Libraries

Colorado Academy libraries provide a wide variety of resources and services to faculty, students, staff and parents. Two state-of-the-art facilities, Raether Library and the Lower School Library, serve approximately 968 students from Pre-Kindergarten through Upper School with plenty of room for individual and group study.

In addition to providing a variety of resources that support CA’s curriculum, we also encourage our students to develop a lifelong appreciation for self-directed learning and media literacy. By achieving both the confidence and ability to navigate any library system, students will be well prepared for research at the university level and beyond.

At Raether, there is a large "library instruction area" with electronic white boards, a projector, and tables on wheels that allow for large and small presentations and collaborative work. The Lower School Library has a story time area, library instruction space, and quiet reading nooks.

The library collections have over 31,500 print and non-print volumes, more than a dozen subscriptions to full-text online databases, and Internet access. The libraries’ web-based catalog, Destiny, offers school and home access to print, audio, video, and online resources. In addition, the librarians fill many requests for books and materials from other libraries to enhance instruction and research.

Whether you're researching or reading for pleasure, CA's Lower School Library has you covered.

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Our Library Faculty

List of 6 members.

Ms. Allison Peters Jensen

Interim Lower School Principal & Director of Libraries

Hobart & William Smith Colleges - BA
Simmons College - MLIS

At CA Since: 2011
Bio
Director of Libraries Allison Peters Jensen joined the Colorado Academy community as the Lower School Librarian in 2011, after ten years as a Children’s and Teen Services Librarian at Jefferson County Public Library. She received her BA at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, N.Y., majoring in French language & literature and sociology. Jensen moved to the Denver area in 2001 after completing a master’s degree in library and information science at Simmons College in her home state of Massachusetts. While Jensen can often be found with her nose in a book, she also spends a lot of time camping, hiking, biking, gardening, raising chickens, walking her dog, and cooking.
Ms. Allie Bronston

MS Librarian/MS Computer Science/Engineering & Design

Lewis & Clark College - BA
University of Denver - MLIS

At CA Since: 2013
Bio
Allie Bronston, the Raether Librarian, joined the CA community as the Middle School Librarian in 2013, after working as the Middle School Librarian at St. Mary's Academy for two years. A Denver native, Bronston returned to Colorado after receiving her BA in English at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Ore., and went on to receive her master's in library & information science at the University of Denver. She studied abroad in Siena, Italy during college and loves to travel almost as much as she loves to read. She also enjoys yoga, cooking, and outdoor adventures.
Ms. Lindsay Beatty

US Librarian

Winona State University - BS
University of Wisconsin-Madison - MA

At CA Since: 2014
Bio
Lindsay Beatty, the Upper School Librarian, joined CA in 2014. She received her BS in Teaching, Communications, Arts and Literature from Winona State University in Winona, Minn., and her MA in Library and Information Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition to reading, she also enjoys outdoor adventures, cooking, traveling, and playing with her dog Ruby.
Ms. Mary Leyva

Library Assistant

University of Colorado at Boulder - BA
Emporia State University - MALS

At CA Since: 2011
Bio
Mary Leyva came to CA in 2011 as the Raether Library & Technology Assistant. She received her BA in Spanish Language & Literature from the University of Colorado in Boulder. Leyva is continuing the family tradition of librarianship by following both her parents into the profession. She received her master's degree in library science from Emporia State University in 2018. In her spare time, Leyva enjoys hiking, camping, baking, and of course, reading.
Ms. Sadie Christlieb

Library, Media & Communications Assistant

University of Colorado Boulder - BA

At CA Since: 2018
Bio
Sadie Christlieb joined the library staff in 2018 after working as an independent contractor in CA’s Office of Advancement as a Digital Media Manager. Before coming to CA, Christlieb worked in politics. She has experience at both the federal and state levels, as well as in both the legislative and executive branches of government. She has also worked as a web developer, copywriter, and consultant on the digital side of political campaigns. Christlieb earned her BA in Political Science and History from the University of Colorado Boulder and is a third-generation Coloradan.
Cortnye Rusch

Raether Library Assistant

University of Denver - BA
University of Denver - MA

At CA Since: 2018
Bio
Cortnye Rusch, the library assistant in Raether Library, came to Colorado Academy in 2018 from Bear Creek High School, where she served as a library paraprofessional. Her prior experience includes internships at the Denver Botanic Gardens and Denver Public Schools as Poet in Residence. Rusch holds a BA in Art History and a master’s of Library and Information Science from the University of Denver. She played Varsity Tennis in high school and has coached tennis for ages ranging from 4-14.

Allison Peters Jensen, Director of Libraries

"The CA library program is dedicated to meeting the information needs of every student, supporting the curriculum with resources for students and faculty, and creating a library atmosphere where all patrons feel welcome."