Sawyer Free Library Shares Most Popular Books Of The Year

~ Sawyer Free Library

Library’s most-borrowed books give a glimpse into what Gloucester read in 2024

Every book we read tells a story—not just of the characters on the page, but also of the community that chooses to read it. At Sawyer Free Library, these stories come to life every day, with a total circulation of over 180,000 in 2024, thousands of books across print and digital were borrowed by Gloucester residents. From poignant fiction to thought-provoking nonfiction, the Library’s most popular titles offer a snapshot of the interests, passions, and curiosity that define our city.

Whether escaping into Kristin Hannah’s deeply moving The Women, exploring James McBride’s vibrant The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, or laughing with Jeff Kinney’s enduring Diary of a Wimpy Kid, these books inspired and entertained readers of all ages.

“The books our community borrowed in 2024 reflect a collective curiosity and a desire to explore diverse perspectives and experiences,” said Sawyer Free Library Director Jenny Benedict. “Whether escaping into fiction, gaining insights from nonfiction, or discovering new stories with family, these titles highlight the Library’s role as a place for growth, connection, and lifelong learning.”

The Sawyer Free Library’s top checked-out books across print and digital were:

Top 5 Adult Fiction:

1. The Women by Kristin Hannah
2. The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
3. Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
4. The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
5. North Woods by Daniel Mason

Top 5 Adult Nonfiction:

1. How the Word is Passed by Clint Smith
2. The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann
3. 101 All-Time Fantasy Baseball Teams by Jack Sweeney
4. Our Underwater World by Sue Lowell Gallion
5. The Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson

Top Teen Fiction:

1. The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
2. The Assassin’s Blade by Sarah Maas
3. Queen of Shadows by Sarah Maas
4. 1984 by George Orwell
5. Gwen and Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher

Top 5 Children’s Books:

1. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth by Jeff Kinney
2. I Am Going! An Elephant and Piggie Book by Mo Willems
3. Dog Man: Brawl of the Wild by Dav Pilkey
4. The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster! by Mo Willems
5. The Thank You Book by Mo Willems

Find these and millions of other books through the Sawyer Free Library. Visit the Library’s temporary space at 21 Main Street in downtown Gloucester or sawyerfreelibrary.org, where librarians are always ready to help you discover your next great read.

This fall, the Library eagerly anticipates welcoming the community back to its beautifully renovated and expanded spaces, designed to offer comfort, accessibility, and inspiration for all ages. The revitalized first-floor Main Library blends modern upgrades with familiar charm, creating a warm, well-lit environment ideal for reading, research, and connection. Two great rooms house the Library’s treasured physical collections, complemented by inviting furnishings for study and relaxation. The adjacent Quiet Reading Room features a nonfiction collection, modular desks, and cozy armchairs overlooking serene gardens, providing a tranquil space for study and reflection. With its stunning double-height arched windows and natural light, the Reading Lounge evokes an elegant living room atmosphere, perfect for enjoying magazines and newspapers in plush armchairs. Meanwhile, children and teens can explore their vibrant, redesigned spaces filled with age-appropriate materials, fostering a love of learning and discovery. Whether meeting friends, doing homework, or finding the next great read, these spaces offer something special for everyone.

With approximately 14,000 cardholders, Sawyer Free Library continues to be a cornerstone for education, connection, and cultural enrichment. Gloucester residents and students can obtain a library card for free by applying in person, online, or by mail. For more information, visit sawyerfreelibrary.org or call 978-325-5500.

Get Salty with the Sawyer Free Library and The Open Door!

~ Sawyer Free Library

Join us on Saturday, January 25 from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM at the Sawyer Free Library (21 Main Street) for a fun, family-friendly popcorn party. While your popcorn pops, decorate a festive snowman bag and then create your own custom salty seasoning blend. It’s the perfect winter snack!

This popcorn extravaganza with the Library and The Open Door is part of the 4th Annual Gloucester’s So Salty Festival—a city-wide celebration of Gloucester’s famously salty character. Hosted by the Cape Ann Museum in partnership with local cultural institutions and businesses, this exciting weekend features ice sculptures, live music, salty treats, free art activities for kids, and much more. You won’t want to miss it!

