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Dear Friend,

This month is all about giving thanks – thanks for the people and places in our life that nurture and sustain us, and thanks for our many blessings. So many people are thankful for the Cambridge Public Library – whether it’s children getting their first library cards, immigrants taking free English classes, students finding respite in the historic reading room (pictured above), or unhoused families getting services from the library’s social worker.

As we make our way toward the end of the calendar year, please consider expressing your gratitude for the library by joining us at an upcoming world-class event like DREAM BIG on December 8th, purchasing a book for Cambridge's Liberation Libraries, or by making a fully tax-deductible gift to the Library Foundation today or on Giving Tuesday (November 29).

Thank you for your support.

Katie Welch

Foundation Director

Please join us on December 8, 2022 for DREAM BIG, a special joint program of the Library Foundation and the Cambridge Public Library. This highly-anticipated annual event is finally returning after a two-year hiatus due to the global pandemic.

This discussion will center around the reinvention of journalism to support democracy and a more equitable and sustainable world with the following luminaries:

David Bornstein: an award-winning journalist and the co-founder and CEO of Solutions Journalism.
Deborah Douglas: co-editor in chief of The Emancipator, a collaboration between the Boston Globe and BU’s Center for Antiracist Research.
Amanda Ripley: a New York Times bestselling author, an investigative journalist, and the co-founder of Good Conflict.

Read more about these panelists and claim your tickets for the in-person program or livestream from home. This event is free for all.

CLAIM YOUR FREE TICKET NOW

Buy a Book for the Liberation Libraries

The Cambridge Public Library and the Library Foundation have joined with Porter Square Books to help fill Liberation Libraries across Cambridge. Stocked with a selection of books by Black and Brown authors, including titles for all ages, the Liberation Libraries honor the Black and Brown experience through literature.

You can buy a book for the Liberation Libraries at Porter Square Books in person or by using this online wishlist and receive a 20% discount. Please enter the code LIBERATION2022 to apply the discount to your online order.

The Liberation Libraries are a collaboration between My Brother’s Keeper Cambridge, the Mayor’s Office, and the Cambridge Public Library.

STOCK THE LIBERATION LIBRARIES

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Tuesday, November 29th

Giving Tuesday is a movement that unleashes the power of radical generosity around the world! After being tested in so many ways over the past two years, the Cambridge Public Library is stronger than ever, supporting every member of our community and upholding democracy (the library hosted early voting at two branches, from October 22nd through November 4th. Now that's civic engagement!).

Thank you to our generous donors -- and those making gifts for the first time -- our library is fortified for whatever lies ahead.

If you believe in the power of libraries and in their importance to our community, please consider making your fully tax-deductible gift now, before the rush at the end of the year. We are deeply grateful for your support.

SUPPORT THE CAMBRIDGE PUBLIC LIBRARY

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As you start your holiday shopping, don’t forget that turning your Amazon purchases into money for the library is as easy as smiling.

AmazonSmile is a simple way to support the library at no cost to you. Instead of going directly to Amazon.com, try smile.Amazon.com, an Amazon website with the same pricing and shopping features. The difference is that when you shop on AmazonSmile, 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases goes straight to the charitable organization of your choice.

On your first visit to AmazonSmile, select the Cambridge Public Library Foundation and use your regular account and password. The website will remember that you’ve selected the library, and every purchase you make will result in a donation. Thank you for your support!

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2022 Community Report

11/10/2022

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October 2022 Newsletter

10/11/2022

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Dear Friend,

This month we’re celebrating! It’s been one year since the library’s launch of its Fine Free initiative! Being Fine Free permanently reduces several barriers to access and services at the library, expanding social justice in Cambridge.

We’re observing Teen Read Week from October 9 through 15, and if you haven’t been to the Teen Room at the Main Library, you’re in for a treat!

Of course, October wouldn’t be complete without some spooky stories. Read on for our librarians’ top scary book picks.

Click here for an update from the City of Cambridge, spotlighting the library's social worker and how she supports our most vulnerable residents.

Finally, if you ever wonder how much the library saves you and your family, use this handy Library Value Calculator. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised!

I look forward to seeing you soon at the library.

Katie Welch
Director

Cambridge Libraries Are Fine Free!

