Thanks to the generosity of alumna Mrs. Elizabeth Agate Jamieson ‘48, and the help of countless others, the newly renovated Anderson Library officially reopened its doors to students and faculty on November 4th. The library has returned to being a hub for learning and community purposes, but with exciting new additions and upgrades. The space has been designed to meet the evolving needs of today’s students, combining quiet study spaces with collaborative areas and spaces reserved for visiting classes.
The Anderson Library has had over 40 classes visit in the first two weeks since its reopening alone. These sessions have included going over historical fiction with the seventh grade, a medieval Latin research lesson, visits from all the ninth-grade wellness classes, and a visit from the Psychology of Social Media class.
Ms. Salge said, “We have over 250 workshops in here every year and we need a dedicated teaching space, but we still need the comfy couches and we need a place where people can discuss things.” With so many events taking place in the library annually, this renovation will be crucial for hosting many activities and visits.
New Features
The upgraded space features a range of new aspects which include the “Glassroom,” new seating, carpet, private study rooms, new bookshelves, and even furniture in the school’s signature colors creating a sense of school pride. The Glassroom is a private yet visible part of the library that is used for workshops, meetings, and class visits. This enclosed area, with its floor-to-ceiling glass wall, provides privacy for these events while not closing it off entirely from the library. It will accommodate the needs of the group inside while also keeping the rest of the students working in the main space from being disrupted by the active class.
For those in need of a more private, smaller study environment, the library includes a few individual study rooms that can be reserved by students. These rooms can be used for group projects, study collaboration, or even independent study sessions. The study rooms were designed to provide a distraction-free space without the interruptions that can arise in more open spaces.
Design Process
The million-dollar renovation was made possible by Mrs. Elizabeth Agate Jamieson who, after graduating from The Beard School over 75 years ago, wanted to give back to the community that had such a wonderful impact on her life. Mrs. Jamieson was determined to ensure that future Morristown Beard students could have access to a supportive and well-equipped learning environment. Although a lot of time may have passed since Mrs. Jamieson graduated in 1948, the memories of her time at the school have not been forgotten. If anyone wants to know more about her, there is a frame towards the Center for Academic Writing (CAW) entrance in the library dedicated to her that includes her original high school diploma and a picture of her graduating class. Mrs. Jamieson and her daughter Ellen worked with MBS faculty, staff, and students to incorporate their ideas into the library’s design process.
This project was made possible by Mrs. Salge, Ms. Meehan, Ms. Patterson, Mr. Lovelock, Kimi Freeman ‘25 and Indiya Weinmann ‘25, who all collaborated to combine educational interests with ones directly from the student community. This team also worked with the wonderful designers Bridget Soyka-Smith and Julianne Daly who were able to integrate all of these ideas and designs into the new Anderson Library.
Upcoming Library Events
As someone who has already spent a lot of time in the new library, Thomas Tucci ‘27 said that his favorite part of the upgraded space is the silent reading time provided on Fridays. These silent book sessions are new and have been recently organized since the library’s opening. Tucci said, “It really gives me time to read when I don’t seem to have any.” These silent library sessions will take place during both lunch periods and flex on Fridays. They are meant for reading, recharging, or simply a moment of silence during a busy day. While quiet discussions are welcomed in the group study rooms or Glassroom, the main portion of the library will be dedicated to the Silent Book Club meetings.
As there is no food or drink (besides water with lids) permitted in the Anderson library to preserve the beautiful new space, Wellness Wednesdays, a student favorite, will instead continue in the chapel this year.
With its blend of productivity and comfort, the space has quickly become a favorite for both students and teachers. The incredible number of classes, workshops, and study sessions in just the first few weeks already shows how vital this upgraded space will be for the Morristown Beard community.
