Donations
Have some books you think would be great in the church library? Bring them by for donation, along with a completed Gift Information Form (also available in the church library).
Catalog Search
Our online catalog is powered by LibraryThing. Please enter your search query in the box below and you will be taken to a results page on the LibraryThing website.
Volunteer Opportunities
Get Involved with Library Ministries
There are many varied aspects to library ministries. Learn about them and get involved! Check out the DHUMC Library Interest Group, where we discuss issues and decisions related to our library. Want to participate in the discussions? Simply apply for group membership and we’ll add you to the group.
About the Library
Welcome to our church library! Our resources are available to members and visitors, so please drop by and see what’s going on.
Library Hours: Sundays, 9:45-11:00 am and by appointment
Location: Behind the sanctuary, next door to the youth room
Contact: Myka Kennedy Stephens, Church Librarian and Minister of Resources, library@druidhillsumc.org
UMW Reading Program
About the Program
The United Methodist Women Reading Program is designed to encourage reading and continued faith development for United Methodist women. Each year, books are carefully selected by the Women’s Division in four categories: education for mission, nurturing for community, social action, and spiritual growth. Large print and children’s books are also included in the selections. A member of UMW may participate in the program by reading a minimum of four books each year (one from each category). Specific information about the program can be found on the program website, linked below under “Websites.”
Druid Hills United Methodist Women secretary of program resources is Betty McMahon. Betty orders all UMW-owned copies of reading program books and manages their circulation out of the Quillian classroom. A list of these titles is available on the UMW bulletin board outside the Quillian classroom. As a supplement to the UMW-owned books, the William D. Thomson Library is committed to serving the needs of United Methodist Women. A list of Reading Program books owned by the library appears below. These are available for general circulation by anyone in the church, not just women.
Books may be checked-out for three-week periods, renewable once. If you are not able to locate a specific book, please submit a request to library@druidhillsumc.org and we will reserve it and notify you when it is available.
Reading Program Books Available in Our Library
2007 Reading Program
George, Sherron Kay. Called as Partners in Christ’s Service: The Practice of God’s Mission. Louisville: Geneva Press, 2004.
- Adult Non-Fiction Call Number: BV2570 .G46 2004
Girzone, Joseph F. Joshua in a Troubled World. New York: Doubleday, 2005.
- Adult Fiction Call Number: Girzone Joshua
Saliers, Don E. A Song to Sing, a Life to Live: Reflections on Music as Spiritual Practice. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2005.
- Adult Non-Fiction Call Number: ML3921 .S17 2004
Wallis, Jim. God’s Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2005.
- Adult Non-Fiction Call Number: BR526 .W265 2005
2006 Reading Program
Ahn, Christine (ed.). Shafted: Free Trade and America’s Working Poor. Oakland: Food First Books, 2003.
- Adult Non-Fiction Call Number: HF1455 .S525 2003
Brown, Patricia D. Paths to Prayer: Finding Your Own Way to the Presence of God. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2003.
- Adult Non-Fiction Call Number: BV210.3 .B76 2003
Shaw, Robert. The Epidemic: The Rot of American Culture, Absentee and Permissive Parenting, and the Resultant Plague of Joyless, Selfish Children. New York: Regan Books, 2003.
- Adult Non-Fiction Call Number: RJ506 .C65 S53 2003
Skylight Paths Publishing (ed.). Spiritual Perspectives on America’s Role as Superpower. Woodstock, VT: Skylight Paths Pub., 2003.
- Adult Non-Fiction Call Number: BL65 .I55 S68 2003
2005 Reading Program
Eck, Diana L. A New Religious America: How a “Christian Country” Has Now Become the World’s Most Religiously Diverse Nation. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2001.
- Adult Non-Fiction Call Number: BL2525 .E35 2001
Halaby, Laila. West of the Jordan: a novel. Boston: Beacon Press, 2003.
- Adult Fiction Call Number: Halaby West
Rifkin, Ira. Spiritual Perspectives on Globalization: Making Sense of Economic and Cultural Upheaval. Woodstock, VT: Skylight Paths Pub., 2004.
- Adult Non-Fiction Call Number: BL65 .G55 R54 2004
Websites
For more information about the United Methodist Women Reading Program, please visit the following websites:
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umw/resources/reading-program/ - UMW Reading Program Website
http://www.missionresourcecenter.org/wdstore/default.asp - Mission Resource Center for the Women’s Division
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umw/media/pdf%20files/2008%20RProgram.pdf - 2008 Reading Program
http://www.vaumw.org/2007%20Book%20List.htm - 2007 Reading Program
http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/readingProgram/index04.html - 2004 Reading Program
http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/readingProgram/index03.html - 2003 Reading Program
http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/readingProgram/index02.html - 2002 Reading Program
http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/readingProgram/index01.html - 2001 Reading Program
http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/readingProgram/index00.html - 2000 Reading Program
http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/readingProgram/index99.html - 1999 Reading Program
http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/readingProgram/index98.html - 1998 Reading Program
http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/readingProgram/index97.html - 1997 Reading Program
United Methodism
Guide to Resources - Last Updated September 29, 2007
Table of Contents
Introduction
Scope
Key Search Terms
Subject Headings and Related Call Numbers
Overview Sources
• Methodist History
• Methodist Theology
Key Works
• John Wesley
• Official Denominational Resources
• Statements From Our Bishops
Related Areas
• The Wesleys
• Methodist History
• Methodism and the World
Magazines and Newsletters
Indexes, Abstracts, and Databases
Websites
Professional Associations and Conferences
Introduction
This guide is designed to help United Methodists, old and new, learn more about our denomination, its traditions and heritage. The United Methodist Church traces its roots to a movement started by Anglican priest John Wesley who lived in England during the 18th Century. From there it spread to America and became its own church. Learning about our United Methodist heritage involves more than history, however. It also involves studying theology (our understanding of God, how we relate to God, and how God relates to us), doctrine (the basic tenets of our faith and belief), and polity (how our church is structured and the rules that govern it).
