Annapolis Greenfield Library
Overview
Library Links
The library's collection exists to support the college program. The general collection consists of over 102,000 books, sound recordings of faculty lectures, videos of classic films, and print and electronic periodicals. The major part of the collection consists of primary texts. Selected critical works on the program authors also are acquired and placed in the collection. Additionally, the library has carefully selected periodicals and journals to augment the program needs. Electronic and print resources are both available. The library has archives and special collections consisting of college records, personal papers, rare books, and realia. Arrangements and permission to use the archives and special collections are made during the regular week schedule with the college librarian.
The Library and the Life of the College
The library provides a beautiful setting for reading, contemplation, and learning. Preceptorials, or small discussion groups led by tutors with the students for the purpose of closer examination of the texts, are held in the library from October through the end of the term. During the evenings in which the preceptorials take place, the library is closed to the public to provide the quiet atmosphere conducive to discussion and learning.
The Building
The St. John's College library is located on the southwest corner of the campus, and is housed in the renovated building once known as the Maryland Hall of Records. The architectural conversion to the college library was begun in 1994 and completed in 1996. Blending a post-modern style with historic preservation, the Baltimore based architect, Travis Price, added several major enhancements. He created an underground annex topped by a landscaped plaza, replaced the seven storied central core with a three story atrium and a large skylight, and restored the perimeter rooms. The new library was named the Greenfield Library in recognition of the generosity of donor Stewart Greenfield (class of 1953), and his wife Constance. The building now has a beautiful reading room housing the main reference collection, a New Program room where the current program books may be found, and various comfortable reading areas overlooking the patio or town, in addition to carrels and a general study area in the basement.
The music library is housed in Mellon Hall, a separate building from the Greenfield Library. Its collection consists of more than 7,000 compact discs and vinyl records. The bulk of the recordings are classical, or art-music. Soundproof practice rooms are available in the basement of Mellon Hall. There are pianos open for use in the music classrooms (132, 133, 134). The music librarian is Eric Stoltzfus, and arrangements for the use of the harpsichord or organ should be made with the music library.