The Coots Library, named for Max A. Coots, poet, sculptor, and minister of our church from 1958 to 1992, is a user-friendly library of about 650 adult books, 350 children’s books, CDs, DVDs, audio tapes, church archives, and other church reference materials. A classification system unique to this library organizes adult books according to categories: U.U. History, World Religions, Religious Commentary and Reflections, Literature, Biography and Memoirs, Church Administration and Leadership, Social Action (including women’s, men’s, family, GLBT, diversity and political action issues), and Miscellaneous -- anything else!
Children’s books have their own categories, too: Picture Books, Chapter Books, Young Adult Books, Religion/Spirituality, Multicultural, Cookbooks, Art/Activities, Ecology, Science, Sexuality. The library also has a full shelf of UUA Meditation Manuals and a bookcase that houses the Memorial Committee’s books on death, dying, grief, and caregiving.
The library is open Sunday morning before and after services and by chance or appointment during the week. An old-fashioned card catalog boasts title and author cards for both the children’s and adult collections. In addition, the catalog exists online and may be accessed by clicking on the links below.
Browsing the shelves is highly recommended as the most satisfying way of becoming acquainted with this special library!
Library Committee and Donations
The library is maintained by a committee whose charge is to “make available materials that reflect the mission of the UU Church of Canton and pertain to the needs and interests of the congregation.” The committee seeks book suggestions from the congregation and will honor them as funds allow and if the suggestions meet mission criteria.
The library's Collection Policy notes that gifts of materials that fall within the purview of the collection are also welcome, “but are subject to acceptance by the Library Committee." Donated materials must be in good condition and be of recent publication unless of historical significance. Materials withdrawn from the collection will be handled at the discretion of the committee.
Role of the Congregation
Members of the congregation give the Library Committee much welcomed assistance in staffing a library table in the Social Room on Sunday mornings and in writing book reviews for the "I Just Read..." column in the monthly church newsletter. They also generously participate in the annual holiday book sale.
2012 Library Committee
Judy Gibson, Chair; Beth Andrews, Lois Cutter, Ann Elmer, Joan Kepes, Lorraine Olendzenski, Sara Ricalton, Marilyn Ross, Jennifer Whittaker; Jan Hutslar, RE Liaison; Gina Nicoletta-Budler, RE Liaison; Galen Pletcher, Church Council Liaison; David Blanchard, ex-officio.
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