Scope
All resources listed in this guide are available from the William D. Thomson Library, unless otherwise specified. These are basic resources selected to provide a broad understanding of United Methodism and related subjects. It is intended to provide a starting point for further reading and research. Resources not included are those that are significantly outdated or more specialized than needed for this guide. This guide begins by introducing a few common search terms and subject headings with their related call numbers. Next, it lists printed resources organized by overview sources, key works, related works, magazines and newsletters. Following this are sections on databases and websites. It concludes with a list of organizations and boards related to the United Methodist Church along with their websites and contact information.
Key Search Terms
These are terms that can be used to easily find information in our electronic card catalog or an Internet search engine (e.g. Google).
- United Methodist Church
- Methodism
- John Wesley
- Charles Wesley
- Methodist history
- Methodist beliefs
Subject Headings and Related Call Numbers
This table shows some popular subject headings and the corresponding call numbers in our collection where resources on these topics are found.
| Methodism—History | BX8231 to BX8328 |
| Methodist Church—Doctrines | BX8330 to BX8331.3 |
| Methodist Church—Government | BX8340 to BX8345.5 |
| United Methodist Church (U.S.) | BX8379.42 to BX8389 |
| Wesley, John, 1703-1791 | BX8495.W5 |
| Wesley, Charles, 1707-1788 | BX8495.W4 |
| Wesley, Susanna, 1669-1742 | BX8495.W55 |
Overview Sources
These titles are broad and comprehensive resources on Methodist history and theology.
Methodist History
These resources provide good histories of Methodism. Some are slightly outdated but still offer good information on early American Methodism.
| Luccock, Halford E., Paul Hutchinson and Robert W. Goodloe. The Story of Methodism. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1949.Adult Non-fiction Call Number: BX8231 .L8 1949 |
| Clark, Elmer T. An Album of Methodist History. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1952.Adult Non-fiction Call Number: BX8232 .C6 1952 |
| Harmon, Nolan B., ed. Encyclopedia of World Methodism. 2 vols. Nashville: The United Methodist Publishing House, 1974.Reference Call Number: BX8211 .E58 1974 |
Methodist Theology
These resources provide a general overview of Methodist theology.
| Stokes, Mack B. Major United Methodist Beliefs. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1998.Adult Non-fiction Call Number: BX8332 .S685 1989 |
| Klaiber, Walter & Manfred Marquardt. Living Grace: An Outline of Methodist Theology. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2001.Adult Non-fiction Call Number: BX8331.3 .K57 2001 |
Key Works
These titles are considered foundational resources of The United Methodist Church. Many are published by official bodies of the Church.
John Wesley
The following are volumes containing the original writings of John Wesley:
| The Works of John Wesley. 14 vols. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1958 (1872 reproduction).Reference Call Number: BX8217 .W4 W6 1958 |
| Outler, Albert C. and Richard P. Heitzenrater. John Wesley’s Sermons: An Anthology. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1991.Adult Non-fiction Call Number: BX8333 .W418 S39 1991 |
Official Denominational Resources
These are works that are produced by the church and used throughout the denomination:
| The United Methodist Book of Worship. Nashville: The United Methodist Publishing House, 1992.Adult Non-Fiction Call Number: BX8337 .U54 1992 |
| The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church. Nashville: The United Methodist Publishing House, 2004.Adult Non-fiction Call Number: BX8388 .U55 2004 |
| The Book of Resolutions of the United Methodist Church. Nashville: The United Methodist Publishing House, 2004.Adult Non-fiction Call Number: BX8382.2 .A2 A2 2004 |
Statements From Our Bishops
Our Council of Bishops wrote these foundational documents to be used in every United Methodist church:
| The United Methodist Council of Bishops. In Defense of Creation: The Nuclear Crisis and a Just Peace. Nashville: Graded Press, 1986.Adult Non-Fiction Call Number: BX8349 .P43 U55 1986 |
| The United Methodist Council of Bishops. Vital Congregations Faithful Disciples: Vision for the Church. Nashville: Graded Press, 1990.Adult Non-Fiction Call Number: BX8382.2 .Z5 V48 1990 |
Related Areas
These are titles on more specialized areas of United Methodism that provide deeper insight into different aspects of the Church.
