The two libraries on campus have approximately 60,000 physical books in their catalogs, with thousands of books circulating in and out of them on a year-round basis. These unique fixtures on campus serve as places for students to relax, read and study.

Compared to other libraries, the school’s stand out as centers for learning and are well-integrated into the school community. Moreover, the librarians utilize up-to-date technology to increase the effectiveness of the libraries in helping students develop intellectually.

Additionally, the Green and Lower School libraries are incorporated into the students’ education and are part of a program to teach younger students to read and older students to research. Throughout this process, the librarians hope to develop critical thinking skills and a love of reading in the students.

“We no longer just have to rely on print books, and we’re certainly no longer just a big brick building with books in it,” Director of Libraries and Information Services Tinsley Silcox said. “We’re so much more than that.”

Specifically, the Green Library features a unique World Religions Collection, showcasing a handful of rare historical religious texts on display, including the Bhagavad Gita, the Analects of Confucius, a version of the New Testament in Greek and more. Students can fully immerse themselves in these unique and significant texts, provided they put on a pair of gloves to prevent any damage.

“There are some very rare materials out (front),” Silcox said. “I don’t put them behind a glass case. I want the boys to be able to look at them, to see them, to touch them, to smell those books.”

In addition to a large number of print offerings, a standout feature of the library’s digital inventory is the wide array of databases and sources available to students for research purposes, including JSTOR, Encyclopedia Britannica and subscriptions to various newspapers. Silcox feels grateful for the school’s opportunity to offer these resources to students that can enrich their experiences in a way that may not be available at other schools or libraries.

“We have the same databases that most colleges and universities have,” Silcox said.

As libraries continue to evolve beyond their traditional roles, technology has become a driving force in how students explore, research and interact with information. The library has continued to change over the years as new methods and technologies develop.

“If you’d walked into this library 40 years ago, it would’ve looked much different,” Silcox said. “For one thing, half the first floor was probably taken up with the physical card catalog.”

Now, with new technology in place, all a student has to do is type a few words on a library computer to find exactly what they need. One of the newest additions to the libraries is Sora, a digital library platform that enables students to borrow and read e-books and audiobooks from the libraries.

“I’ve been blown away by how many types of sources we have and how much students have access to,” library assistant Hailey Craig said. “One of my favorites is probably Sora — having that e-book and audiobook access is super cool, and that’s something that I never had as a kid because it just wasn’t available.”

Overall, the library maintains a vast and unique collection of books, e-books, magazines and other educational materials that continue to make it a valuable resource for all students.

“Within the fiction section, especially reading for fun, there are all sorts of books that I wouldn’t even think to pick up,” Craig said. “So I think it’s a huge blessing that the library has so many books, because it can really serve all of our community.”

Ultimately, the libraries’ growing blend of print resources, technology and specialized collections reflects a broader mission: helping students become curious, capable and confident learners, regardless of age or grade level. Whether students come in to research, explore world cultures or simply find a story that resonates with them, the libraries aim to meet them where they are and guide them forward.

“Come to the library if you know what you’re looking for; come to the library if you don’t know what you’re looking for,” Craig said. “Don’t be intimidated by research — you have everything you need within the library, and the help of people who know how to get the information to you.”