Where Every Girl Finds Her Book

Liza's Library Inspires a Lifelong Story of Reading

The next chapter of Moss Hall includes Liza's Library, a magical space for every girl to find and foster a love of reading, just like beloved former teacher Eliza "Liza" Fletcher.

This nearly 4,000-square-foot library welcomes North Campus students with a whimsical tree, cozy reading nooks, and big, bright windows, all design details inspired by Fletcher’s classroom.

“Liza’s bright light will shine through this library in so many ways,” Director of Library Studies Catherine Smith Denman ’06 says. “This library will carry on her legacy of sharing stories and nurturing a love of reading.”

The new library is a welcoming hub for curious girls, offering 10,000+ print books plus thousands of ebooks, audiobooks, and online tools.

Girls dream big and immerse themselves in a space that supports them in every way. Mrs. Denman encourages girls to take risks and dive into a new book.

“I truly believe in Ranganathan’s second Law of Library Science: Every reader has her book. When a student tells me they don’t like reading, I know they just haven’t found the right book yet! I pull out all the stops until they find that magical first book to love,” Mrs. Denman said.

“The more we build a positive culture around reading, the more we grow the girls’ love of reading.”

With reading nooks and countless new stories, each girl knows that she belongs in a space that is designed just for her.

“We want every girl to find books that are mirrors, where she can find characters she can relate to in some way,” Mrs. Denman said. “I know that the relationships I build with the girls will not only help them feel a sense of belonging, but also help me to continue to build our library collection with our students in mind.”

To continue this connection, Mrs. Denman and Librarian Caryn Brannen added magical details to welcome girls into this remarkable space. On the shelves, they put representations of each class mascot with special books and toys so that the library feels like home. 

“What I love most about the library is that it feels so homey and special that the girls always want to be here,” Mrs. Denman said. 

Fifth grader Wynnie Uhlhorn ’33 loves spending time in Liza’s Library and is excited to use this new space to discover new stories.

“I love that it’s bigger, and there are lounge spots and tables where you can read with your friends,” Wynnie said.

Our librarians are intentional about encouraging girls to uncover new possibilities by having engaging read-alouds, facilitating book clubs, connecting reading to real life, and providing a constant display of new books so that girls can have a foundation in reading to set them up for a lifetime of learning.

St. Mary’s offers a thoughtfully designed learning environment, from small class sizes to immersive, hands-on experiences that deepen understanding. 

“We’re not just preparing girls for college; we’re helping them become young ladies who love learning, care about the world, and use their voices to make a difference,” said Marcisha Brazley-Keith, Ed.D., Head of the Lower School.

St. Mary’s supports girls through every chapter of their academic journey. Wynnie loves the mentorship her teachers provide. “St. Mary’s is such a fun school. There are challenges, but you’re not facing challenges alone,” Wynnie said. “St. Mary’s girls are like family, and all the teachers are there to help you.”

Mrs. Denman sees community and connection among the girls, similar to what she had when she was a student walking through the same halls.

“More than being in a historic space, being in Moss Hall feels like home to me,” Mrs. Denman said. “The new part of Moss Hall is a testament to our community’s commitment to carrying on our tradition of unparalleled education. I am overwhelmed with gratitude that I have been entrusted with the responsibility of growing lovers of reading and expert researchers in such a beautiful and bright place.”

Liza’s Library is an extension of the classroom, where girls can explore concepts, discover their interests, and share their findings with classmates.

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Hutchison Friends Launch Liza's Book Club

To honor Liza Fletcher’s life, her friends and classmates at Hutchison School donated more than $12,000 to create Liza’s Book Club. This collection of stories will live permanently in the library to inspire girls to shine just like Mrs. Fletcher. The first books were presented to St. Mary’s during the ribbon-cutting ceremony by Wendy Crenshaw Bolding, Mary Marshall Maxwell, and Conlee Adams Stringfellow. “Liza was just the definition of light and life, and this library is so her. The color, the brightness. I’m just full of joy,” said Maxwell.

"Moss Hall is a shining example of what is possible when vision meets generosity.  Thanks to the incredible support of our donors, we have created inspiring spaces that will nurture curiosity, creativity, and community for generations of St. Mary’s girls. This expansion is more than a building; it’s a fitting home for an education that empowers girls to discover their potential and shape the world around them.”

- Albert Throckmorton, Head of School