SFL @ 21 Main Street

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!

Grow a Mini Garden at the Library with Backyard Growers

~ Sawyer Free Library

How green is your thumb?

Find out at the Sawyer Free Library on Tuesday, April 29, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM!

Local tweens and teens are invited to design and plant their very own mini garden with the help of Backyard Growers. All materials will be provided—including everything you need to start growing your own garden at home.

This special event will be held at Sawyer Free Library, 21 Main Street, Gloucester.

Open to students in grades 6–12 (ages 11–19). Space is limited, so registration is required at sawyerfreelibrary.org.

Have questions? Contact Annalise at anakoneczny@sawyerfreelibrary.org.

“A Decade in Gloucester” with local author Laura Plummer at Sawyer Free Library

~ Sawyer Free Library

Join the Sawyer Free Library on Thursday evening March 20 at 5:30 p.m. for an engaging evening with award-winning local writer and poet Laura Plummer as she discusses her debut chapbook, A Decade in Gloucester: Reflections on History and Home. Through heartfelt poetry and prose, Plummer explores the unexpected discovery of her Finnish ancestors’ deep ties to Gloucester—connections she uncovered after moving to the city in 2014.

This beautifully crafted collection offers a unique perspective on Gloucester’s history and its profound influence on Plummer’s sense of place and belonging. Through her writing, she paints a rich literary portrait of the seafaring city that captured her heart.

All are invited. No registration is required for this event. For more information, visit sawyerfreelibrary.org or call 978-325-5500.

Family Bingo at the Sawyer Free Library

~ Sawyer Free Library

Join us for a fun-filled afternoon of FAMILY BINGO at the Sawyer Free Library on Monday, March 10 from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Whether you’re a bingo pro or a first-time player, we want you to join us for an afternoon of friendly competition, great prizes, and maybe even some bingo puns! Bring the whole family and see if you can be the lucky winner.

Families with children of all ages are welcome, but this program is best enjoyed by children 5 and up. All children must be accompanied by a caregiver. Space is limited, please register at sawyerfreelibrary.org to save your spot!

Please note that registration priority will be given to families who have not previously attended Family Bingo. So if you missed out last time, make sure to register now!

The event will take place at the Sawyer Free Library located at 21 Main Street in downtown Gloucester. Please reach out to tbalsan@sawyerfreelibrary.org with any questions or call 978-325-5500.

Design Your Destiny: A Vision Board Workshop on Feb 13

~ Sawyer Free Library

Join the Sawyer Free Library on Thursday, February 13 from 5:30 to 6:30 pm for an inspiring Vision Board Workshop, where we’ll dive into the power of visualization and goal-setting to create a meaningful path toward your dreams. Led by local wellness coach Marcy Plante, this workshop will be an interactive and creative session designed to help you clarify your intentions, map out your goals, and bring your aspirations to life. Through guided exercises, reflection, and collage-making, you’ll construct a personalized vision board filled with images, words, and symbols that resonate with your true desires. 

This is more than just a craft—it’s an opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals, tap into your potential, and set the course for the life you want to live. Whether you’re seeking personal growth, career development, or wellness transformations, this Vision Board Workshop offers the tools and support to help you visualize, believe, and achieve.  

Registration required at SawyerFreeLibrary.org. Space is limited.  If you have questions email ryan@noblenet.org or call 978-325-5500. 

Marcy Plante, is a dedicated individual driven by over 50 years of diverse experiences. Throughout her journey, she’s served as a coach in softball and field hockey, led in the wellness industry, and contributed as an educator. With a master’s in education, she’s continually pursued growth and learning.

For 17 years, she successfully managed a health club, guiding numerous individuals to achieve their fitness objectives. Her motivation stems from a commitment to personal excellence and a desire to positively impact others. She is currently the owner and founder of Cape Ann Compass, Life and Health Coaching. 

Her passion lies in helping individuals uncover their potential and embrace life with enthusiasm.

