free

New York Times Bestselling Author of Ordinary Grace: Author Talk with William Kent Krueger on 4/27 at 8pm

~ Sawyer Free Library

The Sawyer Free Library invites you to a riveting hour online with New York Times bestselling author William Kent Krueger! Join us on Thursday, April 27 from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. as he discusses his newest book in the Cork O’Connor series Fox Creek and his other works. 

This is a virtual event. Registration is required. Click HERE to register.

Fox Creek follows Cork O’Connor in a race against time to save his wife, a mysterious stranger, and an Ojibwe healer from bloodthirsty mercenaries. The ancient Ojibwe healer Henry Meloux has had a vision of his death. As he walks the Northwoods in solitude, he tries to prepare himself peacefully for the end of his long life. But peace is destined to elude him as hunters fill the woods seeking a woman named Dolores Morriseau, a stranger who had come to the healer for shelter and the gift of his wisdom. Meloux guides this stranger and his great niece, Cork O’Connor’s wife, to safety deep into the Boundary Waters, his home for more than a century. Meanwhile, in Aurora, Cork works feverishly to identify the hunters and the reason for their relentless pursuit, but he has little to go on. He knows only too well that with each passing hour time is running out. But his fiercest enemy in this deadly game of cat and mouse may well be his own deep self-doubt about his ability to save those he loves.

About the Author: Krueger writes a mystery series set in the north woods of Minnesota. His protagonist is Cork O’Connor, the former sheriff of Tamarack County and a man of mixed heritage—part Irish and part Ojibwe. His work has received a number of awards, including the Minnesota Book Award, the Loft-McKnight Fiction Award, the Anthony Award, the Barry Award, the Dilys Award, and the Friends of American Writers Prize. 

Ordinary Grace, his stand-alone novel published in 2013, received the Edgar Award, given by the Mystery Writers of America in recognition for the best novel published in that year. The companion novel, This Tender Land, was published in September 2019 and spent nearly six months on the New York Times bestseller list. His last nine novels were all New York Times bestsellers. He’s been married for nearly fifty years to a marvelous woman who is a retired attorney. He makes his home in St. Paul, a city he dearly loves.

This is a virtual event. Registration is required. Click HERE to register.

Questions? Contact: moneill@sawyerfreelibrary.org or 978-325-5562.

Earth Day Celebration with Ms. Frizzle of the Magic School Bus on Saturday, April 22nd!

~ Sawyer Free Library

Join the Sawyer Free Library in celebrating Earth Day with Ms. Frizzle of the Magic School Bus! Together we will be planting, gardening, and learning about ways to protect the environment on Saturday, April 22 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

This interactive event will be held at 70 Middle Street, Trinity Church, which is located right behind the main library.

No registration is needed. Fun for families of children ages 3 and up.  

Questions? Contact: crosso@sawyerfreelibrary.org or 978-515-6349.


Springtime Literary Party at SFL@21 Main Street – Thursday evening, April 20th

~ Sawyer Free Library

Come and join us at the Sawyer Free Library at 21 Main Street in downtown Gloucester for some springtime literary fun on Thursday, April 20th.

From 5:15 – 6:15 p.m. local harpist Moira Kelly will be sharing festive musical entertainment while refreshments are provided.

Then at 6:15 p.m. local Irish author Robert T. McMaster will be introducing his latest novel, Rose of Glenkerry: A County Wicklow Mystery via Zoom, the virtual presentation will be broadcasted at SFL@ 21 Main Street location for all to enjoy.

Though registration is not required, the first three to fill out a registration form HERE will receive a free copy of the book! 💐

Questions? Visit SawyerFreeLibrary.org.


The Young Gloucester Scientist’s Club Presents: ASTRONOMY APRIL

~ Sawyer Free Library

Friday, April 14, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

YGSC: Solar System Explorers – The Young Gloucester Scientists Club is hosting a live virtual interactive journey through our Solar System with experts from Christa McAuliffe Center at Framingham State University. This program is suitable for 4th-8th graders. Registration is required to receive the link. This program is virtual, should a device be needed reach out to Teen Librarian Marisa.

Tuesday, April 18 – Friday, April 21 

Astronomy Take & Make Universe in a Jar – a take home kit for tweens and teens with hands on astronomy activities. For students in grades 4-8.  Registration is required for each child individually. Pick up begins Tues, and continues through Friday. 

Friday, April 28, 8:00 to 9:00 p.m.

YSGC Field Trip: Star-Gazing at Halibut Point State Park – SFL’s Young Gloucester Scientist Club is hosting an evening of night-sky observations with the Gloucester Area Astronomy Club.  Students, grades 4th through 8th, and their families, will use telescopes, chat with experts and do some hand-on astronomy activities at this late-night Field Trip to Halibut Point State Park located at 4 Gott Ave, Rockport, MA. Registration is required. 

Questions? Contact Teen Librarian Marisa Hall at mhall@sawyerfreelibrary.org or 978-325-5549.

