Reading

Sawyer Free Library is on the Move —Here’s What You Need to Know

~ Sawyer Free Library

The wait is almost over! Final touches are underway on the newly renovated and expanded Sawyer Free Library, and we’re getting ready to return to our historic home at 2 Dale Avenue.

Here’s what you need to know:

  • Our temporary location at 21 Main Street will be closed as of 6 PM on Monday, June 9. 
  • In-person services will pause as we move 70,000 items, install new technology and furnishings, and complete final walkthroughs.
  • The announcement for when the newly renovated library at 2 Dale Avenue will re-open will be made in mid-July—stay tuned for the exact date!

During the Transition:
🌐 Online resources and virtual programs remain available at sawyerfreelibrary.org
📆 Due dates will be extended—no late fees
📬 Holds can be picked up at other NOBLE libraries
📪 Book drops will be closed—please hold onto items until we reopen
📴 Staff will be unavailable by phone or email during the closure

Need something in the meantime? Visit a neighboring NOBLE library to meet your borrowing and research needs.

All news, events, and service updates will be shared at sawyerfreelibrary.org and on our social media. Be sure to follow us.

Help Us Celebrate
Mark your calendars as everyone is invited to the:
🎉 Official Grand Opening & Ribbon-Cutting: Friday, September 5
🎉 Community Celebration & Open House: Saturday, September 6

Support the Final Phase
We are deeply grateful to all who have contributed to the project and proud of what your generosity has built so far.  But we are not done yet. If you can, please share the news of the 2025 Sawyer Free Library with others, increase your support of the project or make your very first gift. We need your help to fully fund this transformational project and bring it across the finish line. To donate: 2025.sawyerfreelibrary.org

See you soon!
We can’t wait to welcome you back to the reimagined 2025 Sawyer Free Library at 2 Dale Avenue.  Thank you for being part of this exciting new chapter for Sawyer Free Library and our great community!

Help Build Gloucester’s Future Today

~ Sawyer Free Library

2025 Sawyer Free Library 🌸 Spring Appeal

The future of the Sawyer Free Library is rising on Dale Avenue—and it’s breathtaking. On schedule and on budget, our modernized library is nearly complete and set to open its doors to the Gloucester community this fall!

This transformation is about more than a building. It’s about what happens inside, and every floor tells a story of inclusion and innovation.

On the Ground Floor

  • A cutting-edge Digital Learning Lab 💻
  • A Local History Research Center with an 85” interactive display and digital archive
  • A 100-seat Community Room for performances, workshops, and forums

On the First Floor

  • A warm, inviting Reading Lounge and expanded collection 📚
  • A Quiet Room for focused study and reflection
  • A newly expanded Matz Gallery showcasing Cape Ann’s artistic talent 🖼

On the Second Floor – 9,500 square feet devoted to Young Minds

  • A Light-Filled Children’s Room
  • An Early Learning Center supporting literacy from the start
  • A Creative Program Room for hands-on exploration
  • Gloucester’s only dedicated Teen Space and Creation Studio

We’re building more than a library—we’re creating a future where knowledge, equity, and opportunity can thrive. This is a library for everyone: every age, every voice, every dreamer. But we’re not quite there yet.

To everyone who has supported the Sawyer Free Library project—thank you. Your generosity has brought us this far, and we’re proud of what we’ve built together. Now, as we prepare to open the doors, we invite you to help us complete this transformational project by donating to the 2025 Sawyer Free Library 🌸 Spring Appeal.

💛 Let’s Finish This Together
Your gift will help turn this shared vision into reality. It’s an investment in Gloucester’s wellbeing, culture, and future. Please consider donating today at 2025.sawyerfreelibrary.org.

Whether you’ve already contributed, are considering an additional gift, or are giving for the first time—your support matters.

Together, let’s build a space where ideas grow, stories are shared, ​and our community shines! ☀️

Cape Ann Libraries Celebrate Earth Day with Inspiring Author Talk

~ Sawyer Free Library

Cape Ann’s public libraries—Rockport Public Library, Sawyer Free Library in Gloucester, Manchester-by-the-Sea Public Library, and the TOHP Burnham Library in Essex—extend their heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined them for a very special Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 19, at the Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport.

