 Janet sharing a laugh at the Main Library with Julie Roach, Manager of Youth Services (R) 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.  Janet (R) with Donna Davis, Library Foundation Board Member emeritus (L) and Susan Flannery, former Director of Libraries (center)
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Members of the Collection Services team unboxing and shelving materials!  Kathy Penny, Manager of Collection 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 Collection Services! This week we’re excited to introduce you to Kathy Penny! Kathy, along with her mighty team of eight, is responsible for maintaining and growing the library’s vast collection. She is up to date on all library trends, what’s new in the collection, and she even shares what books patrons are most eager to get their hands on. What is your position at the library? I am the Manager of Collection Services. We're responsible for the acquisition, processing, cataloging and distribution of library materials to all seven library locations. Could you please tell me more about Collection Services and the important role it plays at the library? Sure! Collection Services is comprised of eight dedicated staff who ensure that new library materials are ready and available to the public. This includes ordering new materials every week, receiving and unboxing these materials, processing and cataloging them and then distributing them to their respective locations. In a given year, Collection Services handles more than 50,000 new items for the Cambridge Public Library! A small percentage of that 50,000 are replacements or materials to add to an existing collection - the majority are new items. We collaborate with our vendors to receive books ahead of their release date so we can process them in our system, put stickers on them, and get them on display the day of release. Our goal is to offer patrons the same experience as walking into a bookstore! In addition, Collection Services orders eContent from the Overdrive platform, responds to patron requests for items we don’t already own, services Interlibrary Loan and Commonwealth Catalog requests for the Main Library, and serves as back-up coverage for public service needs. Commonwealth Catalog is a very cool aspect of the library, and it is an increasingly popular service. If a patron is looking for material that cannot be found in the library or MinuteMan System, we can check the state’s library system, Commonwealth Catalog, to see if they have the item. If it is not in the state’s system we can check with other libraries and institutions across the United States. There are libraries in all 50 states that will lend out materials to Cambridge Public Library patrons. We are fortunate to be part of a national network of libraries that support one another. What are some of the trends you are seeing in what patrons check out? Catabridgians remain voracious readers across many genres and formats! We continue to see an increase in eContent consumption across our two primary eBook vendors - Overdrive and hoopla. Additionally, we now have magazines available in digital format across three platforms, Overdrive, hoopla and Flipster. eContent has been growing in popularity over the past 15 years, but has really gained traction in recent years as new publishers have uploaded digital content! From a growing number of movies, music, books, and magazines available digitally, it's no wonder eContent is so popular. The library paused print magazine subscriptions during our closure in 2020 and early 2021, but I’m happy to say they are available on our shelves again! The list of popular titles is ever-changing but current favorites are Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty and Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr. What is your favorite part about working at the library? The people that I work with! They are dedicated, energetic, lovely humans focusing each day on our mission to serve our community. I also enjoy selecting and purchasing new materials for our libraries, whether it's books or movies. There are so many interesting and exciting releases forthcoming, especially for the Spring! And, as I had said before, I love the Interlibrary Loan. It's super-cool to be able to obtain items for our patrons from all over the country. We love seeing packages arrive from different states and knowing we've located a rare or obscure item for our patron to borrow! What is your favorite book? Just one? I've always loved White Oleander by Janet Fitch. My favorite read from 2021 is Dog Flowers, a memoir of a Navajo woman who returns to the reservation her Mom was born on to learn more about her. Bonus points because the author, Danielle Geller, is also a librarian! Is there anything you’d like library patrons to know? I’d like to plug Reading Together: A Yearlong Library Challenge! Each month, we offer a theme and curated book lists that relate to the theme. Patrons can download the app and log into the reading tracker (Beanstack) to complete each challenge. The Beanstack software is generously funded by the Library Foundation. I really enjoyed working with library staff in different departments to curate these special reading lists. Each month we feature 12 books for readers in their respective categories: youth, teens and adults. That’s 36 books a month that we recommend across ages and interests! January's theme is "Try Something New" and February’s theme is “Celebrate Black Voices.” In addition, the Cambridge Public Library is offering a new book group for adults in conjunction with Reading Together: A Yearlong Library Challenge. The Book Group will meet virtually via Zoom the fourth Monday of every month. Patrons can read one of the suggested books or any other book that fits the current month’s theme. We hope you'll join us! You can learn more about Reading Together: A Yearlong Challenge here. If you would like to register for our Reading Together Book group you can do so here. Contributions from the City of Cambridge and our generous donors have supported the library’s collection services. If you would like to support the Cambridge Public Library, please reach out to katie@cplfound.org.  