Get in on the summer fun at the Sawyer Free Library with ADULT SUMMER READING 2021: BOOK BINGO!
From now until September 1, 2021, those 18 and older can keep track of the books they read on the Sawyer Free Library’s downloadable custom bingo card by writing the title and author in the matching square.
Each completed horizontal, vertical or diagonal line enters you into a raffle to win $25, $50, or $75 Cape Ann Gift Certificates.
Sawyer Free Library’s summer operating hours are Monday through Friday, 10 am to 5 pm, Thursday 12 – 7:00 pm, and Saturday 10:00 am to 1 pm and 24/7 at sawyerfreelibrary.org.
For more information about the “Summer at the Sawyer Free Library,” or to register for programs, visit: sawyerfreelibrary.org or call 978-325-5501.
The Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library is pleased to announce the restoration and conservation of its grand murals by renowned artist Frederick L. Stoddard (1861-1940) with the assistance of Howard Curtis (1906-1989). Located in the Library’s historic Saunders House, the murals were painted in 1934 as part of the Federal Art Project of the Works Progress Administration. Along with Gloucester’s City Hall, the Sawyer Free Library was a local beneficiary of the federal government program designed to create jobs for artists and bring art to public places and communities across the country.
“Restoring these significant WPA murals depicting Gloucester’s origins is not only our responsibility but our great privilege. They are community artistic treasures and historically significant features of the Saunders House,” said Mern Sibley, the Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library’s Board of Trustees’ President. “This project will preserve these unique works for historic study and enjoyment by residents and visitors.”
Saunders House WPA Murals
The artists’ work, completed over 80 years ago, was done entirely in oil paint on the bare plaster wall, giving the murals an antique appearance, harmonizing with the age of the Saunders House constructed in 1764. Built by Thomas Saunders, a prosperous merchant and a Representative to the Massachusetts General Court, at the time, it was one of the grandest houses in Gloucester and Boston’s North Shore. It became the permanent home of the Sawyer Free Library in 1884 when Samuel Sawyer generously deeded it for a public Library.
The Library’s murals titled “Scenes of the Region,” depict maritime culture against a backdrop of the agrarian life that supported the early settlement of Gloucester. Filling the great space throughout the main stairway of the Saunders House, the murals capture the activity of the busy working harbor with views of the distant rocky shoreline, the city, Rocky Neck, and Ten Pound Island. They also feature a simplified representation of Dogtown Common and old “Whale’s Jaw,” along with other colorful scenes offering unique glimpses of what life was like in Gloucester’s early days.
“As stewards of our city’s library, we are committed to the Saunders House’s preservation, as it is still the anchor of the Sawyer Free Library, rich with history and purpose,” added Sibley. “It is appropriate that this mural restoration project is the first of many as we move forward in realizing a reimagined, renovated, and expanded Sawyer Free Library, one that is worthy of our heritage and our future.”
The Stoddard mural restoration will be done by local conservator Lisa Mehlin of Essex, MA, who holds a Master of Art Conservation, and has seventeen years of experience in the conservation of oil paintings for government agencies, private institutions, and individual clients in the U.S. and Canada. She most recently completed work on the murals in The Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens for the Trustees of the Reservations in North Andover.
The project will be completed in two phases with the first being consolidation, ensuring that all original mural pigment is still attached to the plaster. Phase two is the visual restoration process. After securing the pigment to the plaster, paints will be used to carefully tone back any white gaps where the paint flaked away, allowing the original design to shine through once again. The project is funded through Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library corporate funds.
The next phase in preserving and restoring Saunders House is anticipated to begin in early 2022, planned under the guidance of the Saunders House Stewardship Committee of the Library Board. The work will include, but not be limited to, stabilization of the building structure and restoration of the murals in the Anderson Room. Further renovation is planned to improve accessibility and upgrade building systems to support contemporary use by Library staff and the public.
For more information about the Saunders House’s mural project and the concept design for the 2025 Sawyer Free Library and Saunders House, visit sawyerfreelibrary.org.
The SAWYER FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY is excited to announce that its adventure-filled “Summer at the Library” program has officially kicked off. The theme is “Tails and Tales,” and it’s overflowing with opportunities to read great books, enjoy unique experiences and win prizes.
The Children’s Library Staff have begun distributing “Welcome to Summer Reading Packets” to young people and their families, which have program information, the event calendar, activities, and fun summer treats. Children can stay on top of their summer reading with their own “Tails and Tales” time-tracking reading logs. After reading for 500 minutes (or are read to), they win prizes.
