church libraries - Q&A - Church Librarians Network2024-03-29T05:53:59Zhttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/QandA/feed/tag/church+librariesSpring Break?https://churchlibrarians.ning.com/QandA/spring-break2024-03-11T14:38:56.000Z2024-03-11T14:38:56.000ZMorlee Maynardhttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/members/MorleeMaynard<div><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Some of you have already had spring break while some of us are having it this week, and others the week before Easter. Please share your church’s library activities for kids and their families during spring break this year. </span></p></div>Youth Resource Recommendation?https://churchlibrarians.ning.com/QandA/youth-resource-recommendation2024-03-07T12:41:23.000Z2024-03-07T12:41:23.000ZMorlee Maynardhttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/members/MorleeMaynard<div><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Nancy Martin is searching for book about Daniel that is suitable for youth. Any recommendations?</span></p></div>Easter 2024 Plans?https://churchlibrarians.ning.com/QandA/easter-2024-plans2024-03-04T17:12:26.000Z2024-03-04T17:12:26.000ZMorlee Maynardhttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/members/MorleeMaynard<div><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">What are the Easter plans for the library this season? Display? Please take a picture and post on our Photos tab. Reading plan for your people?</span></p></div>Church Directorieshttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/QandA/church-directories2024-02-29T16:57:58.000Z2024-02-29T16:57:58.000ZMorlee Maynardhttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/members/MorleeMaynard<div><div class="gmail_default"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Rose Newcomb asks the following:</strong></span></div>
<div class="gmail_default"> </div>
<div class="gmail_default"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Our church directory is very outdated. Are churches now creating their own directories? Is it just a list of names of church family members or does it include photos? If it is an online directory, how are privacy issues handled? It would be helpful if we could have a few copies in the church library for folks to check out.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default"> </div>
<div class="gmail_default"><span style="font-size:12pt;">What computer program is used? Does the Power Church program have a way to create a directory? Any information you can share would be appreciated.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default"> </div>
<div class="gmail_default"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Thanks for your help!</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Rose Newcomb</span></div></div>What About Younger Preschoolers Today?https://churchlibrarians.ning.com/QandA/what-about-younger-preschoolers-today2024-02-26T17:17:58.000Z2024-02-26T17:17:58.000ZMorlee Maynardhttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/members/MorleeMaynard<div><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">While looking for books about Annie Armstrong on<strong> <a href="https://wmu.com/about-wmu/" target="_blank">WMU.com</a></strong>, I discovered a great article about today's younger preschoolers. While the article is written for teachers, I think we can find all kinds of implications for church librarians. Let’s share our reflections on this article for us. Those of you who have children and grandchildren will have insights too.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong><a href="https://wmu.com/teaching-generation-alpha-preschoolers/" target="_blank">Teaching Generation Alpha Preschoolers</a></strong></span></p></div>Collection Development on North American Missions, Annie Armstrong, and 20th and 21st centuries missions?https://churchlibrarians.ning.com/QandA/collection-development-on-north-american-missions-annie-armstrong2024-02-22T13:50:15.000Z2024-02-22T13:50:15.000ZMorlee Maynardhttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/members/MorleeMaynard<div><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">From Christy Hansen:</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">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. Our church is highlighting North American Missions and their work in April so I want to tie in to that. Might our members have any suggestions for us to add to our collection? </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Thanks!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Christy Hansen</span></p></div>Shelving Books in a Series for Childrenhttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/QandA/shelving-books-in-a-series-for-children2024-02-14T01:07:44.000Z2024-02-14T01:07:44.000ZMorlee Maynardhttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/members/MorleeMaynard<div><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">How are books such as the I Can Read Series : Daniel and the Lion's Den , Jesus is Born , Faith Gets Us Through catalogued for shelving. It seems to me that being placed together would be easier for children to find. I've been out of this a while so I'm just not up on this. </span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:12pt;">Thank you!