Library                     

The mission of the library is to provide literature in the areas of religion and spiritual growth for the church community and to support the love of reading within the church and the greater Portland area.

We open Sundays at 9:30am and for about half an hour after church, when a volunteer is there to answer questions and help people check out books.

Located in the 100 wing of the church, the library provides a comfortable and quiet place to rest and prepare for worship.

Who We Are

The library has a collection of over 3,000 fiction & nonfiction books for adults, youth, and children that support the congregation and clergy in their spiritual journey. It also supports the Sunday School classes by having books available in the library as needed. The Library Committee continually purchases books for the library and welcomes suggestions in keeping with the collection.

What We Do

Annual Book Sale

Each year the library stages a used book sale with books donated from the congregation. Proceeds from the sale are used to purchase books and supplies for the library, as well as for donations to local organizations that support literacy, such as the SMART Reading Program/Children’s Book Bank, Street Books, and the Portland Literacy Council. Book donations can only be accepted at certain times — keep an eye on our announcements for a call for donations.

Coffee Hour Library Table

On the second Sunday of every month, volunteers from the library host a table in Collins Hall where we display books available to be checked out.

Stop by the table during coffee hour (after the 10:30am service) and check out what the library has to offer!

Book Table at Preston’s Pantry

Every Friday at Preston’s Pantry, we have volunteers set up a table of free books, puzzles & coloring for the clients to borrow or keep.

Preston’s Pantry is a food pantry run by Lift Urban Portland here at First Church. Learn more about the pantry at LiftUrbanPortland.org.

News & Book Reviews

News
Book Review: Here If You Need Me
Book Review: Here If You Need Me
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Book Review: Custodians of Wonder
Book Review: Custodians of Wonder

Elliot Stein is a reporter with the BBC who hosted a feature that ran for several episodes describing rapidly disappearing and obscure skills, the people who are the last in a long line of artisans who attained those skills, what their loss will mean.

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Book Review: Why Religion Went Obsolete - The Demise of Traditional Faith in America
Book Review: Why Religion Went Obsolete - The Demise of Traditional Faith in America

A new book, Why Religion Went Obsolete: The Demise of Traditional Faith in America by Christian Smith,  has recently been added to the library collection and is ready for checkout! It is also currently being discussed by the Christianity in a Changing World class on Sunday mornings. Read on for a review by First Church member Phyllis Leonard.

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Want to submit a book review? Email us!

Recently, our parishioners shared over 100 books that have helped them on their spiritual journeys. View the list here.

New Arrivals

How to Help

Interested in volunteering with the library? Email Us!

Sundays

We need volunteers to help staff the Library on Sunday mornings, beginning at 9:30am and continuing after the 10:30am service until around noon. You will primarily be helping visitors find and check out books.

Mondays

Every Monday morning from 10am to Noon, a group of volunteers gathers in the Library to take care of administrative tasks. We’d love to have you join us!

Fridays

We need volunteers to help run the book table on Fridays at Preston’s Pantry. This is about a once per month commitment on Friday afternoons.

If none of these opportunities work for you, don’t worry — we will keep you on our list for sporadic volunteer opportunities like manning the Library Table in Collins Hall or setting up for the annual Book Sale.