This unique collaborative event brought together four libraries and hundreds of community members to honor the wonders of the natural world. The highlight of the afternoon was a captivating conversation with acclaimed author and naturalist Sy Montgomery and award-winning wildlife illustrator Matt Patterson, who shared insights from their latest book, Of Time and Turtles: Mending the World, Shell by Shattered Shell.

“It was a joy to witness our communities come together to celebrate nature, storytelling, and the enduring power of libraries,” said event organizers. “This Earth Day event reminded us of the vital role libraries play in inspiring imagination, fostering empathy, and encouraging stewardship of our planet.”

Sy Montgomery, author of more than 30 books including The Soul of an Octopus, a National Book Award finalist, is renowned for her ability to bring readers into the heart of the animal world. Her latest work explores the resilience, beauty, and mystery of turtles—and of time itself.

Matt Patterson’s intricate wildlife illustrations, featured in The Book of Turtles—a Robert F. Sibert Honor Award recipient—showcase the rich biodiversity of turtle species and emphasize their importance within global ecosystems.

Sy beautifully captured the spirit of the day when she said, “A library is a portal not just to our own world, but to worlds unknown… a refuge, a space rocket. Libraries show us we can dream anything, do anything, be anything.”

The four Cape Ann libraries are deeply grateful to the nearly 300 attendees who made this Earth Day gathering so memorable. We hope the event sparked a renewed sense of connection—to nature, to community, and to the incredible institutions that are our public libraries.

For those inspired to take further action in support of turtle conservation, Sy and Matt recommend two local organizations doing vital work: Turtle Survival Alliance, dedicated to saving turtles from extinction and Turtle Rescue League, a Massachusetts-based group rescuing and rehabilitating injured turtles, relocating eggs from hazardous areas, and rehoming unwanted pet turtles.

Together, let’s keep celebrating, learning from, and protecting this extraordinary planet we call home.

Left to Right:
Essex’s T.O.H.P. Burnhan Public Library Director Carla Christensen, Rockport Public Library Director Cindy Grove, Author Sy Montgomery, Illustrator Matt Patterson, Rockport Library Adult Program Coordinator Osha Rose and Gloucester’s Sawyer Free Community Librarian Meg O’Neill 

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.

Garden Storytime with Backyard Growers at Sawyer Free Library’s Garden Bed

~ Sawyer Free Library

Backyard Growers brings a fun outdoor children’s gardening program to the Sawyer Free Library in a series of Thursday morning events at 10:00 am throughout the summer! Children will plan, plant, water, weed, maintain and harvest a garden at the library in July and August.

Children and their caregivers are invited to come learn about gardening as the community partners share books and stories while exploring the process of growing.

As a part of the Library’s summer reading program, “2024: Read, Renew, Repeat,” which focuses on conservation, the Sawyer Free Library encourages participants of all ages to discover the joy and power of reading while developing a sense of environmental consciousness.

The weekly event takes place at the Sawyer Free Library’s raised garden bed on the Middle Street side of the Saunders House (88 Middle Street.)

For questions, visit sawyerfreelibrary.org or call 978-325-5500.

This summer program has been made possible with support from the Constance T. Rhinelander Fund.

Sawyer Free Library Unveils the Most Checked-Out Library Books of 2022

~ Sawyer Free Library

As the page turns on 2022, the Sawyer Free Library has compiled a list of some of the year’s most popular books, sharing the top checkouts for adults, teens, and children. Of the thousands of print, digital, and audiobooks patrons borrowed, these were Gloucester’s favorite books of 2022. 

“It’s not surprising that as we slowly regained our ability to leave our homes, our reading turned to reflect on the priorities and values of our time spent in quarantine. In 2022, Gloucester seemed to want to read stories about relationships, families, and the uncertainties of modern life,” said Beth Pocock, the Library’s Assistant Director. “The Sawyer Free Library takes great pride that our beloved community continually turns to us for unparalleled access to books, knowledge, and entertainment to feed their souls, brighten their spirits and enrich their lives.”

