sawyerfreelibrary

Our Library. Our Community. Our Future Together.

~ Sawyer Free Library

The Sawyer Free Library: A Community Reimagined

The doors to the newly reimagined Sawyer Free Library are open, and the excitement across Gloucester is undeniable. This extraordinary community space is far more than a beautiful building — it is a reflection of who we are: rooted in tradition, fueled by creativity, and committed to an inclusive and vibrant future.

Inside, visitors will find welcoming areas for children, teens, and adults; expanded digital resources; and a sustainable, accessible design that ensures everyone in our community has a place to learn, gather, and grow. The Library has once again become our civic anchor — a place where curiosity is sparked, connections are made, and democracy is strengthened.

But while the ribbon has been cut, our work is not done.

Thanks to the generosity of our community, we have reached 65% of our $28 million goal. To fully realize this once-in-a-century project, we must raise the final $8 million. One hundred percent of this year’s Annual Appeal supports the Sawyer Free 2025 Capital Campaign, helping us finish what we started and ensuring this remarkable community investment endures for generations.

This is Gloucester’s library. It belongs to all of us.

As we approach the end of the year, we hope the greater Cape Ann community will thoughtfully consider supporting the Annual Appeal. To make a tax-deductible donation, please visit www.sawyerfreelibrary.org or mail a contribution to:

Sawyer Free Library, Annual Appeal, 2 Dale Avenue, Gloucester, MA 01930

Thank you for your generosity — and for believing in the power of libraries.

Author Talk: Robert Booth on Genesis of Gloucester Harbor: 1690-1715

~ Sawyer Free Library

Genesis of Gloucester Harbor: 1690–1715
Saturday, December 20 | 2:00–3:00 PM
Community Room | Sawyer Free Library, 2 Dale Avenue, Gloucester

Before Gloucester rose to fame as a world-renowned fishing port in the 1800s, the Inner Harbor was already a bustling center of overseas trade. But this transformation didn’t happen overnight. In the 1600s, Riverdale and Annisquam were the centers of activity, while the Harbor remained a quiet, lightly settled corner of town. So how — and why — did the Harbor evolve into Gloucester’s commercial heart?

Join the Sawyer Free Library for an illustrated talk with author and historian Robert Booth, who will explore the people, businesses, and turning points that sparked the Harbor’s development between 1690 and 1715. Booth will also discuss the methods and historical clues that help us understand this pivotal era.

This presentation draws from research for Booth’s upcoming book. A respected local historian educated at Harvard and Boston University, Booth is curator emeritus of the Pickering House in Salem, former director/curator of the Manchester-by-the-Sea Museum, and a consultant on historic restoration and interpretation. He is the author of several acclaimed works, including:

  • Boston’s Freedom Trail (1982)
  • Salem: Place, Myth, Memory (2004)
  • Death of an Empire (2012), a Boston Globe best-seller and “Best Book of New England History in 2012”
  • Mad For Glory (2015)
  • The Women of Marblehead (2016)

Please register at sawyerfreelibrary.org.

We hope you’ll join us for this fascinating look into Gloucester’s early maritime beginnings.

Middle Street Walk: Events at Sawyer Free Library

~ Sawyer Free Library

Middle Street Walk
Saturday, December 13 | 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
Sawyer Free Library · 2 Dale Avenue, Gloucester, MA

Celebrate the 27th annual Middle Street Walk, a beloved Gloucester holiday tradition where “the past is present!” Enjoy a festive day filled with music, art, community events, and FREE horse-drawn wagon rides along historic Middle Street. The Sawyer Free Library is excited to be part of the celebration with special programs for all ages.

Festivities at the Sawyer Free Library

10:30–11:30 AM — Holiday Music & Card Making for Kids
Drop in for cheerful music and hands-on card-making fun — perfect for children and families.

12:00–2:00 PM — Walker Creek Saxophone Quartet Performance
Enjoy a live performance from this talented saxophone quartet, filling the Library with seasonal favorites and jazzy flair.

1:00–4:00 PM — Tours of the Saunders House Historic WPA Murals
Professional conservator Lisa Mehlin will lead 15-minute guided tours of the newly restored WPA murals in the historic Saunders House. Learn about their remarkable history and the intricate conservation process. Registration required at SawyerFreeLibrary.org.

1:00–1:30 PM — Gingerbread Creation Contest Winner Announcement
Join members of the Middle Street Walk Committee — including Barbara Catalini of Cakes by Barbara — in the Children’s Room as they announce the winners of the 2025 Gingerbread Creation Contest. All gingerbread entries will be on display!

More details on Middle Street Walk festivities city-wide will be shared soon. We hope you’ll join us for this magical Gloucester tradition!

Staying Healthy Through the Winter: Herbal Program for Health and Wellness

~ Sawyer Free Library

Staying Healthy Through the Winter: Herbal Program for Health and Wellness
Tuesday, December 16 | 1:30–3:00 PM
Community Room | Sawyer Free Library, 2 Dale Avenue, Gloucester

Discover natural ways to support your health through the cold and flu season at the Sawyer Free Library with Rivka Schwartz of Health and Hearth, a local herbal and wellness practice.

In this informative and practical workshop, you’ll:

  • Explore simple strategies to help strengthen your immune system
  • Learn about herbs with antiviral properties
  • Discover how to make herbal teas and long-lasting herbal tinctures/extracts

The program will include samples, take-home recipes, and an information packet so you can continue your wellness journey at home.