The Wesleys
Here are some short, easy-to-read biographies on members of the Wesley family:
| Dallimore, Arnold A. Susanna Wesley: The Mother of John & Charles Wesley. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1993.Adult Non-fiction Call Number: BX8495 .W55 D35 1993 |
| Wellman, Sam. John Wesley: Founder of the Methodist Church. Uhrichsville, OH: Barbour, 1996.Adult Non-fiction Call Number: BX8495 .W5 W44 1997 |
Methodist History
For interesting insights into American Methodism, try these books:
| Maser, Frederick E. and Robert Drew Simpson. If Saddlebags Could Talk: Methodist Stories and Anecdotes. Franklin, TN: Providence House Publishers, 1998.Adult Non-fiction Call Number: BX8231 .M36 1998 |
| Bilhartz, Terry D., ed. Francis Asbury’s America: An Album of Early American Methodism. Grand Rapids: Francis Asbury Press, 1984.Adult Non-fiction Call Number: BX8495 .A8 A33 1984 |
Methodism and the World
Methodism engages a variety of issues and topics relating to how we live and relate to each other in the world. Here are just a few examples of conversations in Methodism about broader social issues:
| Holifield, E. Brooks. Health and Medicine in the Methodist Tradition: Journey Toward Wholeness. New York: Crossroad, 1986.Adult Non-fiction Call Number: BX8349 .H4 H65 1986 |
| Robbins, Bruce W. A World Parish?: Hopes and Challenges of The United Methodist Church in a Global Setting. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2004.Adult Non-fiction Call Number: BX8382.2 .R63 2004 |
| Sample, Tex and Amy E. DeLong.The Loyal Opposition: Struggling with the Church on Homosexuality. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2000.Adult Non-fiction Call Number: BX8385 .H6 L68 2000 |
Magazines and Newsletters
These are a few periodical publications that are available in the church library, arranged alphabetically by title. Please note that the church library does not have the space to retain many back issues of periodicals. For older issues not available at the church library, feel free to visit Pitts Theology Library at Emory University (http://www.pitts.emory.edu/ ), which holds all of these titles and is open to the public.
| Circuit Rider. Nashville: The United Methodist Publishing House, 1976 to present.Intended for the applied practice of Christian ministry in the United Methodist Church. Each issue has a theme. |
| Response. Cincinnati: Women’s Division, GBGM, 1969 to present.Official Program Journal of the United Methodist Women |
| The United Methodist Newscope. Nashville: The United Methodist Publishing House, 1973 to present.A national weekly newsletter for United Methodists. This is an electronic publication with print copies available in the library. |
| UMNS Weekly Digest. Nashville: United Methodist Communications, 1998 to present.Weekly news from the United Methodist News Service. This is an electronic publication with print copies available in the library. |
Indexes, Abstracts, and Databases
These resources can help with the location of additional resources on a specific topic within United Methodism.
ATLA Religion Database – This is the primary index resource for finding journal articles, essays, and book reviews in the field of religion. It is a subscription database that is accessible at Pitts Theology Library, Emory University ( http://www.pitts.emory.edu/ ) and at the John Bulow Campbell Library, Columbia Theological Seminary (http://www.ctsnet.edu/library/index.asp ). Both of these libraries are open to the public.
Journal titles to browse: Methodist History, The Asbury Theological Journal, Quarterly Review
Key search terms and subjects: Subject headings and search terms in this database are slightly different from those in our library catalog.
- Methodism
- Methodism/Wesleyanism
- Wesley, John
- Wesley, Charles
- Theology, Methodist
- United Methodist Church
- Methodist churches—History
- Methodist churches—United States
- Methodist churches—Doctrine
Websites
These websites provide additional resources on United Methodism and have been carefully reviewed and selected.
http://www.gcah.org/resources.htm – General Commission on Archives and History: Resources
A collection of documents provided by the GCAH on points of history and theological development in American Methodism.
http://rylibweb.man.ac.uk/data1/dg/methodist/methlink.html – Methodist Archives and Research Centre at John Rylands University.
A collection of links to various Methodist-related resources on the Internet.
http://www.umsource.net – Unofficial United Methodist Church Page
News, information, and links about the United Methodist Church
http://wesley.nnu.edu – Wesley Center Online, Northwest Nazarene University
An electronic collection of Wesleyan works, all freely available.
http://gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/Wesley – The Wesleys and Their Times
A historical collection of electronic documents put together by the General Board of Global Ministries.
