Ohrstrom Library Digital Archives

Ohrstrom Library Celebrates 25 Years

Introduction:

Ohrstrom Library celebrates 25 years of service to the SPS community in 2016. During the past 25 years, much has changed in the world and at St. Paul’s School. However, what has not changed is the School’s commitment to academic excellence and to preparing our students for lives of service and leadership.

Former School Librarian Rosemarie Cassels-Brown wrote in 1991:

St. Paul’s School’s long history of excellence is reflected in a library tradition dating back to the School’s earliest days, when the library’s collection numbered 350 books, in 1858. This collection grew rapidly, doubling every few years. It required a succession of moves to larger quarters.  Ninety years ago [in 1901], architect Ernest Flagg designed for St. Paul’s the beautiful, 13,000 square foot Sheldon Library in the much admired Beaux Arts Style. Sheldon Library served the school until January of 1991 when the new Ohrstrom Library opened its doors.

On January 4, 1991, for two hours during the middle of the day, the entire school community came together and formed a fire brigade, passing books hand-to-hand in a long line from Sheldon to Ohrstrom. Ten days later, on January 14th, Rector Kelly Clark declared Ohrstrom Library officially open. On the weekend of April 20-21, 1991, Ohrstrom library was dedicated in official ceremonies attended by Ohrstrom architect Robert A. M. Stern, Trustees James W. Kinnear III ’46, Edmund P. Pillsbury ’61, George L. Ohrstrom ’45 and other distinguished guests.

On the 25th Anniversary of Ohrstrom Library, we are pleased to present this exhibit highlighting some of these events that were the result of years of careful planning and great thought by many who cared deeply for the role of the library at St. Paul’s School.

Hall Harrison, the School’s first librarian, chose this motto when he founded the Library Association in 1873: Non scholae, sed vitae – vitae utrique (Not for the School, but for life – for each life). This motto stills applies today as Ohrstrom Library continues to evolve and change with the times, never forgetting our Goodly Heritage, and our basic mission to serve the St. Paul’s School community and to promote a love of learning within each life that passes through this great school.

Exhibit Quick Links:

(See full exhibit below)

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Click on the thumbnails above or the titles below to access the individual entry pages.

Exhibit Entries: