Posted by Carol Roeder on August 16, 2011 at 21:18
We are in the process of building a new church building and will have a new library. Our staff wants all organizations that have a room to come up with a "creative" name for the group (space, room) Anyone else call their organization anything but Library. We have been Media Library Ministry and Library Ministry. I would like to keep the word Library in it so people will know what we are. any suggestions would be appreciated.
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Several years ago before moving into a new space in a new building, our pastor asked me what I wanted to put on the directional signs. It was our workday and one team member said she thought "library" needed to be part of it; I said I would like "ministry" to be part of the name and after a few minutes discussion we decided to tell him "Library Ministry." A few months later the convention announced that the "media library" department would be known as the "library ministry" --- and, hooray! Our signs were already in place!
We are a ministry and our goal is to support the other ministries in the church and we would like that to be known through our official name. But, no matter what is on the sign -- everyone just calls the place "the library" and that's ok with me!
I agree with Sarah that getting too trendy or cutesy will probably involve changing signage in the not-too-distant future!
We will pray with you that the name that is selected will reflect the image and mission of the library and of the mission of the church as well.
Thanks for your input. We too have been using "Library Ministry" for a number of years and I have been comfortable with that name, or just "the library". And I agree with the trendy or cutesy names, but this is what our church wants all organizations do do and I feel I must comply to be on board with every one else. I have not heard of what other groups are coming up with yet. I know our bible study classes (Sunday school) are called iConnect classes.
At my church, the library is "The Library". It was formerly, officially, "The Virgil and Marjorie Watkins Adult Media Center", named after a longtime librarian who had served faithfully for many years but by the time I arrived had been gone for a while. We were having difficulty with too many "memorials" piling up (multiple rooms, pictures, instruments, etc. all with plaques and photographs hanging nearby; let me clarify that I am not opposed to honoring faithful servants in the church, but I don't feel that a memorial item/plaque/photo is the best way to do it!) and so it was simply called "Adult Media Center" in the documents. But everyone I know, staff included, just calls it "the library" no matter what the official title/sign says, and I prefer that!! It does make the purpose of the room much more clear in casual interactions.
However, if "The Library" or "Church Library" isn't exactly what your staff wants, I'd recommend checking with other organizations to get some idea of how "creative" they are being! Personally I'd be wary of straying too far into the trendy/cutesy/cutting-edge terminology that's pretty much outdated by the time the signs are made!
The library is the only room that is a dedicated memorial so that is not our experience. However, everyone just refers to it as the library - myself included.
Our library is the Winnie Beeshy Memorial Library. Winnie was a long time church and women's group member. We have framed awards hanging in the library which she received for her long volunteer commitment in the community. Also a biography is framed and hanging beside her awards.
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Several years ago before moving into a new space in a new building, our pastor asked me what I wanted to put on the directional signs. It was our workday and one team member said she thought "library" needed to be part of it; I said I would like "ministry" to be part of the name and after a few minutes discussion we decided to tell him "Library Ministry." A few months later the convention announced that the "media library" department would be known as the "library ministry" --- and, hooray! Our signs were already in place!
We are a ministry and our goal is to support the other ministries in the church and we would like that to be known through our official name. But, no matter what is on the sign -- everyone just calls the place "the library" and that's ok with me!
I agree with Sarah that getting too trendy or cutesy will probably involve changing signage in the not-too-distant future!
We will pray with you that the name that is selected will reflect the image and mission of the library and of the mission of the church as well.
Thanks for your input. We too have been using "Library Ministry" for a number of years and I have been comfortable with that name, or just "the library". And I agree with the trendy or cutesy names, but this is what our church wants all organizations do do and I feel I must comply to be on board with every one else. I have not heard of what other groups are coming up with yet. I know our bible study classes (Sunday school) are called iConnect classes.
At my church, the library is "The Library". It was formerly, officially, "The Virgil and Marjorie Watkins Adult Media Center", named after a longtime librarian who had served faithfully for many years but by the time I arrived had been gone for a while. We were having difficulty with too many "memorials" piling up (multiple rooms, pictures, instruments, etc. all with plaques and photographs hanging nearby; let me clarify that I am not opposed to honoring faithful servants in the church, but I don't feel that a memorial item/plaque/photo is the best way to do it!) and so it was simply called "Adult Media Center" in the documents. But everyone I know, staff included, just calls it "the library" no matter what the official title/sign says, and I prefer that!! It does make the purpose of the room much more clear in casual interactions.
However, if "The Library" or "Church Library" isn't exactly what your staff wants, I'd recommend checking with other organizations to get some idea of how "creative" they are being! Personally I'd be wary of straying too far into the trendy/cutesy/cutting-edge terminology that's pretty much outdated by the time the signs are made!
Our library is the Winnie Beeshy Memorial Library. Winnie was a long time church and women's group member. We have framed awards hanging in the library which she received for her long volunteer commitment in the community. Also a biography is framed and hanging beside her awards.