Sawyer Free Library

Fun at Sawyer Free: Dr. Rosie Helps the Animals

~ Sawyer Free Library

SATURDAY, APRIL 13 from 11:00 AM—12:00 PM at the Sawyer Free Library at 21 Main Gloucester

The Sawyer Free Library is so excited to be hosting “Dr. Rosie Helps the Animals” event on Saturday. April 13 from 11am to 12 noon. Bring your stuffed animal friends to this fun event and join us as we learn about taking care of animals with the creators of the children’s book “Dr. Rosie Helps the Animals.” Jennifer Welborn & Rozillia Mh will read their book and show us how to give our stuffies a check up with a mini veterinarian kit. Attendees will learn about caring for animals with this author and illustrator team while having some hands-on fun! Each young participant will receive a mini vet kit and diagnostic treatment sheet to bring home. In addition, signed copies of the book will be available for purchase. Registration is required at sawyerfreelibrary.org.

If you have questions please visit, sawyerfreelibrary.org or call 978-325-5500.

This event has been made possible by the Constance T. Rhinelander Fund.

Sawyer Free Library Named Finalist for 2024 IMLS National Medal for Museum and Library Service  

~ Sawyer Free Library

The Institute of Museum and Library Services announced today that the Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library is among 30 finalists for the 2024 National Medal for Museum and Library Service. The Sawyer Free Library is one of four institutions in Massachusetts to be selected as a finalist for this award.

The National Medal is the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries that demonstrate significant impact in their communities. For 30 years, the award has honored institutions that demonstrate excellence in service to their communities.

“To be a finalist for a National Medal for Museum and Library Service is an outstanding honor for the Sawyer Free Library and the people of Gloucester. It is a testament to our community that, as we face the unprecedented and daunting challenges of our time, the Sawyer Free Library is trusted as a leading institution to address our community’s needs,” said Library Director Jenny Benedict. “This recognition strengthens our resolve to champion solutions for our future that cultivate connections across our community, inspire learning and foster belonging. We extend our deepest gratitude to Congressman Seth Moulton for nominating the Sawyer Free Library for this prestigious award, and to Senator Ed Markey for his support.”

“The 30 National Medal finalists from across the United States showcase the tremendous abilities of libraries and museums to serve as trusted, dynamic public spaces that meet the needs of their communities,” said IMLS Acting Director Cyndee Landrum. “The Institute of Museum and Library Services is honored to recognize these outstanding institutions. We congratulate them on their collective effort to respond to community needs, preserve diverse history and culture, and create a sense of belonging for all Americans.”

“The Gloucester community already knows what an important role the Sawyer Free Library plays in all our lives. We need more places where kids and adults alike can take a break from their screens and learn to relish a good book. That’s why I was honored to nominate the library for this prestigious award last year, and now I’m thrilled that it’s been nationally recognized as one of the best libraries in the entire country,” said Congressman Seth Moulton. “Especially as the Sawyer Free Library team works on its expansion, this honor is well-timed and very well-deserved.” 

To celebrate this honor, IMLS is encouraging the Sawyer Free Library’s community members to share stories, memories, pictures, and videos on social media using the hashtags #ShareYourStory and #IMLSmedals, and engage with IMLS on X(formerly known as Twitter), Facebook and Instagram. For more information, please visit the IMLS website.

National Medal winners will be announced in late May. Representatives from winning institutions will be honored for their extraordinary contributions during an in-person National Medals Ceremony in Washington, DC this summer.

To see the full list of finalists and learn more about the National Medal, visit the IMLS website.

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services 

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s libraries and museums. We advance, support, and empower America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. IMLS envisions a nation where individuals and communities have access to museums and libraries to learn from and be inspired by the trusted information, ideas, and stories they contain about our diverse natural and cultural heritage. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn.

About the Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library

The Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library have served the informational and cultural needs of Gloucester’s residents of all ages for over 175 years. Today, its purpose remains to provide equal access to quality resources and be a place of learning, innovation, and creativity to nurture and strengthen our community. Each year, SFL hosts hundreds of programs and serves thousands of people. All of its programs and exhibitions are free and open to the public. Learn more about all its offerings at sawyerfreelibrary.org.  

