One of Jesuit High School’s most dynamic projects, the CLARC, continues to evolve to address students’ needs throughout the year.

Recently, Head of Library Services Dan Kelley, left Jesuit with a replacement planned for next fall.

“[W]e’ve had a semester to see what that job really looks like. What students are coming in and asking for, and what is our day to day, what are the questions we’re getting, what are the demands on people’s time, what’s the help people need and so I think we’ve been able to really reflect what the community wants in 2023,” said CLARC Director Colleen O’Mahony.

However research and books are just some of the services offered at the CLARC. In an effort to emulate the feel of college level academic centers, the CLARC offers tutoring, conference rooms, group and individual study areas, as well as areas to play chess against classmates.

“I think the vision for the CLARC is for it to be like an Academic Resource Center at a college. For libraries, I think we think of physical books, Academic Resource Centers, we think of service based, so what services can we offer to students and faculty as a service oriented space,” Vice Principal Scott Powers said.

This academic year, the CLARC will continue to offer these services with research guides being made available for students from a collaboration between Vice Principal Scott Powers and the English department.

Other responsibilities of the CLARC have been covered by faculty members responding to students’ needs.

“I really applaud the four permanent staff members of the CLARC who are here taking extra shifts … to make sure that we never close our doors, which is our primary objective,” O’Mahony said.

As a learning and resource center, the CLARC is utilized in different ways by different students.

“I use the CLARC as a social space to hang out and study with friends and there has been a lot more people recently,” junior Liam Eikenberry said.

Beyond tutoring the CLARC offers make-up tests and conference rooms. Another popular hit has been the chess boards.

“I use the library for playing chess and doing work,” said sophomore Timmy Wagner.

While no two students will utilize the resources offered at Jesuit High School the same way, the CLARC is dedicated to addressing the needs of students. The revamped CLARC represents a larger shift of libraries on the university and county level as they become more focused on study and collaboration spaces rather than exclusively physical books.