This narrowing of the fundraising goal has to do with the likelihood the project could win a $3 million federal grant, library officials told the City Council. “I’m very confident that with the great folks we have working at the library as well as consultants that are helpng us, we will definitely achieve that,” Board of Trustee president Mern Sibley said.

Gloucester Daily Times - December 20, 2023

The new Sawyer Free Library is scheduled to be completed on April 30, 2025, and fundraising is continuing, according to a project overview presented during a Wednesday meeting at the Gloucester Stage Co. on East Main Street.

Gloucester Daily Times - November 21, 2023

A $29 million capital project to modernize and expand the Sawyer Free Library officially broke ground on Friday with speeches, applause, hardhats and ceremonial shovels thrust into a pile of sand.

— Gloucester Daily Times, October 2, 2023

1623 Studios LIVE interview Mayor Greg Verga, State Rep Ann-Margaret Ferrente, Board President Marion “Mern” Sibley, and Sawyer Free Library Foundation president John Brennan and more!

— 1623 Studios (via YouTube), September 29, 2023

The 2025 Sawyer Free Library groundbreaking is scheduled to take place on Friday, Sept. 29 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at 2 Dale Ave. The event is scheduled to be rain or shine in the library’s tented parking lot. The work on the project is scheduled to begin in mid-October and is expected to last 18 months and be completed in mid-2025.

— Gloucester Daily Times, September 26, 2023

In anticipation of breaking ground for the 2025 Sawyer Free Library building project on Sept. 29, a special event Sunday allowed children of all ages to build their own library creation using plastic Lego building blocks.

— Gloucester Daily Times, September 17, 2023

“Due to rising construction costs, Sawyer Free Library will get nearly $1 million more from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners for the $29 million Sawyer Free 2025 expansion and renovation”

— Gloucester Daily Times, June 2, 2023

Check out our recent front page post-it, internal display ad, and online banner ad that we ran in the Gloucester Daily Times!

April 19, 2023

“The opportunities include the Main Floor Reading Room, the Main Floor Atrium, the Teen Room, the Dale Avenue portico and the Fountain Plaza, among others.”

Gloucester Daily Times - May 31, 2023

“The library encourages individuals from all backgrounds and age groups, community organizations, local businesses, and other stakeholders, to participate and provide their unique perspectives,”

Gloucester Daily Times - May 19, 2023

The architectural design principles of the renovation and expansion of Sawyer Free Library reflect a building that will stand as an exemplar of carbon consciousness and climate action.

Good Morning Gloucester - April 20, 2023

Our thanks and deep gratitude to the Cape Ann community for their amazing, full-throated response to the Sawyer Library Foundation’s recent challenge grant.

Gloucester Daily Times - January 25, 2023

In the waning days of 2022, a philanthropic capital campaign to raise money for the Sawyer Free Library’s $29 million addition and renovation project had about $90,000 cash in hand toward meeting a 10-week, $100,000 matching challenge grant from an anonymous donor.

Gloucester Daily Times - January 11, 2023

A stunning $319,000 in charitable giving has flooded in. All told, close to 400 donors helped raise more than $400,000—including the match—for Gloucester’s new public library.

Good Morning Gloucester - January 6, 2023

In October, an anonymous family fund announced a campaign that would match donations to the library's renovation up to $100,000. The campaign has inspired others to pay it forward.

WBZ - December 30, 2022

Ipswich resident Marion O’Connell Frost donated $4,000 to the sawyerfree2025.org challenge grant campaign that ends at midnight Dec. 31.

Gloucester Daily Times - December 30, 2022

As two of Gloucester’s leading philanthropists who generously support charitable and nonprofit causes across Cape Ann and beyond, the Byrnes’ imprimatur comes at an ideal time for the Sawyer Library Foundation.

Good Morning Gloucester - December 1, 2022

Sawyer Free Library Executive Director Jenny Benedict and Sawyer Free 2025 volunteer Beth Graham join Kory Curcuru and Heather Atwood on Cape Ann Today with an update on the new library construction.

Cape Ann Today - November 29, 2022

A private, out-of-town family foundation, who heard about the library project through a sponsorship spot by the library foundation on WBUR, will match locals' donations made now through Dec. 31.