Top Adult Fiction

1. Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout

2. by Amor Towles

3. Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult 

4. Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty

5. The Judge’s List by John Grisham

6. The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

7. Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr

8. Never by Ken Follett

9. Our Country Friends by Gary Shteyngart

10. State of Terror by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny

The most borrowed book was Elizabeth Strout’s Oh William!, with a story full of family secrets that eventually grows into an uplifting meditation on our humanity. Taking the second spot is The Lincoln Highway, Amor Towles follow-up to his blockbuster novel Gentleman from Moscow, a complex story about two brothers whom you’ll come to care as deeply about as you did Count Alexander Rostov. 

Another highlight on the list is Anthony Doerr’s celebrated novel, Cloud Cuckoo Land. A New York Times bestseller, National Book Award finalist, and Best Book of the Year by most major newspapers, Cloud Cuckoo Land follows five young dreamers through time and space from 1453 Constantinople to the future. 

The pandemic and its shared experience provided the underpinning for many of this year’s other favorites. In Wish You Were Here, Jodi Picoult tells a story about the pandemic shattering a well-planned life and providing a platform for rethinking priorities. A group of friends meeting in a country house to wait out the pandemic in isolation sets the stage for Gary Shteyngart’s book, Our Country Friends. Referred to by many as “The Great Pandemic Novel,” Shteyngart aptly captures the uncertainties of modern life we all felt so keenly during the pandemic. 

No list of Gloucester favorites is ever complete without a few good thrillers. One of this year’s most popular suspense writers, Liane Moriarty, adds Apples Never Fall to 2022’s list.  John Grisham’s latest legal thriller, The Judge’s List, and State of Terror, by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny aptly fill two other suspenseful slots.

Top Adult Nonfiction

1. The Gloucester Notebook by T.S. Eliot, 1888-1965

2. The Dawn Of Everything: A New History Of Humanity by David Graeber

3. Caste: The Origins Of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson 

4. Death and Enchantment in a New England Ghost Town by Elyssa East

5. Words Like Loaded Pistols: Rhetoric From Aristotle To Obama by Sam Leith 

6. Happy, Healthy Minds: A children’s guide to emotional wellbeing by The School Life

7. The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story       

8. The Weekday Vegetarians by Jenny Rosenstrach

9. Quick + Simple: Simply Wonderful Meals With Surprisingly Little Effort by Jacques Pepin

The top ten non-fiction titles circulated at Sawyer Free in 2022 reveal the range of demographic groups that the Library serves. For those who love Gloucester’s history and lore, the top spot went to The Gloucester Notebook by T.S. Eliot, a collection of poems the 21-year-old Eliot first began to write at Harvard.  The number two spot in local history went to Dogtown: Death and Enchantment in a New England Ghost Town by Elyssa East.

Cape Ann’s long history of independent free-thinkers continues, with readers finding The Dawn of Everything and The 1619 Project appealing along with Caste The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson which remained on the list from last year. The books rewrite traditional history very differently in surprising and eye-opening ways. While many parents found a helpful tool with Happy, Healthy Minds, inspiring chefs looked for guidance from the likes of renowned cookbook author Jacques Pepin. And local students who made their way to the Sawyer Free Library for their summer reading materials found the most in demand book this summer was Words like Loaded Pistols: Rhetoric from Aristotle to Obama. 

From familiar series to popular new releases, the Sawyer Free Library’s younger patrons read a lot in 2022. Children and young adults were browsing the Library’s shelves at record rates, in person and online, and to follow were some of their best-loved reads. 

For younger readers, Dog Man master Dav Pilkey chewed up the top spot on the most popular children’s books list. Raina Telgemeier’s Ghosts and Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid graphic novel titles were also top reads this year. The Young Adult titles with the highest circulation were Welcome to the Dark House, the suspenseful story by Laurie Faria Stolarz, and Siege and Storm, the second book in Leigh Bardugo’s popular Shadow and Bone Trilogy and the compelling tale Spice & Wolf: Volume 1 by Isuna Hasekura.

