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)

• 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!

• 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.

For full event details and updates, visit sawyerfreelibrary.org.

Please consider contributing to this exciting new chapter of the Sawyer Free Library and support the Library’s long-term vision.Please Donate Today