Welcome to the Library.
The Samuel Osher Memorial Library is named for Sam Osher, a generous member of the Congregation Etz Chaim community who continuously supported the synagogue’s growth. The library, located upstairs in Congregation Etz Chaim, is a useful resource for synagogue members, providing access to a unique collection of nearly 4,000 items for loan. From books and educational material to music and movies, the library’s offerings have something for the whole family. And the Library provides a welcoming and comfortable physical space that may be enjoyed while attending events and services at the synagogue.
Library Hours & Access
The Samuel Osher Memorial Library is currently operating with limited hours. Plans to provide the congregation and the broader community greater access are currently under development. Please check back on this webpage as well as on our calendar, https://etzchaimme.org/calendar for updates.
If you would like more information or would like to make arrangements for borrowing library materials, please email
David Strassler
News About The Library!
Volunteers on the Library Committee have been hard at work revitalizing our beloved Samuel Osher Memorial Library. It’s been cleaned, reorganized, and is now accessible online!
Come into the library during scheduled events and a library committee volunteer will you help you check out your books.
Click Here to Access the LibraryOur Library Programs
Women’s Book Club

The Women’s Book Club provides a friendly and informal gathering space for women who love to read and discuss books to come together socially and intellectually. Focusing on books written by and about Jewish women, the club meets monthly on a year-round basis, covering 12 books, selected by the group, per year. (See below for this year’s selections.) Led by Susan Pierce and Maureen King, the meetings boast lively discussions about the book-of-the-night as well as other books that our avid readers are enjoying. They enrich the discussions with insights from her own reading, links to author interviews, and literary articles. Come share your thoughts and enjoy good company. All meetings are currently being held on Zoom.
For more information, contact Susan Pierce at:
bookclub@etzchaimme.orgWomen’s Book Club Selections
January 8, 2026

February 12, 2026

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed
Lori Gottlieb
Humor/Contemporary Nonfiction
Year Published:
2019
Page Count:
432
March 12, 2026

April 9, 2026

Family of Spies
Christine Kuehn
Historical Nonfiction/Family Biography
Year Published:
2025
Page Count:
272
May 14, 2026

June 11, 2026

Unearthed: A Lost Actress, a Forbidden Book, and a Search for Life in the Shadow of the Holocaust
Meryl Frank
Historical Nonfiction/Family Biography
Year Published:
2023
Page Count:
256
July 9, 2026

Long Island Compromise
Taffy Brodesser-Akner
Contemporary Fiction
Year Published:
2024
Page Count:
464
August 13, 2026

Maine Characters
Hannah Orenstein
Contemporary Jewish Life
Year Published:
2025
Page Count:
400
September 10, 2026

October 8, 2026

November 12, 2026

Carole King: She Made the Earth Move
Jane Eisner
Biography
Year Published:
2025
Page Count:
256
December 10, 2026

Sadie on a Plate
Amanda Elliot
Romance
*please note, due to Hanukkah, there is a potential for book discussion date to change to December 17.
Year Published:
2022
Page Count:
352
Children’s Books
If you’re interested in starting your own library of children’s books, please consider joining PJ Library, a program that distributes colorful children’s book to Jewish kids around the nation.
Visit pjlibrary.com if you would like to join.
Attention, All Book Worms!
Our call for library volunteers will be renewed when the Samuel Osher Memorial Library reopens. Please check the CEC Calendar page or the Library page for updates.
Contact David for more information.