Learn more about 'Reading Together: A Yearlong Library Challenge,' and join the fun!  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 Thank You, America The sun rising behind farm houses in the Midwest The clear mountain rivers in Montana I hope we have the wisdom to treasure all of it. A glimmer of dawn First flickers in Maine For the mountains. magnificent weathered beacons of topographical wonder. Tengo gracias that I can speak my mind y no hay consecuencias graves when I do so. I won't lie, I struggled with this question With all the fighting, hate and violence it has been difficult to remember to be thankful. However, when I read stories of people who stand up and speak out for justice and truth I become immensely grateful and proud of America. Freedom to whisper against kings My grandmother who carried her green card in the broken tattoos on her back I am thankful that other people are still trying to come here. I am thankful for the vastness of our borders and the beauty of our natural lands. Sunshine streaming softly while we sip our morning coffee. But across the oceans our troops fight ensuring that we keep our rights, to give us a land of the free. For the first responders For hope I am thankful for America's history, warts and all. Our past, full of light and dark, Read the history of heroes and villains See our country for what it is. Free Press and Free speech to speak out against injustices in our country, For family For places to walk safely places to paddle arcades of trees varied, inexpensive food tools and workplaces longtime friends who listen tennis courts Indoor plumbing, to worship whoever we want, to say whatever we want, to go wherever we want. for the public libraries. They raise up voices whom others attempt to silence. For diversity. For differences My son is transgender and I am grateful for those who treat HER with respect and kindness. for Cape May; for parties on the Fourth of July; for anarchist coffee shops; for church-run thrift stores; hole-in-the-wall BBQ joints; Lake Michigan; Vinny's Pizzeria in the 90s; beer delivery in a snow storm; for second, third and fourth chances. For forgiveness. I am thankful that my hybrid existence, hinted by my brown skin and slanted eyes, can make sense in America. For many spectacular parks in our nation--from the huge and awe-inspiring Grand Canyon to the tiny neighborhood park with the small playground and the pretty benches painted by local artists. I am grateful that America can change, too. for the millions who take to the streets, challenge authority, insist on change, demand justice, resist evil, tell their stories, Wrought through division Sustained by freedom's hope Seeking reunion I am thankful for America, most of the time. AMERICA LETS ME CONNECT AND PLAY VIDEOS WITH THE WORLD AMERICA ALLOWS ME TO PLAY BASKETBALL AMERICA GIVES ME A GOOD EDUCATION Thank you, America, For the mom and pop shops and rest stops. For the back roads and the beaten paths. For the love that greets me when I come home. For the dream to become, the dream to make better or different, the dream to inspire, the dream of something on the other side of whatever is facing us in the moment For You❤  'After the Storm' by award-winning artist Kadir Nelson. A large-scale reproduction of this painting can be found in the Community Room of the library's Valente Branch.  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. 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:
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.   Reinhard Engels speaking to patrons at The Hive.  Students from STEAM Academy with their piece "The Looking Glass" in Kendall Square. 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 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. You can learn more about the Library’s takeout technology service here. 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.   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. This week we are pleased to introduce you to the Library's first social worker, Marie Mathieu! The Library has always served as a welcoming, central gathering place for the community. The important addition of a social worker allows for the Library to continue to support the people of Cambridge. What is your role at the Library? I am the Library’s first social worker! I joined the team in March and our website went live two months ago. For years the [Cambridge Public] Library has wanted a social worker and there has always been a need for one. I help people meet a variety of needs. Some people have material needs; they are looking for back to school supplies, diapers, food, or clothing. Everything else runs the gambit from helping people apply for housing, helping with paperwork to stay in current housing, employment resources, and completing applications for MassHealth and disability. It is such a broad range, which is the unique piece of working at a Library. It is also cool to be able to work with people across the lifespan, from children to older adults. What does a typical day look like for you? There is no typical day! Since I have gotten myself more familiar with the community and my routine, I am trying to meet with patrons on specific days and allow myself time on other days to do the more administrative parts of my role. I am usually seeing patrons via the phone, Zoom, or at the Library branch that is most convenient for them. I also set aside time to do research and connect with other community partners who can assist folks. Most days I’m referring out to other agencies across the city and beyond. How can patrons connect with you? The first step