The Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library (SFL) is pleased to announce that Marion (“Mern“) Sibley has been elected President of the Library Board of Directors. She succeeds John T. Brennan, who has been Board President for the past three years and will be leaving to become the President of the Sawyer Library Foundation. Mern Sibley joined the Sawyer Free Library Board of Trustees in 2017 and recently served as its Vice President. She formed and Chaired the Saunders House Stewardship Committee (SHSC), which is committed to ensuring that the venerable Saunders House, built in 1764, is restored, preserved, and fully accessible to the public to enjoy as an essential part of the Library. Sibley said, “I am excited to get started in my new role. I am fortunate to have much good groundwork laid by the collaboration between John Brennan, our hardworking past President, and our energetic, imaginative Library Board. These will be challenging and critical years for the Sawyer Free Library and our city.” She added, “Our Library is a key partner in sustaining the educational, economic and civic health of our community in a time of dramatic change and uncertainty. In Gloucester, we have something great in the Sawyer Free Library, and our Board and our Library staff want to make it even better.”

After being away for twenty-eight years, Ms. Sibley, a Gloucester native, proved you can go home again and returned to her old East Gloucester neighborhood in 2002. She credits her early experiences growing up in this fishing town for giving her a love of nature and its complexities, leading Sibley to embark on a career in biology. After a long career in research and process development at New England Biolabs in Ipswich, MA, she retired in the fall of 2016. Finding herself with more time to get involved in her community, Ms. Sibley was drawn to the work ongoing to maintain and improve the Sawyer Free Library. “For me, the Library has always been a place to study, to find resources, to meet people, and sometimes, to just sit and daydream. It is a haven for people of all ages and from all walks of life – providing free programs and resources that improve lives across our great city and beyond,” said Sibley.  “And I believe, now more than ever, with schools closed, programs cancelled and everything seemingly on hold, SFL and its committed librarians continue to demonstrate creativity, resourcefulness, and the essential role the library plays to so many during this time of unprecedented community need.”

Joining Sibley as a part of the leadership team of Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library Board of Trustees will be the newly elected Vice President Fran Aliberte.  Anne-Marie Anderson will serve as Secretary, with Joe Grella remaining as the Treasurer, and Budget, Finance, and Investment Chair.  Also, Melanie Murray-Brown and Neil Glickstein were elected as the newest members of the Library’s Board of Trustees. 

Melanie Murray-Brown, who has been a volunteer on the Library’s Corporate Communications Committee for many years, is the Director of Development of Backyard Growers. The longtime Gloucester resident brings to the Board over 20 years of experience working with mission-driven nonprofit, community, and government organizations.

Neil Glickstein is a retired science teacher who moved to Gloucester in 1979, where he and his wife, who is also an educator, raised their two sons. Upon moving to Cape Ann, he first directed an aquaculture training program in Gloucester Harbor. He then began his long and fulfilling teaching career at several secondary schools, colleges, and schooner training programs, including Governor’s Academy, Waring School, Endicott College, and, most recently, GMGI’s Gloucester Biotechnology Academy.

SFL board members have a variety of experience and backgrounds, including finance, business management, research, writing, legal, and marketing. SFL board members volunteer their time and talents and have three-year staggered terms.