The Young Gloucester Scientist’s Club presents: Build a Wire TreeWorkshop this Friday, July 28 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Sawyer Free Library at 21 Main Street.
Flex your creativity with this nature-based art activity with Local Sculptor & Wire Artist Ryan Kelley. Ryan has used over 35 miles of wire to create his detailed wire-art, and has many miles still to come. In this 2-hour art class Ryan will share his wealth of knowledge and teach our young scientists to follow their own passions and create as well. This program is suitable for 4th-8th graders.
The Young Gloucester Scientist’s Club is supported by federal funds provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. The YGSC is a monthly club for 4th through 8th graders that introduces them to Gloucester Community members with careers across a variety of STEM fields.
Library to celebrate the launch of author’s newest book “Clara Poole and the Long Way Round”
The Sawyer Free Library is excited to welcome author Taylor Tyng to speak about his new book for middle-grade readers (ages 8-12), Clara Poole and the Long Way Round, on Friday, July 21 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. The free event will be at the Sawyer Free Library located at 21 Main Street in downtown Gloucester. Register HERE.
Join us as we celebrate Tyng’s latest book for young readers. Mr. Lemoncello meets the Amazing Race, in this quirky high-octane balloon-racing middle-grade around-the-world adventure. Gorgeous prose and winning characters combine in this quirky, often-hilarious, sometimes heart-breaking, and thoroughly captivating middle-grade adventure series starter from an incredible new talent.
The Bookstore of Gloucester will be selling books at the event; Tyng will be signing books after the talk and Q&A. If you cannot be there in person, you can pre order a book to be signed by the author by calling the store at 978-281-1548.
ABOUT THE BOOK
“With plenty of heart and charm, Tyng’s fast-paced debut conjures excitement via a high-octane premise that’s tempered by laugh-out-loud humor and populated by idiosyncratic characters.” – Publisher’s Weekly
When an unintended flight over Michigan in her class science project—a lawn chair held aloft by balloons—brings her instant celebrity, Clara Poole is invited to be the spokesperson for a round-the-world adventure race. But when her overprotective father refuses, Clara forges his signature in a moment of defiance and runs away to Paris to take her place in the skies. If only she’d read the fine print first.
Partnered with a veteran aeronaut who wants nothing to do with her, Clara faces down ten treacherous stages in a race around the world—capturing flags in the perilous mountains of Nepal, being a guest of honor at a maybe-wedding in the Saharan desert, flying through rings of fire in Hong Kong—all while learning the ropes alongside a colorful cast of international competitors.
But there are more dangers ahead. Someone is trying to sabotage the competition. And surviving this race means Clara must come to terms with the tragedy that set her fleeing to the skies in the first place and accept that forgiving herself isn’t a process she has to undertake alone.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Taylor Tyng has worked as a designer, animator, film editor, and software CEO. At 45, he started writing children’s novels, something Taylor never considered as a lifelong dyslexic. Now, all he wishes is that he began to sooner as he finds endless joy in writing for middle-grade readers, who are no longer children but not quite adults. His debut YA book was Sprout. Taylor lives in Massachusetts with his family.
The event is free and open to the public at the Sawyer Free Library, located at 21 Main Street in downtown Gloucester. Register HERE. For more information, visit sawyerfreelibrary.org.
The Young Gloucester Scientist’s Club Presents: Community Garden Scavenger Hunt on Friday, July 14 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Join the Sawyer Free Libraryfor an afternoon of garden bed exploring, scavenger hunting and a little bit of dirt-based science! In this hour long field trip to the Burnham Field Community Garden the Library’s friends at Backyard Growers will share some of the science behind growing and harvesting your own food.
This program is suitable for 4th-8th graders. Registration is required. Click HERE or go to SawyerFreeLibrary.org
And don’t forget to stop at SFL at 21 Main Street and check our new SEED LIBRARY partnership!
