Library of FUMC


We have something for you!

  • Want a new book of fiction to read?
    • We have books from John Grisham, Danielle Steele, and Mary Higgins Clark just to name a few!
  • Looking for inspirational books?
    • What about books by Marcus Borg, Billy Graham, Henri Nouwen, Norman Vincent Peale, etc? In addition, we have great books on theology and Bible study that you can check out and others you can use in our reference section!
  • Wanting to learn more about a particular person?
    • There are several biographies that are available!
  • Need help preparing for Sunday school or simply want to learn more about God, faith, and the Bible?
    • We have many books that you can check out, AND we have a reference section of books where you can do research in the Library!
    • We also have audio tapes of past Perkins Lectures that you can check out!

When can you check out books? Almost Anytime!

  • Sunday Mornings: There are people to help you check out books on Sunday mornings. Just drop by the Library, and somebody will be there to help you.
  • Regular Church Office Hours: Even if there is not a librarian to assist you, you can drop by the church office, get a key, and check-out books yourself. There are self check-out procedures on the table in the Library.

Where is the Library?

  • TheLibrary is on the first floor at FUMC in room 111.

Check out information about some of our latest books below!

New Library Books Available at FUMC – August 2010

Check one of these books out of the FUMC Library in (or after) August on Sunday morning, or drop by the office during the week to get a key and self-check-out a book!

Betsy Ross Betsy Ross and the Making of America by Marla R. Miller
A stirring and enthralling landmark work. The first comprehensively researched and elegantly written biography for the beloved patriot Betsy Ross.
HeartOfTheMatter Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin
A luminous story of good people caught in untenable circumstance and each discovering what truly matters most.
LowCoutnrySummer Lowcountry Summer: A Plantation Novel by Dorothea Benton Frank
A seriously hilarious, incredibly poignant story of the relationship between a brother and a sister.
MakingToast Making Toast by Roger Rosenblatt
A painfully beautiful memoir telling how grandparents are made over into parents and how people die out of order.
OvertonWindow The Overton Window by Glenn Beck
A powerful ripped-from-the-headlines thriller that seamlessly weaves American history, frightening facts about our present condition, and a heart-stopping plot.
Search The Search by Nora Roberts
A novel set in the Pacific Northwest, where an island provides sanctuary, the lush forests seduce the unwary, and a man and a woman find in each other the strength to carry on.
WaterForElephants Water for Elephants: A Novel by Sara Gruen
The circus, the Great Depression, a complex elephant, equally complex love, the mists and twists of memory are all articulated in the voice of a very old man who has seen it all.
Whiplash Whiplash (An FBI Thriller) by Catherine Coulter
This FBI thriller opens with a bang. Well-developed characters and an expertly paced plot builds into a breath-taking, can’t-put-it-down summer read!
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Posted on July 26th, 2010 by tsims

New FUMC Library Books Available in July

Check one of these books out of the FUMC Library on Sunday morning, or drop by the office during the week to get a key and self-check-out a book!

Beautiful Lies Beautiful Lies by Lisa Unger:  Ridley Jones makes a decision to perform a good deed, which ultimately unleashes a chain of events that sends her on a thrilling journey.
Double Comfort The Double Comfort Safari Club by Alexander McCall Smith:  Precious Raomtswe deals with issues of mistaken identity and great misfortune against the beautiful backdrop of Botswana’s remote and striking Delta.
Hannah's List Hannah’s List by Debbie Macomber:  On the anniversary of his beloved wife’s death, Dr.  Michael Everett receives a letter Hannah had written him. She requests that he marry again and provides a list of three women she has chosen for him to consider.
Invisible Bridge The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer:  A grand love story set against the backdrop of 1939 Budapest and Paris, this is the epic tale of three brothers whose lives are ravaged by war.
Map of True Places The Map of True Places by Brunonia Barry:  Zee Finch, a respected psychotherapist, has to learn to find her way through uncharted waters to the place she will ultimately call home.
Murder's Daughters The Murderer’s Daughters by Randy Susan Meyers:  Lulu and Merrry’s childhood, though never ideal, propels them into a nightmare when their father murders their mother and is sent to prison. When relatives refuse to take them in, the girls discover all they have is each other.

Here are recent memorials made to the Library:

  • Judy Ballard in memory of Mert Jessel
  • Judy Ballard in memory of Bill Sogard
  • Ardella Johnson in memory of Mert Jessel
  • Stewart and Mary Nell in memory of Helen Hoggard
  • Stewart and Mary Nell Taylor in memory of Mert Jessel
  • Stewart and Mary Nell Taylor in memory of Bill Sogard
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Posted on July 6th, 2010 by tsims

Volunteer Spotlight on Judy Ballard

JudyBallard-smJudy Ballard retired as FUMC Library Board chair in May, following 36 years of “devotion” and volunteering. Judy joined the library board in 1973 and became the chair in 1974.  Despite her retirement, she will continue to volunteer with the Library.

In addition to her work with the FUMC Library, Judy is also a member of the Fidelis Sunday School Class where she teaches periodically.  She also serves as a greeter for the 10:30am Worship Service and has been a tutor for 2nd graders with the YES Committee, which she is also a member of!

Judy and her late husband, Joe, moved to Wichita Falls from Houston in 1956. She was a library science major at Murray State College, Murray, KY.

THANK YOU, JUDY, FOR YOUR HARD WORK, PAST AND PRESENT!

Leave a note below to say, “Thank you,” to Judy:

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Posted on June 10th, 2010 by tsims

New Books in the Church Library – June 2010

Here are new books available for you to check out in the Church Library!  Check one out on Sunday, or drop by the church 9am-5pm to get a key and go check out a book yourself!

