Sawyer Free Library

Cape Ann Museum and the Sawyer Free Library present an Afternoon of Painting and Poetry this Saturday!

~ Sawyer Free Library

Join the Cape Ann Museum and the Sawyer Free Library this Saturday, April 2nd for an afternoon of painting and poetry.

At 1:00 pm, Patrick Doud will give a presentation at the Cape Ann Museum at its Downtown Campus, located at 27 Pleasant Street, in conjunction with Cape Ann Modern on the paintings of Thorpe Feidt.

Created over more than half a century to date, Thorpe Feidt’s vast, unified body of work is discussed by poet and novelist Patrick Doud. Drawing on multivalent influences including poetry, jazz, fiction and alchemical intuition/lore, Feidt’s praxis results in numinously powerful paintings in which oppositional forces birth new energies. 

Then at 2:30 pm, head to Sawyer Free Library, located at 2 Dale Avenue, for an afternoon of readings by local poets Nadine Boughton, the author of the recently self-published book “In the Lap of the Night,” Jay Featherstone, the author of “Glass,” and Jim Dunn to celebrate the start of National Poetry Month.

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

Duckie Soap Making Workshop for Children at the Sawyer Free Library – this Saturday morning! 

~ Sawyer Free Library

Join the Sawyer Free Library Children’s Services on this Saturday morning, March 26 from 11 a.m. to noon for some soapy fun! Kulina Folk Art Creative will be helping kids, with adult participation, make their own duckie soapy creation using glycerin-based soap adding colors, glitter and scents.

The process does not involve traditional soap making techniques, so there is no lye exposure.

Registration is required. Space is limited. The event is for children ages 5 and up (with one caregiver per child). Each child under the age of 10 must have a caregiver present to help them with the project. No exceptions will be made.

For more information visit sawyerfreelibrary.org or contact crosso@sawyerfreelibrary.org or 978-325-5551.

Women’s History Month at Sawyer Free Library: Local Historians to present “Forgotten Women”

~ Sawyer Free Library

In celebration of Women’s History Month, the Sawyer Free Library, this Saturday, March 26 from 2:00 – 4:00p.m. is pleased to present “Forgotten Women.” Local historians Lise Breen and Wayne Soini will discuss the lives of three courageous women who history needs to be shared. Nancy Hanks Lincoln, mother of President Abraham Lincoln, as well as two women enslaved on Cape Ann, Kate Negro and Violet. Join us and learn about these “Forgotten Women” who helped to shape our nation.

This event has been organized and sponsored by the Library’s Gloucester Lyceum.

  • Date: Saturday, March 26, 2022
  • Time: 2:00-4:00pm
  • Location: Main Floor, Sawyer Free Library, 2 Dale Avenue, Gloucester

Registration is not required. For more information visit, SawyerFreeLibrary.org or call 978-325-5555.

Author Wayne Soini – Book Signing & Reading at Sawyer Free Library to benefit Gloucester400+

~ Sawyer Free Library

The Sawyer Free Library is please to present author Wayne Soini for a reading and book signing of his latest novel Ed and Jo this Thursday, March 24 from 6:30-7:30pm. 

Mr. Soini will discuss his novel, Ed and Jo, about Edward Hopper and Jo Nivison’s meeting on vacation in 1923 that led to their marriage and to Gloucester paintings that changed the history of American art.

The event is free and open to the public. Gloucester 400+ will be selling copies of the book with proceeds supporting the Gloucester 400+. 

The event will be held on the main floor of the Library located at 2 Dale Avenue, Gloucester.

For more information or if you have questions go to SawyerFreeLibrary.org contact or call 978-325-5555.

Poetry Without Paper Contest Celebrates 20 Years at Sawyer Free Library!

~ Sawyer Free Library

Annual Young Poets Competition open to all Gloucester Students now through April 30th

Over the past 20 years, the Sawyer Free Library contest, Poetry without Paper, has celebrated thousands of local students’ outstanding writing while encouraging the community’s youth to use poetry as a means of creative expression. The annual contest is an opportunity for local school children of all ages to showcase their writing and creativity in a supportive environment and win top prizes. 

