The FCCLB Library

For many years, First Congregational Church of Long Beach maintained a traditional church library. Over time, however, the collection became a patchwork of outdated volumes and randomly donated books from members’ personal libraries.
In 2023, an effort was launched to reimagine the First Church Library. That initiative led to the formation of a small but mighty FCCLB Library Team, which has since reorganized the collection and developed new areas of focus that reflect the congregation’s current values and mission.
Among these is a dedicated Banned Books Collection, created in response to increasing efforts to censor books in schools and public libraries. Grant funding from the nonprofit Disability Belongs made it possible to expand the library with books that support the congregation’s Accessible to All (A2A) initiative. As the nation marked the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in July 2026, we also added titles that bring underrepresented U.S. histories into the conversation. Other collecting priorities include resources for and about LGBTQ+ people—especially children, youth, and young adults—as well as books exploring racial justice, environmental stewardship, immigration, and other issues that call people of faith to learn, reflect, and act.
Today, the First Church Library aims to be a living resource that invites the congregation to explore faith, justice, history, and the diverse experiences of God’s people through reading, conversation, and discovery.

How do I borrow books from the First Church Library?

The First Church Library operates on the honor system: Please take, read, return, repeat.
Our collection exists and continues to grow through the generous donations of church members. Because the library has no budget to replace books that are lost or not returned, we ask that you help care for this shared resource by returning items when you are finished with them.
Thank you for helping ensure that these books remain available for everyone in our congregation to learn from and enjoy.