LIBRARIES

The Shipley School libraries serve students from pre-K through grade 12 across two welcoming spaces on our Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania campus: the Lower School Library and the Library and Research Center (LaRC) for the Middle and Upper Schools. They are where curiosity takes root — spaces that empower every student to read widely, research with confidence, and grow into a critical thinker and lifelong learner.

More Than A Library.

A place to read, research, and discover.

Lower School Library

In the Lower School, the library is a place of wonder. Engaging read-alouds introduce our youngest readers to a wide world of authors, stories, and perspectives, helping them grow into thoughtful, curious readers. Library class is full of book checkout, creative projects, and plenty of moments to celebrate the simple magic of reading. And beginning in fourth grade, students can join Reading Olympics — a team experience that builds camaraderie and sparks a lifelong love of reading for the pure joy of it.

Library and Research Center (LaRC)

In the Middle and Upper Schools, the Library and Research Center supports students in grades 6–12 as they grow into confident, critical researchers and readers. More than a place to study, the LaRC is one of the academic hearts of campus — a light-filled, flexible space that invites students to gather, collaborate, and dig into their work, whether that means leading a group project, meeting with a librarian, or finding a quiet corner with a good book.

Our librarian partners with teachers across the curriculum to teach students how to locate, evaluate, and use information effectively — skills that serve them long after any single assignment is done. Through a partnership with the sixth-grade SEED program, students begin exploring media literacy and critical thinking early. The LaRC offers books for browsing and checkout alongside college-level research databases that fuel serious academic inquiry. Middle schoolers can take part in Reading Olympics, and student and parent book clubs bring readers together — building a vibrant reading community for students and families alike.

Digital Resources

Beyond our shelves, Shipley students have anytime, anywhere access to a wide range of online databases, e-books, and research tools — the same caliber of resources they'll rely on in college and beyond. Available through the LaRC, our digital collection includes:

Research databases — the full suite of Gale databases, Opposing Viewpoints, and general-knowledge resources for exploring any topic from every angle
News, magazines & journals — full digital access to The New York Times, plus newspaper, magazine, and scholarly journal articles
History & science collections — dedicated databases that support deeper, discipline-specific inquiry
Books & e-books — titles to browse, borrow, and read on any device
Arts & media — ArtSTOR along with curated sites for images and music
Research & citation support — NoodleTools for organizing research and citing sources, and the LaRC LibGuides our librarian builds to guide students through every stage of a project

Meet Our Librarians

Our librarians know our students as readers and thinkers, and they're always glad to recommend a book, guide a research project, or simply help someone find what they're looking for.

Jennifer Phiambolis — Director of Libraries
Betsy Leschinsky — Lower School Librarian

From a first read-aloud to a final research paper, Shipley's libraries give every student the resources, guidance, and inspiration to read deeply, think critically, and discover the joy of learning for life.

Shipley Library FAQs

Where are the Shipley School libraries located?

The Shipley School libraries are located on our campus in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Students are served by two spaces: the Lower School Library and the Library and Research Center (LaRC) for the Middle and Upper Schools.

What grades do the Shipley libraries serve?

Shipley's libraries serve students from pre-K through grade 12. The Lower School Library supports our youngest readers, while the Library and Research Center (LaRC) serves students in grades 6–12.

What is the Library and Research Center (LaRC)?

The Library and Research Center (LaRC) is Shipley's library for the Middle and Upper Schools, serving students in grades 6–12. A light-filled, flexible space at the academic heart of campus, it offers books, college-level research databases, and hands-on research instruction that help students become confident, critical readers and researchers.

What digital resources are available to Shipley students?

Shipley students have anytime, anywhere access to a wide range of online databases and research tools through the LaRC. These include the full suite of Gale databases, Opposing Viewpoints, The New York Times, ArtSTOR, and NoodleTools, along with e-books and librarian-created LibGuides.

What library programs does Shipley offer?

Shipley's libraries offer programs that nurture both a love of reading and strong research skills. These include Reading Olympics, beginning in fourth grade and continuing through middle school; student and parent book clubs; regular read-alouds and library classes in the Lower School; and research instruction woven across the curriculum.

How do Shipley students learn research skills?

Shipley students learn research skills through direct instruction from our librarians, who partner with teachers across the curriculum to teach students how to locate, evaluate, and use information effectively. This work begins as early as sixth grade through a partnership with the SEED program, where students explore media literacy and critical thinking.

Who are the Shipley librarians?

Shipley's library team is led by Jennifer Phiambolis, Director of Libraries, and Betsy Leschinsky, Lower School Librarian. They know students as readers and thinkers and are always glad to recommend a book or help guide a research project.