Looking for inspiration, information, entertainment or comfort? Visit our library and use its resources. Everyone is welcome! The library has a unique collection of books for adults, youth and children--along with magazines, puzzles, audio cassettes, videos, CDs, DVDs, and several chess sets.  You will enjoy the peaceful atmosphere too!  Because the family of Edna Fitch designated the library as the recipient of Memorial Gifts for Edna, the library acquired a new Dell Computer in her memory. The computer is available for your use whenever library volunteers are not using it.

Welcome!

These web pages are for the John Allen Memorial Library and the AUMC Library and Archives Committee.  We appreciate the congregation’s generous support of our committee, including the September 2006 fundraiser.  The proceeds of the fundraiser will be used to acquire current resources for the library.  Watch the Circuit Rider for announcements of new resources that are available.

                                                             Calendar of Library & Archival Events in 2007

About 400 books and other resources were added to the library during 2006, including committee purchases of  76 new resources.   Thanks to all of you who donated the rest—many with recent copyright dates and in nearly new condition.  About 1900 items have been added to the collection during the past four years. 

Library Mission Statement
The AUMC Library will support the theology of a diverse church where science, religion and life are compatible.
The mission statement guides us, along with the mural in the church, "Room at the Table for All."  (see below)

John Allen Collection . . .

 We have a small and very special group of books donated to the library by John Allen and his family, and this group of books has been designated as the John Allen Collection.  They can easily be identified by the small photo of John located over the call number on the book.  The John Allen Collection is located on top of the media cabinet in the library, and occasionally will be featured on the library cart in the center.

Library Cart & the Narthex Library station . . .                       

Most Sundays you will find the library cart in the Fellowship Center before and after the services, making it easy for you to check out books and other resources while enjoying refreshments and conversations.  Currently, new acquisitions for adults are featured on the top of the cart. 
                                                                                             
In response to a request, we offer a small selection of library materials in the narthex, between the chapel and the narthex reception desk.  Our intention is to accommodate those who find it physically difficult

The 2006-07 Library and Archives Committee

Committee Members:  Betty Allen,   Ross Bassett,   Cheryl Busch, Corky Johnson,   Marlene Moody, Eleanor Starcher,   Chuck Wade.   Meetings: usually the 2nd Saturday of the month at 10 a.m.

News from the Library and Archives Committee:

Computer-generated author, title, and subject lists are updated periodically for your use--look for them in the library next to the checkout stand, on the library cart, and at the narthex library station

Guidance on how to find material is posted on the back of the library doors & is on the end table near the checkout stand

Average monthly library circulation continues to increase:  72 in 2006! (45 in 2003; 46 in 2004; 54 in 2005)

Shipped 871 books/videos during 2003-06 to the Hotchkiss-Crawford United Methodist Churches, our Bridging Partner

Take note of the Committee's Bulletin Board at the top of the ramp--new information appears monthly

The new GET CONNECTED Board in the hallway outside the library:

           THE place to find the contact person you need to investigate groups and committees of interest to you

The Archival display case adds a new dimension to the library

Archival materials are being collected and organized in archival-safe containers

We are building on the good work that has been done by past members of the committee over many years, and continue to enjoy the aid and support of many as we strive to create a library worthy of John Allen's memory and archives that will support the writing of the next AUMC history.

 Can you use the Library to teach Respect and Social Responsibility?

WE LOVE KIDS! We love to have kids using the library! In fact, WE LOVE KIDS so much that we have created a special space in the Library just for them, complete with stuffed animals, puzzles, videos, and their own small table and chairs!

However, over the course of the past year or so, it seems that the Library has been somewhat abused by those very children that we all love! There have been numerous incidents such as removing all the books from the book cart and materials from the check out center and tossing them around the room. They have also been riding the library book return cart, and engaging in a variety of other mischievous deeds that we know are not meant to be as bad as they turn out to be. They’re just having fun. But, the kids are doing these types of things because they are in the Library unsupervised by any adults. There are some days when it takes a good forty five minutes to get the Library straightened up after the latest kid brigade has torn through.

 So….in an effort to encourage respect and social responsibility in our children, PLEASE help us out by making sure that any children, or groups of children, are supervised by an adult when they are in the Library. Have a fun child/parent/adult experience by coming into the library together and looking at the many books and videos we have available for check-out. Take them home and share the love of reading with your child.

A Special Library Kudo

            The following letter of appreciation was recently received by the Library and Archives Committee from Virginia Van Skike, one of the many former members of the library committee who contributed a great deal toward creating a library that we can all enjoy and appreciate.  Please visit the library and see for yourself! 

Marlene,

   Recently, when I visited the John Allen Memorial Library, my first thought was "Amazing!"  My second thought was that what has happened is a miracle!

   The Library is inviting.  The books are shelved attractively; the signage is clear and informative.  The overall organization is well done.  The beautiful blue walls with appropriate artwork are most attractive.  The work space looks functional yet very attractive.

   Then last Sunday when many of the books on the book cart were listed in the bulletin, I thought, “This is phenomenal.”.

   All of the above says "work" by a group of dedicated people. 

   I've been thinking that the Church and Synagogue Library Association publication should feature the John Allen Memorial Library in a full color edition.

   All of you have done a great job!  Thank you for all of your efforts!

-         Virginia

THE HOTCHKISS UMC     No book is ever wasted in your John Allen Memorial Library! As those of you who use the Library already know, we try to keep our books in excellent condition and we regularly undergo a ‘weeding out’ process to remove books that are too tattered, stained, torn, or out-of-date to remain on our shelves. However, these books are not tossed aside!

Four years ago, the Library and Archives Committee formed a relationship with AUMC’s “bridging” partner, the Hotchkiss and Crawford United Methodist Churches on the Western Slope. We mail, and sometimes hand-deliver, our used books to them in order to increase the number of books they have available in their churches.

During the past four years, we have donated 871 books, including a few videos, to those churches. The receiving churches have been so appreciative of these donations and have warmly expressed their thanks to Marlene Moody (librarian), and Eleanor Starcher (archivist), who have both personally delivered books to the Hotchkiss UMC on different occasions. We have also received notes, e-mails, and phone calls expressing their thanks.

The idea behind “bridging” churches has been to pair a large church with a smaller one (in our case, two small churches with one minister) in order to create new bonds among churches in the Rocky Mountain Conference, and to have an opportunity to learn from, and provide assistance to, churches that are different from our own.

It has been a rewarding experience for committee members to have a special bond with these small United Methodist Churches on the Western Slope.

 “Room at the Table for All”
Ismael Lozano’s mural unveiled in the church
June 6, 1999

 “ . . . ‘Room at the Table for All’ depicts a group of people of all ages, genders, nationalities and religious faiths gathered around a round table.  It speaks to the commonality that we share in our spiritual journey.  The interesting painting . . . became a visual statement of the Church’s theology and mission almost immediately.”

         AUMC, A History of Arvada United Methodist Church from 1970-2000