http://archives.umc.org/interior_judicial.asp?mid=263 – Judicial Council Decisions
Professional Associations and Conferences
For more information about The United Methodist Church, consider contacting the following:
The United Methodist Church
Info Serv: The Official Information Service of The United Methodist Church
http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=16&mid=1244
1-800-251-8140
infoserv@umcom.org
United Methodist Communications
http://www.umcom.org
P.O. Box 320, Nashville, TN 37202-0320
General Board of Global Ministries
http://www.gbgm-umc.org
475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115
General Board of Church and Society
http://www.umc-gbcs.org
100 Maryland Ave. NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
General Board of Discipleship
http://www.gbod.org
P.O. Box 340003, Nashville, TN 37203-0003
General Commission on Archives and History
http://www.gcah.org/
P.O. Box 127, 36 Madison Ave., Madison, NJ 07940
Council of Bishops
http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=1&mid=5855
100 Maryland Ave. NE, Suite 320, Washington, D.C. 20002
Southeastern Jurisdiction
http://www.lakejunaluska.com
P.O. Box 67, Lake Junaluska, NC 28745
North Georgia Conference
http://www.ngumc.org
4511 Jones Bridge Circle NW, Gibson Lodge, UM Center, Norcross, GA 30092
Historical Society of The United Methodist Church
http://www.historicalsocietyunitedmethodistchurch.org/
Resource Guides
We are happy to provide resource guides on a variety of subjects with customized information about our church library’s collection. Guides currently available are:
Each guide is organized with the following sections:
- Introduction of the topic
- Scope of the resources presented in the guide
- Key search terms, for use with our catalog or a web search engine like Google
- Subject headings and related call numbers, for browsing in the church library
- Overview sources - those materials in the church library that offer a broad overview of the topic
- Key works - those materials in the church library that are essential or primary to the topic
- Related areas - those materials in the church library that are related to the topic
- Magazines and newsletters about the topic
- Indexes, abstracts and databases that are available at nearby libraries for locating additional information about the topic
- Websites - a collection of links to websites on the topic
- Professional associations and conferences - contact information for groups that are related to the topic
Library Calendar of Events
Click on any event to view more details. Please note that this calendar displays only church library events. For a complete listing of church events, please visit the church calendar page.
Links
From the Church:
- North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church
- The Revised Common Lectionary (weekly scriptures)
- Wesleyan Christian Advocate (Georgia Methodist news)
From the congregation:
- Georgia Interfaith Power & Light
- Nothing But Nets Campaign
- The One Campaign
- Resources for GBLT Christians
- Amnesty International
2008 Softball
Julia was recently appointed General Manager for the 2008 season. Currently we’re recruiting! Let her know if you’re interested in joining the team.
Check out our cool pictures from our first game below!
Children and Youth Ministry
The Children and Youth Ministry team is responsible for the planning and organizing of Sunday School programming, annual vacation bible school, and the youth group. Some of the members and leaders of the group are pictured above.
Get Involved!
Druid Hills UMC has a variety of teams and committees that are always seeking new members and volunteers for both our church community and the community at large.
- Children and Youth Ministry
- Outreach
- Altar Guild
- Leadership Team
- SPR
- Choir
- Musical Ensemble
2008 Vacation Bible School
Every summer, Druid Hills UMC puts together a Vacation Bible School for the children.
More information about the 2008 VBS will be coming soon.
Children and Youth
Rev. Melinda Holloway is our Minister of Children and Youth.
Our Youth Group, mainly middle school-aged youth meet almost every Sunday at 5 PM for a time of fun, discussion, learning, and dinner! We also make bagged lunches for Intown Community Assistance, who pass them along to the homeless community once a month.
Some of our favorite activities are kick ball, sardines, and our once-a-month movie night.
We also have a Vacation Bible School once per year in the summer.
Circulation Policy
Who?
The following classes of people may have borrowing privileges:
- Members of Druid Hills UMC (including affiliated members)
- Employees and volunteers of Druid Hills UMC and DHUMC Preschool
- Students enrolled in Druid Hills UMC Preschool
- Parents of students enrolled in Druid Hills UMC Preschool
What?
The following classes of items in our collection:
- Non-circulating: Periodicals
- 1-week loan: Reference materials
- 3-week loan: All other book and non-book materials
Recalls and Reserves: An item may be recalled if requested by someone else after being checked-out for at least two weeks. An item may be reserved for one week when requested by someone in advance, either by phone or e-mail.
Fines: We do not currently charge fines for overdue materials. Those people who do not return their materials in a timely manner will be contacted by telephone or e-mail until the loan is resolved by its return or replacement.
When?
The library is open for self-checkout on Sunday mornings from 9:45 until 11:00. A library volunteer may or may not be there to assist. Access to the library at times other than Sunday morning must be arranged with the church librarian or through the church office.
Circulating materials may be returned to the church library when it is open, or to the church librarian’s mailbox in the church office when the library is closed.
Where?
At this time, the library can only provide services for those who are able to come to the church to collect materials. Reference assistance is also available by e-mail and telephone. Unfortunately, we currently do not have the resources to provide services for shut-ins or those unable to come to the church library.
Policy Review and Revision
This policy may be reviewed and revised at any time the church librarian and/or library team deems necessary, and at no less than once every two years. It is advised that revisions be discussed fully and agreed upon before finalizing. All changes shall be posted as an update to the church library’s website and in the church library itself for patrons’ information.
Last Revised: September 29, 2007
Collection Development Policy
Statement of Purpose
The mission and purpose of the William D. Thomson Library at Druid Hills UMC is to support the church’s mission as it is “called to embody a resurrection faith.” It seeks to enhance the church’s ministry by helping individuals develop an understanding of the Christian faith and by providing resources for disciple making.
Community Profile
The William D. Thomson Library at Druid Hills United Methodist Church primarily serves the congregation of said church. This mid-size urban church has 400+ members and 100+ regular attendance on Sunday mornings. It is a predominately white congregation, inclusive of all ethnicities and sexual orientations. Located near Emory University, many of the congregants are linked to the University and Candler School of Theology communities as faculty, staff or students. It is a mixture of young singles, young couples, families, middle-aged couples, and older adults. The average education level is college graduate, with many holding post-graduate degrees. The Church is deeply committed to issues of peace and social justice. It supports a local homeless aid agency and runs its own residency program, which allows six homeless men to stay on church property.
