Gloucester Daily Times article Sawyer Free trustees eye renovation by Ray Lamont here

Gloucester Lyceum & Sawyer Free Library 2019 Annual meeting Monday May 20 6-8PM

Prior post Febrary 4, 2019 with some questions

Besides the local new Cape Ann Museum build I’ve mentioned, here is a another recent comparable. Bowdoin’s new Roux Center for the Environment is approximately 30,000 ft’. The planning phase took 9 months. The build out took 14 months and the project cost less than 15 million (seeded with 10 million from the Rouxs). The Sawyer Free project is more than double that cost and the planning phase is many times past.

The community has been consistent about addressing the bathrooms for sometime. In 2014, the “immediate objectives will be working with the library’s board, staff and volunteers to review the library’s collections for relevance; revamping the building’s public and staff spaces; overseeing installation of a modern heating and air conditioning system, and mentoring staff in their professional development…”

Round up of new library building coverage prior to November 2018:

• SUMMARY AND SCENES FROM THE NOVEMBER 15, 2018 PUBLIC MEETING

• November 9, 2018: https://goodmorninggloucester.org/2018/11/09/weigh-in-sawyer-free-public-library-seeking-ideas-for-next-steps-since-the-summer-2018-thinkgloucester-conversations-november-15th-2/#more-493728
• 2018: various notices for the library’s ThinkGloucester ward meetings
• Jan 12, 2018 NEW MBLC poster includes preservation examples and combos: https://goodmorninggloucester.org/2017/01/12/new-libraries-of-massachusetts-mblc-poster-includes-preservation-examples-and-combos-zoom-in/
• Jan 10, 2018 Sawyer Free at Crossroads Building Plan meetings:   https://goodmorninggloucester.org/2017/01/10/sawyer-free-at-a-crossroads-new-building-meetings-tomorrow-january-11-at-400pm-and-630pm/
• January 3, 2018 Fitz Henry Lane and other art removed from the library building (January 2018):  https://goodmorninggloucester.wordpress.com/2018/01/03/down-the-lane-fitz-henry-lane-art-shuffled-from-gloucester-sawyer-free-library-to-cape-ann-museum/
• July 13, 2017 MBLC Update on the proposed new building plans- https://goodmorninggloucester.org/2017/07/13/mblc-update-on-the-proposed-new-building-plans-for-the-library/
• June 12, 2017 Spacious and beautiful- Sawyer Free a must see in 1885 travel guide | 123rd Annual meeting tonight!    https://goodmorninggloucester.org/2017/06/12/spacious-and-beautiful-sawyer-free-library-a-must-see-in-1885-travel-guide-123rd-annual-meeting-tonight/
• June 2, 2017 “…As we step back from our original plan for a new building, we need to make crucial decisions about the library’s future.” https://goodmorninggloucester.org/2017/06/02/sawyer-free-library-annual-meeting-june-12/
• Jan 3, 2017 – Proposed building plans in the news and plans for what became library’s lovely 1972 Monnell building addition:  https://goodmorninggloucester.wordpress.com/2017/01/03/no-finer-place-for-sure-downtown-proposed-building-plans-sawyer-free-library-city-hall-whoa-in-the-news-plus-the-1973-appeal-led-by-joseph-garland-universal-access-and-archives/.  “Before the current 2015-16 library outreach, the library hosted extensive visioning sessions throughout 2013. I went to a couple, and I was invited to take part in a focus group on schools and the library.  A completely new library and jettisoning of the historic Saunders library building was not an expressed community value. What were some common discussion points? A strategy for digitization of historic archives and newspapers, more staff, more hours of operation (Sundays), better bathrooms, parking issues, air conditioning, electrical work, maintenance, security, maximizing technology/ content access with schools, ditto Cape Ann TV, and attendance were some goals that were mentioned. So it was a surprise to see…”
• 2013 post about the 2013 library outreach and Lisa Smith (then) Cape Ann TV video
• 4/17/09 Original detail saved and restored on beautiful Saunders https://goodmorninggloucester.org/2009/04/17/sawyer-free-library-renovation/
• Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library, Fundraising Committee, Wednesday, November 14, 2018 11:00 – Noon, Byers Davidson Room, Saunders House, 2 Dale Avenue, Gloucester, MA 01930,

Prior post with 1973 brochure ed. Joe Garland