Their 5th reason is A General Lack of Available Books.They admit that “there are more books in the world than any person could possibly read in ten lifetimes.” But they point out the lack of library services in many places in the United States during the 1930s.
We have all heard the phrase that we are living in a post-Roe day. Since the 1930s just about all Americans now have access to public libraries and bookstores. But are we not gradually seeing the bookstores close? Have you checked your public library to see if they carry acceptable books for Christian children and adults? Perhaps the day is coming when we will be living in post-Christian-book-availability as the Post-Christian society sweeps across our country.
What if our church libraries fill the gaps emerging in our culture? Is your pastor and church staff aware of this implication of the Post-Christian society? How many churches in your community, city, town, or region have libraries today? That might be worth finding out because the impact of a possible lack of Christian books in the public libraries in the future will raise the question: Where will people in churches that do not have libraries find acceptable reading material?
Yes, they/we can always buy books from Amazon, Christianbook.com, and other online Christian retailers,but is that an option for all Americans? Just last week I had a young mother drop by the Enrichment Center. She is not a member of our church but she comes to our women's Bible studies on Wednesday mornings. She told me she and her two preschoolers have had a weekly routine to go to their public library one day a week. During their visit last Tuesday she discovered there are no longer any books that she finds acceptable for her preschoolers there. She was thrilled to know that she could start bringing her children to our library.
What would happen if our churches embraced their libraries as strategic parts of their outreach and discipleship tools for a post-Christian culture? What if we thought of church libraries like we think of public libraries? A chain of libraries available to our communitiues, but we offer Bible-based fiction and non-fiction for all people.
Your thoughts?
Comments
Morlee, this is EXCELLENT, and it is exciting to see the results of librarians making an effort. After our September 2023 library discussion on WORLD, I was able to talk to several librarians who also had renewed interest. In November, I spoke at a Church ministries conference and did a workshop on the need for Church libraries. I did not expect to have people show up but I had at least 10-15 people who not only were interested but had started libraries and needed help moving to the next level of involvement with their churches. Since then we have talked with people starting and building libraries. I love that people have the vision to fight for this area in the church. Your comment, "Perhaps the day is coming when we will be living in post-Christian-book-availability as the Post-Christian society sweeps across our country," is a terrifying thought to me for the next generations of believers. It is important for us to build and develop the Christian library as a legacy for the next generations. Thank you for sharing this, and thank you to the others who have already begun implementing strategies to grow their libraries. We are making a difference, one book and one patron at a time.
Thank you Morlee and Cara for some of these thoughts! Our Library is hosting our first (ever? in a very long time?) summer reading program, and I used a few of your phrases in the announcement email.
And I am SO EXCITED that our Children's pastor, when thinking of summer reading for elementary schoolers, asked if the Library could join forces, and encouraged me to expand it to all ages. Hopefully this will get more of our congregation using our library!
I just read a post about some states looking at combining small college libraries and having AI perform some tasks. Oh, my!!
I confess we are struggling with a lack of interest among the general body. We have several families who are intensely active in checking out and using the resources, but the vast majority never come, never even see what all we have to offer. I made an announcement in church on Sunday much to this exact effect: That our books & movies are being CURATED for us by someone with a worldview we do not know. Our movies are curated by the streaming services, based on popularity & secular demand. Our books - in both libraries & bookstores - are curated or placed by publishing contracts, sales records, and manager selection. WHat is the difference with our church library? It is curated specifically to encourage, equip, and inspire our church family.
I doubled the number of active library cards in one Sunday. How do we get people to catch this vision? I don't know, but it is surely worth the effort.
Cara
Wowsers! What a statement to share with the congregation! If you have the entire annoucement, I would love to read that. Thank you for standing up for libraries!
Sure! I was allowed to enclose an application for a patron card in the bulletin, and given 90 seconds to do an announcement...so I spoke boldly! :D Here is exactly what I said:
Good Morning! In your bulletin this morning, you will find a little information and a patron card application for the Resource Center.
For Christians, interaction with our world involves sorting and analyzing hundreds of ideas – each reflecting a particular view of the world – to determine whether they are true and good. We watch movies with our families, pick up a magazine or a best-selling book …all while wondering, “Where is the author coming from?” And – I would say –in many cases it can be healthy to encounter worldviews that sharpen and refine our own grasp of the truth, when we are aware and mature enough to engage in that conversation.
But something else is happening too. In 2023 we find that our very OPTIONS are curated for us. The movies we watch are curated by the streaming service we subscribe to. The books or magazines we are exposed to are curated by a local library or bookseller or audio or e-service … based on sales lists and publisher contracts or – the worldview of the person curating the options!
So I am here to urge you to a trusted and truth-based source for the ideas you and your family engage with: ChapelCity Resource Center, on the stage in the Fellowship Hall. It is GROWING and BECOMING a source of equipping, and inspiration, and encouragement in the faith. Fill out the application & leave it in the basket at the back of the room – on the back table or on the counter behind the overflow room – next week your patron card will be ready & waiting for you during Fellowship Time, at the Resource Center. And I can show you how to check out your own resources, on your phone.
We have the most beautiful children’s books, because they are grounded in truth. We have magazines that explore global missions, family life, sports, Christian history – and more. We are assembling some of the most thoughtful fiction you will find anywhere. We have books to equip and encourage believers on just about any topic –teaching tapes – classes from BIOLA, in fact. We have movies for kids & families. Audio Books! AND we will try to get what we do not have.
This is YOUR resource center. We want to know what YOU want in your resource center. YOU can help form what the Resource Center is becoming.
Drop an application in the basket today; Come see us next week for your patron card – and let’s get started together.
Wow, Cara! Wow! I like it! Fabulous promotion!!
Thx, Lynda! I have had a good response - not the tidal wave I would like, but a pretty steady stream of new users! - C
That is amazing! As our country becomes more and more "post Christian", our people will become increasingly aware of what church libraries have to offer. For many, the problem is not "unawareness" of the library. On Sundays and Wednesdays when most of our people are at church they do not have time to drop by the library to checkout a book. What can we do to have the collection open and available during times people do have time to visit the library?
Our library is unlocked and I have actually included that in the bulletin! Anyone from the congregation can come in, and check out a book (the process is on the checkout desk) anytime that they are in the building. We have an older lady who helps many times in various ministries during the week stop by. She is helping her disabled daughter when she is here on Sunday and Wednesday so other days work better for her.
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