Author: Sawyer Free Library

Mark your calendars! Sawyer Free Library & Gloucester 400+ Celebration on Jan 31 at Beauport Hotel – All Are Invited!

~ Sawyer Free Library

Please join the Sawyer Free Library and the Gloucester 400+ on Wednesday, January 31 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Beauport Hotel Gloucester to celebrate the launch of the Gloucester Timeline: An Interactive History and the relocation of the digital Gloucester 400 Stories Project to the Library.

The celebratory community event will feature story-tellers from the community, an interactive Gloucester trivia game, and a demo of the Library’s new interactive research tool. The evening is FREE and open to all to attend. No registration required.

The Gloucester Timeline is the Sawyer Free Library’s legacy gift to the City to commemorate its 400th anniversary.  The Timeline traces Gloucester’s unique history through culturally and historically significant people, places and events that have made Gloucester what it is today. Spearheaded by Sawyer Free Library with support from the Cape Ann Museum and Gloucester City Archives, the Gloucester Timeline also connects people to cultural organizations, archival repositories and historical collections where more information is available. Gloucester 400+ staff have made extensive use of the Timeline in 2023 to illustrate and highlight significant events in our history. The launching of the Gloucester Timeline by SFL makes this new interactive research tool available to the public online.

The collection of stories gathered over the course of the past year has been assembled into the Gloucester 400 Stories Project. This award-winning digital collection of stories, poems and videos, has until now, been available on the Gloucester 400+ website. The collection is about Gloucester people by Gloucester people and is a powerful voice of ordinary and not-so-ordinary citizens. The Gloucester 400 Stories Project too represents a 400+ legacy gift to the City.

Now that the quadricentennial year is over, the Gloucester 400 Stories Project collection will be permanently housed in the 2025 Sawyer Free Library’s new Local History Research Center located on the first floor of the newly renovated, expanded, and modernized Library, the Local History Research Center.

Event Date: Wednesday, January 31, 2024, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Where: Beauport Ballroom, Beauport Hotel, 55 Commercial Street, Gloucester

The event is free and open to all to attend. Registration is NOT required.

For more details visit: sawyerfreelibrary.org or gloucesterma400.org.

Make Your Own Ice Cream at SFL @ 21 Main Street

~ Sawyer Free Library

Come Celebrate Gloucester’s SO SALTY Festival at the Sawyer Free Library!

Learn about the power of salt as you join the Sawyer Free Library and The Open Door to make your own ice cream on Saturday, January 20th from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 21 Main Street in Downtown Gloucester. The event is open to the public to come and enjoy!

Make scientific observations as you add ingredients and watch the power of salt in action. The best part will be enjoying your own homemade ice cream!

This event is part of the 3rd Annual Gloucester’s So Salty Festival which is free and open to the public.

Celebrate the fish city’s recognizably salty character with local cultural institutions and businesses during the 3rd Annual Gloucester’s So Salty festival led by the Cape Ann Museum in partnership with area cultural institutions and businesses. Inspired by the annual Salem’s So Sweet event, this two-day event will include ice sculptures, live music, salty treats, free kids’ art activities, and much more.

For more information visit sawyerfreelibrary.org or 978-325-5500.

Sawyer Free Library Welcomes New Assistant Director and Young Adult Librarian 

~ Sawyer Free Library

The Sawyer Free Library is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Lisa Ryan, who is returning to the Library as the new Assistant Director, and the promotion of Annalise Nakoneczny to the position of Young Adult Librarian.

Library Director Jenny Benedict expressed excitement about the appointments, saying, “We are delighted to welcome Lisa back to the Sawyer Free Library in her new role as Assistant Director. Her past contributions, extensive experience, and life-long connection to the Gloucester community make her an ideal fit for this position. Additionally, we are thrilled to see Annalise take on the role of Young Adult Librarian. Her passion for serving our community and her innovative approach to library services will undoubtedly enrich the experiences of our young adult patrons.”  

Benedict also added, “Lisa and Annalise are an incredible addition to our talented and dedicated team, who each day continue the important work of elevating the Library’s impact on our community, especially with an eye toward all that the 2025 Sawyer Free Library will bring.”

Lisa Ryan, a familiar face to the Sawyer Free Library, rejoins the staff as the Assistant Director. The Gloucester native’s connection to the Library is deep-rooted, having previously worked at the Library for close to fourteen years, serving as the Information Service Librarian, Assistant Children’s Librarian, and Assistant Librarian. Her wealth of experience, and comprehensive understanding of the community’s needs make her an invaluable asset to the Library’s leadership team. Before rejoining Sawyer Free Library, Lisa spent seven years as the Head of Reference at the Beverly Public Library, where she further honed her skills in library management, program development, and community engagement. She has her Master of Library and Information Science from Simmons College and Bachelor of Science from American International College.