In recent years, more than 100 major libraries in North America have moved to a Fine Free model, representing a commitment to equitable and accessible service while increasing the number of users and books in circulation and reducing the amount of lost material. Cambridge joined these libraries in October 2021 with the launch of its Fine Free initiative.

Studies have shown that low-income families view fines and fees as a deterrent to library use, and it’s clear that fines and fees disproportionately affect low-income families and neighborhoods. The Cambridge Public Library has not charged late fines on children’s and young adult items for many years, and patrons have continued to return those items.

However, before the pandemic, if patrons had more than $10 in fines, they were barred from taking out materials. This impacted 5,700 card holders before the Fine Free initiative went into effect. You can read the initial Fine Free announcement from the library here.

As part of the library’s Fine Free initiative, all overdue fines were cleared from patrons’ accounts, including bills for lost material. “What’s most important to us,” said Joy Kim, Deputy Director of Libraries, “is that all library patrons feel comfortable and confident making full use of what the library has to offer.” Read more from Deputy Director Kim on our blog.

If you’d like to celebrate this milestone, consider making a donation to the Library Foundation, which provides support for the library's programs and services today, and is building an endowment for the challenges that lie ahead.

Pay it forward!

Spooky Reads for You!

In October, scary books seem to fly off the shelves. Here are a few top picks from librarians who love a good scare!

Teen Read Week (Oct 9 - 15)

Teen Read Week is an initiative of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) – the fastest growing division of the American Library Association – and has been celebrated for 24 years!

This year’s theme is Books with Beat, encouraging teens to read poetry, listen to audiobooks, and seek out books about music, among other choices.

“Teen Read Week is a great time to make sure teens and their families know about all the free services the library can offer them and to reach out to teens who aren’t regular users and encourage them to come see what they can find here” said Julie Roach, Manager of Youth Services.

Check out the YALSA’s Book Awards and Book lists here:
https://www.ala.org/yalsa/booklistsawards/booklistsbook

HONK! At the Library

Join us for a special pre-HONK! performance this Thursday, October 6th at 6:30pm at the Main Library. The band Banda Rim Bam Bum will perform, followed by a discussion about the political revolution of their country, Chile, since the revolt of October 2019.

Registration is recommended, and you can do so by clicking here.

Click here to access the full HONK! festival calendar, and good luck to all the bands this weekend!

Click here for a list of all the great programs happening at the library in October - including one of our favorites -
Read To A Dog!

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September 2022 Newsletter

10/11/2022

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Dear Friend,

I am so pleased to send you the first newsletter from the Cambridge Public Library Foundation. It aims to share the visible – and sometimes hidden – efforts that make Cambridge such a special place to work, play, and go to the library.

September is Library Card Sign-Up Month, and Cambridge has hundreds of new library card holders thanks to its unique “My First Library Card” program. We are also celebrating national Banned Books Week (September 18-24), joining forces with public libraries across the country in fighting for unlimited access to information and ideas. Read on for more about these special initiatives and Dr. Maria McCauley’s new role as board president for the Public Library Association.

Please click here for the latest edition of the library’s On & Off Broadway newsletter. It spotlights meaningful additions to the library’s art collection, funded and facilitated by the Foundation, including prints by Kehinde Wiley and an original mural inspired by Ed Emberley’s classic “thumbprint art” children’s books.

Finally, we continue to mourn the loss of Donna Davis, a beloved friend and Foundation leader who died earlier this month. Read about Donna and her legacy at the library – including her establishment of the Donna Davis Fund – here.

I hope you enjoy this first newsletter from the Foundation, and I look forward to seeing you soon at the library.

Katie Welch
Director

"My First Library Card" Program

In Cambridge, children are eligible for their own library card as soon as they are five years old. In 2017, the Cambridge Public Library, the Cambridge Public Schools, and the mayor’s office came together as part of a national initiative developed by the Urban Libraries Council to increase the number of children who receive library cards throughout the city.

Thanks to this collaboration, all five-year-old kindergartners received their first library card at school unless their parents opted out at registration.

By streamlining this process, nearly 100% of five-year-old kindergartners gain access to the library each year, ensuring that they will have the resources to succeed.

