 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2003 (XXXXI 4) |
PYM Library is in the midst of a huge transition, going to a smaller book collection while adding digital media, including CD's and DVD's. In order to reduce the size of PYM Library by one third and save money on space rental, thousands of books are being distributed.
A number of Monthly Meetings have come forward offering to house parts of the collection; the books will remain on the PYM Library online catalog, where members can locate them through www.pym.org/library. Some of the sections being moved are: environmental concerns tentatively going to Mount Holly (NJ), Indian books to Mickleton (NJ), nuclear war and nuclear waste problems to Merion (PA), war and peace to Woodstown (NJ). George Lakey's Training for Change will have many shelves of books on peace negotiations, conflict resolution, etc. in their offices at Friends Center. Various other groups also have small parts of the collection, with the cataloging still in the database. The library at Friends Center will retain some books on each topic.
Books that have been discarded from the database have gone up for sale, and many more need to go. Some have gone to various meetings and other groups. Books on war and peace went to Woodstown's Peace Center, large print discards to Stapeley Hall, Quaker archival materials to the Quaker Collection at Haverford College, books on criminal justice to Books Through Bars, African American discards to the African American Museum, and the Encyclopedia Britannica to a teaching project in Chinatown.
Additionally, plans are being made to release a large number of the Quaker books to be kept in Monthly Meeting libraries. PYM Library used to keep multiple copies to be used in book study groups. We no longer have space for this, and must move them out. To receive a list of books to choose copies for your library, or for other book options, please call, e-mail, or write me: 215-241-7219, ritav@pym.org, 1515 Cherry St, Philadelphia PA 19102.
Rita Varley
Central Philadelphia Meeting
PYM Librarian
Last modified: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:18 AM