Druid Hills United Methodist Church is also home to DHUMC Preschool, a pastoral counseling center, and an Ethiopian Orthodox congregation. All of these groups are welcome to utilize the services of the William D. Thomson Library. The Preschool has its own library; however, most materials in their collection lack any religious or theological content.
The William D. Thomson Library participates in a resource sharing program with Druid Hills Baptist Church, Druid Hills Presbyterian Church, and St. John’s Lutheran Church. We share a union catalog and offer cooperative borrowing privileges.
Needs Assessment
The library’s mission is lived out through complementing the ministries already in place at Druid Hills UMC: Christian education, spiritual formation, pastoral care, mission outreach, peace with justice, and worship arts. Up-to-date resources enhance these and other ministries in the Church by providing much needed information and tools for ministry.
Not all members of the congregation have access to the Internet, and making online materials accessible to these members is an important ministry. There are also a number of homebound members who would benefit greatly from a library delivery service, especially one that provides large print and audio materials. For those members who are financially stressed, having free access to information being used in Sunday school and other classes is important to their continued involvement in the life of the Church.
The Library maintains a strong presence on the Internet, including a blog and public catalog. The users of the Library can be divided into three categories of electronic proficiency. The first group, those most comfortable with consulting electronic resources, use computers on a regular basis and are familiar with the technology required to access electronic resources. Many in this group have consulted electronic resources at other libraries. The second group, those not comfortable but not opposed to electronic resources, may own a computer or use one often. These users are familiar with basic functions such as e-mail and word processing, but tend to look toward print resources for their information needs. They are not opposed to using electronic resources and are most likely unaware of their existence. The third group, those opposed or indifferent to electronic resources, do not own or know how to use computers. These users are very uncomfortable with computer technology and would require assistance with accessing electronic resources. These three groups are largely sorted by generation: young people, middle-aged people, and older adults. The exception is the educated professional, who may be any age and have a great deal of experience with electronic resources.
Collection Goals
Adult Non-Fiction
The Library maintains a collection of non-fiction materials in the following subject areas: Christianity, World Religions, Relations between Christianity and other religions, United Methodism, Biblical Studies, Theology, Church History, Social Justice and Peace, Pastoral Care, Spiritual Formation, Worship Arts, Inclusiveness (relating to race, gender, and sexual orientation), Parenting, Stewardship, Christian Life, Christian Ethics, Mission and Outreach, and Christian Education.
Juvenile, Young Adult, and Adult Fiction
The Library maintains a collection of current and classic children’s and adult fiction materials that have religious or theological themes. These materials are not limited to those considered “inspirational literature.” Popular fiction with religious and/or theological themes is desirable and sometimes preferred, as those materials are often discussed among the congregation.
Juvenile and Young Adult Non-Fiction
The Library maintains collections of non-fiction materials for children and teenagers that complement the Adult Non-Fiction collection. These resources will be high quality with appropriate and relevant content.
Reference
The Library maintains a reference collection for limited check-outs. We seek to collect the highest quality reference resources for worship planning, sermon preparation, and Sunday school lesson planning.
Periodicals
The Library maintains a modest collection of printed e-mail newsletters from United Methodist organizations, and a scant number of magazines donated for continued use. As our budget permits, we will explore adding magazine subscriptions to the collection.
Non-Book Media
The library will collect non-book media as it is demanded by library users. The formats we prefer are CD and DVD. Audio tapes and Video tapes will only be collected if it is economically necessary or if a digital format is not available.
Electronic Resources
The library will maintain listings of resources freely available on the Internet. We will consider collecting CD-ROM materials on demand. Any physically held electronic resource (i.e. not on the Internet) must be accessible and supported by the Library’s computer system.
Druid Hills UMC Historical Collection
The library will maintain a collection of historically relevant materials to the community. These are materials connected to Druid Hills UMC in some way, either by content or by author. Materials in this collection are appropriately labeled and marked in the catalog.
Selection Responsibility
The church librarian has sole responsibility for the selection of library materials. Recommendations for materials are encouraged and will be considered from library assistants and any current or future library patron.
Selection Criteria
The library will collect no more than one copy of any material. Books must be in good condition, with strong bindings and no noticeable damage (e.g. water spots, torn pages, abundant markings). Non-book media and electronic resources must be complete, in good condition, fully playable or accessible, and free of malware (e.g. viruses, worms, spyware).
The Library seeks to collect non-fiction materials that are in agreement with the teachings of Jesus Christ and The United Methodist Church as interpreted by this congregation. We also seek to be inclusive of other theologies; although they are different from our own theological positions we may learn from them and increase our understanding.
Content of fiction material must be found suitable for the church library; materials with inappropriate content will not be collected. Examples of inappropriate content include but are not limited to unnecessary and/or excessive violence, offensive language, and explicit sex scenes. It is strongly advised that great care be taken when discerning which materials are not suitable for the collection. The presence of such content must be weighed against the overall impact of the material.
In addition to the requirements listed above, materials will also be judged on the following criteria:
- Are the publisher and/or author reputable?
- Does it contain well-documented and responsible research?
