Though officially titled the “Media Center,” Xavier’s library is a quintessential spot at Xavier. Whether spending a free period in the library, studying there before school, doing homework there after school, or taking AP exams in that very space, no Xavier student is unfamiliar with the library. The history of the library began in the 300s, long before the SJ classrooms were constructed. This is actually why the rooms in the 300s have air conditioning: in order to preserve the books. Additionally, Rooms 205 and 207 have air conditioning because they were Xavier’s former media centers. 

           Following the evolution of the library space, the SJs were created to provide more classrooms in the 300s and to establish dedicated science rooms. Other rooms, such as Room 205, were split in half for smaller classes. After Brother Lawrence Harvey, CFX, had the SJs in the plans for over ten years, Xavier finally broke ground on the SJs in 1997 before spending approximately two additional years building. Initially, the entire project was built just ¼ of an inch off, and everything had to be fixed. While the SJs were under construction, students had to eat lunch in half of the gym, while the other half of the gym was being used for gym class! Although the SJs were finished in just two years, the media center had not been started. For many years, it was used as storage for golf nets and batting cages so that the golf and baseball teams could practice indoors. 

           Once the space for the new library was available, the media center was funded by and named after Mr. Frank Galluzzo, a Xavier alumnus. Mr. Galluzzo, a contractor, owned a company of woodworkers based in Costa Rica. The intricate and beautiful woodworking you see all around the media center was hand-carved by these very workers. The workers were actually flown in from Costa Rica and lived in the Brothers’ Residence for the duration of their stay at Xavier. The Brother James Boyle conference room was named by Mr. Galluzzo in honor of our old principal, Brother James Boyle, CFX, whom he accredits for his own graduation from Xavier. 

           With the new media center ready, the challenge of moving all the books from the 300s to the new library remained. The solution to this was actually through a Xavier field day (although not a very fun one). Before the days of Holiday Hill, field days were done on campus with the brothers cooking up hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill. One year, during the junior’s field day, juniors were instructed to form a ‘human train’ beginning at the 300s, going down the stairs, around the side of the school, down the SJ staircase, and into the new media center. This team of juniors moved all the books from the old library to the new one in just a few hours! 

           The next time you’re in the library, take a minute to appreciate the intricate woodworking, the years of history around you, and the fact that you weren’t the juniors who had to lug hundreds of books around on your field day.