flannery, the former Director of Libraries, in overseeing the $95 million development of the Main Library which opened in 2009. “She was the right leader for the right time,” says Susan. “Her method and style were always respectful, friendly and honest. [Janet] was always thinking about how the library could better serve the community and expand it beyond the traditional people who use it.”

Even in the final weeks of her life, Janet was working to expand the library’s reach into every neighborhood in Cambridge, remaining actively involved in the exploration of a major Central Square Branch renovation. “There’s a difference between opening the doors and saying everyone is welcome, and going out into the community and showing people that they belong at the library. That’s what Janet did,” says Donna Davis, an instrumental figure in founding the Library Foundation and a Library Foundation Board Member emeritus.

Janet was part of the team that helped welcome and orient Dr. Maria McCauley as the new Director of Libraries almost six years ago. Dr. McCauley shares, “Janet understood and internalized the mission, vision and values of the library. She fully supported and embraced everything we were doing to get library services out to the public, especially to vulnerable populations. She was a very wise leader; we at the library miss her every day.” Dr. McCauley and Janet partnered closely on many library projects, including the successful series Our Path Forward (which encourages education and dialogue around democracy), the renovation of the Valente Branch, and the opening of The Hive makerspace at the Main Library.

Janet was a passionate philanthropist who held fast to her belief that “the people doing the work should decide how the money should be spent.” In 1974, Janet was the first hire at the Haymarket People’s Fund, which raised money from young progressives with inherited wealth and redistributed it to grassroots organizations fighting for racial, economic and gender justice throughout New England. In that role, Janet helped develop a model of activist-led philanthropy, putting decision-making power in the hands of local activists, rather than donors. Decades later, she was instrumental in the creation of the Cambridge Public Library Foundation, which she believed was necessary to garner private support and ensure the library's bright future.

The President of the Library Foundation’s Board of Directors, Shippen Page, remembers Janet as “a towering figure in the modern era at the Cambridge Public Library. Generous with her time and treasure, Janet could be counted on to support an all-embracing library and to work hard to make sure sufficient resources were available. As a vital member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, Janet was present, forceful and respectful. On behalf of the entire Board, Janet is sorely missed as a colleague and a friend."

​The Cambridge Public Library, the Library’s Board of Trustees and the Cambridge Public Library Foundation are honored to remember Janet with a named fund in the library’s endowment: The Janet Axelrod Memorial Fund. This fund will help the library fulfill its mission and uphold the values of equity, democracy and intellectual freedom that Janet held so dear. Nancy Woods, who served as a Trustee with Janet, says, “[Janet] was steadfast in her belief that the library belonged to everyone and must aspire to serve the needs of everyone. She firmly believed that private funds were crucial to ensure that our great library does just that.”  

If you would like to make a gift to the Janet Axelrod Memorial Fund, you can mail a check to the Cambridge Public Library Foundation or make a gift online through our secure donation portal. All gifts that have been made in Janet’s memory since January will be added to this Fund. Please email Foundation Director Katie Welch at katie@cplfound.org with any questions.

If you would like to read more about Janet’s life and her incredible impact in Cambridge and beyond, we invite you to read her obituary published in the Cambridge Chronicle.

Hello friend, 

In 2018 National Public Radio asked Americans what they were the most grateful for, and poet, educator and novelist, Kwame Alexander, wove their responses into a cohesive and powerful poem. Many respondents were grateful for their local libraries, which one person described as “sacred places to share knowledge and creativity.” I couldn’t agree more.
 
As we race to the end of another challenging year, I want to share my deep appreciation to you for your support of the Cambridge Public Library. Thanks to the generosity of you and your neighbors, our library nimbly responded to ever-changing directives and stayed focused on serving everyone – particularly the most vulnerable – in our community.

The wonderful poem below celebrates our differences, acknowledges our past, and looks hopefully towards the future. Thank you for ensuring a bright future for libraries by making a gift – if you haven’t already done so – to the Cambridge Public Library.
 
I wish for you and your family a happy, peaceful and restorative holiday.

Best,
 
Katie Welch
Director, Cambridge Public Library Foundation

It's no secret: we love the Cambridge Public Library staff! From circulation to admin, facilities to youth services - the enthusiasm, warmth, and dedication of the library’s team makes Cambridge an amazing place to live, learn and explore.
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This week we are pleased to introduce you to Deputy Director of Libraries, Joy Kim! 

Joy is giving us a behind-the-scenes peek at how the Cambridge Public Library decided to join a growing number of libraries that have decided to eliminate late fines.

Joy, what is the fine free initiative?
Fine free is a movement happening in public libraries across the United States. About five years ago we began to see some of the largest libraries in the country make the shift to fine free. The libraries that were at the forefront of this initiative questioned whether late fines were consistent with the mission of libraries as institutions designed to serve all members of the community. So far, the libraries that have gone fine free have seen positive impacts in their communities!

There have been studies done on the benefits of going fine free. Research has shown that late fines are a significant deterrent to people with low incomes - they either won’t get a library card to begin with out of fear of fines or they lose access to materials because they accrue fines. When books are returned late or lost, it’s often because people are facing other hardships, such as housing instability or poverty, and we don’t want to make people's lives even harder with late fines. Eliminating library fines removes the financial barrier, and at times shame, that comes with library charges. 