Youth librarians from the Cambridge Public Library personally bring the library cards and small gift bags to the students at school, taking time to get to know these new card holders and share how exciting and important it is to have a library card.

In Cambridge, all library card holders, regardless of their age, have equal rights and privileges. For a child, getting a library card is an empowering moment, and we are thrilled that our library is successfully running this unique program.

Banned Books Week – September 18 - 24, 2022

The American Library Association tracked 729 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services in 2021. Some 37% of those challenges took place in public libraries, surpassed only by school libraries, at 44%. Politicians and school boards across the country are trying to ban books – especially those representing Black and LGBTQ+ experiences – from public schools and libraries.

Banned Books Week encourages readers to voice their concerns about censorship, to celebrate free expression, and to show their communities the importance of intellectual freedom.

Join us in celebrating Banned Books Week by doing one of the following:

Stay Informed. If you hear of a challenge at the Cambridge Public Library or in your school library, assert your free and open access to library materials by contacting the Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) at the American Library Association. OIF estimates it learns of only 3%-18% of book challenges.
Read some banned books! Every time a book is checked out of the library, it’s another “vote” to keep that title circulating and available for other readers. You can also suggest that your book club tackle some rebellious reads.
Help spread the word. Use the hashtag #bannedbooksweek to declare your right to read, or write a letter to the editor.
Make a gift to support the Cambridge Public Library through a gift to the Foundation, providing funds to support its fight against censorship.

make your gift now to support intellectual Freedom

Congratulations, Dr. McCauley!

We are very proud of Dr. McCauley for leading our library while simultaneously helping libraries across the country in her new role as board president of the Public Library Association (PLA).

Founded in 1944, the PLA is the largest group dedicated to supporting the unique and evolving needs of public library professionals in the country. It serves nearly 10,000 members in public libraries large and small across the United States and Canada, with a growing presence around the world. In collaboration with its parent organization, the American Library Association, the PLA strives to serve as an indispensable ally for public library leaders.

“I am filled with gratitude to have this opportunity to serve as the president of the Public Library Association and to work with talented member-leaders to fulfill the PLA's mission of strengthening public libraries and their invaluable contributions to communities," said Dr. McCauley. "Public library workers care deeply about their communities and one another, and are passionate about equitable and inclusive library service. I greatly look forward to my tenure on the PLA board."

During her tenure, Dr. McCauley will prioritize inclusion and social justice, bringing to the forefront the need for libraries to represent, and strongly advocate for, the communities they serve.

Amazon Smile

Turning your Amazon purchases into money for the library is as easy as smiling.

AmazonSmile is a simple way to support the library at no cost to you. Instead of shopping at Amazon.com, try smile.Amazon.com, an Amazon website with the same pricing and shopping features. The difference is that when you shop on AmazonSmile, 0.5% of the purchase price goes to the charitable organization of your choice.

On your first visit to AmazonSmile, select the Cambridge Public Library Foundation and use your regular account and password. The website will remember that you’ve selected the library, and every purchase you make will result in a donation. Thank you for your support!

Support the Library fOUNDATION

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Remembering our dear friend Donna Davis: Trailblazer, Visionary, and Leader

9/20/2022

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Dear Friends,

It is with a heavy heart that we share that Donna Davis, former president of the Cambridge Public Library Foundation’s board of directors and board member emeritus, passed away peacefully at her home on September 4, 2022. She was 91 years old.

“Donna was immersed in words her whole life,” shared her daughter, Connie Moore. “She was lucky to grow up in a house of readers, surrounded by a family engaged in law and writing. More importantly, she grasped that literacy and a mastery of words offered the opportunity to achieve, to facilitate mutual understanding amongst those with differing perspectives, and to ensure democracy. It was fateful that she would dedicate her estimable skills and energy to supporting the Cambridge Public Library.”

Donna was a trailblazer, a fierce advocate for libraries, an impatient visionary, and a dear friend. She believed that the Cambridge Public Library was the very heart of our community, and that a robust endowment would guarantee its bright future. In 2015, Donna was instrumental in the creation of the Cambridge Public Library Foundation and its endowment, ensuring long-term financial support for our library. Susan Flannery, former Director of Libraries, shared: “Donna’s formidable will power moved us from planning to implementation very quickly. She was a one-woman tour-de-force!”