Top Children/Teens Fiction

1. Dog Man: Fetch-22 by Dav Pilkey

2. Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier

3. The Magic School Bus: Inside a Beehive by Joanna Cole

4. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules by Jeff Kinney

5. The Thank You Book by Mo Willems

6. The Babysitters Club: Kristy and the Snobs by Chan Chau

7. Welcome to the Dark House by Laurie Faria Stolarz

8. Beetle & the Hollowbones by Aliza Layne

9. Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

10. Spice & Wolf: Volume 1 by Isuna Hasekura

Find these and millions of other books through the Sawyer Free Library. Visit the Library in its new location at 21 Main Street in downtown Gloucester or sawyerfreelibrary.org, where its friendly and talented Librarians are always there to help you find a new book to read and so much more. 

Approximately 14,000 people currently possess Sawyer Free Library cards. Anyone who resides or attends school in Gloucester 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.

Community Concert Co-Sponsored by Sawyer Free Library on Saturday, July 30 at 11am

~ Sawyer Free Library

Community Concert with THREE libraries! Join Sawyer Free, Rockport & Manchester-by-the-Sea libraries at Masconomo Park in Manchester for a great family outdoor summer show! Lots of fun with TWO musical groups: Ants on a Log joins Bee Parks & the Hornets for this fun community event!

Saturday, July 30 at 11:00am! Open and free to all!

Rain location is Manchester Elementary School.

For more information visit SawyerFreeLibrary.org or 978-325-5500

Sawyer Free Library Celebrates Summer with a Slate of Cool Offerings for All Ages  

~ Sawyer Free Library

Library kicks off summer reading fun with a family friendly concert on June 28 at 11AM

The Sawyer Free Library (SFL) will officially be the hottest place to be this summer! 

The Sawyer Free Library is excited to announce the launch of its annual “Summer at the Library,” offering free programs for all ages to entertain, spark, and encourage a lifelong love of reading and learning. From innovative reading challenges to ukulele lessons and shark week adventures to book discussions, author talks, and much more, there’s something for everyone.  The summer fun kicks off on Tuesday, June 28 at 11:00 am with a family-friendly concert featuring Elijah T. Grasshopper’s Rainbow Dance Party in the Library’s outside amphitheater.

Family Concert at Library on Tuesday, June 28 at 11AM

The theme for this year’s annual summer reading challenge, “Read Beyond the Beaten Path,” encourages readers of all ages to explore new worlds and experiences in books that expand their imaginations. The Library’s innovative incentives and activities encourage kids and teens to stay active and read for fun and help them avoid the black hole that is the summer slide, when critical skills learned during the school year are lost over the summer. 

“Learning for kids and teens goes on all year round at Sawyer Free Library, and we know how important free ways to keep learning through the summer are for families,” said Library Director Jenny Benedict. “Summer is the perfect time for all ages to read, create, engage and have fun discovering new interests and exploring new topics. We hope all children and families make the Sawyer Free Library a regular stop this summer.”

To get started, young people and their families can pick up their “Welcome to Summer Reading Packets” Summer Reading and Activity Log at the Library, which has program information, the event calendar, activities, and fun summer treats. Children can stay on top of their summer reading with their “Read Beyond the Beaten Path” time-tracking reading logs. Then from June 28 to August 6, after reading for 500 minutes (or are read to), they win prizes, including tickets to the Topsfield Fair. People can register in person or online for the program.  

Highlights of Summer at the Library programming for children include (with all details sawyerfreelibrary.org):

  • Learn to play campfire songs on the Ukulele with Julie Stepanek on July 5 and enjoy musical story time with Ruthanne Paulson on Friday, July 22, and August 19. 
  • Move your body with Creative Movement in the Library’s Amphitheater on July 7 and be wowed by Jungle Jim’s Camp balloon magic on Wednesday, August 3. 
  • Children can get an up-close look at exotic and native animals on zoom presented by Wildlife Encounters Ecology Center on Tuesday, July 12, and then learn about the snakes of the world with Rick Roth on Saturday, July 23.
  • Kids can get their hands dirty on select Thursday mornings with Backyard Growers while learning about gardening and planting in the Children’s Library garden. 