Gloucester Daily Times - October 24, 2022

The donation is earmarked to cover the cost of a new Library History Center inside the library’s existing footprint.

Gloucester Daily Times - October 17, 2022

The donation from a local car dealership will cover the cost of the Teen Creation Space inside the new addition to Cape Ann’s oldest public library.

Gloucester Daily Times - August 24, 2022

The Institution for Savings’ donation represents the largest single corporate gift to the Sawyer Free 2025 campaign to date.

The Daily News - June 22, 2022

Hear what Former Mayor Sefatia Romeo-Theken has to say about Sawyer Free.

North Shore 104.9FM - June 7, 2022

Hear what Linzee Coolidge has to say about Sawyer Free.

North Shore 104.9FM - June 7, 2022

BankGloucester last week made a charitable donation of $250,000 to Sawyer Free 2025 and MassDevelopment and the Mass Cultural Council is granting $200,000, one of 94 capital grants from the organizations’ fiscal year Cultural Facilities Fund, to the campaign.

Gloucester Daily Times - May 31, 2022

“The Sawyer Free Library has been an important part of this community for many generations,” said BankGloucester President & CEO Patrick Thorpe.

Ipswich Local News - May 27, 2022

MassDevelopment and the Mass Cultural Council have announced that Sawyer Free Library’s mission to transform Gloucester’s cultural, educational and community hub will receive one of 94 capital grants from the organizations’ FY22 Cultural Facilities Fund.

Good Morning Gloucester - May 19, 2022

Dream up a hashtag for Cape Ann’s campaign to renovate and expand Sawyer Free Library! Just use your imagination and, if your entry is the hashtag we like best, you’ll receive a $50 gift card to the Gloucester restaurant of your choice.

Good Morning Gloucester - May 17, 2022

Sawyer Free 2025, a philanthropic capital campaign to fund a comprehensive renovation and modernization of Gloucester’s public library building, is officially a thing.

Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce - May 17, 2022

Listen to the Sawyer Free 2025 campaign’s sponsorship on WBUR.

WBUR - May 16, 2022

Library officials recently previewed what the "2025 Sawyer Free Library" project will involve, saying construction will start in early 2023 and take approximately 18 months.

Construction Equipment Guide - May 13, 2022

Philanthropic push to modernize and expand Gloucester's public library has begun.

Patch - May 12, 2022

Frederica Doeringer and Chad Konecky from the library tell Kory and Heather the project will expand the existing facility and include a 15,000 square foot addition.

Cape Ann Today - May 11, 2022

The Sawyer Free Library Foundation this week launched its capital campaign for the “2025 Sawyer Free Library,” a project to enlarge and renovate the library building. It did so with some notable backers of the library’s mission: Gov. Charlie Baker and first lady Lauren Baker.

Gloucester Daily Times - May 11, 2022

Sawyer Free 2025 is a philanthropic capital campaign to fund a comprehensive renovation and modernization of Gloucester’s existing library building, designed by local architect Don Monell.

Good Morning Gloucester - May 10, 2022

Replete with new amenities, new spaces, and a new look for the inside of the library, this renovation plans to bring the building into 2022.

The Gillnetter - May 9, 2022

“Of Sound Mind: A Series on Dementia,” will feature experts in the field of cognitive aging, discuss methods of keeping your brain healthy, and ways to better understand and support people experiencing and caring for those with the disease.

Gloucester Daily Times - Feb. 3, 2022

Jenny Santomauro speaks with Cape Ann Today about photographer Joe Wallace’s five-part educational series on dementia.

Cape Ann Today - Feb. 2, 2022

“They are community artistic treasures and historically significant features.”

The Salem News - July 7, 2021

“This is an exceptional opportunity to lead an organization that is so vitally important to the community it serves.”

Northshore Magazine - July 2, 2020

Sawyer Free Library has a feasible fundraising plan for its building project.

Gloucester Daily Times - Jan. 29, 2020

The needs of our patrons serve as our directives, and we strive to provide the resources, assistance, and information they seek and help them realize their full potential.

Gloucester Daily Times - Nov. 20, 2019

Sawyer Free trustees look to raise money for proposed library renovation.

Gloucester Daily Times - May 21, 2019

"We will meet a lot of our goals with that, but we will also get a new facility that will be what the community has been asking for.”

Gloucester Daily Times - May 16, 2019