Sawyer Free Library & Treetop Yoga present Yoga for Children at Treetop Yoga – starting this Tuesday!

~ Sawyer Free Library

Sawyer Free Library‘s Children’s Services presents Storytime Yoga for children 5 and under with Erin McKay of Treetop Yoga.

This free program will be held, starting this week, on the first TUESDAY of the month: April 4, May 2, & June 6 at 10:45am at Treetop Yoga Studio located at 3A Pond Road in Gloucester.

Register HERE for this joyful morning exploring stories, movement and fun at Treetop Yoga Studio at sawyerfreelibrary.org.

If you have questions, visit SawyerFreeLibrary.org or contact: jvitale@sawyerfreelibrary.org or 978-515-6349.


Poetry and Popcorn at SFL @ 21 Main Street

~ Sawyer Free Library

All Gloucester Teens are Invited THIS WEEK: M-F afternoons 3-4p.m.

April is National Poetry Month AND the Sawyer Free Library is hosting its annual Poetry without Poetry Contest until May 14.

To get local teens’ poetic creative juices flowing, the Library is hosting a series of “Poetry and Popcorn” writing workshops. From Monday, April 3 through Friday, April 7, anytime between 3:00 and 4:00 pm, all teens are invited to SFL at 21 Main to enjoy popcorn and an afternoon of poetry writing.

Munch on popcorn (and lollipops, too!) and write your poems, or join Community Librarian Mrs. O’Neill in creating spatial poetry in which together you will reimagine maps, consider issues of place naming, and develop a renewed understanding of place and belonging.

Drop into SFL @ 21 Main Street this week at any time between 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Registration is not required. If you have questions, visit sawyerfreelibrary.org or contact moneill@sawyerfreelibrary.org or 978-325-5562.

Don’t miss the Whalemobile at City Hall THIS Friday!

~ Sawyer Free Library

Sawyer Free Library to host Whale Watch Naturalist Cindy McInnis and her life-sized inflatable whale THIS FRIDAY, March 31, 3:30–5:30 pm, at Gloucester City Hall in Kyrouz Auditorium, as part of its Young Gloucester Scientist’s Club. 

Kids can meet “Nile,” a representation of a 35-year-old adult female humpback whale based on a real humpback whale that frequents Gloucester’s coastal waters. They will have the opportunity to step inside the 43-foot long and 30-foot wide inflatable humpback and learn how whales are similar and different from humans in this interactive program. They will learn about Nile’s migratory path, how many calves she’s had, and how researchers came to this information. Artifacts such as baleen, teeth, and bones will be available for children to see and feel as a part of this interactive program.

The Whalemobile program is suitable for 2nd-8th graders, ages 6 and up. It is free and open to all to attend, although registration is required for each young scientist planning on stepping into the whale.

Please register HERE or sawyerfreelibrary.org. People can sign up in half-hour intervals starting at 4:00 pm and ending at 5:30 pm.  

The event will take place in Kyrouz Auditorium on the second floor of Gloucester City Hall located at 9 Dale Avenue.  

To learn more about the program or upcoming events, visit SawyerFreeLibrary.org or call 978-325-5506.

SFL’s Young Gloucester Scientist’s Club to host “The Whalemobile” at Gloucester City Hall on Friday, March 31st

~ Sawyer Free Library

It will be a whale of a time at Gloucester City Hall on Friday afternoon, March 31st, when the Sawyer Free Library hosts Whale Watch Naturalist Cindy McInnis and her life-sized inflatable whale from 3:30–5:30 pm, in Kyrouz Auditorium, as part of its Young Gloucester Scientist’s Club. 

Young Scientists will have the opportunity to step inside Nile, the 43-foot long and 30-foot wide inflatable humpback, and learn how whales are similar and different from humans in this interactive program. They will learn about Nile’s migratory path, how many calves she’s had, and how researchers came to this information. Artifacts such as baleen, teeth, and bones will be available for children to see and feel as a part of this interactive program.

The Whalemobile program is suitable for 2nd-8th graders, ages 7 and up. It is free and open to all to attend, although registration is required for each young scientist planning on stepping into the whale. Please register on the calendar page of the SFL website. People can sign up in half-hour intervals starting at 3:30 pm and ending at 5:30 pm on the calendar page of SawyerFreeLibrary.org.  The event will take place in Kyrouz Auditorium on the second floor of Gloucester City Hall located at 9 Dale Avenue.

The Young Gloucester Scientists Club is a monthly club for 4th through 8th graders, which takes a hands-on approach to learning, building community connections, and encouraging local youth to actively think like scientists by observing, questioning, and experimenting with the world around them. 

In addition to monthly field trips in the community, circulating Kits and library-produced Digital Content provide children with fun learning activities to do at home and in-person family programming that introduces them to Gloucester Community members with careers across a variety of STEM fields.

To learn more about the program or upcoming events, visit SawyerFreeLibrary.org.