Gloucester Lyceum

Sawyer Free Library to Host Film Screening and Panel Discussion: “Timeline Cape Ann: Sawyer Free Library”

~ Sawyer Free Library

Ever wonder how Gloucester’s public library came to be? The Sawyer Free Library invites the community to a special evening celebrating nearly two centuries of local history, innovation, and civic spirit. On Thursday, November 20 from 5:00 to 6:30 PM, the Library will present a film screening and panel discussion of Timeline Cape Ann: Sawyer Free Library in its Community Room.

Produced by Kory Curcuru of 1623 Studios, Timeline Cape Ann: Sawyer Free Library traces the remarkable story of Gloucester’s public library—from its 19th-century beginnings in the Gloucester Lyceum to its role today as a vibrant civic and cultural hub. The short documentary explores how a small-town vision grew into a cornerstone of learning, access, and community connection.

The film situates the Sawyer Free Library within the broader story of American public libraries—beginning with Benjamin Franklin’s 1731 subscription library, which sparked a movement for shared knowledge and free access to books. By the early 1800s, the “Lyceum movement” swept New England, bringing citizens together for lectures, debate, and education. Gloucester quickly joined in. In 1830, residents established the Gloucester Lyceum, which merged Franklin’s ideals with this new spirit of civic learning.

The Library’s evolution accelerated under the leadership and generosity of Samuel Elwell Sawyer, a Gloucester native and philanthropist who made access to books free for all. His lasting legacy includes the donation of the Saunders House, which remains part of the Library campus today, and the 1872 incorporation of the Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library, with a charter promising it would remain free forever.

Timeline Cape Ann also highlights the Library’s continued resilience and innovation—surviving fires, embracing technology, and expanding services through the 20th and 21st centuries. From WPA murals and children’s programs to its newly completed, state-of-the-art renovation and expansion, the Sawyer Free Library remains a living institution shaped by generations of readers, learners, and citizens.

Following the screening, Curcuru will be joined by Sawyer Free Library Local History Librarian Julie Travers and local historian and author Wayne Soini for a panel discussion and audience Q&A exploring the Library’s enduring role in Gloucester’s civic life.

This free public event offers a fascinating look at how one man’s generosity and a community’s shared commitment helped shape the heart of Gloucester.

Space is limited; registration is requested at SawyerFreeLibrary.org.

Film Screening and Panel Discussion:
Thursday, November 20, 2025
5:00–6:30 PM
Sawyer Free Library, Community Room (Ground Floor), 2 Dale Avenue, Gloucester, MA

Reimagining Gloucester Together: Placemaking at the New Sawyer Free Library

~ Sawyer Free Library

Join us October 23 as global placemaking leader Ethan Kent and 20 Cape Ann Creatives spark new conversations about community, creativity, and connection.

Be part of something inspiring! Join us for the official relaunch of the historic Gloucester Lyceum as we welcome Ethan Kent, Executive Director of PlacemakingX, one of the world’s foremost leaders in creating inclusive, thriving public spaces.

This engaging evening invites attendees to explore the newly reimagined Sawyer Free Library and take part in lively small-group dialogues alongside 20 Cape Ann Community Creatives and members of the Gloucester Lyceum Committee. Together, we’ll consider how great public places—like our Library—can connect, strengthen, and inspire the community we share.

“Placemaking is about strengthening the connection between people and the places they share,” says Ethan Kent. “It’s about making the spaces we live—the places we love.”

Come experience the rebirth of the Gloucester Lyceum—where the city comes to think.

Featuring Cape Ann Community Creatives:

Anne Rolland • Nina Fletcher • Jennifer K. Brown • Leslie Dale Bartlett • Rick Blue • Lindsay Ann Crouse • Heidi McGrath • Brett Dunton • Chele Lizotte • Sarah Smith • Penny Neal • Charlee Bianchini • Ann Ledy • Sash Ludwig • Craig Walker • Julie Wyman • Eroica Schenck • Lucy Pear • Catherine Pear • Tom Balf

Free and open to all! Space is limited—register today at sawyerfreelibrary.org

 Sawyer Free Library | 2 Dale Avenue, Gloucester, MA
Thursday, October 23 | 7:00–8:30 p.m.
 Free and open to the public | Space is limited | Registration required

Join the Sawyer Free Library for the Relaunch of the Gloucester Lyceum

~ Sawyer Free Library

Placemaking: Our Library In Our Community with Ethan Kent

The Sawyer Free Library will officially relaunch the Gloucester Lyceum with a special event, Placemaking: Our Library In Our Community, featuring internationally renowned placemaking leader Ethan Kent, Executive Director of PlacemakingX.