Donna’s deep relationships, professional experience, and sense of humor made her an ideal leader for the nascent Foundation, and she served as inaugural president of the board of directors from 2015-2016. Donna recruited generous community members to join the effort, launched the Dream Big series, and secured the Foundation’s first major gifts. Nancy Woods, library trustee, remembered: “Donna had a way of capturing the attention of the trustees of the library. She encouraged us to go beyond what we thought was possible and worked with us to make it happen.”

After her tenure as board president, Donna remained highly engaged with the Foundation. She was a driving force behind the growth of the Scribe Society (the Foundation’s legacy giving program), and she was undeterred by the global pandemic. Donna helped the Foundation pivot from planning an in-person fundraising event in 2020 to developing Voices for Justice, a critically important virtual series in 2021. As the series’ co-chair, Donna raised more than $115,000 for the library’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and she hosted a celebratory post-event reception at her home when Covid protocols allowed. Dr. Maria McCauley, Director of Libraries, remembers that Donna “was out in front as a brave host, celebrating the moment with colleagues and friends.”

According to her daughter Connie, Donna “was very proud of her work at the Foundation and she valued her relationships with library leadership, staff and supporters. To the surprise of no one who knew her, my mom was never shy in asking friends to join her in sharing their wealth with the library through a gift or legacy pledge.”

“Donna was very clear that libraries need private endowments to flourish,” remembers Shippen Page, who succeeded Donna as president of the Foundation’s board. “She was steadfast in her belief that private philanthropy, particularly endowments, could enable a library to achieve its greatest potential.” More than a year before her passing, Donna made plans to establish the Donna Davis Fund to benefit the library’s endowment. The purpose of the fund is to provide annual unrestricted income to the library with the principal living in perpetuity. The Cambridge Public Library, the library’s Board of Trustees, and the Cambridge Public Library Foundation are honored to remember Donna with this named fund.

If you would like to make a gift to the Donna Davis Fund, you can mail a check to the Cambridge Public Library Foundation or make a gift online through our secure donation portal. All gifts made in Donna’s memory 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 Donna’s full and vibrant life, we invite you to read her obituary, published in the Boston Globe.

Remember Donna with a Gift

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“Kellie Ruccolo on Programs and Events at the Library”

8/9/2022

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Photo of Kellie Ruccolo, Program and Events Coordinator.

Director of Libraries, Maria McCauley (L) and Deputy director of Libraries (R) with Malinda Lo the author of Last Night at the Telegraph Club who spoke at the library in June 2022.

It's no secret: we love the Cambridge Public Library staff! From circulation to admin, facilities to adult and youth services - the enthusiasm, warmth, and dedication of the library’s team makes Cambridge an amazing place to live, learn and explore.

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 Marketing & Communications with Kellie Ruccolo!

What is your position at the library?
I joined the library in February 2022 as the Program and Events Coordinator! I work on the Communications team to create and schedule programs and events at the library. This can range from hosting award-winning authors who draw large crowds, to smaller programs such as a grant writing workshop which we’ve held in recent weeks.

When I first started the library was hosting events exclusively online because of the pandemic, but over the course of my six months here I have seen the transition back to in-person events. It’s really exciting to be able to invite the community back into the library!

Can you tell us more about the library’s programs and events over the past year?
Despite the ongoing pandemic, the library (with careful planning from the Communications team) hosted a number of events that have drawn large crowds. In March 2022 we hosted the latest installment of the library’s Our Path Forward series, which encourages education and dialogue around democracy. This event featured Barbara F. Walters, author of How Civil Wars Start, in conversation with Erica Chenoweth. [Editor's note: this event was dedicated in memory of Janet Axelrod, Chair of the Library’s Board of Trustees for over 20 years and beloved Library Foundation Board Member, who passed away in December 2021.] The Zoom event was extremely well attended. We also hosted a Zoom event with Louise Erdrich, the author of The Sentence, which promoted a lot of conversation and audience engagement and had 200 attendees!

As we moved to in-person events in May, the library hosted Katie Kitamura, Malinda Lo, and Homeira Qaderi. I have loved every author and poetry event, but Homeria Qaderi’s reading was particularly memorable. Homeria was joined by a translator - she read excerpts of her book, Dancing in the Mosque: An Afghan Mother’s Letter to Her Son, in her native language which was then translated from Persian to English. Patrons were able to interact with Homeira by asking questions in both Persian and English. It was a really powerful event.

