Q&A

Dependable Sources to Help us Select Books and DVDs for Our Churches

Even though we have had this discussion in previous years, let's start a new list of dependable sources to help with selection. Chances are what we listed a few years ago may no longer be available. AND new sources are worth our consideration. 

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Purchasing Books and DVDs?

Share with us your favorite sources for library books and DVDs. Even if you see your sources mentioned by others before you do, go ahead and add to our list in this discussion.

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Revitalizing a Church Library

From Judy Bawks

Hello all! I am a 70-year-old life-long member of a Presbyterian Church in the U.P. of Michigan. Here's some background of our church: Our church membership has dwindled over the years, and we now have a membership of under 200, and a

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Inventory—What’s First?

We need to do an inventory but know that there are a LOT of books which have been checked out for extended periods of time (possibly as long ago as Covid 2020).  We do stamp our books with a 2 week return date, but do not stress this. 

We are ponderin

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Pre-teen Books

Our pre-teen selection (4th-5th grade at our church) needs some attention!  We are ready to order some current Christian books that would be highly appealing to this age group! 

I've been searching publishers  but finding that there doesn't seem to be

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Books by Authors of Color for Church Libraries

Marie Terwilliger has a request:

Recommended books by authors of color for church libraries. We are in serious need of expanding that grouping!

Thanks, Marie Terwilliger

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Out of Date Concordances and other Theological Resources?

How do you determine if a concordance and other theological resources are out of date in your collection?

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Circulation Reports without Software

Another topic discussed on October 19 in Franklin, TN was requested by some in our group who do not have automated collections. How to keep track of circulation? If you do not have an automated collection, how do you track circulation?

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Books on Hospice and End of Life Needs

One of our topics during last Saturday's (October 19, 2024)  Middle Tennessee Church Library Ministry Network gathering was sharing titles on hospice and end of life needs. Have you discovered books to have for families dealing with hospice care? Ple

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Collection Development: Book Recommendations in Magazines

What magazines are available to your church family? 

How do you use magazines to find books and DVDs for the library? 

 

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Ebooks

We have not grappled with eBooks in awhile. The pastor of one of our new members wants eBooks in the collection. Those of you who have experience with having eBooks in your church’s collection: would you share your recommendations as well as experien

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Books for Middle School Readers

Georgina Businaro recently put together a partical list of books her church's library provides for middle schoolers. Every church library is unique so keep in mind that each of us must use our selection policy to determine what we add to the collecti

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Women Authors who Write Historical Fiction

During the July 20, 2024 gathering of the Middle Tennessee Church Library Ministry Network, we agreed we would like to collaborate on developing a list of women authors who write historical fiction. Since everyone is busy, how about just writing a na

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Collection Development: New Believers

One of our members is searching for a list of recommended books for new believers. If each of us replies with one or two recommendations, we will all see a minimum of 2000 recommendations. We often do not participate in these listings because we don'

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2024 Transitions: Inventory

How do you approach the inventory task? For our growing number of new librarians joining the CLN, share your inventory tips whether you conduct the inventory manually or with software. 

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Alabama Authors

Barbara Rodgers asks the following:

My church is located in Alabama and I want to create a seperate space to shelve books by Alabama authors. Where can I find a collated list of books by Alabama authors? Of course I am only interested in the titles t

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Shelving Bible-based Materials

Sabrina J has a question about shelving.

Our church library collection of over 12k items was given away (except for reference material) several years ago so the library would close. We have a new much smaller spot as well. Looking back, we see how th

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Recommend these children's/ teens' authors?

Hi!

The latest Christianbook catalog had a few pages dedicated to children's fiction.

Any feedback/ concerns/ recommendations for these authors or series?

1. Chuck Black, Kingdom series (8-12yo)
2. Chuck Black, Knights of Arrethtrae series (not sure of recomme

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Youth Resource Recommendation?

Nancy Martin is searching for book about Daniel that is suitable for youth. Any recommendations?

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Collection Development on North American Missions, Annie Armstrong, and 20th and 21st centuries missions?

From Christy Hansen:

I am interested in adding a small handfull of titles to our library's collection some books, for both children and adults, on either Annie Armstrong and/or modern North American missionary work in the 20th and 21st centuries.  Ou

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