Get creative and express yourself all summer long at Gloucester’s Public Library with free events for all ages, programs for kids and teens, reading recommendations, and much more.

Sawyer Free Library (SFL) is thrilled to announce 2023 summer reading program, “Find Your Voice” and invites the community to embark on a summer-long journey of creativity, self-expression, and exploration. 

Summer at the Sawyer Free Library officially kicks off this month with an overflowing calendar of free events and programs to inspire, educate, and entertain patrons of all ages. From innovative reading challenges and interactive workshops to book discussions, author talks, live music, field trips, and much more, the Sawyer Free Library is the ultimate destination this summer for kids, teens, and adults to unleash their imaginations and find their unique voices.

“Our voices have the power to share stories, express ourselves and spark change,” said the Sawyer Free Library Director Jenny Benedict. “The Sawyer Free Library’s summer long program, “Find Your Voice” is designed to inspire individuals of all ages to discover the joys of reading, unlock their creativity, and connect with others through the power of words. With a wide range of dynamic programs, activities and resources the Library offers something for everyone to get creative and express themselves all summer long.”

Kids of all ages can make their voices heard loud and clear at the SFL through an exciting lineup of fun programs, innovative incentives, and educational activities to encourage them to stay active, engaged, and read for fun. 

To get started, young people and their families can pick up their Summer Reading Information and Activity Log at the Library, which has program information, the event calendar, and reading log. Children can stay on top of their summer reading with their “Find Your Voice” time-tracking reading logs. Register from June 13 to August 1, and then read (or be read to) for at least 500 minutes throughout the summer to earn prizes, including tickets to the Topsfield Fair. People can register in person or online for the program. 

Children and families looking for things to do need not look further than the Sawyer Free with its busy summer schedule. Younger library goers will be moving and grooving during musical story time with Ruthanne Paulson on Friday, June 16, engaging with puppet friends reading stories and singing songs during an interactive storytime on June 28, and dancing with Creative Movement in the Library’s Amphitheater on July 29.

Kids will get the chance to get an up-close look at rainforest reptiles on Friday, July 7, presented by Conservation by Education, learn about the snakes of the world with Rick Roth and the Cape Ann Vernal Pond Team on Saturday, July 15, and meet a variety of insects, bugs and more with Professor Bugman Entomology Adventureson Tuesday, August 8.  

Throughout the summer, everyone can get their hands dirty on Thursday mornings while sharing stories and gardening in the Library’s raised gardens with Backyard Growers. Then on select Tuesday afternoons, young poets can try out rhymes, personification, haiku, and more in workshops led by young Gloucester poet Willa Brosnihan.

The Library will also host fun local field trips for children and their caregivers, including a visit to Hammond Castle on Tuesday, July 18, and Maritime Museum on July 24. 

It is also a big summer for Tweens and Teens. Students entering grades 6-12 are encouraged to track their “Summer Reading and Library Adventures” on the official form available on the Library’s website to qualify for weekly prize drawings including treats from Bravo, Turtle Alley and more. 

Middle and high schoolers are encouraged to check out the Library’s full summer schedule of weekly programs, including creative workshops with local paper artist Katherine Morrison on bookmaking on June 23 and building wire trees with Local Sculptor & Wire Artist Ryan Kelley in July. Young Gloucester Scientist Club will host a series of field trips, including a whale watch in June, a community garden scavenger hunt with Backyard Growers in July, an adventure on the water with Maritime Gloucester in August, and more, with the summer anchored by the exciting author visit in July by Taylor Tyng of the celebrated graphic novel series Clara Poole and the Long Way Round.

SFL also knows that summer reading is for everybody, whether you read at the beach or on your commute to work so it is giving adults a chance to get in on the summer fun, too, with Adult Book Bingo 2023. From now until September 1, 2023, 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. 

In addition to the myriad of resources and programs the Library offers adults—technology training, job search help, historical resource assistance, and more – there will also be summer-themed special programs and reading lists available from local author talks, live music, and much more. 

Thanks to the generous support of the Massachusetts Library System, the Boston Bruins, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, and the Gloucester Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Mass Cultural Council, program participation is free. Registration is now open for all children, teens, and adult programs.

The summer programming will run from June 5 to September 1. To discover the complete schedule and register for events, please visit the Sawyer Free Library website at www.sawyerfreelibrary.org, call 978-325-5500, or the Library 21 Main Street in downtown Gloucester.

Sawyer Free Library’s summer operating hours beginning on June 3, will be Monday 8am to 6 pm, Tuesday 8 am to 6:15 pm, Wednesday 8 am to 6 pm, Thursday 10 am to 7 pm, Friday 10 am to 5 pm, Saturday 10 am to 1 pm, and 24/7 at sawyerfreelibrary.org.