The packets are available in the Library or through curbside pick-up. People can register in-person or online for the program. “Tails and Tales” themed curbside crafts for families will also be available for pick-up over the summer.
The summertime programs for children will officially begin on Tuesday, July 6 at 10:30 am with a virtual celebration and an up-close look at exotic and native animals on zoom presented by Wildlife Encounters Ecology Center.
Throughout the summer, the Library will host both outside in-person events and virtual programs for children of all ages and their families, including:
Discover your inner Picasso with Stories and Art with Cape Ann Museum on July 8 and August 5 at 3 pm
Move your body with Creative Movement in the Library’s Amphitheater on July 13 and Adventures in Wellness Kids Outdoor Yoga at Stage Fort Park on July 22 and 29.
Children can learn virtually about snakes of the world with Rick Roth on July 26 to 31, the wonders of Monarch Butterflies with Kim Smith August 3 to 7, insight on insects with Ms. Frizzle’s Magic School Bus on August 10, and so much more.
SFL has big plans for teens this summer too. Students entering grades 6-12 are encouraged to track their Summer Reading on the custom form available on the Library’s website to qualify for weekly prize drawings and the grand prize drawing of two whale watch tickets, courtesy of Cape Ann Whale Watch.
SFL is giving adults the chance to get in on the summer fun with Adult Book Bingo 2021. From now until September 1, 2021, those 18 and older can keep track of the books they read on the Library’s downloadable custom bingo card by writing the title and author in the matching square. Each completed horizontal, vertical or diagonal line enters you into a raffle to win $25, $50, or $75 Cape Ann Gift Certificates.
Thanks to the generous support of The Friends of the Sawyer Free Library, program participation is free, and registration is now open for all children, teens, and adult programs.
Sawyer Free Library’s summer operating hours are Monday through Friday, 10 am to 5 pm, Thursday 12 – 7:00 pm, and Saturday 10:00 am to 1 pm and 24/7 at sawyerfreelibrary.org.
For more information about the “Summer at the Sawyer Free Library,” or to register for programs, visit: sawyerfreelibrary.org or call 978-325-5501.
Join the Sawyer Free Library for a virtual story time with Wally & Tessie from the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, June 30 at 2:00 pm and explore stories in a new and exciting way!
The mascots of the Boston Red Sox, Wally and Tessie the Green Monsters, will encourage and inspire us to get reading and have fun! Register here and a zoom link will be sent out prior to the program.
On Monday, June 28, 6:30-8pm, the SAWYER FREE LIBRARY will present the second talk in their informative series “TECHNOLOGY ON THE HORIZON,” which spotlights individuals and organizations on the North Shore working with critical or emerging technologies.
Most of the ocean is remote, deep, dark, cold, and extremely high pressure. So how do we help more people explore it?
Join PATRICK FLANAGAN, founder and director of OceanLab, in a virtual discussion of technologies that make exploration of the ocean more accessible to all. Learn about the evolution of technologies that allow organizations like OceanLab dive deep into deepest depths of our oceans.
Click HERE to register to receive the Zoom link for the live presentation.
Sawyer Free Library is hosting local author PATRICIA HANLON on Wednesday, June 23 from 7-8:30m for a virtual book talk about her recently published book “Swimming to the Top of the Tide.”
“The Great Marsh is the largest continuous stretch of salt marsh in New England, extending from Cape Ann to New Hampshire. Patricia Hanlon and her husband built their home and raised their children alongside it. But it’s not until the children are grown that they begin to swim the tidal estuary daily. Immersing herself, she experiences, with all her senses in all seasons, the vigor of a place where the two ecosystems of fresh and salt water mix, merge, and create new life. Noting the disruptions caused by human intervention, she bears witness to the vitality of the watersheds, their essential role in the natural world, and the responsibility of those who love them to contribute to their sustainability.” -Bellevue Literary Press
Join the Sawyer Free Library this Saturday, June 19 at 11:00 am outside in the Amphitheatre for live performance by musical group “KNOCK ON WOOD“
Knock on Woodis a high-energy, family-friendly acoustic folk-rock duo, featuring singer-songwriter Howie Newman on guitar, lead vocals and harmonica. Howie is joined by Joe Kessler, one of the top fiddlers in the area. They also play mandolin and sing backup vocals. The duo performs Classic Rock covers and funny original songs (suitable for all ages). It’s a very lively show with great musicianship, nice vocal harmonies and a little humor here and there.
