The year after McDonogh School opened in 1873, a library was established. By 1875 it had 500 volumes; 400 of which were purchased by Principal William Allan. At the time, the library was open from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m on weekdays and again on Sundays. Books could be checked out for a week, and credits were charged if a book was returned late. Later, books could be kept for two weeks, and a penny was charged for each day overdue.
A report in the February 22, 1908, issue of The Week noted that the library was busy on weekends when it was open “after supper until bed time.” In January 1911, The Week reported that magazines such as the Literary Digest, Puck, the Century magazine, and Youth’s Companion were popular among the boys, but the London Illustrated News was considered to be the most interesting.
When Allan Building rose from the ashes of Main Building in 1929, the library was located on the second floor in the northeast corner. In the early 1960s, it moved to the first floor and occupied the spacious former dining room on the south end of the building. This new space allowed for a browsing and periodical area with a designated spot for magazines and new books. Discarded college catalogs and duplicate magazines such as The Maryland Horse were available in an area called “Help Yourself,” and biography and American History books were arranged in an area called “Reader Interest.” The new library also featured a locked display case to house valuable or semi-valuable collections. Librarian Mrs. Dorothy R. Shaulis explained, “The library will welcome exhibits of hobbies and collections which the boys would like to display.” Bulletin boards kept the boys informed about current television and radio programs, outstanding movies, and cultural activities in Baltimore. The library was renovated and dedicated as the Kiplinger Library in May 1990, and it was rededicated 25 years later in loving memory of Todd L. Kiplinger ’64, McDonogh Trustee (1981-1989).
Today, each division has its own library that aligns with curriculum and reading levels. The Leah Watts Dawson Library in the Lower School, the Rosenstein Library in the Middle School, and the Kiplinger Library in the Upper School are directed by caring, knowledgeable, and trained professionals who understand the needs of students and the range of resources available to them. Learn more about McDonogh’s libraries here.
