Prouty and Garfield Libraries

Welcome to the Prouty and Garfield Libraries at Bancroft School. The Bancroft Community is fortunate to enjoy two libraries that directly support the Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools. As the crossroads of all divisions, the libraries and its staff strive to meet the intellectual, academic, and recreational needs of the community. We provide a wide range of print and non-print resources as well as creative programming in a stimulating and enriching educational climate.

Our mission is to:

• Encourage a love of reading and an appreciation for literature.

• Provide students with the guidance and knowledge to become independent and ethical users of information.

• Ensure that students are equipped with the knowledge and information skills to become lifelong learners.

The Lower School program in Prouty Library involves a comprehensive curriculum that emphasizes the worlds of literature, information and imagination. Weekly classes are held for Grades K-5 students where students focus on research skills and literacy appreciation. Students listen to stories from a wonderful collection of children’s literature, learn how to do research and responsibly use available resources.

Middle and Upper School students use the Garfield Library for conducting research, reading, and study. Just as library resources are selected to meet the needs of our diverse community and curriculum, our programming is closely coordinated with classroom studies. Through collaborative efforts with classroom teachers, both formal and informal, the emphasis shifts to ensure students are prepared for learning in a digital world. This preparation includes the teaching of efficient and effective location of resources, critical evaluation of resources and the ethical use of information. As always, we strive to instill a life-long appreciation for literature and reading as a source of academic and personal growth.