Valerie Rockefeller Wayne ’89
Introducing the Library Council - Valerie Rockefeller Wayne ’89: When I think back to my time at NCS, I am reminded of contemplative Friday mornings in the Cathedral, of fascinating European History classes with John Woods, and of the community service requirement, which led me to a friendship with a resident at the Wisconsin Avenue Nursing Home that continued until his death, years after I left NCS.
When I think back to my time at NCS, I am reminded of contemplative Friday mornings in the Cathedral, of fascinating European History classes with John Woods, and of the community service requirement, which led me to a friendship with a resident at the Wisconsin Avenue Nursing Home that continued until his death, years after I left NCS.
My time on the Close was shaped not only by the extraordinary faculty who inspired me to pursue a career in education, but also by NCS alumnae, most notably those who used their NCS education to serve their communities in ways large and small. These alumnae forged our traditions, and over the years, they gave back to ensure NCS’s standing as a premier center of learning for young women.
My time on the Close was shaped not only by the extraordinary faculty who inspired me to pursue a career in education, but also by NCS alumnae, most notably those who used their NCS education to serve their communities in ways large and small. These alumnae forged our traditions, and over the years, they gave back to ensure NCS’s standing as a premier center of learning for young women.
It’s because of my gratitude to these women that I welcomed the opportunity to help lead the new NCS Library Council. Libraries play a unique role in the life of any school. A library is a living expression of both school culture and community. I know that the realization of our shared vision for the library will have a profound impact on school life. I feel a connection to future generations of students and, like many of you, feel inspired to ensure that they are prepared for lives of meaning and service to their communities.
When you visit the Close today, you’ll find that the library is an important part of today’s curriculum. The library is always buzzing with activity. Librarian Dr. Katey Craver and her staff hold at least ten class sessions each week. The girls crowded on the couches, reading for pleasure, show that NCS girls’ love of reading is alive and well. But, the library is temporarily housed in Whitby Gym, and at 2,300 square feet, it’s a tight squeeze: the collection is dispersed throughout the campus.
When the current Educating Women for the World Campaign was launched, families rallied to show that the next generation would take their turn in supporting the school’s vision for the future. These families stretched their budgets during a difficult economic climate to meet the challenge. Many donors extended their pledge payments over five years to reach the goal, but they did so because they were inspired by the mission and the example set by previous generations. The results of their devotion to NCS are plain to see on the Woodley North Campus. And many of these families are ready to step up again to support this most exciting last phase of the campaign: the creation of a landmark library. But they cannot do it alone.
To meet an ambitious timeline to realize the transformation of Procter Hall in 2015, a group of women are leading the NCS Library Council. National Co-Chairs Jan Evans Houser ’50, Amy Harper Regan ’62, Sarah Collins Robertson ’93, Eliza Gray ’03, current parent Mary Kaye Huntsman, and I share a love of libraries, a commitment to NCS, and a vision for educating the next generation of “women for the world.” I invite you to join with us to achieve Procter 2015.