While you’re at the Library, don’t forget to learn how you can save money and energy this winter. Home Works Energy will be on-site from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM to help you sign up for a no-cost home energy assessment through the Mass Save Program.

These events—and the whole So Salty festival—is free and open to the public, so bring your friends and family for a taste of Gloucester’s saltiest delights!

For questions about these or any Library community program and events visit sawyerfreelibrary.org, call 978-325-5500 or stop by the Sawyer Free’s temporary Library space at 21 Main Street in Gloucester.

Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Event 2025

~ chasnaz

GLOUCESTER MEETINGHOUSE, MARTIN LUTHER KING Jr. BIRTHDAY EVENT 2025
The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation proudly presents its ninth annual
Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday event. It will be held on Monday, January 20th
at 2:00pm in the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church, located at the corner
of Church and Middle Streets (GPS 50 Middle Street). An elevator is available
from the side door at 10 Church Street. No charge for admission but freewill
donations are gratefully received. For more information please visit:
www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org


This year’s program will honor Dr. King by featuring the work being done by two
local groups to reckon with history. Afterward, there will be a discussion about
how vernacular history gets written, “how the word is passed.” The program
will open with a recording of Martin Luther King, Jr. reading segments of
“Letters from Birmingham Jail.”


Joe Rukeyser from the Cape Ann Slavery and Abolition Project will present
recent research on abolition. Melissa Dimond of Wellspring House will follow
with that organization’s work on the Freeman Family, the prominent Black
family who called the Wellspring House home for over 100 years. Then Michea
McCaffrey, co-chair of the Gloucester Racial Justice Team, and Dick Prouty,
founder of TownGreen and board member of the Gloucester Meetinghouse
Foundation, will lead a discussion on critical points made by author Clint Smith
in his book How the Word is Passed. (It is not necessary to have read the book.)
The Paul Revere Bell in the Meetinghouse tower will be rung at the end as
people disperse onto the newly restored green.

ABOUT THE GMF: The mission of the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation is to preserve the historic
1806 Meetinghouse, home of the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church, as a civic hub,
entertainment venue and community gathering center. The GMF is a 501(c)(3) corporation modeled on
a similar nonprofit that preserves Boston’s famous Old North Church.

How Does One Restore a Medieval Castle?

~ Hammond Castle Museum

Thursday, January 16th
10:00 – 11:45 am
10:00 – 10:30 am: Coffee & light refreshments
10:30 – 11:30 am: Presentation
11:30 – 11:45 am: Q&A/Conclusion.

Join us for a detailed discussion of recent and ongoing restoration efforts at the Museum with contractor and mason Roger Tremblay and Director of Education & Visitor Services Caleb McMurphy.  In the past few years, Tremblay, and his firm A+R Construction, have headed some of the most significant restoration projects in the Museum’s history, including the renovation of the Museum’s iconic 13th-century French monastery arches, originally situated in the Franciscan monastery of Couvent des Cordeliers, in Gers, France. In 2024, Tremblay’s team intervened to save a portion of the “towers” section of the building, modeled off of an 11th-century Norman keep, which had been badly damaged by winter weather.

Over the course of an hour, Roger and Caleb will discuss these and other ongoing and upcoming restoration projects, using photos taken during the work itself to give a look behind the curtain at just what it takes to maintain such a unique and historic building. After this, audience members will have a chance to ask questions of their own and get an opportunity to become involved with Hammond Castle Museum’s continuing mission to preserve John Hays Hammond Jr.’s legacy.  

Member savings apply.

General Admission: $15

Proceeds from this program will support the restoration and preservation of the Hammond Castle Museum.

Reserve Your Seats Here!

Author Talk at Sawyer Free: Thursday, Jan 9th

~ Sawyer Free Library

Please join the Sawyer Free Library on Thursday, January 9 from 5:30 to 6:30 pm for an Author Talk with Diane C. Bradley.  The Boston-based author Diane C. Bradley will discuss The Summer Before, her gripping novel about trauma, guilt, and the resilience of friendship which explores the shattering impact of abuse and healing journey that follows.

All are invited, no registration required. The discussion will take place at the Sawyer Free Library at 21 Main Street in Gloucester. If you have questions, please contact: lsvensson@sawyerfreelibrary.org or 978-325-5500.