- Is the writing well organized and easily accessible?
- Is it held by one of the other libraries in our resource sharing program?
- Is it held by the local public library?
- What do reviewers say about it?
Materials will be purchased or accepted by donation at the request of patrons provided they meet all of the above criteria. The church librarian may select new materials to introduce to the congregation. A list of resources that provide book reviews for newly released materials related to religion and/or theology is located in Appendix A. Questionable materials will be collected after consulting with the senior pastor, lay leader, and/or Administrative Council. If a patron challenges a selection, please refer to the section, “Reconsideration of Library Materials.”
Acquisitions
The church librarian is in charge of all library purchases. This includes new materials and used materials provided they meet the collection goals and selection criteria. Purchasing will preferably be made with the DHUMC credit card. All receipts and records of transactions should be sent to the office manager, with one copy reserved for the library’s records. For purchases that cannot be made with the DHUMC credit card, receipts will be copied and given to the office manager with a check request form for reimbursement.
All purchases are paid for with the money available in the Library Fund, maintained by the office manager. At this time, the library is funded strictly by donations and library fundraising profits. Priorities for development are: All Non-Fiction collections, Reference, all Fiction collections, Periodicals, Non-Book Media and Electronic Resources. Development of freely available electronic resources is encouraged at any time, regardless of the budget situation. This is open to change; see “Collection Evaluation and Assessment” for more details.
A major source of new acquisitions is material donations. Gifts that are deemed acceptable for inclusion in the collection will be added. The donor will be asked to fill out a form describing the material(s) donated, which will be filed for library records. The gift will be acknowledged by a letter, which would also verify the market value of the donation for tax purposes. Gifts made in honor or memory of someone will have a commemorative bookplate appropriately placed on the material.
Collection Evaluation and Assessment
The collection will need periodic evaluation and assessment to ensure that the library is fulfilling its mission. Circulation reports shall be run once a year to determine which areas of the collection are receiving the most use and which are least used. It is suggested that the congregation is surveyed as to the library’s effectiveness once every two years, preferably in conjunction with the revision of the library’s policies and procedures. The reports and surveys will work together to show which parts of the collection need to grow. They will also serve to prioritize the main classes of materials for the selection and acquisitions process. The church librarian shall be open to receiving comments, suggestions and complaints at any time and methods of receiving such communications will be maintained at all times.
Weeding
Space is limited in our library and it is inevitable that some materials will need to be discarded in order to make room for newer materials. Materials will be deselected from the collection based on one or more of the following circumstances:
- Damage or wear beyond repair
- Lack of circulation
- Out-of-date: updated, newer or revised materials are available
- No longer fits the interests of the community
Materials that are exempt from weeding are those classified as belonging to the Druid Hills Historical Collection. These materials will be kept indefinitely.
When deselecting a material:
- Delete the item record in the library database
- Remove or black out all identifying marks from the library
- Label the material as “WITHDRAWN” in a suitable place along with the date of deselection.
When weeding materials, it is preferable to offer the community an opportunity to purchase deselected materials. Used book sales after the worship service are one option for doing this. Those materials that remain shall be sold to a used book dealer or offered to a mission organization in need of books.
Reconsideration of Library Materials
It is inevitable that some materials in the library’s collection will be questioned or challenged. Patrons who challenge materials shall be asked to submit a written statement outlining their position and suggestion for a solution. In conversation with the patron, the church librarian with the assistance of the senior pastor, lay leader and/or Administrative Council will then review this statement. A course of action will then be taken and the patron who filed the complaint will be notified. Possible courses of action include, but are not limited to the following:
- Remove material from collection
- Place material in a secure location, available upon request
- Affix a reader’s advisory warning label to material
- Take no action
Policy Review and Revision
This policy may be reviewed and revised at any time the church librarian deems necessary, and at no less than once every two years. It is advised that revisions be discussed fully with the Administrative Council and agreed upon before finalizing. All changes shall be posted as an update to the church library’s website and in the church library itself for patrons’ information.
Last Revised: April 21, 2007
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2006 New Orleans Mission
Friday January 13, 2006
The day began with Tom and me picking up the rental van from Enterprise . We then headed for the church where 4 others met us (Cliff, Sara, Bob and Bill). We then hit the road (Jack!), headed for New Orleans . When we crossed the Alabama state line we gave a shout out for ‘ Sweet Home Alabama ’ and listened to some Skynnard. After crossing into ‘Bama we hit a rough patch of weather. That band of weather is the same one that produced a tornado in Evergreen before we drove through it. As we drove down I-65 we could see the damage. The downed trees were surreal as we were headed to a place where the damage was hundreds of times worse.
As we drove through Mississippi , we slowly began to see hurricane damage. Gradually we began to see more and more trees down, then blue roofs, then homes with X’s spray-painted with dates and a number of how many people were found dead in the homes. It was a good sight to see a lot of zeroes meaning no one was found dead. However, it was profound to see numbers other than zero. I wondered how these families were feeling because they weren’t only dealing with loss of property, but also a loved one.
When we drove by the Superdome before exiting the interstate I remember thinking how strange it felt to be that close to the place where so much terror and distress occurred for so many people. Months ago, that place became hell on earth for thousands.
