The St. John's Prep selection policy is intended to create a tight, useful collection that supports the curriculum. Selection policy, therefore, stresses subject areas that are included in assignments from year to year. The library aims to provide both general and in-depth materials for these assignments in order to fulfill student needs at a range of reading levels. Skills Development Students receive library instruction at both the individual and class level. Reference skills are taught as a class when specific assignments are made which involve research, so that students have an immediate application of the instruction.
Individual instruction is on-going.
The library is centrally located in Brother Benjamin Hall, the main classroom building of the school. It occupies approximately 3100 square feet. About 1500 square feet of this area is devoted to a student reference room. The remaining space is divided among the stacks, the circulation area, two staff work areas, and a periodical storage area. The St. John's library collection is currently numbered at about 20,000 volumes.