Q&A

Building a Library with Zero Budget

During the April 20, 2024 Middle Tennessee Church Librarians Ministry Network gathering, we shared lots of great ideas for funding sources. What do you suggest?

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Sunday Morning Experiences

Yesterday I had an amazing experience with a couple who visited our church for the first time. They were in the Enrichment Center when I got there after Sunday School. Both were very excited about our library! We had a delightful conversation about t

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Churches with schools?

From Martha Jo Dendinger

Do you have separate libraries for the congregation and the school? We are acquiring  K-8 school with 87 students. Would love to hear from this wonderful group of wisdom.

Blessings,

Martha

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Fall Break?

Our schools are taking this week off for Fall Break. So our church weekday activities are cancelled this week. Our team is using our Wednesday workday to continue our inventory. How does your team use school break weeks?

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Looking for info on online apps and programs that can be used by both church and members

Hi, Everyone! 

I have been asked to organize our church library (it hasn't been reviewed in years). 

A friend of mine introduced me to the app LibraryThing and I know that it will be a HUGE help to me to organize.

But I'd love to find an online progr

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Circulation Desk?

We have not grappled with the Circulation Desk needs lately. How do you coordinate the Circulation Desk needs on Sundays and weekdays?

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Churchwide Reports

Do you have the opportunity to give reports to the church family in some way about the status of the library? Business Meetings? Staff Meetings? Did you have that opportunity in the past?  If you do, share with us how you do such. Note that this ques

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Training Approaches are Shifting

Church Library Ministry is well known among other ministries for the strong history of a variety of training events through the years. While many ministries have given up on providing training for church leaders due to lack of funding, librarians hav

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Team Building for a New Church Year

In addition to budget planning, many of us are in churches that are having “Promotion Day” this Sunday. Then the new weekday schedule begins at some point during the next two to three weeks. Does this season impact your church’s library? Is this seas

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Engaging and Coordinating Library Volunteers

Debbie, I would also like to receive your newsletters:  jadams@olivebaptist.org   Thank you!

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2024 Budget Planning

I just had my first email question about creating a budget for the new year. Churches vary on budget seasons so some of us are going to be receiving forms to fill out with deadlines in the next few weeks. Others won't have to do such for a few more w

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Library Team Leadership Transitions

Email from Julianna Baucant:

Our church librarian, Nettie K. passed an article around for all library volunteers to read. The article was titled, 'Important Relationships: Church Librarians and Children.' It changed my perspective on things. The auth

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Donations Policy

I have been asked to update our policy on receiving donations. Would you  please post a question to ask for examples of receiving gifts of books and media to the media library?  Our policy has not been updated in several years and needs to be more sp

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Library Supplies

Last year, we moved to using Atriuum/Book Systems for our church library. In the past we used a computer system but still used book pockets and cards as well.  We have hundreds (maybe a thousand each) of library book pockets (2 styles) and cards (2 c

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Library serving with the In-Home Ministry

My church calls our homebound ministry the In-Home Ministry. Last night I had a long overdue conversation with the leader of our In-Home Ministry. She loves the idea of the Enrichment Center collaborating with the In-Home Ministry. 

How do you work w

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Policies

On March 4 I will be facilitating a session during the Central Alabama Spring Conference on policies. I just searched the word "policies" on the CLN. I found 46 posts with lots of replies. Looks like we have not had any discussions related to policie

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Engaging and Coordinating Library Volunteers

Edie Asbury posted the following request:

I am looking for tips on engaging with and coordinating library volunteers. This will be a focus of the next BIC Church Librarians Newsletter (BIC = Brethren in Christ).

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Location of Library

Adair Elwing posted:

Background: They moved our kids to building on far side of campus for SS and started Childrens Church in  Fellowship Hall so they are not in Sanctuary at all. Use to get kids checking out from cart in Sanctuary but now unless th

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Returns

How do your customers return items? Do you have a drop box in the hallway? A place in the library? Feel free to paste a picture in your reply or post on Photos. 

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