To get local teens’ poetic creative juices flowing, the Library is hosting a series of “Poetry and Popcorn” writing workshops. From Monday, April 3 through Friday, April 7, anytime between 3:00 and 4:00 pm, all teens are invited to SFL at 21 Main to enjoy popcorn and an afternoon of poetry writing.
Munch on popcorn (and lollipops, too!) and write your poems, or join Community Librarian Mrs. O’Neill in creating spatial poetry in which together you will reimagine maps, consider issues of place naming, and develop a renewed understanding of place and belonging.
Drop into SFL @ 21 Main Street this week at any time between 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Registration is not required. If you have questions, visit sawyerfreelibrary.org or contact moneill@sawyerfreelibrary.org or 978-325-5562.
Calling all Tween’s – you don’t want to miss Spooky Storytelling this Thursday evening, July 21 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at theSawyer Free Library! Great for Tweens grades 5-8.
Also be sure to mark you calendar for Paint Along Night on August 4 and Gaming Club on August 18, both 5:30-6:30pm.
Questions? Contact: mhall@sawyerfreelibrary.org or 978-325-5549.
Library kicks off summer reading fun with a family friendly concert on June 28at 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 DirectorJenny 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.
GLO CON ’22 Saturday April 30th at Sawyer Free Library
Sawyer Free Library’s first ever Comic-Con, a free family friendly celebration
of comics, pop culture, creativity and fun, will be on Saturday, April 30th
from 10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at 2 Dale Avenue in Gloucester, MA.
It is a free and open to all ages!
Photo ops with characters? Check! Workshops with comic book authors and artists? Check! Fandom games and activities? Check! Fantastical story time and crafts for the kids? Of course!
Don’t miss this celebration of all things comics and pop culture.
Costumes not required but encouraged!
Register today for the many great workshops or just come by and enjoy the fun!
There is lots going on at the Sawyer Free Library during April Vacation for kids and families of all ages to enjoy! Swing by to check it all out!
Saturday, April 16, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Science Saturday with Marisa – Join Children’s Librarian Marisa for a morning of family fun of exploring facts and science topics through sensory play, stories, music and movement. Great for families and children of all ages. No registration needed.
Tuesday, April 19, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., Make It: Muppet Edition for Middle Schoolers –Great for kids in grades 4-8! Design and create your very own Muppet Puppet. Register Here!
Thursday, April 21, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Cape Ann Symphony Family Concertand Reading – Musical adaptation of Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton. Great for families and children of all ages. No registration needed.
Thursday, April 21, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Candy Bar Trivia Night for Middle Schoolers – Great for kids grades 4-8. How fast can you hit your buzzer? How many candy bars can you win? Join us for a night of trivia at the Library. Register Here!
Saturday, April 23, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Introduction to Vernal Pools – Join Rick Roth and Cape Ann Vernal Pond Team for an introduction to vernal pools and all the amazing critters that call them home! Drop in and see what he brings and learn about vernal pools. Great for families and children of all ages. No registration needed.
While you’re at it, don’t forget to mark your calendars for Glo Con 22‘ on Saturday, April 30th from 10am – 3pm! The Sawyer Free Library’s first-ever Comic-Con is a free, all-ages event celebrating comics and graphic novels, as art, as literature, and as a part of pop culture! It will bring together fans, young and old, and creators for a jam-packed day of special guests, workshops, live programs, games, photo ops, food trucks, and much fun. Costumes are encouraged! Registration only for workshops required.
For more information on these or all the great things going on at the Library visit: SawyerFreeLibrary.com or call 978.325-5500! aw
Join the Sawyer Free Library Children’s Services on this Saturday morning, March 26 from 11 a.m. to noon for some soapy fun! Kulina Folk Art Creative will be helping kids, with adult participation, make their own duckie soapy creation using glycerin-based soap adding colors, glitter and scents.
The process does not involve traditional soap making techniques, so there is no lye exposure.
Registration is required. Space is limited. The event is for children ages 5 and up (with one caregiver per child). Each child under the age of 10 must have a caregiver present to help them with the project. No exceptions will be made.
Cape Ann Community 