Anson Library

Marjorie and Elbert Anson were volunteers in the Lakewood First Church Library for over twenty years and were the first to make a concentrated effort to get the library well organized. When they retired, the library was named in their honor. Since that time there has been a series of volunteer librarians, sometimes with gaps in coverage. The current librarians are Jean Crampon, retired University Librarian (science and engineering) from the University of Southern California and Nina Jackson, retired Teacher-Librarian from Franklin Classical Middle School in the Long Beach Unified School District.

COLLECTION

The library includes picture books, fiction for adults and children, nonfiction for adults and children, Bibles, and reference materials, as well as a small collection of AV materials. Unfortunately, the card catalog is out of date except for the Collection file in the first drawer and the shelf list in the last few drawers. The librarians are not adding new author, title, or subject cards to the catalog due to time and cost of supplies. Instead, they are removing cards for materials no longer owned. They request that no one remove other cards, as they represent hundreds of hours of volunteer work by many people over the years.

There are six color-coded subject collections that are on the shelves with colored dots. These include Christmas (red), Comfort Zone (blue), Easter (gold), Peace & Justice Ministries (purple), Shohfi (green), and Youth (neon green). The cards for these collections are in the first drawer in the card catalog and in alphabetical order by Collection.

ACCESS TO THE LIBRARY

There are no regular open hours for the library. One or both of the librarians work regularly on Wednesday mornings. For access during the week (except when the library is used as a meeting space), ask in the Church Office for the room to be unlocked for you. On Sunday, see if one of us is around to help you, or get someone to unlock the library for you. Many members of the congregation have keys that open various rooms on the campus. Just turn off the light and lock up when you leave.

FINDING MATERIALS

All items have a call number on the spine. The arrangement goes from the NE corner with picture books and reads left to right around the room. When you find something of interest, fill out the card in the inside pocket, leave it in the box on the card catalog to the right of the door as you exit, and bring the materials back so others may use them. If there is no card, then the book is for Library Use Only. When items are returned, leave the book on top of the card catalog. We will reshelve it. Many thanks to those who both check out and return items.

GETTING ASSISTANCE

It is easy to browse the room, but if you are interested in something specific, ask one of the librarians to assist. Leave a message in the Library mailbox in the church office or call the office to leave a message for us. Also, we are in the church directory for you to send a message or call us.

DONATIONS

We accept donations, but please contact us first. The librarians review for duplicates, for items more appropriate in a collection elsewhere, and to welcome items that complement what we already have. When we have questions about religious items, we check with a pastor. If a book or author mentioned during the Sunday services interests you, know that many are on the Library’s shelves.

Keep reading!

Your librarians, Jean Crampon and Nina Jackson