St. Mary Academy-Bay View dedicates new library

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EAST PROVIDENCE – Colleen Gribbin, principal of St. Mary Academy Bay View, was honored January 17 during the dedication of the school's new library.

When the popular principal arrived at the dedication, she was stunned when a group of students unfurled a banner that revealed the library's name: The Gribbin Library. “This is such an honor. I am so thrilled by this tribute,” she said during the ceremony. Nearly 100 students, teachers, administrators and staff attended the festivities, along with members of Gribbin's family.

The state-of-the-art 3,300 square foot library features more than 18,000 books, reference sources and periodicals. Over a three-month period, the former cafeteria was transformed into a resource for the more than 1,050 students of St. Mary Academy Bay View in grades pre-K-12. It is also equipped with wireless Internet as well as numerous online databases and is a part of RILINK and the Ocean State Library System.

All of the students will receive an orientation and tutorials on research strategies and study habits. Bay View President Sr. Elizabeth McAuliffe, RSM, expressed excitement over the educational possibilities the new facility will provide. “This is a wonderful day at Bay View. We have a new state-of-the-art library for our students which will allow us to enhance an already high quality of education.”

The school librarian, Kathy Gendron, echoed Sr. McAuliffe's excitement. “We have more space for quiet study and room for more classes to come in for research and study sessions. There is finally space for our extensive research collection and, more importantly, room to develop and grow our collection,” she said.

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