With the competition running throughout March and culminating on the last day of National Poetry Month, April 30, children and teens who live in Gloucester or attend Gloucester schools are encouraged to submit 1-3 original poems on any theme to the Library. Participants can choose to set their poems to video, images, and or music. Each poem may be no longer than 30 lines, be the student’s own work, and previously unpublished and submitted through the Library’s website. 

To mark the celebration of 20 years, Sawyer Free Library has made the Poetry without Paper prizes even more exciting. Winners will be chosen from each age group: high school, middle school, and elementary school. First-place winners in all categories receive $150 Cape Ann gift certificates, second-place winners receive $100 gift certificates, and third-place winners receive a $50 gift certificate with Honorable Mention awarded a poetry book. All winning poets receive a certificate, present their poems at a Spring awards ceremony and receive an invitation to appear on 1623 Studio’s production, The Writer’s Block with John Ronan. All winning work will also be published online by the Library.

The poems must be submitted through the Library website at SawyerFreeLibrary.org from March 1 – April 30. For questions, contact the Children’s Librarian at crosso@sawyerfreelibrary.org or SawyerFreeLibrary.org.

Tech Tuesdays at the Sawyer Free Library!

~ Sawyer Free Library

The Sawyer Free Library offers drop in technology help!

Every Tuesday from 11:30am – 1:00pm

The weekly technology help session begins with a mini-lesson on a typical technology question. The remainder of the time is devoted to assisting with individual technical issues.

Bring your device and passwords, and SFL Tech Librarian will help you solve the problem!

No registration necessary. 

Questions, contact jdunajski@sawyerfreelibrary.org or 978-325-5568.

You can find out more about the many services the Library offers at SawyerFreeLibrary.org.

The Softer Side of Celtic this Saturday, 3/6 at Sawyer Free Library

~ Sawyer Free Library

Musician Jeff Snow combines magical sounds from instruments with vocals and his love and knowledge of Celtic history.

This Saturday, March 5, 2022 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., the Sawyer Free Library is presenting The Softer Side of Celtic with Jeff Snow who combines the music, stories and a wee bit of history from Scotland, Ireland and England. The interactive concert will have singing, laughing, clapping and foot stomping featuring music on the guitar, bouzouki and autoharp. 

Fun for all ages!  No registration necessary! It is taking place on the Main Floor of Sawyer Free Library located at 2 Dale Avenue, Gloucester.

For more details visit SawyerFreeLibrary.org or call 978-325-5500.

Saunders House WPA Mural Restoration Presentation with Lisa Mehlin Saturday, 2/26, 2pm at Library

~ Sawyer Free Library

As reported by the Gloucester Daily Times, the Saunders House’s grand WPA are currently being restored by the Sawyer Free Library.

Come learn more about the historic murals and the restoration process from the project’s professional conservator Lisa Mehlin this Saturday, February 26 from 2 to 4pm on the Main Floor of the Sawyer Free Library.

Registration not required. For details, go to: sawyerfreelibrary.org or 978-325-5500.

Don’t miss Ms. Frizzle this Saturday Morning, 2/26 at the Sawyer Free Library!

~ Sawyer Free Library

Ms. Frizzle is visiting the Sawyer Free Library on Saturday, February 26 at 10:30am with science, stories & fun! Explore the solar system and space travel with your favorite wacky science teacher, Ms Frizzle!

Join actress & performer Carole Finn-Weidman for this very interactive program for children of all ages. It is out of this world!!!

No registration needed, however space is limited! For more information visit SawyerFreeLibrary.org or call Children’s Services at  978-325-5551.

Saturday Storytime with Marisa at the Sawyer Free Library on February 19th at 10am!

~ Sawyer Free Library

Join Sawyer Free’s Children’s Librarian MARISA for a fun morning of music, movement, fun facts, and some picture book favorites this Saturday, February 19 from 10-11am!

It’ll be a morning of Family Fun that is great for children of all ages at the Sawyer Free Library located at 2 Dale Avenue in Gloucester!

For questions contact Marisa Hall at mhall@sawyerfreelibrary.org or 978-325-5505.

Visit SawyerFreeLibrary.org to learn more about upcoming programming for all ages!