The Virginia Seaman Library

Library Mission

The Virginia Seaman Library was established in the early 1970’s and is named for its first librarian.

The Library serves the congregation by providing resources which explain Unitarian Universalism, which speak to the seven principles of the Unitarian Universalist Association and the living tradition from which Unitarian Universalism draws, and which support the mission of this congregation. Accordingly, the Library provides: (1) materials on UU theology, philosophy, spirituality, history, and church organization/administration; (2) materials that relate to: human liberty, equality, peace and justice, and environmental stewardship; (3) materials relating to the western and eastern religions and philosophies which foster life; and (4) materials about the ministries and special interests of this congregation—liturgical, pastoral, educational, hospitality, welcoming congregation, social justice, CUUPS, humanism, the environment, etc.

Resources

While adult materials do make up the great majority of the collection, materials for children and youth are now being actively acquired so as to support the church’s child/youth religious education program and its young families. We will try continually to enlarge this collection. Most of the collection is print, but nonprint materials are included.

Library Location and Hours

The Library is located next to the Church Office and is open on Sunday and every week day during hours that the Office is open.

Library Catalog and Organization of Materials

Materials are organized by Dewey Decimal call number; users are welcome to browse or they can use the library’s card catalog to locate specific materials by author, title, or subject.

In 2008 we began to computerize the catalog and to make it publicly accessible online. As of March 2008 five hundred plus items have been added. You can access the catalog at www.librarything.com/catalog/uucfm. You can search the catalog by author-title or in other ways. When you locate an item or list of resources that interest you, always click the icon at the right that looks like a 3x5 card; you will be taken to a more complete description of the item plus its call number.

Checkout of Materials

Check-out is on the honor system. Sign the book card with your name and phone number, leave that card and take a Date-Due card for each item. Materials circulate for 4 weeks.

Library Services

Library holdings are periodically publicized through the Weekly Bulletin and in the monthly Communicator.

The “Featured Titles” shelf changes frequently to highlight holdings in various subject areas.

The Library has developed a brief reading list on Unitarian Universalism for the Membership Committee and the minister and a list of child/youth materials for the Director of Religious Education and the congregation’s young families.

Very occasionally we take a bookcart of library materials to the Sunday coffee hour to provide a snapshot of the collection, to raise awareness about the Library, and to circulate materials.

The library has worked with the Publicity Committee to provide materials for a library bulletin board in the social hall and to update the board.

Suggestions, Questions

Congregation members are welcome to contact the librarian if they are seeking specific information or a particular title, if they wish to recommend purchases, and if they have suggestions for supportive library services.

Donations

Donations in the subject areas of the collection are always welcome. We will consider gifts in light of the collection policy, shelf space, and demand. Donations that are not added to the collection will be placed for sale, the proceeds of which support the church.

Library Volunteers

We most cordially invite you to share in the Library ministry. If you can help with book preparation, publicity, or any other duties relating to the ongoing work of the library, or if you have ideas about how to promote the library or increase library relationships with other church groups, please do let me know. Many hands make light work and your ideas and suggestions are most encouraged.

We encourage you to visit the Library frequently, to nourish your mind and your heart.

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