While we have a substantial number of non-fiction volumes. I am convinced that what will draw adults to our library is an excellent selection of Christian fiction books. We do have the Jan Karon series and about 50 other titles, but I am looking for some really excellent must-have choices to include. If I head to Barnes and Noble I find an extensive number of books from which to choose, but I really would appreciate anyone's suggestions.......
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Dont' forget fiction writers Robert Whitlowl, Randy Singer, and Craig Parshall. They all write legal fiction.
You might also put out a clipboard & pen for a "Fiction Wishlist" and begin asking your own library users to recommend their favorite authors. You might even get donations of what you want from readers who are ready to pass them along.
Since books are expensive, and series much more so, perhaps the church would allow you to "advertise" in the bulletin or on the website a request for donations of "complete series of fiction books by your favorite Christian authors." You will probably get boxes of them and mostly complete series - you may need to just order less expensive used copies for missing titles from a used book vendor on Amazon, etc., especially if they're no longer in print. It won't matter if they're not brand new since the others that were donated probably weren't in brand new condition either. I would recommend just adding the series that are newer (copyright date 15 years or newer?) and in good enough condition to justify the time needed for cataloging, processing, and shelf space. If they are older, tattered, foxed (brown around the page edges) or brown all the way through, you don't want them. Be sure your donation policy specifies that all donations are subject to your selection guidelines and the final decision to add them (or not) to the library collection is up to the librarian and/or library committee (or team).
We shelve our newer series and individual titles on our shelving from the waist up. On our lower shelving (which was formerly cabinet space - we removed the doors and adjusted the shelves) we put our older series. This keeps our shelves at eye level looking fresher and we just remind patrons that older series are stored lower. If we have them for several years without much interest, we move them out as a group. If you have available space, you might want all your series sets together, on one wall, etc. Hope these ideas have been helpful.
Great question! I encourage you to go to www.lifeway.com/churchlibrary. In our archive of articles we have numerous mediagraphies that will interest you. Click on Subject Index then click on mediagraphies. THANKS!
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