In her new position, Lisa will advance the Library’s public services for adults, teens and children. Her responsibilities include overseeing library operations, implementing innovative programming and educational initiatives, and enhancing the public’s experience.

In addition, the Library is pleased to announce the promotion of Annalise Nakoneczny to the crucial role of Young Adult Librarian. In her previous role as the Library Public Technology Assistant, Annalise demonstrated exceptional skills in facilitating learning that bridged technology and library resources. Her commitment to fostering a welcoming environment and her creative approach to engaging learners set her apart. Annalise’s promotion to the position of Young Adult Librarian reflects her dedication and the Library’s commitment to recognizing and nurturing talent within its team.

In her new role, Annalise will coordinate youth-focused initiatives, curate an engaging collection of young adult literature, and develop exciting programs that cater to the diverse interests of our community’s youth. She will work closely with local schools, community organizations, and, most importantly, Gloucester’s young people to create a welcoming space that promotes literacy, critical thinking, and personal growth. Annalise received her Master’s in Library Science from the University of Kentucky and her Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing from Gordon College. 

The Sawyer Free Library invites the community to welcome Lisa Ryan and congratulate Annalise Nakoneczny on their new roles. The Library, temporarily located at 21 Main Street in downtown Gloucester and online 24/7, remains committed to providing a dynamic and enriching environment for all and looks forward to officially opening its newly renovated, expanded, and modernized space in the Fall of 2025. For details on the 2025 Sawyer Free Library and the many ways to support this historic project, please visit sawyerfree2025.org. 

An Afternoon with “The Color of Light” – this Saturday at the Sawyer Free Library

~ Sawyer Free Library

Join Heather Atwood as she presents her video series “The Color of Light” on Saturday, January 6, 2024 at 2 pm at the Sawyer Free Library at 21 Main Street in downtown Gloucester.

Cape Ann’s past and present swells with important artists who have responded both to history’s artistic movements and to this region’s specific inspiration.  Many of these artists’ works are represented in museums and collections around the world, but history has dimmed our awareness of them.  “The Color of Light” is a series of videos telling the lives and exploring the works of many of these artists, making certain their influence and significance on Cape Ann endures.

Artists have been coming to Cape Ann for over 200 years, inspired by its alchemical mix of rock, sea, and air. In “The Color of Light,” Atwood tells the stories of some of Cape Ann’s most talented artists, some of whose influence has been at the national level but about whom little is known. By sharing these stories, Atwood seeks to demonstrate how rich and significant the Cape Ann artistic tradition has been and continues today.

Join us Saturday, January 6 from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. at the Sawyer Free Library at 21 Main Street. The free event is open to all to attend. No registration is needed. For more information, visit sawyerfreelibrary.org or 978-325-5500.

Stop by SFL@21 Main Street this Thursday evening during Downtown Gloucester: Men’s Night

~ Sawyer Free Library

It is Downtown Gloucester’s Men’s Night this Thursday evening, December 14! Come visit downtown businesses and shops, including the Sawyer Free Library at 21 Main Street. The first 20 men who come to the Library between 4:00 -6:00 pm will receive a swag bag with a free book! While there, be sure to browse the shelves, including our Season’s Readings selections, Festive Films on DVD, and holiday music albums. 

For more information, or to learn more about the fun happenings, services and more at the Sawyer Free Library check out sawyerfreelibrary.org!

Equity in the Archives: How History is Told

~ Sawyer Free Library

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12 at 11:00 a.m. at Cape Ann Museum

On Tuesday, December 12 at 11:00a.m. Cape Ann Museum will be presenting a panel discussion, Equity in the Archives: How History is Told with Julie Travers, Local History Librarian at the Sawyer Free Library; Miranda Aisling, CAM Head of Education & Engagement; and Trenton Carls, CAM Head Librarian & Archivist  

Presented in conjunction with Above the Fold: The Photographers of the “Gloucester Daily Times,” 1973-2005, this panel discussion explores how archives, timelines, and historical language have been newly examined and intentionally expanded during the Gloucester 400+ Anniversary in 2023, which marks 400 years since English settlement. 

Julie Travers, Local History Librarian at the Sawyer Free Library and Miranda Aisling, CAM Head of Education are both members of the Gloucester 400+ Diversity & Equity committee. They will share the efforts that went into drafting the Gloucester 400+ DEIA Framework which has been used by organizations across the region to expand their storytelling during the anniversary year. This framework was used by Travers to help guide the creation of the Gloucester Timeline, a massive undertaking from the Sawyer Free Library in association with the Cape Ann Museum, and by Aisling in the development of the CAM Native Initiative.  