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Gloucester Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
The Friends of the Sawyer Free Library are excited to announce that THE FRIENDS BOOKSHOP is fully open to the public once again during regular library hours. After 15 months of the shop being closed, the dedicated Friend’s group of volunteers have cleaned, restocked the shelves, and are now thrilled to finally welcome customers back!
The Friend Bookshop is open during regular Library hours, Monday-Saturday, 10-5pm and Thursday, 12-7pm.
“We are delighted to be back 100%. We have filled the shelves with a great selection of books to choose from for all your summer reading! We have a generous selection of new and current titles and a very robust children’s and teens section. There is something for everyone, and all at bargain prices,” said Kecia German, Vice President of the Friends of SFL.
The year-round used book shop is on the first floor of the Sawyer Free Library, just past the main entrance. Visitors will find titles for children, teens, and adults in paperback and hardcover, and audio formats. Fiction and nonfiction selections cover over 35 genres, including mystery, art, biography, business, entertainment, history, music, literature, science, travel, current bestsellers, and more. All books, audiobooks, and DVDs are always in good condition and sold at prices starting at $1, with most books $5 or less.
The volunteer-run book shop’s inventory is sourced entirely from community donations. The Friends’ are always looking for donations of good quality used books, especially of recent vintage. All sales revenues go directly to supporting and expanding library programming and other initiatives. The generosity of the Friends and their hard work means that the community has culturally rich and diverse library programs and services that otherwise would not be possible.
To learn more about the Friends of the Sawyer Free Library and The Friends Book Shop and how to become involved, please visit: sawyerfreelibrary.org
Page2Stage gives participants opportunities to deepen and expand their experience as audience members through pre-show facilitated discussions about each play’s subject and related content, including biographies, novels, and timely periodicals.
The four selected literary works for this season’s Page2Stage series are available now at the Sawyer Free Library located at 2 Dale Avenue in Gloucester.
The program begins on Thursday, June 17 at 5:45 pm, discussing Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar by New York Times best-selling author Cheryl Strayed, before Gloucester Stage’s production of Tiny Beautiful Things at 7:30pm.
On Thursday, August 12, the Book Club will discuss Anthony Bourdain’s memoir, Medium Raw, then will enjoy the regional premier of the play, Seared.
To bring the summer series to a close on Thursday, September 9, the group will discuss an article from The Atlantic, “The Case for Reparations”by Ta-Nehesi Coates prior to seeing the New England premiere of Reparations, a poignant new play by James Sheldon where personal revelations lead to laughs, tears, and coming to terms with racial injustice and personal betrayal.
This year with Page2Stage Book Club, discussions will happen before the show at Windhover Performing Art Center located at 257R Granite Street in Rockport.
The book group is free to join with discount theater tickets for registered members. There is no charge to participate in the group, but registration is required. Register for one or more groups at www.sawyerfreelibrary.org. Discounted show tickets of $25 will be available to participants by calling the Gloucester Stage Box Office 978 281-4433.
The community’s young artists’ talent and creativity is front and center for all to enjoy at the Library located at 2 Dale Avenue in Gloucester nowthrough June 5, 2021.
Gloucester Education Foundation’s Annual Arts Festival has kicked off in the Library’s Matz Gallery with a display of works by Gloucester High School seniors and Honors Art students, Advanced classes in Sculpture and Clay Work, and Advanced Photography.
Photo by Kyle Clifford, GHS Senior on display in Matz Gallery at Sawyer Free Library
Then, Wednesday, June 2 – Saturday, June 5, 2021, the community is invited to enjoy a special video compilation produced by the Gloucester Education featuring artwork by students of all ages, kindergarten through high school.
The video, which local filmmaker Stephen Brock generously produced, will be shown Library’s big screen on the first floor as well as in the Children’s room through the day during regular Library hours. The video will also be available to view on GEF’s website, thinkthebest.org beginning on June 6th.
Hearts created by students at Beeman Elementary School
For more information about the Gloucester Education Foundation Art’s Festival, visit thinkthebest.org and for information on the Library, go to sawyerfreelibrary.org.
Slice of Cake by GHS Senior, Aryana Moreno on display at Matz Gallery at Sawyer Free Library
Cape Ann Community 