Announcing Central Catholic's Best Books of 2025

Jan 2 2026

For the second consecutive year, the Catalano Memorial Library asked students, faculty, and staff to recommend their favorite books of the year!

Be sure to click through the two pages of Raider recommendations.

Best Books of 2025 by Sarah Downs

About the Catalano Memorial Library

Dedicated to the Memory of G. Thomas Catalano '50 and Marie Catalano

Click here to visit the Catalano Memorial Page and to learn more about G. Thomas Catalano '50 and Marie Catalano.

Overview

The Catalano Memorial Library is a hub of student life. Students gather there before school, after school, and during lunch. Teachers bring their classes during the school day to make use of the resources and programs offered by the Library & Information Services Team. The library offers an abundance of online resources and tools, in addition to hosting events and programs.

History

The current site of the library opened in 1970 with 20,000 volumes on the third floor of the then newly-constructed Hampshire Street Building.

When the South Wing was completed in the 2004, the library was significantly expanded into the footprint of former science labs that now live on the Science Hall of the South Wing.

The library has continued to evolve and grow to meet the evolving needs of students and faculty.

Today's Library: Physical & Online Hub

Today, the Catalano Memorial Library is a bustling physical and online resource for the school community.

The Library maintains a collection of approximately 12,000 print volumes and 70 magazine subscriptions, with access to thousands more through its membership in the Massachusetts Library System.

All resources are carefully selected with the interests of students, faculty and curriculum in mind. Books, periodicals and electronic resources are updated and augmented regularly to meet the ever-changing information needs of the CCHS Community.

The Library also offers a host of events and programs featuring student art, topical themes, and recommendations, including:

The CCHS Book Club
National Library Month Events
Featured Artist of the Month
Blind Date with a Book
March Book Madness
Book Bags
World Read Aloud Day
Summer Reading Recommendations
Therapy Animals

Students and teachers with a therapy dog

The CoLab - Collaborative Learning Space

One wing of the library has been transformed into an expansive and adaptable learning area that can be used for classes, group work and discussion, meetings, and conferences. This space serves as a resource for the Academic Success Center, classes, clubs, faculty, additional school groups, alumni, and the Board of Directors.