Library Mission and Administration

Library Mission Statement

Champlain Valley Unitarian Universalist Society Library provides a wide variety of UU-relevant books, media, and related services to support, enrich, and extend:

• The ministries, programs, purposes, and activities of the congregation
• Understanding of Unitarian Universalist beliefs, history, worship, and practice
• The spiritual growth of individual members and friends at all ages and stages of religious learning and exploration

Volunteers

• CVUUS Library is managed by volunteers, members and friends, who are interested in books, reading, faith development, and sharing information about Unitarian Universalism. Library enthusiasts welcome! We have a particular need for volunteers who could (1) assist in managing our online library system, (2) help with book preparation, circulation, and re-shelving, (3) promote library use in various ways, (4) staff a small book sale cart, or (5) help organize CVUUS archival material. Orientation and support available.
• Library and Reading Lists, about CVUUS Library
• Professional Ethics for people working in libraries (ALA, American Library Association)

Collection Development

CVUUS Policies and Procedures

• Materials Selection Policy
• Gift Policy
• Weeding Policy
• Intellectual Freedom Statements (ALA, American Library Association)

Collection Development Resources

Unitarian Universalist Specific Materials

• InSpirit: UUA Book and Gift Shop
• Skinner House Books *
• Beacon Press, a department of the UUA *
• UU World (magazine sometimes contains book reviews or announcements)
• UUA Curricula and Faith Development. See resources and lists of stories with curricula.
• LibraryThing and TinyCat: Unitarian Universalist libraries. See Cataloging below.

* Books usually available through InSpirit UUA Book Shop

Book, Media Awards

• ALA Book, Print and Media Awards  (American Library Associaton)
  • Children & Young Adults
  • Media
  • Reference, Technical & Adult
• ALSC Book and Media Awards (American Association of School Librarians)
• Awards and Honors, LibraryThing Zeitgeist

Professional Book and Media Reviews, Recommendations

• Booklist *
• BookLinks *
• Children’s Book Council (CBC) Lists
• Cooperative Children’s Book Center CCBC (U. of Wisconsin)
• Diversity Books Resources, a CVUUS list of websites focusing on diversity books for youth
• Horn Book and Horn Book Guide *
• Kirkus
• Library Journal * and School Library Journal *
• Titlewave (Follett), CVUUS library has account

* Subscription required but some reviews and book lists may be available without one.

Reading Lists, Recommendations from Other Organizations

• Note: Always check additional reviews when considering books recommended by these sources.
• Anti-Defamation League (ADL): Books Matter
• Friends General Conference Bookstore (Quaker)
• Peace Studies Center Resource Lists

Book Vendors

• Amazon *, Abe Books, Alibris, Better World Books (sources of used books)
• Junior Library Guild
• Titlewave (Follett) *
• The Vermont Book Shop *

* CVUUS library has account

Cataloging

CVUUS Library Catalog Access

• Library Thing Catalog (CVUUS)
• TinyCat from LibraryThing (CVUUS public access catalog)

Dewey Decimal Classification

• Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) Summaries, OCLC
• List of Dewey Decimal Classes, Wikipedia

Library Catalogs

• Library of Congress catalog
• Harvard OnLine Library Information System (Hollis) *
• Meadville Lombard Theological School – Library & Archives (Chicago) *
• Graduate Theological Union (GTU) Library & Catalog (GRACE) (Berkeley, Starr King School for the Ministry) *
• Boston University School of Theology Library, has Unitarian Universalist Community of Learning *

* UU theological school, affiliation, or program

Book Processing

Summary of book processing steps

1. Catalog the item and assign barcode number
2. Generate, print, and apply spine labels
3. Apply any special spine labels, e.g. genre, holiday, local author, or UU *
4. Cover spine labels with label protectors
5. Apply barcode label
6. Apply bookplates identifying book donor *
7. Stamp CVUUS ownership
8. Apply protective mylar jacket to hardcover books.
9. Apply protective film to paperback books. *
10. Display or shelve
    * These steps tend to be optional

Circulation & Shelving

Circulation

• Books signed out via forms on clipboards
• Data transferred to TinyCat (LibraryThing)
• Self-checkout via TinyCat possible, optimal, but may not be workable in CVUUS setting.

Re-shelving books

• How to shelve library materials – YouTube, Southeast Library fairly helpful, especially for fiction
• Shelving Non Fiction Library Books – YouTube, Parkland Regional Library. Note: about non-fiction shelving.

Promotion, Publicity, Programming

Reading Lists

• Reading lists for all ages, CVUUS

Resources for Promotion, Publicity, Programming