The Sawyer Free Library, temporarily located at 21 Main Street and online 24/7, remains committed to providing a dynamic and enriching environment for all and looks forward to officially opening its newly renovated, expanded, and modernized space in the fall of 2025. Designed to achieve LEED Gold Certification and Mass Save Path 1 Net-Zero-Ready Verification, the renovated library will exemplify energy efficiency and renewable practices. For details, visit sawyerfree2025.org.

2025 Sawyer Free Library (architect rendering of Dale Street Avenue view)

EARTH DAY ALL MONTH AT SAWYER FREE

~ Sawyer Free Library

SAWYER FREE LIBRARY PRESENTS EXCITING MONTH-LONG LINEUP OF ACTIVITIES CELEBRATING EARTH DAY 2024

As the global community gears up to commemorate Earth Day 2024, the Sawyer Free Library proudly presents a month-long extravaganza of activities aimed at celebrating and advocating for environmental consciousness.

In celebration of Earth Day 2024, the Sawyer Free Library is excited to unveil a diverse lineup of events and initiatives throughout April. From educational workshops to reading challenges, the Library endeavors to inspire and empower individuals to embrace sustainable living and make meaningful actions in their own lives to protect our environment.

Throughout April, the community is invited to participate in a variety of events designed to promote environmental awareness and stewardship. Highlights of the Earth Day 2024 lineup include:

Sustainability Reading Challenge: In collaboration with TownGreen, the Library invites community members to participate in a Sustainability Reading Challenge. From March to April, individuals are encouraged to read books aligned with the United Nations Sustainability Goals, with the chance to win a $25 Holy Cow gift card. These goals serve as a blueprint for addressing global challenges such as poverty, inequality, and climate change.

Plant a Garden: Discover the joys of gardening with the Sawyer Seed Library. Select from a diverse array of vegetable, herb, and flower seeds to cultivate your own garden. By nurturing these plants from seed to harvest, participants contribute to a thriving community of gardeners and expand the Seed Library’s offerings for future generations.

Indulge in “Holy Cow Ice Cream“: Grab a spoon and satisfy your sweet tooth. Award winning Holy Cow Ice Cream created a new ice cream flavor celebrating Earth Month in partnership with the Sawyer Free Library and Cape Ann Climate Coalition. Available throughout April at Holy Cow Ice Cream Cafes across the North Shore, this special chocolate and raspberry-flavored all-natural treat embodies the organizations’ commitment to environmental advocacy and the understanding that every day is earth day. A portion of sales of this limited time special flavor will support the Cape Ann Climate Coalition’s educational programs.

In addition to these exciting initiatives, the Sawyer Free Library will host a series of captivating events, including workshops, educational talks, and family-friendly activities. Highlights include “Start Your Own Kitchen Herb Garden” with Backyard Growers, “Tree Talk” with 400 Trees, “Earth Month Musical Storytime” and a “Recycled Art Workshop” led by a local artist.

All events are free and open to the public, with registration required for certain activities. For more information and to view the full schedule of Earth Day events, please visit sawyerfreelibrary.org.

As the Sawyer Free Library continues its commitment to sustainability, it looks forward to the official opening of its new and modernized space in the fall of 2025. Designed to achieve LEED Gold Certification and Mass Save Path 1 Net-Zero-Ready Verification, the renovated library will exemplify energy efficiency and renewable practices. 

The Sawyer Free Library knows that every action we take individually and collectively toward making our environment resilient and sustainable is a step toward a net zero-impact future. To learn more about or to invest in the 2025 Sawyer Free Library’s sustainability features and programs, please visit sawyerfreelibrary.org/sustainability. 

Girl Power: The Supremes as Cultural Icons at Sawyer Free Library

~ Sawyer Free Library

SATURDAY, MARCH 30 from 3:00 – 4:30 PM at Sawyer Free Library, 21 Main Street

Bringing Women’s History Month to a close, the Sawyer Free Library invites you to Girl Power: The Supremes as Cultural Icons Presentation, with Tom Ingrassia. Tom is a Motown historian, author, radio personality and motivational speaker.

In this lively, entertaining and educational multimedia lecture program, Motown historian Tom Ingrassia (who worked for Mary Wilson, of The Supremes, for 6 years) takes you on a journey back to a turbulent time in American history, when Blacks and Whites were trying to change things…and The Supremes’ music helped to bridge the gaps.