When the library hosts author events, we like to have the author in conversation with another person; this helps with the flow of the event, and the moderator is able to field questions from the audience. We try to be very intentional about our pairings between the moderator and the authors - either they have similar backgrounds, common themes in their work, or sometimes they even know each other personally. When we hosted Katie Kitamura she was joined by her friend Meghan O’Rourke. We’ve also had authors who connected so well with their moderator that they became friends after the event!

On July 14th the library kicked off its Park Sounds series, featuring DJ Johnny Stevents from Soulelujah. The library will be hosting two more Park Sounds events outside the library in Joan Lorentz Park in August and one in September. Park Sounds is an opportunity to invite local performers to share their musical talents with the Cambridge community.

The library has also held a number of smaller events like the grant writing workshop I mentioned, a presentation on March Madness, a class on how to be a plant parent and more! In May, we hosted a number of lectures in celebration of Haitian Flag Day that were presented by Dr. Régine Michelle Jean-Charles, Dr. Jean Eddy Saint Paul, and former Cambridge Poet Populist Jean Dany Joachim. They spoke about the history of the Haitian Flag and the importance of women authors, artists, and activists in Haiti. It was a wonderful and educational celebration.

Could you tell us about the process of reaching out to authors?
Sure! There are two main ways we go about identifying a potential author. Sometimes the Communications team researches authors and we make a list of authors we’d like to invite. Other times we get recommendations from patrons or library staff. Once we have identified an author, we reach out to them through their website and connect with either their agent or the author themselves. We work with their team to see what dates and times they are available. A lot of work goes into preparing for these events, and it is so rewarding to meet these authors and introduce them to the audience.

What programs and events can we look forward to at the library?
There are a number of exciting events and programs at the library in the coming months! As I mentioned, there are two more Park Sounds at the end of the summer. We are also holding a Drawing in the Park class in Joan Lorentz Park in August. This is an opportunity for patrons to join an artist in drawing trees in the park.

In the fall, the library is celebrating Latinx Heritage Month, Indigenous People's Day, and Native Heritage Month. In September and December we are holding a Sacred Songs and Rituals musical series with two incredible performers. The September event includes Yacouba, who plays the kora, a sacred instrument native to West Africa. Then in December, musician Sara Aroeste will be performing music with both Spanish and Jewish roots. The intention of Sacred Songs and Rituals is to highlight the positive impact and solace people found in music during the height of the pandemic.

How has the community participated in these programs? What feedback are you hearing from patrons?
The community loves free library events, and we always have excellent patron turnout! One event that stands out to me is when we hosted author Malinda Lo. Malinda lives in Cambridge so attendees were excited to hear one of their community members speak. One mother told us that her daughter was eager to attend the event because she is a huge fan of Malinda’s book Last Night at the Telegraph Club. We love hearing feedback like this, especially when we are able to provide opportunities for young readers to engage with their author heroes!

We have seen a lot of patrons actively participating in Q&As, and many patrons like to stay after the programs when there are book signings. A lot of the feedback we receive is patrons saying they are happy to see the authors they know. It is so rewarding to hear their positive feedback - it motivates us to plan more events!

The best part about library events - whether they have large audiences or are more intimate - is that they foster a sense of community. The Communications team does our best to be intentional about the range of events and programs we are offering because we want to appeal to a variety of interests and attract as many patrons as possible! We do this through inviting a diverse range of authors and poets, and offering a number of different workshops to people of all ages and interests.

What do you enjoy most about working at the library?
Every day at the library is different and I never know what to expect. Some days I have visits from patrons, or I am working with different stakeholders and performers, or researching authors for an event. I get to meet a lot of people, which is an exciting element of this job!

For example, when organizing the Park Sounds series, I coordinated with a number of people and departments. I’ve worked with City officials, parking enforcement officers, vendors, performers, and obtained permits. There are a lot of pieces that go into events, and it is so rewarding to see the final product. We hope you are able to attend a library program or event (or multiple events!) in the future!

