Church libraries offer summer reading choices

But before Catholics buy a new paperback, they should consider a hidden source of summer reading: their local parish.

On the shelves of parish libraries are a wide range of books on Bible stories, saints' lives, prayer, meditation, forgiveness, the sacraments, ministry, peace and justice, martyrdom, Heaven, angels, priests and religious.

Books and videos

"Our videos are available during the summer to anyone that wishes to borrow them," she noted.

At St. Vincent de Paul's Church in Cobleskill, the parish library is in the process of expansion. According to parish librarian Fran Apollo, that is just how the parishioners like it.

"We have over 2,000 pieces in our library," she told The Evangelist. "Not only do we maintain an impressive reference shelf of books, but we also have collections for adults, children and young adults. We also have a large pamphlet rack for parishioners to choose from."

Wide range

The library also houses a unique collection of books on theology written by different priests. Mrs. Apollo obtained them from the Siena College library in Loudonville when they no longer were useful. She feels the collection offers readers a clear insight into what the "cutting edge" of the Second Vatican Council was all about, where the Church was in the Sixties and how far it has come in the past 40 years.

St. Vincent's has an agreement with three Protestant churches in the area that also maintain libraries. The pastors of all four churches have borrowing privileges at each of the libraries, offering them an ecumenical view of the rural area's diversified religious resources.

Two by two

Although the book count may seem small, the staff is excited about the resources that their library provides to parishioners. Currently, the library information is being automated into a computer database.

"We have a strong concentration on adult formation here, and the library reflects that," Mr. Catalano noted. "Our collection of books is broad and includes one or two of 'just about everything.'"

'Extensive'

The collection also includes some children's stories, publications by the American bishops, videos and CDs of Church music.

"We have an extensive school library, but we have been building this library for the adults of the parish," Mr. Catalano said, "and we encourage parishioners to utilize our library. It is very accessible, just across the street from the church, and we hope that people will use it often. We feel that the library has a lot to offer everyone, but adults in particular, and hope that our parishioners will take advantage of its many resources."

Campus library

"Our library holds about 1,500 volumes of books on theology, Scripture, social justice and Church history," he said.

Those who usually make use of the books are "faculty, staff, students or [retired professors]," he added, but the library is open to all parishioners and those whose interests run towards the scholarly.

The contents of the library are "pretty extensive," he added, consisting of books ranging from "works of the early Church Fathers" to "good texts on the history of Israel," and at least 15 different versions of the Bible.

The library also houses biblical criticism, sacramental theology and a lot of "Jesuit writings and works by American and European Church writers."

(Contact your own parish to see if it has a library. To contact Mr. McQuiston, call 274-7793. For information on the Pastoral Center Resource Library, call Mrs. Taaffe at 453-6644. To reach Mrs. Apollo, dial 234-2892.)

(06-28-01) [[In-content Ad]]