We met the senior pastor, Callie Winn Crawford, when we arrived at Rayne Memorial UMC, our home for the next few days. Callie and her staff are such gracious hosts in the midst of their hardship and grief. They continued to thank us for coming, telling us we give them hope. Their thanks is a very humbling experience.
After a tour of the church, John and Carol Winn took us to supper at a great local place called Deannie’s. John is a retired UM preacher who is very influential in the Louisiana Conference. Carol was the first female District Superintendent in the Louisiana Conference and now works for Louisiana UMC helping people discern their call to ministry.
Following a great seafood feast at Deannie’s, John and Carol showed us one of the levee’s that was breached. We couldn’t see it well at night, nor we could we walk on it (trust me, I tried but the authorities flashed their lights at me to get off as soon as I set one foot past the barricades). Just the thought, however, that we were standing on solid ground that was once flooded was a very powerful experience.
Next we headed to a local eatery called Morning Call where we enjoyed beignets and hot chocolate or coffee, depending on your taste. It was definitely a neat place with a lot of history despite the fact that it appeared to be a hole in the wall – way better than Café DuMonde!
John and Carol were awesome tour guides as well as an excellent source for information about the current political, ecclesial, and emotional state of New Orleans .
We closed our evening with a time of reflection and sharing on the day’s major events as well as a prayer read at a recent Town Hall Meeting focused on renewal and re-growth.
Let us pray
for all those who are in great difficulty
for those who have lost their faith in humanity and love, their faith in God,
for those who seek truth but cannot find it.
Let us pray
for all who have loved one another
but who have drifted apart from each other
and for all those who have broken down under the strain of their tasks.
Lord God,
You are the comfort of the sorrowful and the strength of the tortured.
Hear the prayers of all people in distress and all who appeal to Your mercy,
so that they may recognize with joy that You have helped them in every ordeal…
Let us pray
for the city in which we live and work,
for all the people in it who are lonely,
for all those whose voices are never heard
and those who have no friends.
Let us pray
for the homeless and those without shelter
and for all those who are disheartened and feel they have been betrayed.
Open our eyes to each other.
Make us humble enough to help other people and to comfort them,
so that a little of Your love may be seen in this city through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
~~Malinda Jowers
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Today was a busy day. Everyone is tired and ready for bed. The day started early at 6:42am . No wait, it started at 6:30am when Bob woke us up thinking it was 7:30am . He is the morning person of the group.
After breakfast and lunch prep, we met briefly with Callie before heading to First Street UMC for our safety orientation. It was a cold, breezy morning in New Orleans . As we traveled to the church, I thought about the inspiring words of Sara and Henri Nouwen. I wondered about the family we were to serve, what they would be like after this tragedy they experienced. The youngest of the family met us with Krispy Kreme donuts and coffee. He was very glad to see us. The house was horrible to say the least. The break in the levee had submerged the house completely for over 2 weeks. Not much could be salvaged. After covering ourselves with the hazmat suits, we entered the house to find all the furniture destroyed, everything covered in mold and a ghastly stench. We spent the day removing all the furniture and proceeded to gut the entire house.
We met four of the children of the woman who lived there. I can’t imagine what it must be like to see all of your possessions to be destroyed and carried out onto the street corner. The piles of rubble, four of them, were five feet tall. The men cooked a local meal for us at lunch time. They were very nice. As I carried water logged albums to the street, I asked Kim, the youngest, whose they were. He said his parents collected these old albums. I’ll never forget that he said he would try and make new memories now. I could tell he was putting on a good front for me.
By the end of the day we were tired. The shower back at the Church felt great. We went down the street for a great meal and a drink around the Quarter.
~~Cliff Richards
Sunday, January 15, 2006
I know that Charles Dickens coined the phrase “A Tale of Two Citiesâ€Â; but today that is the best description one can give to New Orleans .
The day began with two church services with one unifying feeling of hope. We worshipped with Rayne Memorial UMC at 8:30am , joining them on their 130 th Anniversary. Many important members of the Louisiana Conference were there – including the Bishop, the District Superintendent and two former pastors of Rayne Memorial. Callie’s words during the service were thoughtful and profound – every phrase gracefully selected. Callie introduced our group to the congregation, thanking us for all of our work and the immense amount of hope that we bring to the community. During the passing of the peace, one church member echoed these words to me, as she gently stroked my hand and looked in my eyes and thanked me. It was as if she wanted to make sure that I was real – to feel the hope not only in her heart but also in a concrete way.
Bishop Hutchinson’s sermon touched my heart as he brought words from various sources dealing with pain, suffering and the faith that constantly remains in that. He recalled a banner in Baton Rouge that said, “We can’t replace the hopes and dreams of people; but we can build new ones.†A poem by Etta Oldman, “Just Blue,†brought tears to my eyes as the ending read: “I may not have hope but I won’t lose faith.â€Â
At the 11:00 hour, our group worshipped with First Street UMC, a historical African American Congregation that is also the host site for UMCOR. The differences yet similarities between the services were striking. First Street also dealt with the pain of the hurricane but in a way that spoke of determination and hope. Words from Martin Luther King, Jr. were remembered as the congregation took those passages and applied them to their current situation in New Orleans . Rev. Lance Eden, a recent graduate of ITC Seminary in Atlanta , spoke about keeping watch, about communities taking care of one another, and about rebuilding. Phrases struck me as they were sung with fervor and compassion:
The Church service was a lot shorter than usual since the congregation was going to go and see Last Holiday , a movie that was filmed in their church in May.