They are joined by Trenton Carls, CAM Head Librarian & Archivist who will share the impact of the 2021 acquisition of an estimated 1 million photographs from the Gloucester Daily Times collection to the CAM Library & Archives. The photographs provide a wide lens on the Gloucester community from 1973-2005, bringing photographs into the Museum’s collections that highlight the breadth of the Cape Ann community during those years. 

The event will take place at Cape Ann Museum located at 27 Pleasant Street, Gloucester, MA.  It is Free for Museum members, $10 for non-members. Click HERE to register. It will also be Livestreamed on Vimeo and Facebook.

For more information about Sawyer Free Library’s digital archives, local history resources, and services, visit sawyerfreelibrary.org.

Annual Gloucester Ladies Night at SFL@21 Main

~ Sawyer Free Library

Gloucester ladies, Thursday, December 7th is your day… and night! It is the 50th Annual Ladies Night and to celebrate, the first 20 ladies to come to the Sawyer Free Library at 21 Main Street between 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. will receive a swag bag including a holiday romance novel or a cozy holiday mystery! So be sure to stop by and happy holidays from Sawyer Free Library!

For more information, visit sawyerfreelibrary.org or call 978-325-5500.

Sawyer Free Library Kicks Off 2023 Annual Appeal “Create the Future” to fund critical programming, resources and services

~ Sawyer Free Library

The SAWYER FREE LIBRARY has kicked off its 2023 Annual Appeal campaign, “Create the Future.”

Operating in its temporary location at 21 Main Street in downtown Gloucester, the Sawyer Free Library is a vibrant hub where the future comes alive through education and cultural enrichment and where knowledge is accessible to all, free of charge. From early literacy programs nurturing the youngest minds to cutting-edge STEM after-school programming for students to assisting digital learners in finding their way in the online world to a plethora of local community events for every age, the Library plays an integral role in shaping Gloucester’s educational, cultural, and social fabric.

The Sawyer Free Library relies on this important yearly fundraising effort to provide a wide range of new collections and resources, technology, innovative programming, and critical services to respond to the changing needs of the greater Gloucester community.

“The Library enriches, informs, and strengthens every corner of our city,” said Mern Sibley, President of the Library’s Board of Trustees. “We hope the community will carefully consider our appeal and join us in supporting the vital work of the Sawyer Free Library. Every contribution ensures that the Library can be exceptionally agile, relevant, and inventive while remaining completely accessible and free of charge.

“We provide library services that make a significant difference in the lives of our patrons and our community,” said Sawyer Free Library’s Director Jenny Benedict. “Every contribution to the Annual Appeal is a direct investment in the Library’s meaningful programming, diverse resources, and crucial services that create opportunities for individuals of all ages to connect, learn, grow and thrive throughout Gloucester and beyond.”

Contributions to the year-end Annual Appeal can be made online at www.sawyerfreelibrary.org or by check to the Sawyer Free Library, Annual Appeal, P.O. Box 415, Gloucester, MA 01930.

Dungeons & Dragons at Sawyer Free Library at 21 Main Street

~ Sawyer Free Library

Join us for a 3-hour fantastical adventure at the Sawyer Free Library this Saturday, November 18 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. with local Dungeon Master (DM) Ephraim Weaver. Beginner and experienced Dungeons & Dragons players in grades 5-12th graders are welcome! Pizza will be served. No registration necessary. Event at Sawyer Free Library located at 21 Main Street, Gloucester. For more information visit, SawyerFreeLibrary.org or 978-325-5500.

Reminder: Sawyer Free Library Annual Meeting this Wednesday evening, Nov 15! All invited!

~ Sawyer Free Library

The Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library Corporation will be hosting its Annual Meeting on THIS Wednesday evening, November 15 at the Gloucester Stage located at 267 East Main Street in Gloucester from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. with corporators sign-in beginning at 6:00 p.m.  The meeting will kick off at 6:30 p.m. with a welcome by the President of the Library’s Board of Trustees, Mern Sibley, followed by remarks by Mayor Greg Verga. A construction update of the 2025 Sawyer Free Library renovation, modernization, and expansion project will be provided by Jon Rich, president of the construction management firm W.T. Rich. In addition, new members of the Library Corporation and Board of Trustees will be elected, and the Mary M. Weissblum Volunteer Award will be presented to Kecia German. The evening will also pay tribute to Beth Pocock, who recently retired after a decade of exceptional service as the Assistant Library Director.

Refreshments will be served. The meeting is open to the public, but only corporators can vote. For more information, please visit sawyerfreelibrary.org.