usually entails filling out one of the referral forms on the website, or submitting a form at one of our drop boxes that can be found at each branch of the Library. I usually meet with patrons briefly the first time to do an assessment of needs and learn how I can best support them. What is your favorite thing about working at the Cambridge Public Library? It's a different setting where you don't typically find a social worker so I think that’s pretty cool! I like that there’s no entry criteria to a Library; everyone is welcome in this space so everyone is welcome to use me as a resource. Do you do any staff training? Not yet, but that is to come! I look forward to helping Library staff learn how they can best meet the needs of their patrons and community. What’s your favorite book? It’s called ‘Year of Yes’ by Shonda Rhimes. [Editor's note: You can borrow this book from the Library!] Is there anything else you would like to share? My hope is that I’m able to help as many people in this community as possible, and to see an increase in Library social workers across the country. In the two months that we’ve had our website up, I’ve already received over 60 referrals and I have connected with a majority of them. It shows the need for this kind of support in the community, so I see this as a fast growing program. You can schedule an appointment with Marie here, or submit a form at one of the drop boxes located in each branch of Cambridge Public Library. Ask any Library staff member if you need assistance connecting with Marie. Please allow 48 business hours for Marie to respond to your inquiry.
 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. Over the coming weeks, the Cambridge Public Library Foundation will take you on a virtual tour of the Library and introduce you to some of its STARS who make this place great. Our first stop is The Hive! The Hive is the FIRST free makerspace in the City of Cambridge. Yep, you read that right! In a City filled with high-tech, biotech and innovation, this is the first FREE makerspace, available and welcoming to all. The Hive opened on July 6th on L1 of the Library’s main branch (449 Broadway) and is part of a broader initiative called STEAM at the Library. The impressive array of technology in The Hive includes 3-D printers, a recording studio, a podcasting studio, laser cutters and more. The best part - everyone is welcome to learn new skills and explore their passions. It's our pleasure to introduce you to two Hive superstars - meet Damon Avant and Em St. Germain! Damon is the manager of The Hive, and Em is the Manager of STEAM programming at the Library. What is a typical day for you at work? Em: Each day at The Hive is unique. Since opening in early July, mornings are typically occupied by one of our partners or community groups that support teen education. Then, in the afternoon, we run one or two workshops. Our days will probably look a little different during the school year. What is your favorite aspect of working at The Hive? Damon: The Hive is just a space...it’s what happens in this space that makes it important. It gives people the opportunity to learn something new. It is great to see people explore their interests and be creative! Em: Since The Hive is still new, I love seeing people’s enthusiasm for the space when they get a glimpse of what is possible to make in a collaborative setting. Yesterday, a teen brought in a drawing he had done that he wanted to 3-D print into a small figure. I could tell that he was frustrated trying to use the new technology, but he was so excited and proud of himself when we finally got the figure printed. Everyone was excited to see the final product. It made it all worth it. It was everything for him to be able to conceptualize and create that. How can the community use The Hive? Damon: All events on the calendar are open to the public. There are also workshops to learn how to use the technology, like for button making or laser cutting. Before community members can sign up for any training they have to take a safety course. It is great to see people coming into The Hive just because they are lovers of makerspaces and they want to experience what is happening here. Em: This space is for everyone. We’ve had people over 80 years old and as young as 6 years old come. The very first workshop we held attracted patrons mostly over 50, but then two workshops later there were parents here with young children. We've put sleeping babies in the recording studio (where it’s nice and quiet!) while their mothers work! It’s really interesting to see the array of people who come to The Hive. How does The Hive put the “art” into STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math)? Damon: We have the recording studio, podcasting studio, some of the partner groups creating videos, or writing and recording music or videos. We also have folks come in who are interested in making their art into some type of 3D concept. You can get creative with the space here depending on what you are interested in doing. Em: The technology here becomes a new tool for creating. It’s a different type of medium that can enhance the artistic process. For instance, we had a woman come in recently who makes jewelry and is interested in 3-D printing some designs for her pieces. For all those curious about The Hive, Damon and Em encourage you to come experience the wonders and explore the possibilities! You can begin your journey as a maker here. You can reach The Hive at 857-235-9819 or by emailing thehive@cambridgema.gov. They look forward to seeing you soon! Contributions from the City of Cambridge and our generous donors have made this incredible makerspace possible. If you would like to support the Cambridge Public Library’s STEAM initiative, please reach out to katie@cplfound.org.   