The Friends of the Parkland Community Library will be having its 25th annual book sale from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Aug. 7, and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Aug. 8 at Asbury United Methodist Church, 1513 Springhouse Road, South Whitehall.

The bag sale runs from 1:30-3 p.m. Saturday.

Donations will be accepted at the church between 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Aug. 3-5, and 10 a.m.-noon. Aug. 6.

Books should be in good, saleable condition. Games, puzzles, DVDs and CDs are also needed, but do not bring textbooks, magazines, Reader's Digest or encyclopedias.

For information, call 610-398-1361.

I am very thankful for the Parkland Community Library and I look forward each year to the sale for its excellent assortment of books.

When I was growing up, there was no public library and no elementary school libraries, either. Each classroom had a bookcase with an unremarkable collection of old books.

The one exception was the Childhood of Famous Americans series, a set of biographies with blue covers and black silhouette illustrations.

I read all of them several times.

My family had a nice selection of books at home, many of them classics, and I read them over and over.

I was glad for those great books, but I also know it would have been fun to go to a library and select different books each time.

At the library sale this year, I'll give thanks for all of the books available (and affordable) and for the Parkland Community Library itself, which provides not only books, but programs, miscellaneous materials and information technology for people of all ages.

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Union United Church of Christ, Neffs, will have an outdoor worship service in the grove 10:30 a.m. Aug. 9.

A church family picnic begins after the service. Visitors are welcome to enjoy this annual event.

After lunch, there will be a cake walk, softball, bingo and other games for all ages.

Spend a summer day in the lovely outdoor grove while getting acquainted with church members and friends from the community.