Gilman’s Lower School Book Swap, a tradition dating back to the 1990s, just keeps getting better. After collecting 6,073 previously loved books in a two-week schoolwide effort, the big event was held on January 21, 2026, when boys in Lower School shopped the stacks in the Stevens Room, each going home with up to 10 “new” books. An estimated 3,000 remaining books were donated to nonprofit community partner organizations (listed below). The annual cross-divisional book drive brought so many gently used books to campus that the Upper School held a smaller-scale swap with titles that were better suited for older students.

The timing of the Book Swap this year coincided with the beginning of the read-a-thon, the major Lower School service learning event where boys track their reading time and garner support from friends and family to raise money for a cause. The synchronization of these events was an intentional decision made by the Lower School library and service learning teams. “We wanted to have a more focused, concerted effort around the joy of reading and the joy of giving to others,” said Lower School Librarian Melissa Da, who worked closely with Lower School science teacher/service learning coordinator Becca Stolzenbach. “We used the tagline ‘Read, share, help others,’ which speaks to the idea that whether we are sharing books among our Gilman peers or in the greater Baltimore community, we can help each other,” said Stolzenbach. Teachers reinforced this idea through many conversations in class.

The team planned additional festivities to add to the excitement for the swap and the read-a-thon. The organization benefitting from the read-a-thon this year is the Donald Bentley Food Pantry, a nonprofit that was founded in 1990 in memory of Donald Bentley ’88 and is broadly supported by the Gilman community. To help young students understand what a food pantry is and to connect the idea to their book drive, Da recorded herself reading “Our Little Kitchen” by Jillian Tomaki, and students in PK–grade 2 listened in their classrooms.

Many teachers participated in a classroom door decorating contest with themes around their favorite books or authors. (The winners were kindergarten teachers Posey Valis and Dia Matthews who went wild with a “Where the Wild Things Are” motif.) Another new initiative — Drop Everything And Read — involved a surprise element for students, who eagerly awaited the announcement to stop whatever they were doing to drop everything and read. Pre-k through first grade students enjoyed alumni guest readers who popped in for the surprise to read aloud to their classes. “These purposeful events make for a meaningful experience,” said Stolzenbach.

Parents like Molly Keogh P’33, ’35 agreed. She has served on the Book Swap committee for several years but acted as chair for the first time this year. When helping students shop for books, she noticed that many wanted to shop for family members. “They were thinking about others,” she said, a likely byproduct of the focus on helping and service this year. Although counting more than 6,000 books was “exhausting,” she also said, “Book Swap is the best week of the year.”

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A big thank you to everyone who helped make this day a success!

Book Swap Committee

Molly Keogh (Chair), Shelbi Bivons, Susie Bjorklund, Lisa Nochumowitz, Julie Reynolds, and Monica Rosen 

Book Swap Parent Volunteers

Meghan McPhail, Cara Salerno, Veena Bettagowda, Jolie Diaz, Latoya Bell, Anna Gold, Marjorie Herbert, Nasreen Quibria, Amber Knapp, Taylor Sweeney, Stuart Gamper, Aly Zagorsky, Meredith Mighty, Dominique Farrow, Sara Lofink, and Rachel Lieberman

Gilman Lower School Library Team

Alice Garten, Melissa Da, Blair Exter, and Chanali Sweeper

Gilman Lower School Service Learning Coordinators

Becca Stolzenbach, Marisa Schomisch

Gilman Staff Volunteers

Caitlin Gill, Ellie Loane, Pat Franz, Johanna Schein, and Becky Levy

Community Partner Organizations

• Marian House
• Maryland Book Bank
• Powhatan Elementary School
• Bridges Baltimore
• Roland Park Elementary/Middle School
• Southwest Baltimore Community School
• Baltimore Montessori Public Charter School
• The Jewish Library of Baltimore - Mitzvah Mutts Reading Program
• Reach Out and Read (new this year)
• Calvin M. Rodwell Elementary/Middle School
• Weekend Backpacks
• Baltimore Hunger Project
• Baltimore City Infants and Toddlers Program