Sawyer Free Library Reopens Its Doors with Soft Opening Ahead of Grand Opening Celebrations
TheSawyer Free Library is excited to announce the soft opening of its newly reimagined and revitalized historic building at 2 Dale Avenue. As final touches are completed, the Library will be open to the public during limited hours in the coming weeks.
Soft Opening Hours:
Week of August 18: Wednesday–Friday, 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
Week of August 25: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
Week of September 1:
Tuesday–Wednesday, 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
Thursday, 10:00 AM–3:00 PM
Friday, 10:00 AM–2:00 PM
Closures: Wednesday, August 27 and Monday, September 1
All are invited to visit the transformed space and experience the exciting new features of the Library. During this soft opening period, the Library also warmly welcomes the return of any books and materials patrons have been patiently holding onto during the temporary closure for the move.
To celebrate the completion of this major renovation, the community is warmly invited to join Sawyer Free Library’s Grand Opening Events:
Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony: Friday, September 5
Community Open House: Saturday, September 6
Both events are free and open to the public. For more information, visit sawyerfreelibrary.org.
🎉 Please join us in celebrating the grand reopening of the newly renovated and expanded Sawyer Free Library — an inspiring, inclusive space created for our whole community. 🎉
Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Friday, September 5 | 3:00 PM Celebrate the official opening of your newly transformed Sawyer Free Library! Remarks | Ceremonial Ribbon Cutting | Refreshments Performance by Cape Ann Youth Chorus Open to All | Rain or Shine
Community Celebration & Open House “A Library for Everyone” Saturday, September 6 | 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM Free and Open to All
Come tour the new library spaces at 2 Dale Avenue and enjoy music, activities for all ages, and more!
Saturday Event Highlights:
Library Card World Record Attempt Help us break the record for most sign-ups in a single day! All new and renewing cardholders receive a limited-edition commemorative library card.
Library Passport Adventure Explore the new Library and collect stamps and win prizes.
Special Guests & Giveaways • Wally the Green Monster from the Red Sox (12–1 PM) • Enter to win a signed 2025 Boston Bruins jersey
Art, History & Design Events • Artist Talk: Leslie Bartlett on the Library’s Cape Ann Quarries mural (10:30 AM) • Expert Talk: GreenScapes in Focus with landscape architect Lisa Giersbach (1:00 PM) • Timeline Cape Ann: Sawyer Free Library by Kory Curcuru of 1623 Studios documentary screening (12 & 2:30 PM) • Inaugural Art Exhibition in Matz Gallery • Zine-making and collaborative art projects
Explore & Discover • Tech demos in the Digital Learning Lab (podcast studio & more) • Local History Treasures exhibit and Gloucester Timeline Demos • “The Librarian Is In” booth (10 AM–12 PM) • Photo Booth for keepsake snapshots (11 AM–2 PM)
Live Music in the Reading Lounge • Highland Avenue Trio (10 AM–12 PM) • Steve Lacey String Duo (12–2 PM)
Family-Friendly Fun • Face painting, LEGO play, and STEM activities • Strega Mama Story Hour (11 AM) • Playful Engineers Program (2:00 PM) • “Teen Zone” Ribbon Cutting (10:30 AM) • T-shirt Dyeing (11 AM–1 PM) • Mario Kart Tournament (2–4 PM, signup required)
Food Trucks On-Site (in Library Parking Lot) • Pizza by Rhea Pizzeria Napoletana • Ice cream from SuperStar Ice Cream
Whether you’re a longtime patron or discovering the Sawyer Free Library for the first time, this celebration is for you!
Come experience YOUR new library—reimagined, renewed, and ready to inspire.
Join the Sawyer Free Library on Thursday mornings for Garden Storytime with Backyard Growerson the Saunders House lawn! Running this Thursday through August 28, the Library’s Garden Storytime is great for kids of all ages. Children will plan, plant, water, weed, maintain and harvest a garden at the library all summer, while sharing books and stories about gardening and the outdoors. Free lunch is provided for all children by The Open Door.
Thursdays at 11:00am on the Saunders House Lawn located at 88 Middle Street. This program runs from July 10th through August 28th. No reservations required to attend but the weekly program is subject to cancellation due to inclement weather.
Summer is a time for discovery—and at Sawyer Free Library, the adventure is just beginning.
Sawyer Free Library invites the community to celebrate summer with the launch of its 2025 Summer Reading Program:Level Up at Your Library. This year’s theme is all about playful learning—spotlighting puzzles, games, and hands-on fun designed to spark curiosity and creativity in readers of all ages.
With a vibrant lineup of free events–from live animal visits and magic shows to garden story times and interactive challenges–Level Up encourages young readers to power up their imaginations and discover new worlds.
The Summer Reading Program is open to children and teens who can register in person at any Summer Reading Program event or online through August 1. Participants are encouraged to read (or be read to) for at least 500 minutes over the summer. With their “Level Up at the Library” reading logs, kids can earn prizes including Topsfield Fair tickets and a chance to win a signed Boston Bruins hockey jersey courtesy of the Boston Bruins Foundation.
