Turning the page on Gloucester’s story: Sawyer Free Library reopens to the public

The Sawyer Free Library officially reopened its main building on Dale Avenue for the first time since starting construction in late 2022. 

“This is a historic moment in Gloucester’s story,” Library Board President Mern Sibley said at the ribbon cutting ceremony last Friday. 

She said the library’s founder, Samuel Sawyer, believed that “Knowledge should not be a privilege for the few, but available to all,” and this new building, with three floors, wall-length windows, and over 70,000 books in its collection, all readily available to the public, will be a symbol of hope, freedom, and a bright future for the Gloucester community. 

Mayor Greg Verga, State Representative Ann Margaret Ferrante, State Senator Bruce Tarr, and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll also spoke at the event. 

Ferrante noted that the library’s location, which is in the downtown district of the city, is representative of how it serves the common people.

“It is placed not among the richest of our town,” Ferrante said. “But rather where the common people live, where immigrant families live, where the most children live. The priority of this building is to give the people, all people, knowledge; it is the greatest gift that can be given to an individual.”

After the speeches, the Cape Ann Youth Chorus performed two songs, and officials cut the giant ribbon that stood between the people and the new library.  

The new location features many rooms for studying, printing, meeting, recording, and so much more. With its many incredible features, the library stands to serve the people for years to come. 

There is also a room in the library dedicated to the youth and teens of Gloucester.  Youth librarian Annalise Nakoneczny runs the teen advisory board, which helps plan events and cast visions for the library. Her job is to make sure that adults and small children alike stay clear of the space so that students, artists, readers, writers, and everyday teenagers have a place in our community specifically for them. 

 “This is your library, and your voice really matters to me,” Nakoneczny said. “If anyone has any requests for books or programs that we should do, send me an email, or join the teen advisory board if you’re interested. I am more than happy to collaborate with you all, and I love being here for you all.”