All are welcome. Registration requested at sawyerfreelibrary.org.

“Wildlife Out Your Window with Brad Timm” at the Sawyer Free Library

~ Sawyer Free Library

Wildlife Out Your Window with Brad Timm
Thursday, December 4 | 5:30–6:30 PM
Community Room | Sawyer Free Library, 2 Dale Avenue, Gloucester

Discover the extraordinary wildlife hiding in plain sight! Join the Sawyer Free Library for a lively and educational presentation with author Brad Timm, who brings the natural world to life through surprising insights and engaging stories inspired by his book Wildlife Out Your Window.

During this fun, family-friendly talk, Timm will share fascinating wildlife factoids, including:

  • Blue Jay feathers aren’t actually blue
  • Some foxes can climb trees
  • Certain frogs create their own natural anti-freeze

He’ll also explore simple ways we can support and protect the wildlife that lives all around us — in our yards, neighborhoods, and city green spaces. You’re guaranteed to walk away seeing the natural world with fresh eyes!

After the presentation, Brad will be available to chat with attendees, answer questions, and sign copies of Wildlife Out Your Window, which will be available for purchase.

All are welcome. Registration requested at sawyerfreelibrary.org.

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

Sawyer Free Library Local Author Talk: Gail Brenner Nastasia

~ Sawyer Free Library

Staying Clean… Living Dirty: An Addiction Memoir
Thursday, November 13 | 5:45–6:30 PM
Sawyer Free Library

The Sawyer Free Library is pleased to welcome local author Gail Brenner Nastasia as she shares her latest memoir, Staying Clean… Living Dirty: An Addiction Memoir on Thursday, November 13 from 5:45 to 6:30 p.m. A follow-up to The Fruit You’ll Never See, Gail’s new work offers an honest, deeply personal account of addiction, recovery, and the ongoing journey toward hope and healing.

The program will include a talk, open discussion, and Q&A, followed by a book signing. No registration required. For more details visit, sawyerfreelibrary.org or 978-325-5500.

Sawyer Free Library Annual Meeting Wednesday

~ Sawyer Free Library

REMINDER – Please join us for our Annual Meeting in the new Community Room of the reimagined Sawyer Free Library. The evening will feature remarks from Board President Mern Sibley, Mayor Greg Verga, and MBLC Commissioner Joyce Linehan, who will speak on standing up for libraries and intellectual freedom. Library Director Jenny Benedict will share highlights from this milestone year and a look ahead to the Library’s next chapter. Refreshments will be served.

The meeting is open to anyone who wishes to attend, but only corporators can vote. No registration required.

When: Wednesday, November 12, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Where: Sawyer Free Library, 2 Dale Avenue, Gloucester
Questions: 978-325-5500 | sawyerfreelibrary.org

Celebrating the Cello: A Partnership Between Sawyer Free Library and Rockport Music

~ Sawyer Free Library

This November, the Sawyer Free Library and Rockport Music are joining forces to celebrate the beauty, history, and enduring appeal of classical music through two special events centered around Bach’s Cello Suites.

Monday, November 10 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Sawyer Free Library, Community Room, 2 Dale Avenue, Gloucester
Discover the timeless magic of the cello with acclaimed Haitian-American cellist Francesca McNeeley. In this engaging presentation, McNeeley will offer an intimate look into Bach’s Cello Suites—exploring their lasting influence, the expressive power of the instrument, and what it means to be a classical musician today. The program will blend live performance and conversation, offering listeners a rare glimpse into the art and spirit of the cello. Open to all. No registration required.

Friday, November 21 | 8:00 – 10:30 PM
Shalin Liu Performance Center, 37 Main Street, Rockport
Experience Yo-Yo Ma—Live from Symphony Hall, right here on Cape Ann! Rockport Music will simulcast this sold-out Boston performance of Bach’s Cello Suites live on the big screen at the stunning Shalin Liu Performance Center. Join friends and neighbors for this FREE community event celebrating the power of music to connect and inspire.

A limited block of 25 reserved seats is available for Sawyer Free Library patrons.  Reserve your spot here.

Together, the Sawyer Free Library and Rockport Music invite you to share in this extraordinary celebration of music, creativity, and community—where timeless art and local partnership meet in harmony.

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

Annual Meeting of the Gloucester Lyceum & Sawyer Free Library Corporation

~ Sawyer Free Library

Save the Date: Wednesday evening, November 12th

The Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library Corporation will host its first Annual Meeting in the state-of-the-art Community Room of the newly expanded and modernized Library on Wednesday, November 12. The evening will feature remarks from Board President Mern Sibley, Mayor Greg Verga, and MBLC Commissioner Joyce Linehan, who will speak on standing up for libraries and intellectual freedom. Library Director Jenny Benedict will share highlights from this milestone year and a look ahead to the Library’s next chapter.

Open to the public (only corporators may vote), the meeting offers an opportunity to celebrate the Library’s achievements, learn about its progress and finances, and engage with trustees and staff. Refreshments will be served. No registration required.

When: Wednesday, November 12, 6:30 p.m. with corporator sign-in beginning at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Sawyer Free Library, 2 Dale Avenue, Gloucester
Questions: 978-325-5500 | sawyerfreelibrary.org