News and Important Information

Let the Light Shine on
Congregational Libraries
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July 30 - August 1, 2006

National Conference Wrapup

Well, the excitement and hard work have calmed down for the moment. The national conference is over, participants have gone home, thank you notes have been sent. Most of the conference committee are taking a well earned break from the effort of putting on a big meeting.

It can certainly be said that “North Carolina Shines on Congregational Libraries” was a success. The hotel accommodations were excellent at the Joseph S Koury Convention Center and Sheraton at Four Seasons in Greensboro. Our area of meeting was compact and easily accessible for all. After going over the evaluation sheets, we think people were appreciative of the center, the workshops, and the efforts of the NC-PT Chapter. The biggest complaint was that there was too much food and there was! The second complaint was that the hotel was entirely too cold. This was true for some areas, but not for others. But the weather was so hot that it was good to have a place to be cool.

All the main speakers were wonderful and we all appreciate the opportunity to have heard them. Lynne Hinton was the opening luncheon speaker and it was delightful to listen to her speak of her life and how she came to be both a minister and a writer. Her spirit shows through all she says and writes. If you have not delved into her books, you certainly should. She has the Hope Springs series set right here in North Carolina and is beginning a mystery series under the name Jackie Lynn. Her book, The Arms of God, is out and she talked about how it was in many ways autobiographical.

The conference was most fortunate to have Ann B. Ross speak at dinner on Monday. What a treat she was! She was lighthearted, funny, and no one wanted her to close. She did say that she was NOT Miss Julia. However, she did confess that it was really fun to be able to get her male characters to do exactly what she wanted them to do. She was introduced by her life-long friend, Marian Myers of Martinsville Virginia, who was quite entertaining herself.

Local minister and master carver, Erich Thompson, spoke at luncheon on Monday. He expressed his appreciation of libraries early in life. Then he showed how congregational libraries need to be a vital ministry of the congregation’s life by being aware of needs, activities and trends. He noted that grief books had been bought from the book table in great numbers, so there was a need.

If you did not get to come this year, start saving your pennies now to go next summer. The National Conference for 2007 will be in Valley Forge PA and is the 40th anniversary celebration. Anniversary conferences are always very special. Tony Compola is scheduled to speak. Make your plans now.

(Note: If you didn’t get to fill out an evaluation sheet at the conference, please e-mail us to obtain one. If you still have your sheet, you can still submit it by mailing it to:

Cammie Brown
Westover Church
505 Muirs Chapel Road
Greensboro, North Carolina 27410