About The Summer Before:

If the perpetrator is also someone you love, there are no words.

Madeline and Summer are more than best friends. They might as well be sisters; they’ve claimed the title, anyway-and sisters tell each other everything. But Summer has a secret she’s been hiding for years. Someone’s been hurting her, someone close, and when it comes out, it destroys everything around her with the force of dying stars.

Six years after the trial, Madeline is a haunted young woman trying to build a new life in Boston, but the guilt of her betrayal brings her to the brink of suicide. To let go of the past, Madeline must confront her father, mother, and all those involved with the trial that split her family apart-or continue her descent, finishing what she started to escape it.

About the Author:

A raw, gritty New Englander, Dianne C. Bradley, is a registered nurse and freelance writer. Dianne and her family, both human, furry, and feathered, are firmly planted in a small town north of Boston, not far enough away to lose her city edge. After falling in love with Martha’s Vineyard on a weekend visit as a girl, she returns every summer, reigniting her passion for writing in the magical place that inspired it.

Celebrating a great 2024 at the Gloucester Education Foundation!

~ gloucestereducationfoundation

As 2024 winds down, the Gloucester Education Foundation is celebrating a banner year of community support and dynamic programming benefitting the 2,862 students of the Gloucester Public Schools. We distributed over $500,000 in grants to support 24 different programs in GPS this year! Thank you to everyone – students, educators, administrators, volunteers, board members, families, and especially our generous donors – for your work to strengthen teaching and learning in our local schools. Here’s to a great 2025!

Ring in the New Year with a Laugh!

~ coliecatherine

Join us for a Bad Xmas Gift Yankee Swap at the American Legion Post 3 on December 31st @ 6PM!

Unleash those unwanted Xmas gifts! Bring a wrapped, unwanted, funny, or slightly embarrassing gift to participate in the Yankee Swap.

Details:

  • Time: 6:00 PM
  • Food: Delicious Chinese Food Buffet (included!)
  • Swap: Bring a wrapped gift to join the fun!
  • Lounge: Open until 10:00 PM

Let’s swap those bad gifts for something (hopefully) better and celebrate New Year’s Eve together!

What are you doing this New Year’s Eve?

~ Hammond Castle Museum

Ring in 2025 in regal splendor! Step into a world of enchantment as Hammond Castle Museum’s Great Hall transforms into the ultimate New Year’s Eve destination with our returning host Bruce Jaques. Dance the night away, indulge in gourmet treats, and uncover the mysteries of the Castle’s unique chambers. As the clock strikes twelve, join us for a spectacular champagne toast!

Reserve your tickets now to secure your spot at the North Shore’s most spectacular New Year’s Eve bash.

Doors open at 9:00 pm and the celebration goes to 1:00 am.
21 & Over, ID required upon arrival. Cash bar.
Free parking.

Learn more & reserve your tickets here!

12/29 CAPE ANN BIG BAND and JAMBALAYA HORNS, NEW YEAR’S CONCERT!

~ chasnaz

The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation proudly presents the Cape Ann Big
Band with the Jambalaya Horns, plus guest vocalists Katy Geraghty and
Rhiannon Hurst, in a festive New Year’s Concert. The concert is on Sunday
December 29th at 5:00pm in the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church, on
the green at the corner of Church and Middle Streets. Admission: $30 General,
$10 Students (all ages), Under 12 free. Tickets at the door and online with more
info at: www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org

Since 2010, the Cape Ann Big Band, conducted by Carlos Menezes, has connected
with local musicians of all ages and backgrounds to inspire, challenge, and
educate. Inspired by the sounds of Jazz, Swing, New Orleans’ street bands, Soul,
and Rock n’ Roll, the Band prides itself in a repertoire without horizons. The
Jambalaya Horns provide added punch, with added Funk, Soul, and Brassy
Second-Lines. They will make you feel like you’re in New Orleans!
This is a great opportunity for the whole family to enjoy the sounds of two of our
community’s most amazing bands and to celebrate the coming New Year in our
historic 1806 Meetinghouse!

Side entrance at 10 Church Street provides a lift/elevator for those who are challenged by stairs. Street parking as well as parking on the green is also available.