Tom grew up with The Supremes. Don’t misunderstand…Tom wasn’t raised in Detroit’s Brewster Housing Projects. Nor did The Supremes live in tiny Middletown, New York. Their cultural and physical neighborhoods were hundreds of miles and a world apart.

But, in 1964, Diana Ross, Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard—the legendary Supremes—burst into the American musical consciousness just as Tom was becoming aware of the music shimmering from his tiny transistor radio. In no time, we was hooked on the Music of Motown—and that began an obsession that eventually led him to work with some biggest names in music history.

The Supremes owned the 1960s. Today, that statement may be obvious. But…in mid-60s America? The fact that three young African American women from Detroit’s housing projects conquered the world was profound…it was revolutionary. The Supremes were trendsetters, and set the standard against which all future female groups are measured. During the 1960s, only The Beatles and Elvis Presley sold more records than The Supremes. 

Girl Power takes audiences on a remarkable trip back in time—an engaging stroll into pop music history—to an era when the Music of Motown reigned supreme—and three young African American women from the Detroit housing projects conquered the world.

This event is open to all to attend. No registration required. For more information, visit sawyerfreelibrary.org or call 978-325-5500.

Women’s History Month at the Sawyer Free: “Witchcraft and Memory in Early New England”

~ Sawyer Free Library

THURSDAY, MARCH 21 from 5:30—6:30 PM at SFL at 21 Main Street

Sawyer Free Library will be hosting Dr. Tricia Peone, Project Director of New England’s Hidden Histories, for a discussion on witchcraft and memory during women’s history month this Thursday, March 21 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Today when we think about witchcraft, we tend to think about the infamous Salem witch trials. But what did it mean to believe in witchcraft in the seventeenth century and how widespread were these beliefs? How did people know if they were bewitched and who was to blame? This talk will explore the stories of several women accused of witchcraft in New England, including in Gloucester, and consider how this history continues to affect us today. Through these stories we can see not only how ideas about witchcraft have changed over time, but also changes in ideas about commemoration, justice, family legacies, and the responsibilities of communities that have been historical sites of violence.

Dr. Tricia Peone previously worked at Historic New England, where she was a research scholar for the Recovering New England’s Voices project. She has also previously worked as the public programs director at New Hampshire Humanities, a university lecturer teaching classes on the Salem witch trials, early New England, and public history, and as a researcher for cultural heritage organizations. Her scholarship focuses on early modern magic and witchcraft and her work on these subjects has appeared in journals, books, blogs, and on radio and television. She holds a PhD in history from the University of New Hampshire with a specialization in the early modern Atlantic world and history of science.

To register to attend or for more information on this special event, visit sawyerfreelibrary.org or call 978-325-5500.

Untold Story of 1960s Women’s Olympic Glory Featured at Sawyer Free Library Author Talk

~ Sawyer Free Library

The Sawyer Free Library is pleased to host local author Aime Alley Card on Thursday, March 7 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. She will be discussing her book The Tigerbelles: Olympic Legends from Tennessee State. Joining her in the conversation will be fellow author, Jean Duffy, author of Soccer Grannies: The South African Women Who Inspire the World. 

The Tigerbelles: Olympic Legends from Tennessee State chronicles the 1960 Tennessee State University all-Black women’s track team, which found Olympic glory at the 1960 games in Rome. It is an epic story of desire, success, and failure—of beating the odds—against the backdrop of a changing America. 

Published this month to coincide with Women’s History Month in March,  the author, who lives in Wenham, will speak as part of the Sawyer Free Library’s author event series from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 7, at the library, 21 Main Street (upstairs) in Gloucester. There will be books available for to sign. No registration required.

Tigerbelles is a multi-layered inspirational tale of triumph over adversity.  The elite group of talent includes Wilma Rudolph, Barbara Jones, Lucinda Williams, Martha Hudson, Willye B. White, and Shirley Crowder.  These are women who once were and should still be known worldwide.  Ultimately, the team’s drive is for more than medals.  Their coach, Edward Temple, and the Tigerbelles offer a challenge to the world’s perception of what a group of young Black women in the Jim Crow South are capable of.