The program will be held Thursday, October 23, 2025, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in the Sawyer Free Library’s Community Room, 2 Dale Avenue, Gloucester. Free and open to the public, registration is required at sawyerfreelibrary.org. Space is limited.

The program will begin with remarks by Mr. Kent, followed by interactive conversations with fellow attendees throughout the various spaces of the newly renovated, expanded, and modernized Sawyer Free Library. The perspectives shared in these dialogues will inspire closing insights from Mr. Kent, allowing participants to reflect on how Gloucester can continue to build meaningful, inclusive spaces—starting with its newly reimagined Library.

“Placemaking is about strengthening the connection between people and the places they share,” said Ethan Kent. “It’s about making the spaces we live, the places we love.”

The Gloucester Lyceum: A Tradition Renewed

Founded in 1830, the Gloucester Lyceum once brought thought leaders such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau to Cape Ann. Today, the Sawyer Free Library’s relaunch builds on this proud tradition, offering marquee programs that bring contemporary voices into dialogue with the community.

“The relaunch of the Gloucester Lyceum is about renewing a proud tradition of bringing people together for public discourse within a collaborative forum. True to the notion that a lyceum is “where the city comes to think,” we are honored to welcome Ethan Kent as our first speaker in this new chapter. His work around the world embodies the very spirit of community dialogue and imagination that we hope to cultivate right here in Gloucester,” said Laura Ventimiglia, Chair of the Gloucester Lyceum. 

“Welcoming Ethan Kent to Gloucester to help relaunch our historic Lyceum is both timely and inspiring,” added Mern Sibley, President of the Board of Trustees of the Sawyer Free Library. “Our newly reimagined Library is the hub of the community—offering so much to so many. Ethan’s work demonstrates how meaningful public spaces can bring people together, foster belonging, and strengthen communities.”

About the Sawyer Free Library

For nearly 200 years, the Sawyer Free Library has served Gloucester as a hub of culture, learning, and civic life. Its newly renovated and expanded building continues this mission, providing equal access to resources and programs that support the community’s evolving needs.

For more information and to register for this special evening, visit sawyerfreelibrary.org. Space is limited, so register today!

Become a Voice for Ideas: Join the Gloucester Lyceum Committee

~ Sawyer Free Library

The Gloucester Lyceum is looking for volunteers interested in bringing together national, regional, and local contemporary speakers with community members to explore pressing issues and ideas of our time.

If you are interested in joining the Lyceum Committee, please send a letter of interest to GloucesterLyceum@sawyerfreelibrary.org explaining why you are interested in joining this exciting new chapter of the Lyceum. 

In the meantime, stay tuned for the first Lyceum event in October 2025!

Sawyer Free Library Annual Meeting: Wed, 11/13

~ Sawyer Free Library

Please join us for the Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library Corporation’s Annual Meeting on Wednesday, November 13 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. It will be held at Gloucester Stage located at 267 East Main Street, Gloucester. The annual meeting is open to the public, but only corporators can vote. Refreshments will be served.

The evening will allow the community to come together and celebrate the Library’s achievements, learn about its finances and engage with the Library’s board members and staff. There will also be an update on the 2025 Sawyer Free Library building project.

New members of the Library Corporation and Board of Trustees will be elected, and the Mary M. Weissblum Volunteer Award will be presented to Simon Paddock. Each year, the award is given by the Trustees to recognize and show appreciation for the Library’s outstanding volunteers who help to maintain and promote its services and programs. 

ALL ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS YEAR’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS, PLANS AND PRIORITIES FOR THE LIBRARY

Refreshments will be served. No registration is required. Questions? Contact: 978-325-5500.

The Day After Yesterday: Portraits of Dementia – – A Conversation with Artist Joe Wallace at the Sawyer Free Library on Sat. Feb 5 at 2pm

~ Sawyer Free Library

The Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library will be hosting a conversation with artist Joe Wallace about his powerful photo series “Day After Yesterday” this Saturday, February 5, from 2-4 pm which is currently on display in the Library’s Matz Gallery.

The photo exhibit juxtaposes Wallace’s portraits of individuals living with dementia with a photo of the subject at a younger age and a brief narrative of who they are as people.

The goal of this body of work is to de-stigmatize those living with dementia, use empathy as a means for connection and understanding, and tell a more complete story of those living with the disease and its effect on their families and loved ones.

Trained as a journalist, Wallace has been a portrait photographer and storyteller for two decades and has a deeply personal connection with dementia.

As his website outlines, his approach is to depict the whole story to give viewers the courage to act in ways large and small. He believes the artist must not be afraid to show not only the fear, loss, and despair, but also the love, connection, dignity, and powerful humanity that always remain—in the subjects, care-partners, families, and communities. According to Wallace, this is the path to evolve the narrative and have a positive social change.

