Media Center

The Erik Jonsson Media Center is an extension of the classroom and functions as the school's information center.

With three cozy teaching areas, three fireplaces, low shelves, and stuffed animals, the Media Center is a warm, inviting area where students joyfully search for books and recommend them to one another. The Lamplighter curricula are enriched at the Media Center through a variety of well-organized resources and tools that reflect the diverse needs of the community. There are more than 24,000 items in the collection. These materials are available to all students, parents, faculty, and administration within the school community. Each student is assisted in selecting, evaluating, and using the information appropriately and effectively. (This is often described to the students as a “just-right” book.) The Media Center Coordinator supports students’ love of reading and collaborates with faculty to provide instruction, learning strategies, and practices that use essential learning skills.

Our youngest learners begin by borrowing one book at a time; this limit is raised gradually, until fourth graders can check out five books at a time. If students forget to return their books on Media Center day, they are invited to sit and read a book of their choosing. There is a display of pop-up books for those who haven’t mastered reading alone yet, or for anyone to enjoy.

An annual Book Fair is held in May and a Media Center Open House is held after Thanksgiving, during which parents purchase books in honor of faculty and staff. The Media Center supports the Dooley Author Series, bringing award winning authors and illustrators to campus for students, faculty, and staff.

Dooley Author Series

The Dooley Author Series brings notable and award-winning authors and illustrators to campus for special visits with Lamplighter students and faculty. During the 2023-2024 school year, Lamplighter welcomes three guests, Erika Lynne Jones, Oge Mora, and Patricia Vermillion to our campus.

Erika Lynne Jones is a children’s book author and illustrator. She enjoys creating quirky characters and stories that affirm and celebrate cultures. Her creative mission is to show every child they are worthy of good and deserve positive representations of themselves in literature. Jones is the illustrator of The Loud Librarian and Black Girls: A Celebration of You. Her debut as an author/illustrator will happen in 2024 with her latest work. Prior to becoming an author/illustrator, Jones was Executive Director for a non-profit after school literacy program.

Oge Mora is a collage artist and storyteller. Her picture book, Thank You, Omu!, was a Caldecott Honor, Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Award winner, and Ezra Jack Keats Book Award recipient. Her second book, Saturday won the 2020 Boston Globe—Horn Book Picture Book Award. Oge’s artwork has been applauded by The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Boston Globe. She is also a 2021 Forbes 30 Under 30 Lister in Arts & Style. 

Patricia Vermillion is an author and librarian who served as the Media Center Coordinator for The Lamplighter School for 19 years, from 2002 - 2021. She is the author of three children's books including Hound Dawg and Texas Chili, Oh My!, which received a publication award from the San Antonio Conservation Society. Her latest book, A Reading Partner for Emerald, featuring a lizard who loves to read.