Welcome to the Mancini Memorial Library

It is the library's goal to help Lower School students discover how a library is organized; begin to understand the research process; develop strategies for independent learning; gain awareness of the information sources the library offers; immerse themselves in literature; become lifelong users of the library.

Library classes consist of a 45 minute period once a week for Preschool through 5^th Grade. Additional research time is scheduled as needed. The primary classes have a story time followed by a related activity or a lesson on library skills. At this level the children are taught how to care for books, the parts of a book, introduction to authors and illustrators, the difference between fiction and nonfiction, how books are arranged in the library, and a basic introduction to the Dewey Decimal System.

For the upper elementary grades, it is our goal to expand their library knowledge as well as their love of reading. The students will tie in classroom activities with the library, will be introduced to different genres of literature, will begin to learn the research process and proper search strategies, and will be introduced to the latest and best fiction. Students will continue to learn advanced library organization.

Location and Hours

Located on the second floor of Alumni Hall, the Mancini Memorial Library serves Middle and Upper School students and contains the David Jones Media Center. A separate wing of the library contains the Lower School collection.  It is managed by a full-time librarian, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Volunteering

We are looking for student volunteers from both the Middle and Upper Schools to help maintain order in the collection. Shelvers, shelf-readers, and project assistants are needed. If you are interested in volunteering in the library, please contact the librarian or visit her during a free period.

Our Librarian

Ms. Young, Class of '90, has been working in libraries in some capacity since she was sixteen. She holds a Master's Degree in English and minors in Creative Writing and Anthropology. Her professional background is in medical and public libraries, but she is most at home in an academic setting, and is thrilled to be at the Academy again. She is a book-lover, but also loves the instant gratification that technology brings to the information field.

If you are looking for something good to read or would like to share something good you’ve read, you can contact her by email at: jyoung@morganparkacademy.org.