Drew Griffin, Senior Librarian for Adult Services, and Alyssa Pacy, Archivist, examine the Holmes letter in the Cambridge Public Library’s Archives and Special Collections. The Cambridge Public Library Foundation is pleased to announce the acquisition of a historic piece of Cambridge Public Library memorabilia: a letter written in 1890 by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. declining an invitation to sit on the Library’s Board of Advisors. Holmes, the son of Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., a prominent Cambridge author and physician, went on to serve as a United States Supreme Court Justice. Holmes’ letter, along with letters by George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Paul Revere, and Margaret Fuller, will be featured in the upcoming lecture, American Treasures from the Cambridge Public Library’s Archives and Special Collections, presented by Drew Griffin, Cambridge Public Library’s Senior Librarian in Adult Services. The lecture will take place virtually on May 13 at 12 p.m. as part of the popular Lunchtime Lectures from the Cambridge Room. Registration for the workshop is available here: bit.ly/cpltreasures. Don't miss this exciting event!  Letter from Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., 3 July 1890 "Circumstances which it is unnecessary to mention prevent, I am sorry to say, my acting on the advisory board for the Cambridge Library . . . ."  Jill Burrows Following the Foundation's recent screening of John Lewis: Good Trouble, CPLF Board Member Jill Burrows shared this wonderful interview recalling her experience as a young woman at the March on Washington. We hope Jill's experience inspires you. Thank you, Jill!
THE DREAM LIVES ON....EXCERPT FROM 2013 BBC INTERVIEW OF JILL BURROWS (BBC): It is 50 years since the American civil rights leader Martin Luther King delivered his "I have a dream" speech (Washington, D.C. on 28 August 1963). On 28 August 1963, more than 200,000 Americans joined a march on Washington demanding equal justice for all citizens under the law. On that day, the inter-racial crowd heard Martin Luther King deliver his famous speech, predicting a time when freedom and equality for all would become a reality in the US. Here is an interview with Jill Burrows whose life was touched by that moment: Here she reflects on and shares her memories half a century on. Jill Burrows, 67, communications professional, Cambridge, Massachusetts: During the 50s and 60s black Americans in the South were born, lived, worked, socialized and died in communities that were separate and distinctly unequal from those of our white counterparts. Although I was just a young girl at the time, I still have vivid memories of drinking out of Coloured Only fountains and going to a segregated school. Bus drivers instructed us to move to the back of the bus - even when there were no other passengers. Despite this my parents were emphatic in their belief that, in America, if we worked hard and were good citizens anything and everything was possible. This conviction appeared to be in direct opposition to general expectations. When Dr. King came into our lives he expanded our horizons, fueled our expectations, extended hope, and offered the nation a blueprint for enacting change. In August of 1963, I joined the March on Washington with my parents. Having lived in the South and experienced all we had, we felt it was really important to be there and to show our support." (BBC): Jill was 17 when she joined the 1963 March on Washington "It was the most amazing experience because people there were so loving. We all felt as if we were one. I can remember taking notes during King's stirring speech because even at the time it felt like an extraordinary moment in history. As far as the eye could see, well-meaning individuals, both black and white, linked arms and put their hearts into singing hopeful renditions of We Shall Overcome. I remember thinking that surely everyone in the world would hear - and heed - Dr. King's simple but powerful message of love, peace and social justice for all. Sadly, on the evening of April 4 1968, when the shots rang out at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, it became apparent that there were those who had not. For some time afterwards it felt as if those who love to hate had seized the day, and it was devastating. But that was now (over) 50 years ago. Reverend King's message of sacrifice, unyielding courage and service to others, feels just as radical and empowering today as it did then." Interview by Nathan Williams, BBC News  Mónica Klien (1958 - 2020) Mónica Klien, a beloved member of the Cambridge Public Library’s English as a Second Language (ESL) family, passed away in January 2020. A professor of languages and Latin American literature who taught at Georgetown University, MIT, and Wellesley College, Mónica started teaching ESL at the Library in 2015 and described it as the most rewarding experience of her career. Mónica was born and raised in Peru and so, like her students, discovered English as a secondary language. Mónica taught at the Library until weeks before her death and many of her friends and family honored her life with a gift to the Library Foundation. A bright light gone too soon, we are honored to remember Mónica by sharing this touching short essay she wrote about her life and her experience teaching at the Library. Making Up Mónica Klien Samanez I am standing in front of eighteen students in the basement of the library. This is not the glass palace of the main library, but one of the other branches in a grittier part of town. It is a bunker-style structure, surrounded by piles of snow left by the monster 2015 New England Winter. We are doing a vocabulary exercise where I show them a written word or phrase, and they have to describe it with words in English. I show them “MAKE UP”, and different people scream different things: What ladies put on to look pretty! When you kiss after a fight with your husband! To invent a story!
