As the only girls' school based on Quaker values in the United States, Lincoln honors the value of each individual while centering the Quaker values of Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Stewardship (SPICES).
Lincoln Libraries
Lincoln’s libraries provide a diverse array of print and online resources to facilitate and extend learning, support and enrich the curriculum, and meet students’ individual reading and learning needs. Our libraries are inviting spaces for the Lincoln community to gather, learn, reflect, and explore. And our professional librarians curate collections and design instruction programs to stimulate inquiry and creativity at all levels.
Lincoln School students develop a lifelong enthusiasm for reading and learn to think critically about information in a variety of forms. The library team is uniquely qualified to contribute to Lincoln’s educational initiatives as teachers, instructional partners, and information specialists. Lincoln houses two libraries, The Lower School Library and The Elwood E. Leonard Library.
Strong libraries are essential to successful learning communities. We teach students valuable information skills so they become well rounded, capable thinkers and doers. Our libraries provide students with equitable access to resources, ensuring everyone is supported and can explore the world around them.
Jenifer Bond, Lincoln School Library Department Head
Library: Little School
Lincoln’s Little School community members have access to the Lower School Library collections, and families are encouraged to request books for home use. Reading to children benefits language and information processing skills and is vital to developing literacy and a lifelong love of reading. Our Lower School librarian curates books for Little School story times, offers space for library programs, and fosters a love of literature for our youngest students.
Our Little and Lower Schools also offer a program called Bea’s Book Bags (for our 2yo through Grade 5 students), dedicated to promoting a love of reading, one tote at a time. This program allows a collection of specially curated books to be created specifically for your child. Anchored in students’ unique interests, this program sparks young imaginations, stokes new interests, and plants the seeds for a lifetime of continuous discovery.
Library: Lower School
The Lower School Library is a warm and lively space where N–5 students can explore an extensive collection of children’s literature, nonfiction, and online resources. With support from the Lower School librarian, students connect with favorite books on the library shelves, where they will also find plenty of inspiration for Lower School Book Character Day!
N–5 students gather in library class once a week to hear stories, build skills, and conduct developmentally appropriate project-based research. The Lower School librarian designs curriculum, lessons, and enrichment to teach students to appreciate literature and become confident, independent library users. Classes focus on age-appropriate texts that emphasize cultural awareness and empathy while introducing students to new genres. Students in grades 2–5 participate in literary-based programs including the Rooster Games, Battle of the Books, and Mock Caldecott Awards. They critique literature, assess illustrated artforms, and trade book recommendations with friends. Students incorporate technology into library projects, filming book trailers with the green screen or creating podcasts about cherished characters.
The Lower School Library supports and extends classroom learning. The librarian teaches research skills, introduces online databases, and is a continual support for students, preparing them for the Middle School experience.
Our Little and Lower Schools also offer a program called Bea’s Book Bags (for our 2yo through Grade 5 students), dedicated to promoting a love of reading, one tote at a time. This program allows a collection of specially curated books to be created specifically for your child. Anchored in students’ unique interests, this program sparks young imaginations, stokes new interests, and plants the seeds for a lifetime of continuous discovery.
The Elwood E. Leonard Library: Middle & Upper School
Middle School students have access to the Elwood E. Leonard Library’s print and online collections for academic and personal enrichment. Under the guidance of Lincoln’s expert librarians, students in grades 6–8 are encouraged to read independently and take their research skills to the next level. Librarians collaborate with faculty to prepare Middle School students to successfully navigate the 21st century information environment, teaching them effective strategies for finding, evaluating, and using credible sources. Librarians also curate resources to support classroom work for grades 6–8, and directly help Grade 8 History and English students take deeper dives into the research process.
The Elwood E. Leonard Library is central to the Upper School experience, offering a comfortable social and learning environment. With access to critical resources in the print and online collections and guidance from professional librarians, students in grades 9–12 and the Independent Study Program gain appreciation for reading and research in pursuit of academic and personal growth. Upper School students fine tune research and critical thinking skills to become independent, thoughtful, and ethical users and creators of information through library instruction programs developed and delivered in collaboration with faculty across the disciplines.