Studies have also shown that small fines don’t change behavior. In fact, some large libraries realized that the cost of fining patrons was more expensive than the fines they were collecting. There’s a myth that going fine free discourages patrons from returning their items, but libraries that are fine free still have their materials returned. In fact, some people are more inclined to return their overdue library books because they aren’t nervous about the repercussions!

So how did it work here in Cambridge? How did our community make this important decision?
As we saw other libraries go fine free, our leadership team wanted to explore it here. We were so fortunate to have the full support of Mayor Siddiqui and Vice Mayor Mallon, who passed a policy order asking the library to look into this question, and of the City Manager’s Office. Cambridge is a really unique and special city in that way - our elected and City leadership understand the importance of libraries for families in the community, and support our efforts to provide a warm, welcoming space for all. 

The Cambridge Public Library became temporarily fine free at the beginning of the pandemic because we wanted to respond to the immediate needs of our community members: if someone was unable to return materials to the library because of Covid-19, we didn’t want them to be penalized. Prior to the pandemic, if a patron had more than $10 in fines they were barred from taking out materials, but during the pandemic we lifted that ceiling to $1,000. 

We waited until library buildings had reopened and returned to a semblance of normalcy to officially launch the fine free initiative by waiving eligible past charges. We are a member of the Minuteman Library Network, a regional consortium, and we worked with our partners there on the logistical work necessary to update our borrowing settings and to remove eligible past changes. 

What does fine free actually look like for library patrons?
Going fine free is a game changer! Just a few weeks ago, on October 19th, the library cleared all the past overdue fines that had accumulated on patrons’ accounts. We also cleared the bills on lost Cambridge-owned children and young adult materials. Cambridge has been fine free for youth materials for decades, and people have still brought back their books. We expect that to continue to be true as we become fine free for all materials.  

This is what fine free looks like for us:

• Patrons are still responsible for returning items so that other people may enjoy them;
• We will continue to email patrons to remind them to return their items;
• We will bill patrons for items that are 4 weeks overdue, but if they return the item the bill will be cleared from their account; and
• We will clear all bills for lost and damaged children’s and young adult materials under most circumstances even if the item cannot be returned.

What’s most important to us is that all library patrons feel comfortable and confident making full use of all the library has to offer.  Already, we have seen a positive response from the community! We have had library patrons share with librarians how exciting it is that we are fine free. 
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Could you tell us how going fine free fits into the library’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives?
Last year the library committed to expanding our diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and programs. We have been doing both outward-facing work in the community and internal work with the library staff and teams. We are actively working to understand and dismantle the structures of oppression that exist within our organization and community. 

At one point in time librarians created late fees which reduced people's access to library materials, so by eliminating overdue fines we are removing barriers to equitable access and helping to break the cycle of oppression.

What do you like most about working at the library?
I like doing mission driven work, and I feel fulfilled when I get to help people at the library. Going fine free is a great example of that! I like working in Cambridge because the community loves and values the public library. Our patrons understand the library’s mission in the community and have consistently invested in library services. That’s really special. What’s also unique about this library in particular is the community support we receive from residents, stakeholders, elected officials and city leadership. 

What is your favorite book?
Oh that is so hard, I can't pick just one! I read really widely, but I lean towards science fiction, fantasy, and graphic novels. Earlier in my library career, I was a youth services librarian, and I had the opportunity to serve on two Young Adult Library Services Association book committees (the William C. Morris YA Debut Award Committee and the Great Graphic Novels for Teens Committee). 

Thank you for joining us this week, Joy! If you would like to learn more about the library’s Fine Free Initiative, you can do so here. Please contact the library if you have questions about the status of your account.

Contributions from the City of Cambridge and our generous donors have supported the library’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. If you would like to support the Cambridge Public Library, please reach out to katie@cplfound.org.

It's no secret: we love the Cambridge Public Library staff! From circulation to admin, facilities to youth services - the enthusiasm, warmth, and dedication of the Library’s team makes Cambridge an amazing place to live, learn and explore.
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The Cambridge Public Library Foundation is taking you on a virtual tour of the library and introducing some of the library's super star staff. Our next stop is the Tech Bar!

This week we’re excited to introduce you to Reinhard Engels, the mind behind the Library’s Tech Bar. The Tech Bar, located in the Library’s Main Branch, allows patrons to take out Chromebooks, hotspots and more for free!

What is your position at the Library?
My title is Manager of Innovation and Technology. I like that title because it captures the broad range of work that I do. Under this umbrella I have two teams: a more traditional IT team, who ensure that any technology at the Library is working smoothly (“keeping the lights on”), and a more experimental team that focuses primarily on STEAM education (STEAM = Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) at the Library. STEAM at the Library encompasses the Tech Bar, the Hive, the STEAM Learning Lab, and the STEAM Academy. 