Caught Caught by Harlan Coben is a gripping, emotion-packed novel about guilt, grief, and our capacity to forgive.
Holly Blues Holly Blues by Susan Wittig Albert has an unwelcome holiday guest that creates a thorny situation for China Bayles, a leader among female sleuths, and her lawyer husband.
In the Shadow of the Cypress In the Shadow of the Cypress by Thomas Steinbeck is a masterful blend of history and suspense surrounding the Chinese communities in 1906 California.
Shadow Of Your Smile The Shadow of Your Smile by Mary Higgins Clark is a tale of a long-held family secret that threatens to emerge and take the life of an unsuspecting heiress.
Spoken From the Heart Spoken from the Heart by Laura Bush.  In this brave, beautiful, and deeply personal memoir, Laura Bush, one of our most beloved and private first ladies, tells her own extraordinary story.
Walk The Walk by Richard Paul Evans is the first in an unforgettable series about one man’s search for hope.
Wench Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez is a finely wrought story that explores the emotional lives of four slave women caught in the web of the Peculiar Institution, one of the lesser known intricacies of America’s past.
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Posted on June 7th, 2010 by tsims

Recent Library Additions and Memorials

CrossGardener The Cross Gardener by Jason F. Wright – A timeless tale that explores the questions we ask when our lives are touched by loss: How do we carry on? Who will show us the way?
DieForYou Die for You: A Novel by Lisa Unger – Isabel Raine will not rest until she discovers the truth about the man she loves, even if it means risking everything-including her own life.
GirlWhoFellFromTheSky The Girl Who Fell from the Sky by Heidi W. Durrow – The heart-wrenching portrait of a young biracial girl dealing with society’s ideas of race and class.
GoingRogue Going Rogue: An American Life by Sarah Palin – This book traces one ordinary citizen’s extraordinary journey and imparts Palin’s vision of a way forward for America and her unfailing hope in the greatest nation on earth.
House Rules House Rules: A Novel by Jodi Picoult – Emotionally powerful story of what it means to be different in our society, how autism affects a family, and how our legal system works for people who communicate a certain way- and fails those who don’t.
MisunderstoodJew The Misunderstood Jew: The Church and the Scandal of the Jewish Jesus by Amy-Jill Levine, the 2010 Perkins Lecturer – Levine shows how Christians often misunderstand Judaism in general, misunderstand the New Testament in particular, and thus yank Jesus out of his Jewish context-resulting in intolerance and sometimes outright hatred of Jews.
NeverLookAway Never Look Away: A Thriller by Linwood Barclay – A man’s life unravels around him when his wife mysteriously disappears. As he uncovers the evidence, David Harwood moves closer to a shattering truth.
Postmistress The Postmistress by Sarah Blake – Alternating between America and Europe, this war story gives us two women who find themselves unable to deliver the news, and a third woman desperately waiting for news, but afraid to hear it.
UnionAtlantic Union Atlantic: A Novel by Adam Haslett – The intense story of the battle of wills between an ambitious young banker, Doug Fanning, and a retired history teacher, Charlotte Graves. When Doug Fanning builds an ostentatious mansion on land that Charlotte’s father donated to the town of Finden, Massachusetts, the conflict intensifies.
WayWeWere The Way We Were: A Novel by Marcia Willett – Thirty year old secrets are discovered by the children of two childhood friends.

Memorial Gifts:

Margaret & John Mitchell in memory of Darrold Cannan

Jean Finkler in memory of Helen Hoggard

Jean Finkler in memory of Darrold Cannan

Lynn Silver in memory of Helen Hoggard

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Posted on May 12th, 2010 by tsims

April 2010 Library Additions, Honorariums, and Memorials

Here are ten new books available to be checked out in the Church Library.  Get one on Sunday!

Roses-Meacham Roses by Leila Meacham – An old fashioned story of passion and revenge.
Isaac'sStorm-Larson Isaac’s Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History by Erik Larson – A story of the deadly hurricane that his Galveston, Texas in 1900.
DaysOfGod-Deveraux Days of Gold: A Novel by Jude Deveraux – Quick dialogue, interesting setting, and a plot of twists and turns make this a must read.
RemarkableCreatures-Chevalier Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier – The author turns a spotlight on a friendship cemented by mutual respect.
Brava,Valentine-Trigiani Brava, Valentine: A Novel by Adriana Trigiani – A hilarious and poignant mix of two colorful worlds.
LifeOfJesus-Abrams An Illustrated Life of Jesus by Richard I. Abrams & Warner A. Hutchinson – An illustrated life of Jesus from the National Gallery of Art Collection.
SavingCeeCeeHoneycutt-Hoffman Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman – This book is full of Southern charm, strong women, and good old fashioned heart.
Noah'sCompass-Tyler Noah’s Compass by Ann Tyler – A compassionate novel about a school teacher.
HaveALittleFaith-Albom Have a Little Faith: A True Story by Mitch Albom – A beautifully written story of remarkable men of two faiths.
MethodistHistory An Album of Methodist History by Elmer T. Clark – An interesting book illustrated with pictures of church leaders.

Honorariums and Memorials:

Given in honor of Abi Parker by Ron Parker.

Given in memory of Helen Hoggard by Ardella Johnson.

Given in memory of Helen Hoggard by Mary Ann & George Adams.

Given in honor of Danny & Mimi Kislin by Troy & Sandra Sims.

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Posted on April 8th, 2010 by tsims

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