The summer fun kicks off on Friday, July 11 at 10:00 a.m. at Gloucester City Hall with a live animal presentation by Wildlife Encounters Ecology Center. Children and families will meet exotic creatures and learn about their habitats, adaptations, and roles in the ecosystem.
Beginning July 10, Thursday mornings bring gardening and story-sharing with Backyard Growers in the library’s raised beds on the Saunders House Lawn.
A summer highlight comes on Monday, July 28 at 10:00 a.m., when The Poop Museum arrives at City Hall. This interactive science program, led by “poop expert” Susie Maguire, is packed with fun facts, hands-on learning, and plenty of laughs as kids explore the surprising world of human, animal, and insect poop.
The library will also host Ed the Wizard and his Reading is Magic Alchemy Laboratory on Friday, August 8, an interactive magic show that uses storytelling and everyday objects to demonstrate the transformative power of reading. Then, on Tuesday, August 12 at 10:30 a.m., Rick Roth and the Cape Ann Vernal Pond Team will introduce kids to real snakes and share fascinating facts about their habitats and behavior.
Tweens and teens have a summer program of their own to look forward to at Sawyer Free. Students entering grades 6–12 can earn a free half pint ofHoly Cow Ice Cream just by reading one book and filling out online form. They’re also invited to special events like the Teen & Tween Whale Watch on July 10 and Henna Tattoos on August 11. Youth are encouraged to get involved in the Teen/Tween Advisory Board (TAB), where they can help shape library programs, earn volunteer hours, and connect with friends and community.
Summer reading isn’t just for kids. Adults can join in by submitting book ratings, earning entries into prize draws for $25, $50, or $75 Cape Ann Gift Certificates. Submissions can be made online or at the library. In addition, the library will host a full schedule of virtual author talks throughout the summer. All adult library programming, in-person services, programs, and special events will resume in September. Library cardholders can also continue to enjoy free or discounted passes to local cultural attractions.
All summer programming is free, thanks to the 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.
The Sawyer Free Library is excited to officially open its newly renovated, expanded, and modernized space this September. In the meantime, the Library’s digital resources are available 24/7 at sawyerfreelibrary.org.
Information session about paid opportunity scheduled for Wednesday June 11
This fall, Sawyer Free Library is offering a new internship opportunity for Gloucester High School students in support of its innovative Digital Learning Lab. The Library is hiring student interns as Digital Tutors to assist with the inaugural Computer Basics Course, a community program designed to help adults gain essential digital skills.
Digital Tutors will serve as trusted guides, helping participants navigate internet use, computing devices, and common digital applications. The course includes 15 hours of self-paced, hands-on training. Qualified adult participants who complete the program will receive a free Chromebook and a one-year internet service plan.
“Student interns will gain valuable work experience while making a meaningful impact on closing Gloucester’s digital divide. “Students will be developing two sets of skills,” said Assistant Director Lisa Ryan. “They’ll build hard skills such as setting up and troubleshooting devices, using Google applications, navigating the internet safely, and practicing email and telecommunications best practices.”
“We’ll also focus on soft skills,” Ryan continued. “Through on-the-job experience and a weekly workshop, students will strengthen their communication, teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving—skills that colleges and employers are increasingly prioritizing alongside technical knowledge.”
Interested students should send their application to jobs@gloucester-ma.govor drop them off or mail them to Gloucester City Hall, 9 Dale Avenue, Gloucester, MA 01930. References may be from a teacher, coach, employer, or guidance counselor—but not family or friends. The application deadline is June 18, 2025, with interviews scheduled between June 23 and 27.
Interns will complete paid training in early September. After training, they may work up to 16 hours per week through December 12, 2025, with shifts available on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday afternoons, and Saturdays. Interns will be paid $18/hour, and those who complete at least 54 hours of tutoring may earn high school credit.
Students interested in pursuing careers in technology, education, psychology, social work, or digital literacy are encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to juniors and seniors.
An information session will be held Wednesday, June 11 at 2:10 p.m. in the Guidance Conference Room at Gloucester High School. For more information, contact Assistant Director Lisa Ryan at lryan@sawyerfreelibrary.org with your contact information, a brief summary of relevant experience and interest, and availability.
This first of its kind digital intern program at the Sawyer Free Library is funded through the generosity of an Essex County Community Foundation Digital Equity Partnership Grant.
REMINDER – this Wednesday, April 30th is the last day for all local youth poets to submit entries for this year’s Poetry without Paper contest! Enter today HERE!
Any questions, email Tricia at tbalsan@sawyerfreelibrary.org, call 978-325-5555 or stop by the Sawyer Free Library at 21 Main Street!
Step into the pawprints of local predators—think coyotes, fisher cats, and bobcats—in this wild and wildly fun outdoor adventure with Kestrel Educational Adventures and Sawyer Free Library on Friday, April 11 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester – meet at the gazebo!
