Jump the Science Divide: Science Festival Events at the Library

The Cambridge Science Festival is happening in April and this year, you won't want to miss the first-ever Friends of the Cambridge Public Library events offering a look at science as it intersects with poetry and science from a comic perspective.  Read more about jumping the science divide in the Friends President's contribution to the Cambridge Science Festival blog.

On Tuesday April 16, 6-8pm Nick Montford, poet, co-author of "10 PRINT CHR$(205.5+RND(1)); : GOTO 10", and associate professor of digital media at MIT, will lead a discussion about the intersections and common grounds of poetry and science.

On Saturday, April 20, 2-4pm, guest speakers Jay Hosler, author of "Clan Apis" and "Sandwalk Adventures", local artist E.J. Barnes, author of "Caroline's Catalog", and Rosemary Mosco, field naturalist and cartoonist, join us for a fun and interactive exploration of how comics and science work together.

Both events will be at the Main Library Lecture Hall. Find out more at the CPL website.

It's Library Advocacy Day March 26!

Thanks to the library Friends and patrons who joined us this week at the Cambridge Public Library to learn about being an advocate for our libraries.

Special thanks to our speakers for inspiring us as well as informing us: Dinah O’Brien from the Massachusetts Library Association, Judi Paradis from the Massachusetts School Library Association, and Celeste Bruno and Cindy Roach from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC).

Community members are the most effective advocates for libraries. You USE your library and understand the value it provides to you and your community.

Speaking up for why libraries are important is easy and there are many ways to make sure your lawmakers and local officials hear from you about why you want them to keep libraries a priority.

If you've visited your library recently, take a minute to add a comment about why you need your library to this tumblr from MBLC. Share this link with your elected officials (your state representative or senator or city councilor) with a note about how you use your library everyday. For a little inspiration, you can also watch and share this amazing video about the 94,000 library visits that happen each year across the Commonwealth!

You can learn more about some of the critical issues for library systems across Massachusetts here and about Library Legislative Day activities at the State House on March 26.

Friends Just Keep Winning

Being a Friend of the Cambridge Public Library is already a win, but for some, there's an extra perk. Congratulations to our Friends of the Cambridge Public Library members who won the 2013 membership drawing! Each year, several of our favorite local retailers help support the Friends by providing gift certificates for a few of our lucky members. This year, our Friends winners are....

Margaret Curtis  -gift card from Professional Geeks

Helen Epstein  -gift card from Dwelltime Cafe
Catherine Henn  -gift card from Crema Cafe
Jayne Marquedaunt  -gift card from The Games People Play

Allan Nineberg  -gift card from Porter Square Books
Barbara Norfleet  -gift card from Dwelltime Cafe

Judith Siemen  -gift card from Dwelltime Cafe

Thanks to our winners for joining the Friends of the Cambridge Public Library this year, and thank you to all the retailers for helping support the Friends as well. Don't forget that as a Friend, you can also enjoy discounts at local shops that support the library, like American Repertory Theater, Nomad Clothing, Follow the Honey, and more. Just show your Friends of the Cambridge Public Library sticker at the time of purchase to receive your discount.

There are always great things happening at the library! For more information on how you can get involved with the Friends to help support our Cambridge libraries, click here.

Learn to be a Library Advocate, March 18

With ongoing budget challenges at the state and local levels, support for public infrastructure, such as community and school libraries, is slowly diminishing. But if you love your library and use your library, you should join us and learn more about how to be a library advocate to help keep all our libraries thriving! 

Join the Friends of the Cambridge Public Library for a library advocacy discussion. Speakers from the Massachusetts Library Association and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners will walk you through the basics of library advocacy: What it is, why it's important and how we can all work together to support and speak up for the important role libraries play in our communities and in our schools.

Monday, March 18

6:30 pm reception; 7-8 pm program

Community Room at the Main Library

449 Broadway in Cambridge

*NEW SPEAKER ADDED*
We're pleased to add the Massachusetts School Library Association to our event roster. MSLA will discuss the roles school libraries play as an integral part of our community library systems.

Learn from state experts about how community members and librarians can be effective advocates for Massachusetts libraries and gear up for Library Legislative Day on March 26th.

There are always great things happening at the library! For more information on how you can get involved with the Friends to help support our Cambridge libraries, click here.

Oooh...Aah! It's the Friends Photo Contest

Just imagine your very own photography on display at the Cambridge Public Library (CPL)...

If it sounds like dream come true, then have we got a contest for you! Cambridge residents of all ages are invited to submit one or two original photographs for the Friends of the Cambridge Public Library 2013 Biennial Photo Contest, “Hit Me With Your Best Shot.”

The theme for the photo contest is open, so submit your one or two best shots. Each should include a title and a one to three-sentence description.

Photo Contest Winner, 2011, Naomi Moran

Every entry must complete the Photographic Permission Form. For more contest information including criteria, guidelines and rules, download the photo contest flier.

Deadline for submission is midnight, May 1, with winners chosen on May 10. First, second and third place winners will have their photographs displayed on the main floor of the CPL for the month of June. Winners will also receive a gift card to a local bookstore and be part of the gallery opening event on Saturday, June 1, at 3 pm. All photo entries will also be posted on the library’s Flickr site.

Digital photos should be submitted to the Friends’ e-mail address at cplfriendsphotos@yahoo.com. Any questions can also be sent to the same e-mail address.

In 2011, the Friends received 52 photo entries in the first photo contest, with images capturing every season at the CPL. Read more about our previous winners in the blog archives.

There are always great things happening at the library! For more information on how you can get involved with the Friends to help support our Cambridge libraries, click here.