History of Messing Library
The Wilma Jean Messing Library originally served the as the Mary Institute Upper School library during the second half of the 20th Century. According to the book Mary Institute: The Story of One Hundred Years, by Arthur Newell Chamberlin III (former MI History Department Chair)...
Following the successful Centennial Development Program of 1958, Mary began its second hundred years to the sounds of construction workers and their divers machines. The new wing was added to the main building, and the old gymnasium was thoroughly remodeled into an up-to-date science building. Additional library space was provided by the construction of the Wilma Jean Messing Memorial Library (in memory of Wilma Jean Messing, MI '62). An open shelf library with comfortable chairs and delightful decor, the Messing Memorial has more than 11,000 volumes. The old library was renovated and became the Barbara Cousland Memorial Room and has housed the the Middle School Library of approximately 4,000 volumes.
After the MI-CDS merger of 1992, the former Mary Institute campus became "South Campus" and home to the MICDS Middle School. Messing Library also began to serve the MICDS Middle School at this time under the direction of long-time CDS teacher and coach John Steward. Formally a Latin teacher, Mr. Steward became the School's new Senior Master and brought the library program into the internet age by continually learning and applying new techniques. Very much an advocate of the use of technology in the classroom, John was a great resource for many members of the faculty and also served as the School's archivist.
Upon John's retirement after more than four decades of service to CDS and MICDS, Matt DiGiulio (MICDS '97), a member of the History Department faculty since 2002, began the task of redesigning the Messing Library floor plan and program in the Summer of 2007. After more than a month of physical work on the library space, Messing Library opened it's doors in August 2007, prepared to serve the needs of teaching and learning in the MICDS community.To get an idea of the changing nature of the middle school library, watch the short video "Change of Space" below.
[UPDATED 13 OCTOBER 2010]