And all are invited to a midsummer celebratory outside concert featuring the two bands, “Ants on a Log” and “Bee Parks and the Hornets,” in collaboration with Rockport and Manchester-by-the-Sea Public Libraries, on Saturday, July 30.  

SFL has big plans for middle school kids and 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. There is also a full summer schedule of weekly programs, including Stem-tastic Thursdays, Science Saturdays, Tween Nights, Gaming Club, Summer Reading Help, and much more. 

Due to last year’s success, SFL is once again giving adults the chance to get in on the summer fun with Adult Book Bingo 2022. From now until September 1, 2022, 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 programs the Library always offers adults—technology training, job search help, author talks, etc.—there will also be summer-themed special programs available.

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.

Sawyer Free Library’s summer operating hours beginning on June 18, will be Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 8am to 6pm, Thursday 10am to 7pm, Friday 10am to 5:00pm and Saturday 10:00am to 1pm and 24/7 at sawyerfreelibrary.org.

For more information about the “Summer at the Sawyer Free Library” and to register for programs, visit: sawyerfreelibrary.org or call 978-325-5500.

Sawyer Free Library’s Most Popular Books Of 2021

~ Sawyer Free Library

As the page turns on 2021, the Sawyer Free Library has compiled a list of some of the most popular books checked out this year by adults, teens, and children. Of the thousands of print, digital, and audiobooks that patrons borrowed, these were Gloucester’s favorites in 2021. 

Fiction:

Gloucester seemingly read “around the world” when it came to their top Fiction books of 2021. 

  • The top book checked out by patrons was The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah, a historical fiction set in The Dust Bowl, the drought-stricken Southern Plains region, during the Great Depression.
  • Next, the list crosses the ocean to an isolated island in West Ireland with the contemporary murder mystery novel The Guest List by Lucy Foley. 
  • Returning to the United States, the powerful novel, The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett, focuses on two twin sisters and issues of racial identity and bigotry in the segregated south.
  • With the backdrop of the City of Lights, bestselling author Louise Penny tells the story of Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Quebec investigating a sinister plot in Quebec in her latest book, All the Devils Are Here.
  • Isabel Allende’s novel, A Long Petal of the Sea, follows two of the thousands of Spaniards who emigrated to Chile after Franco and the Nationalists won the Spanish Civil War.
  • Klara and the Sun, written by Japanese-born British novelist Kazuo Ishiguro is a beautiful science fiction romance set far away in a dystopian future.

Non-Fiction:

Of Gloucester’s 25 most-read titles, only two are non-fiction, revealing Gloucester’s preference for a good story. But there were still many on the Top 100 list. 

  • The most popular non-fiction title of 2021 was Caste: The Origins of our Discontent by Isabel Wilkerson. Ten years after her acclaimed non-fiction book The Warmth of Other Suns, Wilkerson spoke to the struggles of 2021 in “Caste,” dissecting the not-so-subtle American caste system and the social stratification among race and class in the U.S.
  • A Women of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy who Helped win WWII by Sonia Purnell. This compelling and well-researched biography of Virginia Goillot reveals her pivotal role in coordinating the Resistance in Europe.
  • Niksen: Embracing the Dutch Art of Doing Nothing by Olga Mecking. Based on the premise that the Dutch are the happiest people globally, this wellness guide shares how to embrace idleness and explains how doing nothing can make us happier, more productive, and more creative.
  • The final standout on the non-fiction list is Swimming to the Top of the Tide. Written by local author Patricia Hanlon, it chronicles four seasons of her daily immersion in New England’s Great Marsh.

Adults weren’t the only ones looking to learn and have a little literary fun this year. Children and young adults alike were browsing the Library’s shelves, in person and online, and to follow were some of their best-loved reads. 