This is the first event in the Library’s five-part free educational series on dementia and healthy cognitive aging, Of Sound Mind: A Series on Dementia.

All are welcome to attend. Registration is not required, although face masks are mandatory for those attending. For more information about the event or other Sawyer Free Library offerings, visit sawyerfreelibrary.org or call 978-325-5500.

Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library to present Of Sound Mind: A Series on Dementia

~ Sawyer Free Library

The five- part free educational series on dementia and healthy cognitive aging kicks off in February

Beginning in February, the Gloucester Lyceum and the Sawyer Free Library, is kicking off an educational series on dementia and healthy cognitive aging. Of Sound Mind: A Series on Dementia will feature local experts in the field of cognitive aging who will explore current dementia research, discuss methods of keeping your brain healthy, and ways to understand better and support people experiencing and caring for those with the disease. 

“We hope that this important series, which is free and open for all to attend, will help to foster community conversation and support around dementia and this burgeoning health crisis,” said Sawyer Free Library Director Jenny Benedict. 

The five-part series will take through May at the Sawyer Free Library located at 2 Dale Avenue in Gloucester. All events are free and open to all to attend. SeniorCare, Inc. will have trained volunteers on hand to share resources and answer questions following each event.  

Of Sound Mind: A Series on Dementia presented by the Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library

Of Sound Mind: A Series on Dementia schedule includes:

Saturday, February 5, 2:00 pm: Photographer Joe Wallace speaks on his series, “The Day After Yesterday: Portraits of Dementia”

Joe Wallace will speak about his powerful photo exhibit “Day After Yesterday: Portraits of Dementia” on display in the Library’s Matz Gallery through February. 

The exhibit juxtaposes Wallace’s portraits of individuals living with dementia with younger photographs of the subjects and a brief narrative of who they are as people. This body of work aims to de-stigmatize those living with dementia, use empathy as a means for connection and understanding, and tell a complete story of those living with the disease and its effect on their families and loved ones. Trained as a journalist, Joe Wallace has been a portrait photographer and storyteller for twenty years. Like many, Joe has a deeply personal connection with dementia. 

Thursday, March 10, 5:30-7:00 pm: Steps to Managing Memory, Alzheimer’s Disease, & Dementia with Dr. Andrew Budson

Based on his award-winning book, Dr. Andrew Budson will explain how individuals can distinguish changes in memory due to Alzheimer’s versus normal aging, what medications, diets, and exercise regimes can help, and the best habits, strategies, and memory aids to use, in seven simple steps. He will also discuss his newest book, including how caregivers can manage issues with memory, language, vision, behavior, driving, incontinence, sleep, and more. 

Andrew E. Budson, M.D. is Chief of Cognitive & Behavioral Neurology, Associate Chief of Staff for Education, and Director of the Center for Translational Cognitive Neuroscience at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Boston Healthcare System, Associate Director for Research at the Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Professor of Neurology at Boston University School of Medicine, and Lecturer in Neurology at Harvard Medical School. He is also the Medical Director of the Boston Center for Memory, located in Newton, Massachusetts.

Saturday, April 9, 2:00-3:00 pm: Ten Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s with Alzheimer’s Association MA/NH Chapter 

Alzheimer’s and other dementias cause memory, thinking, and behavior changes that interfere with daily living. Learn about common warning signs of Alzheimer’s and what symptoms to look for in yourself and others, as well as tips for approaching someone who is experiencing changes in their memory, the benefit of early detection and diagnosis, and more.

Saturday, May 7, 2:00 pm: Presentation by Dementia Friends 

Dementia Friends is a global movement changing how people think, act, and talk about dementia. By helping everyone in a community understand what dementia is and how it affects people, each of us can make a difference for people touched by dementia. The presentation will share five key messages about dementia and a bit about what it’s like to live with dementia to help community members understand dementia and the small things they can do to make a difference for people living with dementia.

Saturday, May 21, 2:00 pm: Book Talk with author Siobhan McDonald on her picture book Hilda’s Story: New Bedford, Massachusetts an interactive read-aloud designed for entertainment, understanding, comfort, and connection with people living with dementia.

Artist, teacher and author, Siobhan McDonald is passionate about helping seniors with memory loss to connect with loved ones and caregivers through conversation and sharing their personal stories. Learn how providing visual arts workshops to seniors with memory challenges inspired her interactive book Hilda’s Story: New Bedford, Massachusetts.

All presentations are free and open to the public. Registration is not required. Face masks are mandatory for those attending.  For more information about the event or other Sawyer Free Library offerings, visit sawyerfreelibrary.org or call 978-325-5500.