Religious Education Update: September 3

Religious Education Update

September 3, 2006



The Importance of Libraries
I would have a very hard time organizing our Religious Education program without the Sonoma Mountain Elementary School Library and the wisdom of its librarian, Linda Beth Freese. I go to her often, to find resources about the Day of the Dead, or Chinese calligraphy, or just the right folktale for a class on a particular Sunday.. Linda lends me books with strong UU values, inspiring text and beautiful illustrations.' She's also a friend, so she gives me black tea and a willingness to listen to my troubles. Thank you, Linda.

Libraries provide the same service for our children- providing resources to learn about the peoples and cultures in our world, to inspire wonder and awe as the child reads about nature and science, to imagine being a person living long ago or in a faraway land. As a child, I loved the Secret Garden, and Land of Oz, and the Little House in the Big Woods. I would imagine myself in those places, until my mother would insist that I put down my book and go play outside. Librarians can listen to a kid describe a book, "with a pink cover and ballerinas", and find it on the shelf. They know the right book to encourage a struggling reader or challenge the bookworm. They don't provide black tea to kids, but do provide a smile and a listening ear. Thank you, Librarians.

We UU's pride ourselves for having "open minds". However, without the exposure to thoughts and places far different than our own, how would we keep our openness? We need those sacred places, also known as libraries. Thank you, Libraries. We need you.

Marlene Abel
Director of Religious Education