Can you tell us about the Tech bar?
The Tech Bar is a GREAT resource for Library patrons. It’s a physical space that has the vibe of a coffee bar and four digital screens mounted above (like a menu at Starbucks!) where you can browse and then order tech for take-out. Except unlike the menu at Starbucks, these tech menus automatically update every 10 minutes to reflect the number and types of items available.

Two of the mounted screens are these tech menus that reflect what technology is available. The two other provide additional details about our services and technology including pictures of the different devices, so our patrons could get a better sense as to why to order one device vs. another. Our goal was to make ordering tech feel as normal and as accessible as possible.

The Tech Bar space consists of a beautiful wooden service bar in the historic part of the Library, and a ‘work bar’ seating section along the hallway by the Rindge Room. There are also numerous desktop computers by the Tech Bar that are available for public use in two hour increments. 

We were about to open the Tech Bar in March of 2020, but then the pandemic hit. While we couldn’t allow public access to the space then, the need for at home technology was suddenly greater than ever. So in a very different way than we expected, it was the perfect time to launch a takeout tech program. We pivoted and offered phone ordering with contactless pickup at the main Library entrance. It’s much nicer now, of course, when we can allow patrons inside this beautiful physical space, but it met a pressing need, and was an important first step. 

The two most important and popular items at the Tech Bar are Chromebooks and hotspots. The Library owns hundreds of Chromebooks, 95 hotspots, and we have an additional 200 hotspots via a government program that we make available to partner organizations via bulk loans. Now that we have the basics covered, we are increasingly branching out into “fun” technology like Go Pros, all in one DVD players, and e-readers. Suggestions from the public are more than welcome! 

One of the most important pieces of the Tech Bar isn’t “tech” at all - it’s the humans, the knowledgeable, patient and friendly staff who are available to answer patron’s technology-related questions.

How do patrons take out tech from the Tech Bar? Do they need an appointment? 
There is no appointment necessary. It’s just like Starbucks. Patrons can come to the Tech Bar and look at the menu to see what is available. They can say: “Hm, I think I need a 14-inch Chromebook today!” and they can use their Library Card to borrow it, just like they would with a library book. Technology is available to borrow for a two-week loan period with two automatic renewals if no one is waiting.

One of the great aspects of getting a tech loan from the Tech Bar is that you can make the Chromebook as personal as you want it during your rental. We adopted a hybrid model so that you can either log into the laptop as a guest or using your personal Google account. 

Is takeout tech available at all Cambridge Public Library branches? 
Yes - takeout tech is available at all the branches! While the Tech Bar itself is located at the Main Library, patrons can get free technology to-go at any local branch.

Could you talk more broadly about STEAM at the Library?
One of my favorite programs that really encompasses the purpose and goal of STEAM at the Library is our STEAM Academy. The Academy is a partnership with  Innovators for Purpose (IFP), an amazing local nonprofit that has been a Library partner for more than four years. With IFP we provide a series of free, immersive project-based learning summer and afterschool courses for teens that goes beyond mere project-based learning -- it’s product based learning. The teens actually make a product for a customer. They learn not just the tech and science skills required to do that (which is huge) -- from computer programming, to materials science, to math, to robotics, to 3D design but just as important they learn valuable business and organizational “soft” skills for the workplace: how to brainstorm, how to get feedback, how to present, how to iterate on product ideas. The teens regularly present their projects to stakeholders (usually Library staff and community members) at review sessions for feedback and really drive what is going on. I am consistently blown away by what these kids come up with, and their poise, maturity and skill. Every semester the program gets bigger and bolder. 

[Editor’s Note: You can visit a STEAM Academy project in Kendall Square called “The Looking Glass.” This piece is a five-foot aluminum statue that tells the origin story of Kendall Square. “This Should Not Be” is another STEAM Academy project - a groundbreaking augmented reality experience exploring racial and social justice that can be found on the lawn of Cambridge Public Library’s Main Branch.]

What is your favorite part about working at the Library?
I have worked at the Library for just about five years and there are a lot of things I love about it. Libraries are the culmination of an ancient tradition going all the way back to the Great Library of Alexandria and beyond. So it appeals to the history geek in me. But public libraries are also distinctly modern and American, free public institutions to truly benefit everyone in our community. It gives me a kind of patriotic rush to consider this. The Cambridge Public Library has a broad array of services from the Children's Room to Adult Services to the Hive that all mesh together to create amazing programs for everyone in Cambridge to enjoy. And my coworkers are so passionate and driven by this sense of mission. It’s inspiring.

I also like that my job is so tangible for my kids – they really understand and appreciate what I do because they love the Library too! I sometimes joke that my real job is shuttling materials back and forth from the Library for my book loving family. 

What is your favorite book?
Well that’s a tough question…I can’t pick just one! I would say War & Peace by Leo Tolstoy; I like a lot of those older Russian authors. I am also a big fan of Jane Austen and Shakespeare. I’m big on the classics.
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You can learn more about the Library’s takeout technology service here. 
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Contributions from the City of Cambridge and the Library Foundation’s generous donors have made the Tech Bar and STEAM at the Library possible. If you would like to support the Cambridge Public Library, please reach out to Library Foundation Director, Katie Welch, at katie@cplfound.org.