McKay Library
The Learning Hub
10,000
physical books
2
librarians
24/7
access to digital resources
26
resource databases
Overview
The Library Program
Seattle Prep’s two full-time librarians partner with teachers in a number of departments to instruct students about information literacy. Librarians provide instruction sessions to full classes as well as one-on-one with individual students. Library instruction is rooted within the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm and the AASL 21st-Century Learner Standards, ensuring that Prep students graduate with the tools necessary to find information, critically assess it, and use it in service of creating new knowledge.
The McKay Library in Adelphia Memorial Hall serves as an academic hub throughout the day for members of our community. Students and faculty/staff have access to group seating, a designated quiet study room, supplies and flexible instructional areas in a welcoming environment that supports the learner’s needs.
Our Resources
Our collection includes access to our 10,000 physical volumes, 3,000+ eBooks and audiobooks, 26 research databases, and 24/7 access to digital resources through our OneNote Notebook. Librarians also curate specific resource guides for individual classes on an as-needed basis.
Library Director
Library Director Liz Borgen, MLIS came to Prep in 2013. A graduate of the University of Washington (BA in English Literature and MLIS in Information Science), Liz’s work at Prep focuses on teaching information literacy as it intersects with technology, the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm, and social justice. Liz also moderates the student Feminist Interest Group.
Liz lives in West Seattle with her family. In her spare time you can find her taking neighborhood walks, reading, or doing a crossword.
Librarian
Katie Lovejoy ’97 joined the Prep library in 2015. Katie has deep roots in Catholic education, not only as a Prep graduate but as a former faculty member for St. Pius X and Our Lady of the Lake. She earned her BA in Integral Liberal Arts from St. Mary’s College and a MLIS from the University of Washington’s Information School, and in addition to running much of the programming for the Prep library, Katie is ASB Moderator and enjoys working in the Prep archives.
Katie is a lifelong Northeast Seattle native. When she’s not at Prep, she enjoys reading, family history research, travel, and spending time with her family.
What Happens in the Library?
Summer Reading Program
In conjunction with the English Department, the library offers a school-wide summer reading program every year where adults across campus sponsor one-time book group with students. Click here for more information about the program.
All the Light We Cannot See
A stunningly ambitious and beautiful novel about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II.
Boxers and Saints
Boxers follows the story of Little Bao, a boy from Shan-tung (Shandong) who becomes a leader of the Boxer Rebellion. Saints follows the story of "Four-Girl", a girl from the same village who becomes a Catholic, adopts the name "Vibiana", and hopes to attain the glory of Joan of Arc.
Poppy War
The book follows Fang Runin, a peasant girl who is accepted to Sinegard Academy. She discovers a mysterious power and trains to become a shaman to the vengeful god, the Phoenix. When war breaks out between her home country of Nikan and the Federation of Mugen, Rin must quickly become a hardened soldier.
Seconds
Seconds is a graphic novel by Bryan Lee O'Malley. Published on July 15, 2014, by Ballantine Books, the novel tells the story of Katie Clay, head chef at a prospering restaurant named Seconds, who obtains the ability to fix her past mistakes by writing them down in a notebook, eating a mushroom, and falling asleep.