Serving Preschool Through 8th Grade in the San Francisco East Bay Since 1962

Library

The Julian Rettger Memorial Library

The Julian Rettger Memorial Library is a hub of creativity and learning in the Seven Hills community. Its role is to facilitate the pursuit of knowledge, creativity, and a love of reading, by providing access to information, education, and tools in an inviting, collaborative, and dynamic learning environment.

Our sunny, inviting building houses a collection of over 15,000 books and features comfortable spaces to sit and read or collaborate with peers. Early grades visit the Library weekly for a story and book checkout; students in older grades visit often, individually and in classes, to check out books, conduct research, or work on projects. We are open to visiting classes and students throughout the day. Parents are welcome to visit and check out books anytime.

Library services extend far beyond the physical walls of the Library. We provide access to a comprehensive set of research databases, a growing collection of e-books, and curriculum-aligned online research guides that are available 24/7 from anywhere in the world. We visit classrooms regularly to teach information literacy skills that are coordinated with classroom curriculum. Information literacy and digital citizenship instruction are designed with a view toward the future and the goal of creating ethical, thoughtful, curious global citizens.  

Library Values
 
  • Reading: We believe that reading is a foundational skill for learning, personal growth, and enjoyment.
  • Multiple Literacies: We recognize, celebrate, and develop a wide variety of literacies, interests, and skillsets. A strong school library is much more than a collection of books.
  • Diversity: The Library’s collection reflects a wide variety of perspectives, experiences, and demographics, with particular attention to the voices of historically marginalized and underrepresented groups.
  • Community: We contribute to a sense of community among students, faculty, staff, and parents by providing an inviting, friendly environment and opportunities for connection.
  • Innovation: We seek to be a leader in Library technology and use technology as a tool to support student achievement.
  • Collaboration: We collaborate with faculty, staff, students, and parents to create connections to classroom curriculum and opportunities for engaging and meaningful learning experiences.
  • Agency: We value self-directed inquiry and create opportunities to support community members in directing and enhancing their own learning.
  • Creativity: The Library’s role includes facilitating both the access to and the creation of knowledge.  We value and support creative endeavors within the community.
  • Access: We provide free access to all forms of information and adhere to the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights.

Did you know?

The Seven Hills Library is re-inventing the notion of the school library. Its 15,000 books, and weekly access for all students, are just the beginning of the story. The Seven Hills library is the hub of learning at our school and its impact reaches every corner of campus.

About Julian Rettger

Julian Rettger graduated from Seven Hills in 2003. Julian's parents established Julian's Fund for Emotional Well-Being in 2010 to honor Julian, who passed away in June of that year. Julian's family has raised over $560,000 through the fund, and Seven Hills has named the Library in his honor because of his early and continuing passion for books.

The Seven Hills School

975 North San Carlos Drive
Walnut Creek, CA 94598
P | (925) 933-0666
E | info@sevenhillsschool.org
F | (925) 933-6271

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