What’s your favorite book?
I like to read romance, like an easy beach read. Right now I love all of Emily Henry’s books, she even has a book called Beach Read! My favorite of hers is Book Lovers because there is a lot of banter. Her books are fast paced and easy to read through, there’s also a lot of quick wit.

You can visit the library’s calendar to learn more about upcoming programs and events here.

Contributions from the Library Foundation’s generous donors support programs and events, such as the authors series, at the library. If you would like to support the Cambridge Public Library, please reach out to Library Foundation Director, Katie Welch, at katie@cplfound.org or make a donation through our secure online portal here.

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“The Secret to Senior Programming: A Conversation with Adult Services”

5/23/2022

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It's no secret: we love the Cambridge Public Library staff! From circulation to admin, facilities to adult and youth services - the enthusiasm, warmth, and dedication of the library’s team makes Cambridge an amazing place to live, learn and explore.

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 Adult Services with Diana Fendler and Janet Borron, focused on the library’s services for seniors.

Diana Fendler is the library’s Manager of Adult Services, and oversees a team of 20 staff members who provide services to all patrons, but are primarily geared towards helping adults and seniors. Diana’s incredible team provides information services, book recommendations, basic technology assistance, program facilitation and more.

Janet Borron is the library’s Senior Services Librarian, and has been part of the library’s Adult Services team for more than seven years. In her role, Janet coordinates monthly curated home delivery of library materials to Cambridge residents who are unable to visit the library and establishes partnerships with local area assisted living facilities and the city’s senior center. Her expertise and knowledge about the library and community is unparalleled.

Diana, please tell us about Janet’s role in the community, specifically bringing library resources to seniors where they are.
Sometimes described as a “human book mobile,” Janet provides home delivery of an average of 600 items to more than 50 Cambridge residents every month. She also does monthly outreach visits to community partners in order to showcase the library’s vast collection, highlight popular books, and promote library resources and programs.

Can you tell us more about the library’s senior programming and what’s currently available to seniors.
Back in 2017, the library received funding through the Library Foundation to begin a Creative Aging series for older adults. These eight-week long courses provided instruction in various written and performing arts, including dance and storytelling. The workshops were taught by professional teaching artists, and offered participants the opportunity to explore new skills which bolstered self-confidence and created an avenue for lasting social connections between participants.

We had to pause the Creative Aging series due to the pandemic, but we look forward to restarting this program in the near future! If you’d like to be notified when Creative Aging gets restarted, you can sign up for the Director’s Weekly Message or the Events & Programs newsletter. You can learn more here.

Currently, there are two virtual program series being offered for older adult patrons. The first is a weekly Wellness Exercise Program. Each month we offer different themes such as Zumba Gold, Low Impact Fitness, and Let Your Yoga Dance. Our second series is the Active Older Adult Lecture and Workshop Series. The library launched this series with 10 workshops centered around the topic of “Navigating Solo” and “Tools for Creating Your Plan for Aging Well.” The ten virtual workshops are offered every other Thursday from February through June and you can learn more and sign up here.

How is the library’s programming for seniors being received in the community?
We can tell how popular these programs are from the number of attendees and from the feedback that we get from participants. The weekly Wellness Exercise Program consistently has over 40 participants who are engaged, interacting with each other since there are a lot of “regulars” and it’s clear they’re having fun during the program. At the end of every class, the Zoom chat fills up with words of praise and thanks.
As for the library’s Active Older Adult Lecture and Workshop Series, we are halfway through the ten workshops, and it has been incredibly well received and well attended! On average there are over 100 participants in each session. Many participants share their gratitude with comments submitted in the chat. Here are a few from our very first session:

Can't begin to say how appropriate this is for me and my brother.

This is so timely; I have just written my will.

This has been tremendous; this is so so important.

I really like this. It came out at a perfect time.

Thank you for this program and guidance.

This is terrific, a marvelous offering.

What programming, specifically for seniors, is coming up at the Library?
We are cautiously optimistic about bringing back the Creative Aging series in-person, and there are a few currently being planned for late summer and fall. The Wellness Exercise Program ends soon, in late May, and we hope to offer it again in the fall potentially in a hybrid (virtual and in-person) format. As for the Active Older Adult Lecture and Workshop Series, we have been doing early planning with potential author speakers on the topics of nutrition, health and happiness relating to aging. There’s more to come!