For the past several years, Aime Alley Card has been researching, interviewing, and writing about the Tennessee State Tigerbelles and those who supported them along their path. She conducted and reviewed hundreds of hours of interviews and read just as many books and articles, ranging from concurrent to retrospective. She is a nonfiction editor for Pangyrus literary magazine and a board member for the Women’s National Book Association, Boston Chapter, and serves on her town’s cultural council supporting educational programs.

Please join us for this special event. For more information visit: sawyerfreelibrary.org or 978-325-5500.

Dungeons & Dragons at Sawyer Free Library

~ Sawyer Free Library

Embark on a grand adventure with Dungeons & Dragons at the Sawyer Free Library this Saturday, February 24 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Create your character and venture on an epic quest with Dungeon Master Ephraim Weaver. Free pizza lunch will be provided.

Program designed for 5th-12th graders. All experience levels are welcome. Space is limited. Registration is required at sawyerfreelibrary.org.

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

Come Make a Zine at the Library – this Saturday!

~ Sawyer Free Library

Stop by the Sawyer Free Library at 21 Main Street between 2 and 4 pm on Saturday, February 17 to make your own zine! We will provide all the supplies for you to finish something that you’ve been working on, or start something new.

Zines (pronounced “zeen” like “bean”) are self-published magazines with limited print runs. They typically provide an alternative point of view and provide a platform for underrepresented voices. We believe they belong in the library.  No registration required. All ages welcome! 

What: Drop-In Zine Making Workshop

When: Saturday, February 17. 2:00 – 4:00 PM

Where: Main Floor – Sawyer Free Library, 21 Main Street,Gloucester, MA, 01930

No registration required. All ages welcome! 

Questions? contact Julie Travers at jtravers@sawyerfreelibrary.org or 978-325-5525.

Topping-Off Ceremony to Mark New Phase in Construction of 2025 Sawyer Free Library

~ Sawyer Free Library

Sawyer Free Library will raise steel beam signed by community into place on February 9

It has been just four months since the Sawyer Free Library broke ground on its historic renovation, expansion, and modernization project, and at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 9, the Library will celebrate the project’s next significant milestone, the placement of the highest steel beam at a topping off ceremony. The long-standing construction tradition of a beam topping will mark the completion of the structural phase of this historic project.

The ceremony will feature remarks from local elected officials and library representatives, to be followed by the exciting moment of the last steel beam of the newly expanded 2025 Sawyer Free structure being put into place by a crane. In keeping with tradition, the beam will be adorned with an evergreen tree on one end and an American flag joined by the City of Gloucester’s on the other. Due to limited space on the site, the public is welcome to witness the historic moment outside the safety fencing.

This momentous day will also pay tribute to the incredible community that the Sawyer Free Library has the great honor of serving. Over the past week, the commemorative 11-foot steel beam was signed by over 400 people from throughout Gloucester and beyond, making them a permanent part of this transformative project. Participants of all ages joyfully joined together to leave their mark on the symbolic steel beam, expressing their support, sharing personal messages, and commemorating loved ones, making it a beautiful representation of the community’s collective spirit and deep appreciation for its beloved public Library.

“As we reach this exciting milestone for the 2025 Sawyer Free Library, we celebrate not just the physical structure taking shape but also the collective vision and dedication of our Gloucester community,” said Sawyer Free Library Board of Trustees President Mern Sibley.

“The topping of this beam symbolizes the culmination of the tireless effort and shared commitment of so many, including the countless volunteers, elected and city officials, generous donors, talented creative partners, dedicated Library staff, and our incredible patrons,” added Sibley. “Reaching this exciting milestone has been a tremendous team effort, and as construction progresses, I would especially like to recognize the outstanding work of our partner, W.T. Rich Construction, and our subcontractors in bringing us closer each day to the grand opening of the reimagined 2025 Sawyer Free Library.”

“W.T. Rich is proud to celebrate this construction milestone for the Sawyer Free Library project. We are honored to be a part of a project that is so important to the Gloucester community. We have had a great working relationship with the City and our construction partners, and we look forward to continuing that collaboration to turnover a beautiful, newly renovated and expanded Library in the spring of 2025,” said Jonathan Rich, Chief Executive Officer of W.T. Rich Company.

