Libraries
The goal of the Library Program is to provide access to the best resources and instruction in their use, fostering the development of lifelong learners and readers. The program is integrated into the curriculum at all grade levels and subject areas. Holton librarians work with Lower, Middle, and Upper School students individually and in scheduled classes to help them foster a love of literature, acquire research skills, develop information literacy, and become sophisticated consumers of rapidly expanding information sources and technologies.
There are two libraries on campus, the Lower School Library and The Alice S. Marriott Library which serves the Middle and Upper School divisions. The libraries provide an extensive collection of curricular, co-curricular, and recreational materials, as well as state of the art technology, to students and teachers to foster their quest for knowledge.
Contact Us:
Carolyn Gagne
Upper School Librarian
301.365.6076
Top Three Books: Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
First Book I Remember Reading: I remember reading Miss Rumphius, by Barbara Cooney with my mom. I loved the illustrations and the way that the main character lived such a full and interesting life and “made the world more beautiful.” Another excellent book from my childhood was Eric Hill’s Spot Goes to School. I really enjoyed ripping the flaps off since it was a pop-up book.
Joy Colburn
Library Department Chair
Middle School Librarian
301.365.6107
Top Three Books: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris, American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
Do you have a reading “guilty pleasure?” It’s not “guilty” exactly, but I love books by Jenny Han. I’ve read almost everything she has written including Shug, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and The Summer I Turned Pretty series. I met Jenny Han at the National Book Festival and was such a fangirl! I could say I read the books for my job, but that would be a lie. I read them because I love them. I’m also a big fan of graphic novels and sneak one in anytime I can.
Jun Niu
Lower School Librarian
301.365.6067
Top Three Books: My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett, Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson, and Melissa (previously published as George) by Alex Gino
How Do You Decide What to Read? I am always working on several books at the same time. Our four book clubs’ books are always on my list. I love realistic and historical fiction so I always read one or two at a time. I also like non-fiction books, love browsing new arrivals and recent returns, and often end up with two or three in my hands. My secret of “reading” so many at the same time is I use audiobooks. I used to buy them from Audible, but I switched to Libby and Hoopla as soon as I discovered their collections are extensive and free of charge at my local public library.
Kelsey Joyce
Lower School Assistant Librarian / Lower School Extended Day Coordinator
301.365.6067
Top Three Books: The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, the Nancy Drew series by Carolyn Keene, and it’s too hard to pick a third one!
Happy reading memories: Harry Potter is the book series that made me fall in love with reading. I first read Harry Potter when I was around 7 in third grade (yes, I was always one of the youngest in my grade!). This was 2001 so Harry Potter was BIG, and I believe it was around the time the third book was released. I read the entire Nancy Drew series as a summer reading goal in the summer between 4th and 5th grade. I don’t think I finished all of the Nancy Drew books that summer, but I did read every book I could find searching through every public library in my area. In total I believe I finished 68 of the Nancy Drew books that summer but I did finish the rest of the original series later (175 books).