Fancypants Friday: Cheese, Cookies, and Collaging for Teens and Tweens

~ Sawyer Free Library

Teens and tweens, start your weekend off with a fancy flair! Join the Sawyer Free Library on Friday, February 7 from 3:00 to 4:15 pm for an afternoon of collage-making and cheese and cookie pairings from The Cave.

All materials will be provided. No registration is required, so stop by with a friend. Grades 6-12 (ages 11-19) welcome. Questions? Email Annalise at anakoneczny@sawyerfreelibrary.org.

Sawyer Free Library to Host Local Author Kristin Czarnecki on Feb 6

~ Sawyer Free Library

The Sawyer Free Library will welcome Kristin Czarnecki, Executive Director of the Rockport Art Association & Museum, on Thursday, February 6 from 5:30 to 6:30 pm, for a special evening as she reads from her new memoir, Encounters with Inscriptions. The event will be at the Sawyer Free Library at 21 Main Street in downtown Gloucester. Registration is required at sawyerfreelibrary.org. 

When Kristin lost both her parents within nine months, she sought solace in books—but not just any books. In Encounters with Inscriptions (Legacy Book Press, October 2024), she reflects on the volumes her parents had inscribed and gifted her over the years, an array spanning novels, short stories, poetry, nature writing, cultural criticism, and even a cookbook. As Kristin revisits each cherished title, she explores her grief, the complexities of childhood and family, and the rewards of a life spent reading. She recalls falling in love with poetry, contemplates how the Troubles in Northern Ireland shaped her adolescence, reflects on the legacy of her mother’s feminism, and comes to know her father better through an author he loved. Ultimately, these pages reveal how the power of literature can inspire, confound, soothe, and surprise us.

Kristin Czarnecki is also the author of a memoir, The First Kristin: The Story of a Naming, and a chapbook, Sliced. Her creative nonfiction, poetry, literary criticism, and book reviews have appeared in numerous publications. Kristin holds a Ph.D. from the University of Cincinnati and was an English professor for many years at Georgetown College. From 2015 to 2020, she served as President of the International Virginia Woolf Society and remains on the Virginia Woolf Miscellany editorial board. She lives in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

This event will be moderated by Heather Atwood, an artist, a home cook, and a writer/producer who also lives here in Cape Ann. Additionally, The Bookstore of Gloucester will be on-site during the event to sell copies of Kristin’s books.

To register, go to the calendar page of sawyerfreelibrary.org. Space is limited. Questions, 978-325-5500.

Family Author Talk with Mark Parisi!

~ Sawyer Free Library

Come to the Sawyer Free Library on Thursday, November 21 from 5:00 to 6:30 pm for an engaging evening with award-winning cartoonist, author, and Gloucester native Mark Parisi.

Mark will share insights into his creative process, discussing his new book The Truth About 5th Grade, his Marty Pants middle-grade series, and his long-running Off the Mark comic panel. The event will also feature a live drawing demonstration by Mark himself. 

Be sure to register for this fun family event at sawyerfreelibrary.org! Questions? 978-325-5500.

Author Talk at SFL with Virginia Pye: The Literary Undoing of Victoria Swann – this Tuesday

~ Sawyer Free Library

Join the Sawyer Free Library on Tuesday, November 19, from 5:00 to 6:00 pm for an author talk with Virginia Pye on her latest novel, The Literary Undoing of Victoria Swann.

The event is taking place at the Library at 21 Main Street in Downtown Gloucester. The Bookstore of Gloucester will be onsite selling copies of her works.

About The Literary Undoing of Victoria Swann:

Set in Gilded Age Boston, the novel follows Victoria Swann, a bestselling romance author, who defies her publisher to write from her own perspective, becoming a champion for women’s rights. As she loses her standing, she finds an ally in her young editor, discovering that both writing and reading can be powerful acts of defiance.

About Virginia Pye:

Virginia Pye is the award-winning author of four books, including Shelf Life of Happiness, which won the IPPY Gold Medal. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Literary Hub, and other publications. She has an MFA from Sarah Lawrence and teaches at GrubStreet in Boston.

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