Thanks Diana! Is there anything else you’d like to share?
It’s wonderful to be able to share a glimpse of our work and to highlight the importance of services and programs for older adult patrons. People often feel isolated as they age, and it’s been wonderful to have resources from the Library Foundation to break down some of the natural barriers. We are grateful for the support, and we love being a part of the Cambridge community.

Janet, can you tell us about your position at the library?
I’m officially the Cambridge Public Library’s Staff Librarian for Senior Services. My position focuses on outreach services to the aging populations in Cambridge and to those members of the community who, for a variety of reasons, are unable to leave their home. These outreach services include personalizing book selections and coordinating deliveries with our Support Services staff, going to the senior center to run book groups, and bringing programs and services to these important populations.

What do you enjoy most about working at the library?
There’s a concept called “the third space” – which refers to society’s communal space, or a space that isn’t a person’s home or workplace. From the moment I encountered this concept it resonated with me because a public library is the quintessential “third space” and answers why I love working here so much- there’s no barrier to entry and it’s a place where people can come together and let life happen!

What’s your favorite book?
I don’t play favorites. My reading tastes vary as frequently as the New England weather. I am currently reading American Made: What Happens to People When Work Disappears by Farah Stockman. The author is a Pulitzer Prize winner and Cambridge native. The book looks at the impact of a plant closure on the workers employed in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Senior Center book club selection for this month is On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong, an examination of loss, immigration and addiction among other societal issues.

Photos courtesy of Jean Altidor and Valeria Mendes Ochoa.

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“Central Square Branch: A Conversation with Branch Manager Philecia Harris”

5/17/2022

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Cambridge Public Library's Central Square Branch

Philecia Harris, Manager of the Central Square Branch and Manager of Branch Services

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.

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 the Central Square Branch.

This week we’re excited to introduce you to Philecia Harris! Philecia works in the Central Square Branch and oversees the six branches in the Cambridge Public Library system. Philecia loves each branch for their unique programs and tight knit communities, and has nothing but praise for branch librarians who go above and beyond to forge meaningful relationships with patrons. 

What’s your role at the library?
I recently joined the Cambridge Public Library as the Manager of the Central Square Branch and the Manager of Branch Services. I worked as the interim Branch Manager for the Central Square Branch about 25 years ago, so things are coming full circle! I used to live a ten-minute walk from Central Square when I was growing up. It is nice to be back in my old neighborhood and to see old familiar faces at the library.
My background includes being a children’s librarian, a library media specialist, a Library Directory and entrepreneur. I was the Director of Library Media Services for public schools in Washington D.C. and owned and operated Coffy Café in D.C for five years!

Could you please tell me more about your role?
I do a lot! My role as Manager of the Central Square Branch involves programming, outreach, hiring, overseeing a tech and literacy center and more. As the Manager of Branch Services, I work with an Assistant Manager to oversee the same activities and take on goals and policy work as well.

What do you love about the Central Square Branch? What makes it unique?
Central Square is the largest branch in the Cambridge Public Library system [editor note: other than the Main Library!] and it is busy. This location has always been a gateway for new immigrants and has been newly dubbed the Art Corridor. Central Square Branch serves university students, businesspeople, children, elderly, the unhoused and longtime residents. People come to the Central Square branch to learn new skills, practice their English, write resumes and look-up which shelters have openings. You are assisting people acquiring vital skills or filling out important documents so you really get to know them and start to develop real connections with them. The development of rich relationships with our community is one of the reasons that staff members love working here. We are truly a neighborhood library. 

Are there any exciting programs that are unique to Central Square?
In addition to the Main Library, Central Square is the only branch with a Tech Center and our computers get a lot of use. Barely forty percent of African Americans have broad band internet, elders often need tech assistance and many, many people without home own technology find themselves forced to fill-out paperwork online. The Tech Center closed during the pandemic and will reopen when the branch is fully staffed. We currently have computers and take-home laptops available, but people are excited about the tech center reopening.