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Sabrina J</span></p></div>Collection Development: Chapter History Books for 3-5 Gradershttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/QandA/collection-development-chapter-history-books-for-3-5-graders2024-02-12T17:07:50.000Z2024-02-12T17:07:50.000ZMorlee Maynardhttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/members/MorleeMaynard<div><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">We have biography series but only a few history books for 3-5 graders. Any recommendations? I have a very frustrated 5th grade girl waiting for us to meet her interests! HELP!</span></p></div>Collection Development: Devotional Books for Childrenhttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/QandA/collection-development-devotional-books-for-children2024-02-12T16:56:45.000Z2024-02-12T16:56:45.000ZMorlee Maynardhttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/members/MorleeMaynard<div><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">People ask us for recommendations for devotionals even though we may not include devotional books in the collection because people would check them out for a year. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">What do you recommend they purchase for devotional books for children that have devotionals that have a story about children their age with a Bible-based truth and prayer thought for each day?</span></p></div>Lost Bibles?https://churchlibrarians.ning.com/QandA/lost-bibles2024-01-30T13:17:57.000Z2024-01-30T13:17:57.000ZMorlee Maynardhttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/members/MorleeMaynard<div><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Barbara Rodgers asks the following.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Our church library has become the final resting place for Bibles left in Lost and Found for more than a year. Worn out and torn Bibles from somewhere (no one knows where) keep turning up in the library in boxes and plastic bags. And I do ask, "Who left these Bibles by the library door?" I counted a total of 125 unusable Bibles taking up valuable library closet space. What am I supposed to do with them? What is the protocol for respectfully of disposing of unusable Bibles?</span></p></div>Displays for Cultural History Emphaseshttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/QandA/displays-for-cultural-history-emphases2024-01-30T13:14:19.000Z2024-01-30T13:14:19.000ZMorlee Maynardhttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/members/MorleeMaynard<div><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Barbara Rodgers asks the following.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">How do church libraries handle displays focusing on the emphases of Black History Month, Women's History Month or other cultural history emphases?</span></p></div>New Babies?https://churchlibrarians.ning.com/QandA/new-babies2024-01-29T16:30:54.000Z2024-01-29T16:30:54.000ZMorlee Maynardhttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/members/MorleeMaynard<div><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Recently, my brother-in-law found the Cradle Roll letter sent to his parents when he was born. Does your church’s library team connect with parents of new babies in some way? </span></p></div>Sunday Morning Experienceshttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/QandA/sunday-morning-experiences2024-01-29T15:25:34.000Z2024-01-29T15:25:34.000ZMorlee Maynardhttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/members/MorleeMaynard<div><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">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 the role church libraries have played in their lives. What about your Sunday morning amazing experiences? Let’s share our stories.</span></p></div>Book Recommendations and Sermonshttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/QandA/books-recommendations-and-sermons2024-01-22T17:29:22.000Z2024-01-22T17:29:22.000ZMorlee Maynardhttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/members/MorleeMaynard<div><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Paul Jackson emailed me recently asking if preachers communicate titles of books they plan to include in their sermons. We grappled with this often-frustrating question through the years within other subjects. Let’s bring it up again. How do you work with your preachers about titles they plan to share during a sermon? </span></p></div>Purging Non-Fiction Books?https://churchlibrarians.ning.com/QandA/purging-non-fiction-books2024-01-16T19:51:04.000Z2024-01-16T19:51:04.000ZMorlee Maynardhttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/members/MorleeMaynard<div><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Barbara Brown asked the following:</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Need some ideas on how to purge non-fiction books. They have never been purged! Our fiction section is the most popular and non-fiction books are seldomly checked out except for a few authors.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Thanks!