For more than twenty years, I have taught Latin American Literature and Culture and Spanish in beautiful universities and colleges with brick towers surrounded by green lawns and flowers. Places with implicit rules of conduct, where mostly –with few exceptions- the children of privilege attend. After 10 years of teaching at Georgetown University in Washington DC, restlessness started setting in. I often thought of other possibilities: growing my own vegetables in a farm (I had only planted tomatoes and parsley in pots); starting a shelter for old and abused horses (I was 12 the last time I was near a horse); making different kinds of empanadas with the hope of creating an empanada empire a la Georgetown Cupcakes (until one afternoon, while driving in Dupont Circle, I noticed a new shining place called House of Empanadas). I thought of many other possibilities, to which my husband would skeptically comment, “Ahhh, that really would be a successful enterprise!” In 2009, I was diagnosed with cancer. I had chemo, and then resumed teaching. A couple of years later, life brought us to Cambridge, and I took the road well traveled simply, oh well, Robert Frost, because it was easier. I landed a job in a prestigious women’s college, where I received, for the first time in my teaching career, a negative evaluation from the students: not nurturing enough, too cold. A colleague suggested I take food to class. I was appalled by the demands of the spoiled few and the obsession with grades, appalled by a system of over-empowered students and professors eager to please no matter what, appalled by the constant departmental bickering which ultimately leads to bad choices and a demeaning of the whole process of transferring knowledge to a new generation. I taught a couple more semesters there, but I was basically done, finished, finito. This decision more or less coincided with my health going south. And I don’t mean going south to the Rio Grande, but south to the South Pole. I did not teach in 2014. It was an extremely challenging year. I had a recurrence, a surgery and then landed in the emergency room twice. One of those times I had to stay in the hospital for nine days. At the end of the year, I visited my patient portal and scrolled down and down and down to the tens, the hundreds, of appointments for MRIs, CT scans, doctor of this, doctor of that. I wept when I saw that screen. It is a mixed crowd today there in the library basement. We have a small United Nations: Chinese, Russians, Iranians, Mexicans, Nepalese, Ukrainians, Chileans, Syrians, French, Haitians. Nobody is younger than late twenties. I’m worried we are making too much noise because Maria’s office has a window to the classroom. Maria is the coordinator who gracefully and efficiently leads students and volunteers of multiple ESL classes in all the libraries of Cambridge. The students are on fire, after we finish with the multiple meanings of “MAKE UP.” One woman screams: Teacher! Did you wear make up today?? I am a little taken aback but say, maybe a little. Another yells: Teacher! Do you have a husband?? Well… yes, yes, I do. Yet, another, Teacher! Do you like your husband?? Yes, I like him!! There is a lot of laughter. I feel alive, connected to these people who give thanks after every class without knowing I am a volunteer, who probe into my personal life in surprising ways. I feel connected to them by the purest form of transmission, without all the constraints that many American higher education institutions have fallen into. Yes, yes, I give these students a little. I wonder if they know how much they give me. |
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November 2022
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