Library
The Erik Jonsson Media Center serves as Lamplighter’s library and houses over 20,000 books.
This inviting space, with vaulted ceilings, abundant natural light, and three cozy fireplaces, encourages students and teachers to gather for lessons, book browsing, and quiet reading. Thoughtfully curated resources, museum-style displays, and comfortable reading nooks allow visitors to engage at their own pace. The Media Center is staffed by a full-time Librarian and a full-time Library Assistant.
Early Childhood Library
The Bender Family Early Childhood Library, opened in 2023, extends the Erik Jonsson Media Center and is conveniently located near the Pre-K classrooms. Designed for Lamplighter’s youngest learners, the space offers a “just-right” spot for story time, small reading groups, and intimate literacy lessons. Filled with carefully curated picture books, it reinforces early childhood literacy as a foundation for learning. The library also opens to the newly constructed outdoor reading grove, providing students with a seamless indoor-outdoor reading experience.
Dooley Author Series
The Dooley Author Series brings award-winning authors and illustrators to campus each year for special visits with Lamplighter students and faculty. Established in 2011 by alumni parent Marilyn Halpin and her daughter Elizabeth Dooley McLamb ’87 in memory of Elizabeth’s father, Robert T. Halpin, Sr., the Series continues to educate and inspire students and faculty today. In conjunction with each Dooley Author Visit, families are able to purchase signed copies of each author's books.
Past Dooley Author guests include Chris Barton, Jason Chin, Jennifer Coleman, Matt de la Peña, Michelle Staubach Grimes, Victoria Jamieson, Erika Lynne Jones, Hena Khan, Grace Lin, David Macaulay, Stacy McAnulty, Oge Mora, Todd Parr, Sergio Ruzzier, Javaka Steptoe, Catherine Stier, Don Tate, and Patricia Vermillion.
Library Programs & Events
Reading Mentors
The Reading Mentors program pairs older third- and fourth-grade students with Kindergarten and T1 students for shared reading and guided projects. The program supports literacy development while fostering personal connections and community. Students meet several times a year to enjoy reading and collaborative learning together.
Bluebonnet Battles
Bluebonnet Battle is a program for third and fourth graders designed to spark excitement about Texas Bluebonnet Award books. Students form reading teams and compete in a game show–style challenge, answering questions to test their knowledge and retention of the books. Each match is broadcast during special lunchtime segments on the School’s Flash system for the Lower School community.
Media Center Open House
The Media Center Open House is a holiday fundraiser that supports the Erik Jonsson Media Center. During the event, Lamplighter families can purchase selected books in honor of their child’s teacher or a staff member. Students have the opportunity to sign book plates, which are placed inside the donated books. Honorees receive the books before they are added to the Media Center’s collection.
Spring Book Fair
Each spring, the Erik Jonsson Media Center hosts a book fair for Lamplighter families. This popular event lets students and parents shop for new books in preparation for summer and encourages a love of reading that lasts a lifetime. The book fair lasts for five days, typically during the month of May.
Summer Reading
Lamplighter’s library faculty collaborates with classroom and literacy teachers to curate a summer reading list for each grade. Families are encouraged to support their child’s reading over the summer by reading together, with a mix of assigned and recommended titles.
Author Visits
In addition to the Dooley Author Series, Lamplighter librarians organize special author visits. Authors share their latest works and engage with students through small-group sessions or school-wide assemblies, enriching the reading experience.
Learn more about Media Center programs from Lamplighter Librarian Jody Stout.
2025 Summer Reading Lists
Grade-level reading lists for rising Pre-K through fourth grade students are as follows:
