Starting a Church Library
By: Ron Maness

Are you thinking about starting a library in your church? If so, this article sets forth some suggestions and some preliminary issues that you should consider.

Here is a recommended resource: The Church Librarian's Handbook by Betty McMichael. This book is very helpful and deals in detail with many of the issues discussed in this article. However, it is not currently in print. You can often find used copies at online or through other used book sources. Used copies of even earlier editions will still prove worth having.

1. Determine the specific groups you wish to serve: young children (pre-readers), beginning readers, older children, pre-teens, teens, marrieds, parents, home-schoolers, church leaders, Sunday School teachers, specific ministries (such as outreach), elderly (large-print books, books on care-giving), etc.

2. Determine the media you wish to have available: books, magazines, audiocassettes, DVDs, videocassettes, CD-rom, etc.

3. Determine whether you wish to begin with donated books, or with donated books plus a budget to acquire new books.

4. Determine the classification system to be used (the Dewey Decimal System is generally recommended for church libraries). If you use Dewey, then you need the three reference books listed below:

A. Sears List of Subject Headings, 18 th Edition
B. Dewey Decimal Classification, 200 Religion Class
C. Abridged Dewey Decimal Classification and Relative Index, Edition 14

The three preceding books are expensive, but items A and C above (at least) are essential. If you determine that you will classify all of your church library books in the Dewey 200 classification, then you can get by without item B, but if you want to use the wider range of Dewey classifications (for example, the 900 classification for history), then you will need item B as well. Most of the church libraries I consulted before using Dewey used the whole range of Dewey classifications.

This next book is not essential, but it is very helpful and not expensive: A Classification System for Church Libraries (Based on Dewey Decimal Classification System), Revised . It contains the Dewey classifications used most by church libraries to classify their entire stock.

5. Supplies to process books can be obtained at local bookstores or by mail-order:
* Book pockets
* Date due slips
* Checkout cards
* Labels
* Label protectors
* Book jackets for hard-cover books
* Tape for book jackets
* Date stampers and ink pads
* Boxes for checkout cards of books in circulation

Other supplies that can be purchased at more general locations include: clear contact paper to cover paperbacks, if desired (available at grocery stores with shelf papers), and a rubber stamp with church name, if desired (available from office supply stores).

6. Here are some sources for books and videos:
* Local seminary bookstore
* Christian bookstores (some give discounts for church libraries)
* Catalogs/Mail Order

7. Consider categories of books that you may wish to emphasize:
* Commentaries (individual, one-volume or sets)
* Books on systematic theology
* Books on various theological topics
* Reference books (concordances, Bible dictionaries)
* Books on church history
* Bible handbooks, guides to Bible study and interpretation
* Christian living-popular authors
* Books on leadership
* Books on specific areas of ministry
* Counseling
* Apologetics, Bible and science, creationism
* Christian biographies
* Puritan and other Christian classics
* Adult Christian fiction
* Books on families, marriage, child rearing
* Christian psychology
* Christian living, focusing on men, women, teens
* Christianity and culture/current issues
* Cults
* Missions, including missionary biographies
* Books for various age groups of children and youth (Bible stories for various age levels, fiction for    various age levels, issues books for teens)

8. Inform church members of new book titles in library via bulletin inserts and/or the church Web site library section.

9. Define any desired parameters or limitations for doctrinal stance of commentaries and theology books for library. Reformed? Covenant? Dispensational? Charismatic? Or is conservative evangelical sufficient?

10. Determine whether you will use a) a manual card catalog with typed cards for author, title and subject or b) a computer-based catalog and circulation system.

11. Functions to be performed (will relate to staff requirements) include:
* Identifying types of books you want to acquire
* Visiting bookstores; purchasing books (or ordering from catalogs)
* Classifying books (using Dewey Decimal and Sears guides)
* Processing books (preparing and installing pockets, date due slip, checkout card and spine label; covering paperbacks with contact paper or adding clear book jacket covers to hard-backs)
* Preparing catalog cards, or entering data in computer
* Typing description of book for "New Book List"
* Having someone to handle circulation; monitoring past dues; filing cards; inputting into computer
* Sending notices on past-due books
* Processing returned books and replacing them on shelves
* Filing checkout cards of newly checked out books

12. If you will have videocassettes, you will need to get a supply of empty plastic boxes to put the videos in, like the ones at Blockbuster in pre-DVD days. The video boxes have clear plastic sleeves, so you can cut up the cardboard box the video came in, and insert into the sleeves for easy identification. Most DVDs that you purchase will come in a plastic case, in which you can leave the DVD for circulation.

13. It is very important to have full support from the pastor and church leaders. They can encourage the members to establish regular reading habits and can recommend specific books. Prepare a booklet giving a basic list of recommended reading. There are already several booklets available that you could refer to for ideas or even use.

14. Visit different church libraries and see how they function.

15. Join a church library association or discussion group.

16. Encourage usage through the following methods:
* Put displays of new or recommended books somewhere outside the library.
* Encourage Sunday School teachers to bring in their classes for visits to the library.
* Encourage men's and women's groups, ministry groups, Bible study groups, etc. to recommend books to their members.
* Have the pastor occasionally recommend books from the pulpit.
* Encourage the formation of reading groups to read and meet to discuss one book each month.
* Do book reviews and make them available for library patrons.
* When a patron reads a book, and tells you how good it was, type up a card saying "Recommended by John Smith" along with a sentence or two about why. The card can be affixed to book or below it in a plastic sleeve on display shelf.
* On our library Web page, we maintain a list of accumulated quotes by well-known Christian leaders throughout church history on the importance of reading and Christian literature, and the influence particular books have had on their lives.

Ron Maness and his wife Kay have been managing the library at Community Bible Chapel in Richardson, Texas, since 1981. They began their library work with several boxes of donated books and have seen the library grow to more than 11,000 volumes of books, along with more than 1,000 other media items such as videos, audios and DVDs. They have also seen the library develop from a manual card catalog system to a computerized system offering patrons online access through the Internet ( www.communitybible.org ).

Sidebar
Why Automate?
By Eva Nell Hunter

1. To keep up with the trends
People notice if we stay up with times and technology. Even though our libraries have a different purpose for existing, we are compared to public and school libraries as far as operations are concerned.

2. To make librarians' job easier
No one-including some church staff-has a more overwhelming job than church librarians! Churches owe it to their librarians to make their jobs as easy as possible. Automation is one of those answers.

3. To save both time and money
Many jobs can be done more efficiently. Think of card catalog files and catalog cards! One input in the computer will allow you to do multiple functions and give you the information needed for all cards. An online catalog makes the printing, filing and expense of cards obsolete.

4. To help to better organize
Steps for the operation of and responsibilities for the library functions are greatly enhanced because you do things in an orderly way. It is easier to delegate.

5. To increase usability of libraries
Because of the fantastic operation of a good software program, it is much easier to find what you need. Ease of searching online catalog for title, author, subject headings, memorials, honorariums, etc. makes it fun as well as very informational to search.

6. To make more efficient librarians
Think of mediagraphies. They can be made on the spot in minutes-or made ahead and placed in your vertical file. What about the counting of each piece of media checked out?

7. To make reporting a simple task .
Circulation reports can be a snap with the circulation feature of software. A holdings report can give the insurance committee the information needed for coverage of the library. Tracking and contacting patrons with overdue media is done with ease. An instant list of titles, accession and shelf lists, subject headings and other such lists make reporting more fun.

These are only a few of the reasons for automation. Perhaps you can name others. One thing stands out-if we do not want to be left behind in the area of automation and reaching people through media, we must add another dimension of service to our church library program.

Eva Nell Hunter is a National Library Specialist for Lifeway Christian Resources. She is also the Library Ministry Team Leader at Central Baptist Church in Decatur, Ala.

Product Roundup

Surpass Software
Surpass provides library automation solutions that are ideal for church libraries and Christian schools. Maximize the use of the valuable resources in your library by automating circulation and other functions. Options are available for making your library collection searchable on the Web. Surpass offers free 60-day trials of all products.  Surpass library automation specialists will guide you through the entire process.
www.SurpassSoftware.com

Concourse and eZcat
Book Systems, Inc. develops software applications for libraries. Concourse is an intuitive Windows-based software application for church library management (i.e, Cataloging, Searching, Circulation, Inventory, Reports, etc.). Because most church librarians are volunteers and saving time is important, eZcat is a dream come true.  In conjunction with the Internet and Concourse, eZcat allows for quick downloading of bibliographic information for all types of church library materials (i.e., books, videos, audios, etc.).  Book Systems has helped thousands of church libraries of all sizes with automating their libraries since 1989. Tiered pricing is offered based on the church's annual operating budget to assist smaller churches with enhancing their library ministry.
www.booksys.com

ResourceMate from Jaywil
Jaywil Software Development Inc. has been serving church libraries since 1995. They have just recently announced the release of ResourceMate 3.0. ResourceMate is Windows Resource Library Software designed for your church. ResourceMate will catalog, search and circulate. All versions include the popular Import from Internet feature. Jaywil's goal is to produce high-quality Library Software and offer useful Library Services priced within the reach of the small to medium-sized library.
www.resourcemate.com

Family Values Center
Don Levine, the creator of the original G.I. Joe Action Figure, and Family Values, LLC. have developed a new and positive line of inspiring toys, lifestyle products, books, music, animation and videos that strive for the same universal truths we all share: Leading Decent and Meaningful Lives . Family Values, LLC. is committed to finding, creating and sharing the absolute best inspirational resources and bringing them to today's modern family. Family Values, LLC. is here to prove that taking care of the Spirit in our family should not only be a top priority, but can also be a lot of fun and something meaningful to share. The need to nurture family values and role models for all ages, has led Family Values, LLC. to create Almighty Heroes, a new and inspiring line of positive-image children's Bible figures that teach our children about what is really important while helping to make our families stronger. These well-known Biblical heroes will bring joy and education to you and your children in ways you can see, touch, hear and read.
www.familyvaluescenter.com

Bookstore Manager's Retail Management Solutions
Bookstore Manager, a leading provider of total technology solutions for the Christian retail industry, has announced exciting upgrades and enhancements to its widely heralded point-of-sale (POS)/inventory control software, Retail Management Solutions (RMS). RMS Version 7.2, releasing this fall, will feature, among other things, the ability to manipulate data (i.e., mailing lists, inventory reports) in an Excel spreadsheet and import the changes back into the RMS system, enhancements to simplify the returns process, and a special button for EyeOnInventory participants to make return decisions using the EyeOnInventory Web utility and easily import them into the RMS system. Bookstore Manager's Retail Management Solutions Version 7.2 is a free upgrade for all current and future Bookstore Manager users that subscribe to the monthly maintenance plan. There are no additional fees and no additional equipment is required.
www.bookstoremanager.com