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Barbara Brown</span></p></div>Collection Development: Peacehttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/QandA/collection-development-peace2024-01-15T16:37:39.000Z2024-01-15T16:37:39.000ZMorlee Maynardhttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/members/MorleeMaynard<div><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Let’s focus on the memory of Martin Luther King today by sharing books we have in our collections on peace. </span></p></div>Cataloging Multiple Pieceshttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/QandA/cataloging-multiple-pieces2024-01-02T21:32:55.000Z2024-01-02T21:32:55.000ZMorlee Maynardhttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/members/MorleeMaynard<div><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Roxy Klassen asks the following question:</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">How do you catalog items that have multiple pieces? We have a good number of Small Group Study Materials. Most have a Teacher/Leader Guide; a DVD; and one or more student book/workbooks. We don't mind if the workbooks are used so I don't want to include those in the catalog. Also, how do you store them to keep them together as a set? Rubber bands, some kind of case, etc?</span></p>
<p> </p></div>Churches with schools?https://churchlibrarians.ning.com/QandA/churches-with-schools2023-12-19T12:42:18.000Z2023-12-19T12:42:18.000ZMorlee Maynardhttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/members/MorleeMaynard<div><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">From Martha Jo Dendinger</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">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.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Blessings, </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Martha</span></p></div>Recommendations for Books related to Thanksgivinghttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/QandA/recommendations-for-books-related-to-thanksgiving2023-11-06T18:06:19.000Z2023-11-06T18:06:19.000ZMorlee Maynardhttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/members/MorleeMaynard<div><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Books on Thanksgiving? Boooks on gratitude? Lots out there for children, but am having trouble finding ones for older teens or adult books on Thanksgiving.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Thanks!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Martha Wilson</span></p></div>Cookbooks?https://churchlibrarians.ning.com/QandA/cookbooks2023-10-30T14:34:39.000Z2023-10-30T14:34:39.000ZMorlee Maynardhttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/members/MorleeMaynard<div><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Emily Belz is a staff writer for "Christianity Today" magazine. She emailed me the following:</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">“I'm writing about what happened to church cookbooks; do any churches still produce them? What is the story and timeline of their decline? Do librarians keep these archived?” </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Click <strong><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfqithpyRCQIll9VHg5X_NeNC3qq_J6vEHkPMQIX6-rCcJ71g/viewform?usp=sf_link">here</a></strong> to fill out her questionnaire.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Let's broaden her question to discuss cookbooks. Do you have cookbooks in your collection?</span></p></div>"People Don't Want a Friendly Church"https://churchlibrarians.ning.com/QandA/people-don-t-want-a-friendly-church2023-10-23T15:02:51.000Z2023-10-23T15:02:51.000ZMorlee Maynardhttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/members/MorleeMaynard<div><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Lifeway Research posted recent research results titled<strong> <a href="https://research.lifeway.com/2020/10/21/people-dont-want-a-friendly-church/" target="_blank">“People Don’t Want a Friendly Church.”</a></strong> I’m sure the title itself hooks you. Even though the article does not mention libraries, it does describe ways that we help people connect in meaningful ways such as book clubs. We do the same thing by having a jigsaw puzzle available for people to gather and get to know each other while they work the puzzle. What do you find here?</span></p>
<p> </p></div>Remembering the people of Israel and the innocent people of Gazahttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/QandA/remembering-the-people-of-israel-and-the-innocent-people-of-gaza2023-10-16T15:26:35.000Z2023-10-16T15:26:35.000ZMorlee Maynardhttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/members/MorleeMaynard<div><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">What is your church’s/synagogue library team doing as your church/ synagogue family prays for people caught in this tragedy? </span></p></div>Fall Break?https://churchlibrarians.ning.com/QandA/fall-break2023-10-09T16:36:08.000Z2023-10-09T16:36:08.000ZMorlee Maynardhttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/members/MorleeMaynard<div><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">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?