Library Committee

Library News, May 2007

It is wonderful to have a growing library that is so well organized.  It has been a pleasure to look through the shelves and find books of interest on a variety of subjects.  Miriam Therese Winter's book "Woman Wisdom" is among the library's collection.

When we lived in Connecticut, we lived near Hartford Seminary and from time to time, I attended classes or lectures there.  I think Miriam Therese Winter is the original "singing nun" and certainly one of my favorite people.  She is an extremely gifted woman who taught at the seminary.  Her message is to praise God, sing for joy, and enjoy our roles as women.  She is so alive and full of spirituality.

The book "Woman Wisdom" is a feminist lectionary and psalter by Miriam Therese.  It celebrates the women of the Bible in song and verse.  Most of the work is original and can be used for personal devotion or leading worship.  Some is so simply and beautifully done that church school teachers may be able to use it when teaching about the various women in the Bible.  Did you know King David has eight named wives and ten identified concubines?  It's full of those kind of facts.

I find joy in using the library and hope other members of the congregation are taking advantage of it too.

Reminder:  Please return the books you borrow after a reasonable time, so others may enjoy them as well!

Happy reading! Mildred Leuteritz

Library News, March 2007

If you haven't visited the Parker Library lately, please do!  

The Library Committee has continued to organize and label the growing collection of books.  The library is self-service.  Please sign out the items you select and return them in good condition in a reasonable amount of time.  You may place the returned books on the cart and we will re-shelve them for you. If you would like to write a book review once you have finished a book, we would love to receive it.

Parents — By the end of March, all of the church school classes will have been introduced to the library's collection and to the book check out system.  Feel free to come by the library any Sunday after church with your child and browse.  There is something for everyone.

Teachers — The library has placed teacher references and materials on a bookshelf just for you.  Please come and take a look.
                                                                                                          
To All — The library committee has openings!  We meet once a month for a work session and take turns doing some of the light upkeep duties.  Contact Kathy Waller if interested.

Library News, December 2006

The library committee members continue to clean, sort and organize the many excellent materials in the First Parish collection.  Please stop by and browse. There are holiday stories for young and old.  Several books are available to help ease the stress of the holidays as you focus on what is truly important.

Church school teachers will find many useful stories and reference books for their classes.

The library table is now for sale.  Please contact Kathy Waller if you are interested or leave your name in the church office.

Happy Reading!             

"Fall" into the Parker Library (Newsletter, Sept. 2006)

The members of the Library Committee maintain the Parker Library for the education and use of the Church.  In recent months the library has been spruced up and organized to be more user-friendly.  Many new materials are available for all ages and interests. 
Please come discover (or re-discover!) the library this fall.  Members of the committee will be staffing the library before and after church on a regular basis.  The library is, however, a self-service operation, so come by any time to sign out materials following the posted directions.

With hectic fall schedules come parenting challenges, and also opportunities. With this in mind, we offer the following reading choices from the Parker Library.   

• Samalin, Nancy: Loving Your Child is not Enough – Positive Discipline That Works   This easy to follow text is full of practical solutions to help with those daily battles and let you communicate effectively with your child.
• Hansel, Tim: What Kids Need Most in a Dad   Mom and Dad juggling schedules?  Dad on his own?  It’s a challenge, but this book is full of ideas and strategies to help.
• Johnson, Jan:  Growing Compassionate Kids   What kind of person do you dream your child will become?  Football practice, homework duties and dentist appointments may often keep you from the deliberate parenting that will help your child grow into a compassionate individual.  This author has practical ideas for helping your child become someone who makes a difference.
• Spaide, Deborah:  Teaching Your Kids to Care   This book is a resource of actual projects for children from kindergarten to high school that promote charity, citizenship, courage, cooperation and respect for life.  Every project is outlined with the age level, skills needed and the time to complete the project. Teachers, scout leaders and parents will find this book useful.
• Finally, don’t forget to check out the series by the Gesell Institute of Human Development – Guides to Your Child.  For example, in Your Nine-Year-Old Child, you’ll learn that your “Nine” is loyal and devoted as a friend and is now becoming more self-motivated.  Hmm…. maybe “Nine” could take on a charity project from the book above??

Happy reading and library browsing, friends!

And if you read a great book from the Parker Library collection, please feel free to submit a review to the library committee, and we’ll pass it on via the newsletter. 

Thank you. Kathy Waller, Candy Andrews, Sarah Keller, Lisa Hall