The Sarah Graham Kenan Library is a center of intellectual life for the students and faculty at Saint Mary’s School.

This inviting space serves as a "creative commons" where you can work collaboratively with classmates on projects, work with teachers and tutors to continue class lessons, or work individually to research your upcoming history paper or to relax in a quiet corner with a book or magazine. The Kenan Library has 41,000 total holdings, which include 8,000 eBooks and strong collections in literature, history, religion, the fine arts, women’s studies and fiction classics. The library also subscribes to print periodicals and numerous electronic research databases giving students global access to thousands of reliable online full-text books, scholarly journals, popular magazines and newspapers, primary source documents, historical videos, photos and images, television and radio transcripts, and other information sources. In addition, students are able to borrow books and articles through Interlibrary Loan resource sharing and they have access to online and physical information resources of the Wake County Public Library System.

Beyond the building and the books, the Kenan Library is a vital program staffed by enthusiastic, knowledgeable librarians who work in partnership with faculty members, providing ongoing formal and casual instruction on research strategies, information location and evaluation. The Kenan Library staff are dedicated to helping you become an independent, engaged lifetime learner with amazing research and communication skills.

The Kenan Library was named after philanthropist Sarah Graham Kenan, class of 1893, whose foundation made the building possible. The Sarah Graham Kenan Library was dedicated in 1966, and over the last ten years the William Rand Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust has generously provided substantial grants making possible extensive facility and interior renovations which have also made it possible to host visual art exhibits and literary events throughout the year.

   

View our list of suggested books for college bound students.