Summary of Contents

• What is the purpose of the Church Librarians Network?
• How does the Church Librarians Network work?
• How do I join?
• Do I have to join?
• How do I change my page?
• How do I begin a discussion?
• How do I follow a discussion
• What is an RSS feed?
• How do I report an Inappropriate post

What is the purpose of the Church Librarians Network?

The Church Librarians Network is a place for church librarians to exchange ideas and learn from each other. The focus is on helping church librarians sharpen their skills and share their ideas as they carry out their library ministries in their churches.

How does the Church Librarians Network work?

Questions or ideas are posted at least once a week by members of the network. Others in the network can respond to that question or idea, suggest other ideas, or suggest other ways of doing the idea. Registered members of the network may also post a question or idea they are working through as they prepare to carry out their ministry. Members can then comment on those discussions as well.

How do I join?

In the top right corner of the page, you will see a box that gives you the opportunity to sign up to become a member. Click that button and supply the information requested, following the prompts. If you forget it, you can recover it through the link provided on the sign-in page.

Do I have to join?

You are not required to join to view the discussions taking place on the Church Librarians Network. However, you can only view the discussions. If you want to share a comment or idea, you must be a registered member of the Church Librarian Network.

How do I change my page?

When you register, a page is created with your identity. You can add a photo and other information about yourself if you choose. On the right hand side of the page, click on “Settings.” You can change your profile, appearance (add colors, etc), privacy (who can see what), and email (settings for email notifications about activity on the Church Librarians Network and your page). You can do as little or as much as you want.

How do I begin a discussion?

To begin a discussion, click on the appropriate tab on the top of the page--Q&A or Ideas. In that group page, click on “Start Discussion” at the end of the Q&A or Idea section. Title your post and then type your ideas, thoughts, or questions. When making the title, be sure to be clear as to what the discussion is about. After typing your post, add tags separated by commas. These are words a person could use to search for your discussion. You can include the date, the topic, or other words that would help a person find your post. Click on the “Add Q&A” button. After you click this button, you have 15 minutes to edit your post.

How do I follow a discussion?

You can follow a discussion in a variety of ways. First of all, you can set your email notifications so that you receive an email when there is a post on the Church Librarians Network. If you don’t mind a truckload of emails, this is an easy way to know what is going on. A second way is to use the RSS feature. Near the bottom of the Main page on the left corner, you will see a logo with RSS next to it. Click on it, then copy and paste the URL into a RSS reader (see below) and you can follow all activity on the Church Librarians Network. You can also follow the discussion posts of another member if you find their insights as particularly helpful. On the members page, you will find the RSS logo under the &ldquoLatest Activity” section (click, copy, and paste).

What is an RSS feed?

An RSS feed (Really Simple Syndication) is a way to stay updated whenever new content is added to a specific website. You paste the feed’s URL into a feed-reader application (like Google Reader, Bloglines, NetNewsWire, or NewsGator…search for RSS Reader). To find the feed’s URL, right click on the RSS logo and copy the URL (you will also see the URL on the bottom left corner of your Internet browser).

How do I report an Inappropriate post?

If you locate a post that is inappropriate, please send a message by using the "Report an Issue" link that appears at the bottom of each page.
Just follow the prompts. Individuals who post inappropriate content will be contacted by email by the site administrator. If he or she does not respond or continues to post questionable content, he or she will be dismissed from the group.