We host the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. event at the Central Square Branch. January of 2022 we held an amazing virtual program for the 47th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day lecture with Clint Smith, author of the New York Times best-seller, How the World Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America. It was a powerful, well attended event. We’re currently developing an emerging Black Voices collection that’s starting in the new fiscal year (July 2022) and will encompass black literature, arts, history, Black Lives Matter and the African diaspora in general.

Another big program at the Central Square Branch is the Cambridge Youth Poetry Contest. On April 30th we closed the submission for our 23rd Annual Youth Poetry Contest for K-8 students who live or attend school in Cambridge. We got over 1,000 submissions this year! Poems will be judged for interesting content and creativity as well as consistent and imaginative style. This year there will be an extra prize for winning poems about trees. Winners will be notified in early May, and prizes will be awarded at a ceremony and reading on Thursday, May 26, at 6 p.m. This is my first year working at the library during the poetry contest and I am so excited to read the poems! 

The Central Square Branch also does an “On the Wall Gallery,” which is a way for local artists to display their work. Applications are accepted up to 12 months in advance and priority is given to Cambridge residents. In the past we’ve had all kinds of two-dimensional work, including paintings, drawings, photographs, tapestries, fabric art, needle arts, etc. If you’re interested in showing your work, please come to the Central Square Library or call (617) 349-4010.

Why do you like working at the library?
For me, being a librarian is an identity. Whether or I’m at work, I’m connecting people to resources, finding and giving books to kids and helping people or community centers create their own libraries. It is a very fulfilling profession, you are able to watch people grow and discover new things—It allows you to feel like you are making a difference.

Being a children’s librarian is my first love! Sometimes you come across a child that says they don’t like to read. I love the special challenge of getting an “oooh, oooh, I want this book!” It's great when you can show them that it's not that they don’t like to read, it's just that they haven’t found the right book yet.
The public library is the number one way for people without internet access at home to have access to the internet and computers. We’re thinking about digital equity a lot here in the City of Cambridge, so having open access to computers is important for all members of the community.

What's your favorite book?
Oh… my all-time favorite children’s book recently changed. It was The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S Lewis. But now it's the His Dark Materials series by Philip Pullman. It is an amazingly imaginative trio of books with many dimensions and concepts. I am someone who only read the first book of a series because I love the new unique concepts, characters, worlds and ideas. The second book always loses its mystery. That being said, the first book in His Dark Materials hooked me and I had to read the whole series. It’s a lot like the Harry Potter series in terms of imagination and then amazing on many other levels.

My new favorite book for adults is The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson. It’s one of the best nonfiction books I’ve ever read.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?
I think one of the things I love about Branch Services is that each community in Cambridge is unique and the branches reflect that. Cambridge is also special in that the libraries are so accessible - there is a main library and six library branches in a city that is only two by three miles! That means every community has a library that is within walking distance.

I also want patrons to know that the library is here for you. The librarians at each branch are eager to answer your questions, help you find materials, and forge relationships.  

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Your Key to the Library: A Conversation with Becky Rowlands on the Role of Borrower Services

4/17/2022

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Photo courtesy of CRLS student Jean Altidor.

Photo of Becky Rowlands at a library MBTA outreach program.

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.

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.

Photo of 'Staff Picks' courtesy of CRLS student Valeria Mendez Ochoa.

Photo courtesy of Miga Purev-Ochir.

Photo of the book chute at the Main Library.

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Cambridge Libraries Are Fine Free!

Spooky Reads for You!

Teen Read Week (Oct 9 - 15)

HONK! At the Library

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Banned Books Week – September 18 - 24, 2022

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Remembering our dear friend Donna Davis: Trailblazer, Visionary, and Leader

“Kellie Ruccolo on Programs and Events at the Library”

“The Secret to Senior Programming: A Conversation with Adult Services”

“Central Square Branch: A Conversation with Branch Manager Philecia Harris”

Your Key to the Library: A Conversation with Becky Rowlands on the Role of Borrower Services

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Library Foundation Blog

Cambridge Libraries Are Fine Free!

​Spooky Reads for You!

​Teen Read Week (Oct 9 - 15)

HONK! At the Library

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Congratulations, Dr. McCauley!

Amazon Smile

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Spooky Reads for You!

Teen Read Week (Oct 9 - 15)

"My First Library Card" Program

Banned Books Week – September 18 - 24, 2022