Before going on our tour of New Orleans , the group ate a delicious meal in the French Quarter, right off of St. Charles plaza. This was my first time in the historic part of New Orleans and it was beautiful! Flowers decorated balconies. Street vendors lined up with their vibrant paintings. People milled about, going in and out of shops and sipping on afternoon drinks. This was definitely a part of New Orleans that was coming back, ready to serve tourists and show the country that they did survive.
However, the rest of the day told a different story. Mark, our group leader from Rayne Memorial, took us to the different areas of New Orleans that were devastated by the levee breaches, including Lakeview, East New Orleans , and the Lower Ninth Ward. As we drove around I wondered how this city would have fared had it only been a hurricane and not the devastation of flooding: Would the Superdome have been such a hellish place to be still? Would month 6 after the hurricane have been pretty close to complete recovery? At this point, it is hard to determine exactly what damage was caused by the hurricane and what was part of the breaches. During our tour, we were also faced with the drastic realities of social and economic inequalities, amidst the non-discriminatory flood. Lakeview is a middle- to upper-class working neighborhood that was on the broken side of the 17 th Street Canal levee breach. Compare that to the East New Orleans area and the Lower Ninth Ward and you receive two different portrayals of areas devastated by flooding. In general (obviously there will be many personal cases that will differ) the Lakeview neighborhood’s homes were very well built and able to stand up to the flood waters. Mark told us that people in this neighborhood were already starting to rebuild.
Drive twenty more minutes and you will find yourself in the Lower Ninth Ward, where tsunami-ish effects have destroyed the neighborhood. We stopped at a house that was moved onto a neighbor’s front yard, leaving the foundation and the back steps as a reminder of where it used to be. Homes were ripped open, moved many yards, squished to a pile of rubble. Trees hold doormats, small trinkets, mailboxes, water coolers. Cars pile on top of one another.
I have seen many areas before that were in need of major repair, but nothing like this. I thought back to the sermons from that morning, trying to find the hope within the scene that I saw before my eyes: where was God within this? Then Malinda noticed how she could hear bird’s chirping. Life…life still decided to remain here even in the great turmoil and piles of debris. It is very similar to the verses in Ecclesiastes 3:1-13:
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven; a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance…
Even in the destruction, the turmoil, and the grief, God resides to restore peace and hope. It’s just like in the sunbeams that came into the house that I like to call God beams – God’s always there, somewhere, someplace, somehow.
~~Sara Pugh
Monday, January 16, 2006
It is Martin Luther King, Jr. day and we are doing what many Americans are beginning to do on this day – make it a ‘day on’ with service rather than a ‘day off’. Our work today is going to include dropping the ceiling in the house and getting the rest of the home ready for the machines to come in and clean the studs. After the home is gutted and cleaned, a re-inspection is done to determine if the home can be rebuilt.
Don met us today at his home and worked with us. By lunchtime, we had the majority of the back house done and had begun dropping the ceilings in the front rooms. Wendell made some wonderful gumbo for our group for lunch and Don added some fried catfish to it. Man, the food in New Orleans has been FANTASTIC! A lot of the work today is tedious, with pulling out nails, cleaning up debris from the ceiling, and getting all of the odds and ends figured out. The day was also very hot and the hazmat suits added no ventilation. New suits were brought in that kept the same protection but were breathable and therefore easier to work in.
We completed the work around 4pm and met some folks working in the area. A construction crew came by that was removing the piles that we had made in the front yard. One of the men was from Augusta , GA while the other was from the Lower Ninth Ward. You could just tell the difference between these two men – the young man from the Lower Ninth Ward looked so tired and sad and lonely. He was living on the cruise ship on the Mississippi that they put in for temporary housing. I will never understand what he feels like or even what goes through his mind every day.
Don also took us down to the London Avenue Canal Breech where we were able to stand beside the old levee and see how they are rebuilding a temporary one before hurricane season hits again. One of the most amazing elements was viewing the damage from the side of the levee that had been breached compared to the side that stayed intact – a story of wind damage versus flood waters. Cliff made an interesting observation talking about how ironic it is that water is such a necessary part of life and is a huge part of our body but is also the cause of such destruction.
When we got back to the house, we had a surprise waiting for us! The woman who owns the home hadn’t been able to be with us at all this weekend because of respiratory problems. So her sons worked with us all the time, helping remove debris from the home that they built, while telling us hilarious stories from their past. Well, the mom ended up coming down on our last day so that she could be there to see us and the end of the work. She sat on the back of a pick up truck with her five sons as the remaining part of her life was placed in a dumpster truck. She did not cry, but instead rejoiced in the fact that she was here with her five sons and they were together at this moment. Her strength and faith were a true example for our group – I’m not so sure mine would have been as strong in similar situations!
Our weekend in New Orleans ended with a home-cooked meal in the church of traditional rice and red beans. We invited Mark and his wife over to join us in the meal as a thank you. The weekend brought to life so many things and will always leave a print on my heart.
~~Sara Pugh