Designed for curious minds in grades 6–12 (that’s ages 11–19), this hands-on program brings the science of predator ecology to life through games, crafts, and energetic discussions. You’ll track, play, and learn your way through the habits and habitats of some of New England’s most elusive carnivores.
Whether you’re a future wildlife biologist, a nature lover, or just ready to get outside and do something cool, this event is your ticket to adventure.
The program will take place at Stage Fort Park located at 24 Hough Avenue in Gloucester.
No experience necessary—just bring your sense of curiosity and maybe a friend or two! Registration required at sawyerfreelibrary.org. Questions? Contact: anakoneczny@sawyerfreelibrary.org.
Calling all young poets and aspiring writers! The Sawyer Free Libraryis thrilled to launch the 2025 Poetry Without Paper contest, continuing its decades-long tradition of inspiring creativity in Gloucester’s youth. Running through April 30, 2025, the competition aligns with the culmination of National Poetry Month—an ideal time for young voices to share their poetry and perspectives. This year’s theme, New Chapter, New Stories, New Beginnings, invites students to reflect on fresh starts and new possibilities. The theme also echoes an exciting milestone for the Library itself as it prepares to reopen in September in a newly renovated, expanded, and modernized space.
Coordinated by Sawyer Free Library’s Children’s staff in collaboration with renowned poet and former Gloucester Poet Laureate John Ronan and Library Board member Dawn Sarrouf, this beloved annual competition provides a creative platform for students to showcase their talent in a supportive community of writers.
The contest welcomes submissions from children and teens living in Gloucester or attending its schools in three age groups: elementary, middle, and high school. While participants are encouraged to explore the theme “New Chapter, New Stories, New Beginnings,” poems on any topic are welcome. Poetry submissions may be enhanced with video, images, or music but should be 30 lines or fewer, original, and previously unpublished.
Winners will be selected from three age groups: high school, middle school, and elementary school. First-place winners in all categories will receive $150 Cape Ann gift certificates, second-place winners will receive $100 gift certificates, and third-place winners a $50 gift certificate with Honorable Mention winners presented with a poetry book. All winning poets will receive a certificate, be able to present their poems at an awards ceremony in June, and be invited to appear on an episode of 1623 Studio’s production, The Writer’s Block with John Ronan. Additionally, all winning entries will be on display at and published online by the Library.
Poems must be submitted through the Library website at SawyerFreeLibrary.orgfrom March 1 to April 30. For more information, contact the Children’s Librarian at tbalsan@sawyerfreelibrary.org.
Students do not need to be library cardholders to enter the contest, but for those interested, the Sawyer Free Library offers library cards for children of all ages. Starting from birth, 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 the Library at 21 Main Street, online at sawyerfreelibrary.org, or call 978-325-5551.
Join local authors Robert Fitzgibbons and Wayne Soini at the Sawyer Free Library on Thursday, March 27 at 5:30 pm for a riveting discussion on their book, Murder in Rockport, Massachusetts: Terror in a Small Town, which sheds new light on two chilling unsolved murders that shook the small seaside town in the 1930s.
On May 21, 1932, Finnish tailor Arthur Oker was brutally murdered in his shop in Rockport, sending shockwaves through the community. Just over a year later, on Halloween night in 1933, Swedish immigrant and fellow churchgoer Augusta Johnson was slain in her home, deepening the town’s fear and sparking an exhaustive investigation. Authorities searched every house, interviewed 2,500 households, and even enlisted the help of a mystic—yet the crimes remained unsolved.
Through newly uncovered state police archives, Fitzgibbons and Soini reveal long-lost details about the murders, the extensive efforts to solve them, and a surprising suspect who emerged decades later.
Registration is required at sawyerfreelibrary.org.For more information,contact jtravers@sawyerfreelibrary.org.
On Saturday, April 5 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., the Sawyer Free Library, in collaboration with the Gloucester Writers Center, is hosting the final session of Nature’s Voices, a three-part writing workshop designed to help participants step away from daily demands and reconnect with the natural world.
Led by photographer and essayist Mark Thayer, Immersion, Observation, Reflection: Communicating Sense of Place through Essay will guide participants in crafting essays that capture the beauty, complexity, and personal resonance of the environment around them.
Participants will meet at the Gloucester Writers Center located at 126 East Main Street. The session begins with a 30-minute guided outdoor walk, where participants will engage in mindful observation, gathering impressions and inspiration from nature. The group will then return indoors for a 90-minute writing session, with prompts from Mark designed to spark creativity and deepen one’s sense of place. Whether you’re an experienced writer or just beginning, this workshop offers a fresh perspective and invigorating creative exercises.
This free session is open to adults (18+), rain or shine. Please dress for the weather and bring rain gear if necessary. Pens, notebooks, and an open mind are encouraged!
Registration is required at sawyerfreelibrary.org. Limited space available. For questions, contact Meg O’Neill at 978-325-5562or moneill@sawyerfreelibrary.org.
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