</span></p></div>Greeting Card Ministryhttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/QandA/greeting-card-ministry2023-10-02T17:07:53.000Z2023-10-02T17:07:53.000ZMorlee Maynardhttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/members/MorleeMaynard<div><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">From a Church Librarians Network search, we have overlooked sharing what some of us are doing with greeting cards. We just started a team of card makers for our group leaders and In-Home Ministry visitors. It is led by Debbie Boyte. Once the word got out a few months ago that we we starting such a ministry, card makers both in our church and beyond our church family started donating cards. They are beautiful! Debbie met with the In-Home Ministry Team to explain this new service to them. Now we are looking for ways to connect with Group/Sunday School class leaders. Debbie purchased a perfect rack for the cards. I will take a picture and post it on Wednesday.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:16px;">Can't wait to see what other churches are doing with card services to church leaders! Please share your ideas!</span></p></div>Local Gatherings of Church Librarians??https://churchlibrarians.ning.com/QandA/local-gatherings-of-church-librarians2023-09-25T17:30:54.000Z2023-09-25T17:30:54.000ZMorlee Maynardhttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/members/MorleeMaynard<div><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Last Thursday those of us in Nashville had a Meet & Greet gathering to launch our new Middle Tennessee Church Library Ministry Network. The planning team is thrilled that we had a total of 10 librarians show up! We had a great experience getting to know each other, touring the host church library, talking about moving forward with quarterly gatherings, putting some topics on a list for discussion, and finding ways to help churches in middle Tennessee. Our next gathering will be in January. If you live in Middle Tennessee and would like to be added to our email list, email me (<a href="mailto:churchlibrariansnetwork@gmail.com">churchlibrariansnetwork@gmail.com</a>).</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">If you live in an area that has this kind of group that meets on a regular basis, would you share what you do and how you do it?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Morlee</span></p></div>Remembering September 11, 2001https://churchlibrarians.ning.com/QandA/remembering-september-11-20012023-09-11T14:46:03.000Z2023-09-11T14:46:03.000ZMorlee Maynardhttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/members/MorleeMaynard<div><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Today we remember those lost on September 11, 2001. Did you do anything special yesterday? A display? Added books to your collection? </span></p></div>Self Check-In/Check-Out Equipment?https://churchlibrarians.ning.com/QandA/self-check-in-check-out-equipment2023-09-04T20:55:22.000Z2023-09-04T20:55:22.000ZMorlee Maynardhttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/members/MorleeMaynard<div><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Those of you who have electronic equipment for self-checkout and check-in, what are our recommendations? Do you have any shopping advice for such machines? </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p></div>The role of Church Librarians in Bibliotherapyhttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/QandA/the-role-of-church-librarians2023-09-04T14:47:57.000Z2023-09-04T14:47:57.000ZSarahhttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/members/Sarah<div><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>The role of church librarians in offering resources to congregants during challenging times through the provision of spiritual reading materials is of great importance. Such resources can provide comfort, guidance, and support to individuals seeking solace and direction in their faith.</strong></span></p></div>Overdue Books and other Itemshttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/QandA/overdue-books-and-other-items2023-08-25T22:36:52.000Z2023-08-25T22:36:52.000ZMorlee Maynardhttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/members/MorleeMaynard<div><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">I would like to hear how other librarians manage notifications of overdue books, and at what point do you just pronounce a book as lost and decide whether to replace it or not. We do not charge fines.This is the least enjoyable duty for me as librarian. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Linda Johnson</span></p></div>Young Adults/Teens Collectionhttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/QandA/teen-satellite-library2023-08-25T15:24:05.000Z2023-08-25T15:24:05.000ZMorlee Maynardhttps://churchlibrarians.ning.com/members/MorleeMaynard<div><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Amy Burke needs suggestions for Christian fiction and Christian Graphic Novels for young adult/teens. In order to minister to all age groups, I am trying different things. I decided to create a Teen Satellite Library in our Youth Center. The Youth Minister is extremely excited about this venture. I just took over the Church Library in February 2023, after it had been closed during Covid. Our young adult section is lacking, geared more toward middle schoolers than high school. I would like some suggestions of some teen Christian authors and titles for books and graphic novels that you have in your libraries or of which you are aware. I am a retired high school English teacher, so I am attuned to all genres but wanted to know what you recommend for Christian Teen Fiction. </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Thank you!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Amy Burke</span></p></div>