Young Adult:

The Young Adult titles with the highest circulations were those on the school reading lists. These engaging books written for readers ages 12-18, include: 

The Boy who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba, Angela Duckworth’s Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance and March: Book One, the first volume in a graphic novel trilogy about and by civil and human rights leader, John Lewis with Andrew Aydin. How-to books and self-help books were also popular with the Library’s younger patrons, as was Amanda Gorman’s book of poetry, The Hill We Climb. 

Children:

Five of the top fifteen books for children of reading age were by Jeff Kinney and are titles in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series which encourages even reluctant readers to laugh at the antics of the irresistible main character Greg. Dav Pilkey’s Dog Man series fills two slots on the most popular list. Both titles of Zeeta Elliot’s magical series appeared: The Dragon Thief and Dragons in a Bag. The dragon theme continues on the island of Arcos in the popular Legends of the Sky books series by Liz Flanagan. 

For those interested, complete lists of the Sawyer Free Library’s Most Borrowed Books in 2021, including Adult Mysteries, Graphic Novels, and Teen and Children’s Nonfiction titles, can be found at sawyerfreelibrary.org. 

Anyone who resides or attends school in Gloucester 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.

Reading Together! Book Clubs at Sawyer Free Library

~ Sawyer Free Library

For those of us to like to socialize, the act of reading can feel a bit solitary. Fortunately, the Sawyer Free Library offers a range of book clubs to help make reading more of a social activity where you can connect with like-minded book lovers!

To join the fun, all you need is a library card! Book clubs’ featured books are available at the Sawyer Free Library’s Main Desk or, for most, download the eBook from OverDrive, Libby, or Hoopla.

Current groups include:

GLOBAL FORUM BOOK GROUP, Thursday, October 21, 6:30 pm at the Library Mezzanine

Join a lively discussion on international relations & history each month, moderated by Librarian Beth Pocock. October’s book is “Facing the Mountain” by author Daniel James Brown which tells the unforgettable story of the Japanese-American men who volunteered for the US Army’s 442nd Regimental Combat Team and displayed incredible courage on the brutal battlefields of Europe. Yet back home, their parents were being put in camps and stripped of their livelihoods, and fighting an equally brave battle in the courtroom. Peter King, director of the University of Mass Boston’s Asian American Studies Program, will join the group to discuss the book and the history of Asian-American prejudice on the Eastern seaboard.

Visit the Library or call to check out the book. Registration required, space limited.

BOOKS N’ BREWS, Tuesday, October 19, 6:00-8:00 pm
Here is your chance to get together, have an adult beverage, enjoy a meal and have a rousing discussion about the month’s great read. Books n Brews meets the third Tuesday evening each month, moderated by Librarian Mari Martin.

October’s Book is “The Cold Millions” by Jess Walter. The group will be meeting in person, place TBA. If the weather is inclement, the meeting will be over Zoom. Registration is requested. Email questions to mmartin@sawyerfreelibrary.org.

COOK-A-BOOK, Tuesday, November 9, 1:00 pm
Do you love to cook? Do you love to talk about food? Do you love to share food? If your answer is YES, then the Sawyer Free Library’s Cook-a-Book Book Club is for you! The group meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 1 pm in person in the SFL Amphitheatre or via Zoom if inclement weather.

Check out a cookbook from the Library or use a recipe from home and then get cooking. Bring your creation to the meeting for everyone to enjoy. The group will discuss the different recipes, what worked or didn’t in the preparation, cooking, and delicious things. Register online. Please email questions to mmartin@sawyerfreelibrary.org

Sawyer Free Library also has BOOK CLUBS TO GO!
The Library provides the books and the discussion questions so you can start your own book group. All you need to provide is a group of friends! Each kit contains 10 print copies, a large print copy or audiobook if available, and a reader’s guide of discussion questions. One member of your group will reserve and pick up the kit through our online booking system and distribute the books to everyone in the group. When your meeting is over, just collect all the books and return the kit to the Library. When you check out a kit, be sure to find a 25% discount coupon to use at The Cave so you can bring wine, cheese, and chocolate to your meeting. Go to sawyerfreelibrary.org to see and reserve the full list of titles available.