The 2025 Sawyer Free Library capital campaign is continuing during construction to raise $11M towards the $29M goal. To date, it has approximately $10.3 million in grants secured from the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Project (MPLCP) and Green Library Incentives. In addition, the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund, a Commonwealth of Massachusetts program administered through a collaborative arrangement between MassDevelopment and the Mass Cultural Council, has provided substantial funding for the project.

The Library is also immensely grateful for the tremendous engagement and investment at every level from all parts of the community committed to realizing the 2025 Sawyer Free Library. The project has received transformational gifts from individual and corporate donors, including room-naming contributions from the Institution for Savings, Bank Gloucester, Cape Ann Savings Bank, Gorton’s, and Sudbay Motors.

There are still naming opportunities available for donors interested in leaving their legacy, honoring a family member, or aligning their company’s mission and values while supporting the Library, Gloucester, and the Cape Ann community. To learn more about investing in the 2025 Sawyer Free Library, please visit sawyerfreelibrary.org.

The comprehensive renovation, modernization, and expansion of Gloucester’s public Library officially broke ground this past September. The project, which remains on schedule and budget, will take approximately eighteen months and is expected to be opened to the public in the summer of 2025.

When its doors open, the 2025 Sawyer Free Library will exemplify what a 21st-century public library can and should be in terms of architecture, sustainability, accessibility, use of natural resources and light, wayfinding, lines of sight, air quality, and public safety. The 2025 Sawyer Free Library project will preserve the original exterior, housing an entirely redesigned interior, and will also double the size of the existing Library’s footprint with a 14,000-square-foot addition.

The 2025 Sawyer Free Library will offer current and emerging public technology, diverse collections, engaging programs, and new dedicated spaces for collaboration, learning, and relaxation. It will feature a digital learning lab, a 100-seat community room with state-of-the-science media presentation equipment, a local history research center, a dedicated teen room, a beautiful expanded children’s room with an early learning center for toddlers, study rooms for individual and group study, a 16-seat conference room, and much more. With its modern and sustainable design, the Library will provide an inspiring environment for library patrons, staff, the community, and beyond.

W.T. Rich Company of Beverly, MA, is leading the construction of the 2025 Sawyer Free Library. The comprehensive project was designed by a team composed of Oudens Ello Architecture and Dore + Whittier Architecture, Construction Management Firm W.T. Rich, and Library project leaders, along with the vital input of the citizens of Gloucester.

The Sawyer Free Library is temporarily located at 21 Main Street and online 24/7 during construction. The Library remains committed to providing a dynamic and enriching environment for all. For more information about the 2025 Sawyer Free Library, please visit us in person at 21 Main Street, online at sawyerfreelibrary.org, or 978-325-5500.

rendering of 2025 Sawyer Free Library

Author Talk with Eric Lessinger: Stethoscope on Reality

~ Sawyer Free Library

Please join the Sawyer Free Library at 21 Main Street this Thursday, February 8 at 5:30 p.m. for an author talk with Gloucester resident, Eric Lessinger, who will be discussing his book Stethoscope on Reality: how my journey as a working-class Jew from Brooklyn informed my 50 years of medical practice, opening my heart and mind.

In his book, Dr. Lessinger documents his education as a striving, intelligent, upwardly mobile student in New York City public schools who went to Harvard College and NYU Medical School. He exposes the oppressive nature of medical training, from medical school through the years as an intern and resident. Overwork, exhaustion, humiliation in front of one’s peers, and competition rather than cooperation were routine parts of his daily experience. Still, he refused to relinquish his full humanity in the process. Working as a family doctor, utilizing both science and deep caring, he is not defensive about his mistakes, but rather, honest and remarkably willing to show us his vulnerability.

Eric Lessinger, MD grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He is a family doctor who graduated from NYU Medical School in 1972 and did his internship at Lincoln Hospital in Bronx, New York. He completed his residency in Rochester, New York. He practiced Family Medicine and Hospice and Palliative care in Trumansburg, New York, near Ithaca, for many years. He is now happily retired and lives in Gloucester, Massachusetts, with his wife Meredith and two cats. 

No registration required for the event. For more information, visit sawyerfreelibrary.org.

Details: Thursday, February 8, 2024 from 5:30-6:30pm at Sawyer Free Library at 21 Main Street.