The Friends Newsletter | May 2026

Photo credits: Cambridge Public Library

Secret Gardens of Cambridge 2026

Sign-up for CPL's Summer Reading Program!

The Cambridge Public Library invites people of all ages to participate in Summer Reading from June 20 to August 14, 2026.

This year’s theme, “Plant a Seed, Read,” will celebrate gardening and the natural world.

📚🌱🦋

Register starting Monday, June 1, at camb.ma/summerreading and pick up your Bingo board from any CPL location.

🎁 Enjoy special prizes while supplies last! 🎁

👀 Be on the look out for more exciting programs for all ages that will be held throughout the city all summer long 👀

For more information, visit your neighborhood library or cambridgepubliclibrary.org

Stories of Impact!

This year, the Friends supported CPL Library Staff to travel to the 2026 Public Library Association Conference! We are so grateful to have received special notes from two lovely Library staff about their experiences in Minneapolis! 🫶

Photo credits: Rachel, Staff Librarian

Rachel: Thanks so much to the Friends for giving Lauren and I the opportunity to attend PLA this year, it was my first time travelling for a professional conference and it was an amazing experience getting to meet librarians from all different walks of life and hear about what they're doing in their locations, especially in Youth Services which is at the center of so many Intellectual Freedom debates right now. I'm putting together my thoughts to share with my department, but I definitely walked away from many sessions feeling very lucky to work in Cambridge where we have such a diverse and active library community, especially among children and families! Since we don't know when the general funding will be available to travel like this out of state again, I'm very grateful to have gotten the chance this year. Thanks again for making this happen!

Calling All Advocates!

On April 22, 2026, the Board of the Friends of the Cambridge Public Library sent a letter to the Cambridge City Council requesting full funding of the CPL's Digital Equity Initiative in the 2027 Fiscal Year Budget.

The Digital Equity Initiative is a key component of CPL's commitment to providing patrons with the tools, knowledge, and tailored support to succeed in a connected world and fostering a community where digital equity is a reality for all.

The Digital Equity Initiative provides services such as one-on-one tech help sessions, basic tech group classes, and a technology takeout program that allows patrons without access to home technology to check out laptops.

To learn more, please check out the program below at Digital Equity Initiative. If you are interested in becoming involved in the Friends' library advocacy work, please let us know (regis@cambridgepubliclibraryfriends.org).

Attend Open Trustee Meetings!

Did you know that the meetings for the Board of Trustees of the Cambridge Public Library are open to the public?

Meetings are generally held on the first Tuesday of every month from 5–7pm We recommend checking the Trustee’s meeting page to confirm the date, time and whether the meeting will be held in person, virtual or hybrid. 

Meeting information, including the agenda, is posted approximately a week before the meeting. It is not necessary to sign-up prior to the meeting and you will have the opportunity to share any public comments or feedback to the Board at the beginning of each meeting. 



Sign Up for the CPL Newsletter!

Have you signed up for the Director’s weekly newsletter?

Dr. Maria McCauley’s weekly newsletter provides up-to-date information on the library and includes all the library events for the week.

See you soon in our next newsletter!

🌼

Warmly,



Board of Friends of the Cambridge Public Library