Books and More for Adults and Kids

What’s New in 2008

Unity Libraries are growing! In addition to the Anderson Adult Library and the Whitman Children’s Library, the Bookstall and the Bookmobile are now part of Unity Libraries. In all four areas, the Library Team makes an effort to provide current books and materials of interest to the ministries and members of Unity Church.  Scroll down or click here to read about new books in Unity Libraries.

Location

The Adult Library collection and reading room are located on the second floor. The Children's Library is adjacent to the Adult Library. The Bookstall and Bookmoble are conveniently located in the Parish Hall.

Hours

Unity Libraries are open Sundays after each service and other times by arrangement.

Collections

Today, the Adult Library includes a growing collection of materials to aid in spiritual growth, for a deeper understanding of one’s self and one’s role in the community and the world, that support the needs of the ministries, and that further understanding of church programming, ministries, and values.

The Unity Adult Library is cataloged by author and is available online, here and in the library. Materials are arranged by Dewey Decimal System with a special section of materials on Unitarian Universalism.

The Children’s Library provides books and materials to help in meaningful spiritual development, that further understanding about Unitarian Universalism and Unity Church values, the support the books clubs, teams, and ministries of our church. Books are shelved by type and/or subject areas. Primarily a browsing library, there is no catalog of children’s materials.

The Bookmobile brings a selection of books for children and adults right to the Parish Hall—find new books, board books, picture books, fiction, meditations, poetry and more.

The Bookstall provides books for sale for adults and children in areas similar to the libraries, and includes titles recommended by staff, ministers, and outreach teams, books by visiting speakers and ministers, and in particular, books for deeper study of Unitarian Universalism and religion. Browse the selections or ask one of our knowledgeable volunteers for help.

We make an effort to acquire titles that may not be readily available in local public libraries or bookstores, and that are of particular interest to Unitarian Universalists and Unity Church members.

Check-Out from Libraries

Checking out books from both the Adult and Children’s Library is self-service. Please write your name and telephone number of the checkout card in the back of the book, and place this card in the basket or file.

The loan period is three weeks. Please stamp the date due slip or card. You may renew library materials.

While there are no fines for overdue books, we ask that you return them as close to the due date as possible so that others may read them. Borrowers with long overdue materials may receive a friendly reminder by phone or email.

Purchase at Bookstall

You may purchase books at the Bookstall with cash, check or credit card. Please ask a volunteer to help with your purchase. Your purchases at the Bookstall help fund the Unity Libraries, and are greatly appreciated.

Gifts

Gifts of books and monetary donation are always welcome, and will be judged for addition to the collections on the same standards for book selection as those purchased. Gift books not added to the collection will be used to benefit Unity Libraries, or other programs in Unity Church.

To Volunteer

The library team is in need of more volunteers! If you can spare an hour or two to help out once or twice a month, please contact Justin Schroeder by e-mail or call the Church Office at 651-228-1456, or contact any member of the Library Team.

Questions? Contact the Library Team:

Bookstall Team Leader: Steve Nelson

Adult Library Team Leader: Louise Merriam

Children's Library Team Leader: Shelley Butler

About Unity Libraries

Unity has operated a library of a kind almost since the beginning of the church. During the ministry of William Channing Gannett, in 1877, The Unity Club formed; their mission included operation of a Sunday Reading Room, study groups, and roundtables of magazines and papers. By the turn of the century, the church school library consisted of 400 books and boasted circulation of 646 in one year.

The operation of Unity Libraries today remains with a group of volunteers on the Library Team, a shared ministry team, with the help of the Director of Administration of Unity Church. For more information, see The Story of Unity Church 1872-1972, in the Adult Library.

New Books

The Children’s Library has new books in several new categories.

From the new “Peace & Justice” section:

I Can Make a Difference: A Treasury to Inspire Our Children
Selected by Marian Wright Edelman
Stories, poems, words of wisdom, and beautiful pictures illustrate twelve principles to inspire and empower. I can make a difference by being grateful for the gift and wonders of life….I can make a difference by working together with others.

From the new “GLBT Families” section:

Emma and Meesha My Boy: A Two Mom Story
by Kaitlyn Taylor Considine
A delightful story of a darling little girl who learns, with the help of her two moms, how to treat her cat with care. Recommended by The Family Equity Council (formerly Family Pride) and COLAGE (Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere).

A great new book on the “Environment” shelf:

This Is My Planet: The Kids' Guide to Global Warming
By Jan Thornhill
I love life and I love my planet, but…
What's all the fuss? What's happening to our planet? Is it real? What can we do about it? The answers to these and more climate change questions have never been more inviting and clearly presented than in this colorful, easy-to-understand, photo-rich guide.

New in the Adult Library and Bookstall:

Highly Recommended by Janne and Rob:
Blessed Unrest: How the Largest Movement in the World Came into Being and Why No One Saw It Coming
by Stephen Hawken, Viking, 2007

“…Hawken states eloquently all that I believe so passionately to be true - that there is inherent goodness at the heart of our humanity, that collectively we can - and are - changing the world. …Blessed Unrest, a celebration of the awakening of the human spirit. “-Jane Goodall, UN Ambassador for Peace

From the Beloved Pulitzer-Prize Winning Poet:

Thirst: Poems by Mary Oliver
Beacon Press, 2007
Mary Oliver has been called an “earth ecstatic,” as she lives and breathes a profound sense of love for the natural world. Thirst is the newest collection from this beloved, Pulitzer-Prize winning poet.