The McKay library is a staple of every Seattle Prep student’s time at Prep. Whether people go to the library to print out an essay at the last minute, research for the JRP or UN project, grab a quick read, or just hang out with friends during lunch, the library is like no other. But, as much as we love the library, we don’t really know how it came to be.
The Seattle Prep Library had a long history, with Seattle College (former name of Seattle Preparatory School) inception in 1891, textbooks, novels, and physical media were stored and collected, and then in 1927 the formal school library was made and managed by students with over 9,000 books.[1]
During the 1950s, McDonnell Hall was built and then connected to Adelphia, which was actually a separate institution at the time, previously Adelphia College, which was run by the Swedish Baptist Church which opened in 1905, and bought by Seattle Prep in 1919. Then, in 1983 it was the start of Seattle Prep’s major remodeling journey, where they added the McHugh Gym and additional floors to Adelphia Hall.
The library wasn’t always named “McKay,” but actually used to be called “Loyola Library,” and was located in the former Peyton Hall, now called AMH. The library would soon have another location change in 1999 when the underground parking lot and Ignatius Building opened, and with the newly renovated Adelphia, with extra floors. Then in 2000, the library had major upgrades, and according to the Seattle Prep Timeline website, “The Loyola Library and Information Center in Peyton Hall unveils improvements after recent construction including computer stations and a classroom for class research sessions. In October, the Loyola Library is dedicated in honor of the Oregon Province of Jesuits.” Then in 2002, the first annual summer reading program began, starting with one mandatory read to the now wide selection of 50+ books sponsored by a student or staff member.
But in in 2008, a seismic study identified structural risks in Seattle Prep’s old Adelphia Hall if an earthquake was to happen, and in June 2013 Seattle Prep made a $26 million dollar renovation plan, which included the demolition of the almost 100 year old Adelphia Hall[2], and rebuilt to the Adelphia we know today connecting to AMH, the garage, and Ignatius, finishing construction in 2014. [3]
With the final renovations of Adelphia, McKay Library took its final location on the 5th floor of Adelphia in 2015. With the rise of social media, McKay Library started an Instagram page (@seattleprep_library) in 2018 and is now a place where students can be connected to the place we all love.
[1] https://seattleprep.touchpros.com/seattleprep/HomeSP.aspx
[2] Seattle Prep’s start on $26 million project part of construction wave at Hill’s private schools | CHS Capitol Hill Seattle News
