Q&A

Revitalization Needs

From Stephanie Richardson

I am just getting started with revitalizing my church's library. It is a beautiful space, but for years has been a dumping ground for books that people want to get rid of - resulting in a collection of books that no one want

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Attracting more patrons

Jonna Bridgman requests the following:

My church library is slowly dying. I am the only staff. I have moved it three times. The last move was to the old choir room. The choir officially died. I need more patrons! I need ideas on how to attract more p

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Read the Bible Through 2026

I'm sure my church is not the only one launching an emphasis to Read the Bible through the coming year. I just finished the 2025 plan. The new plan for 2026 focuses on the New Testament. One difference that I am sure will draw more people to particip

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Purchasing Shelves

One of our new members is starting a new church library. They need shelves. Any recommendations?

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Highly Recommended Practical Real-Life Books

 Dr. Paul T. Jackson asked me to post the following as a discussion starter. What would you add.

Here’s a focused starter list of practical, everyday-life books that many church libraries find helpful for patrons—resources that support people facing

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Exporting a catalog to another software vendor?

We have been told recently that our library may have to change from Follett to Surpass due to Follett pricing continuing to rise.  Also, we are so behind on Follett updates that if we upgraded, our server would not be able to support Follett. Would t

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Reading Time for Children

Also, do many churches have reading time for children? If so, what time of the week and how did you develop it? Would you consider it a ministry of the church or just an offering to parents to encourage reading? 

Denise Roberts

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Book Clubs

Do many people have book clubs in their church, and if so, how is it done, and how has it been received? 

Denise Roberts

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Purging Books Today

How do librarians purge books? I know this has been discussed before, but as newer books are becoming increasingly "edgy," should we be keeping some of the older "tried & true" and if so, what criteria could we use to make our decisions? 

Denise Robe

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Church Librarians Network Q&A Topics

Do you have a topic or question you would like for me to post for you. Reply here to share it with me. I will post it for you.

Morlee

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Shifts in Library Training Models

We have several CLN members who are on conference teams who plan training events for librarians. One complaint that these planners often hear is “I’ve already heard him or her speak so I don’t need to go to that session.” OR “I want to experience som

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5 Shifts for Our Churches in 2026

Recently I viewed a very interesting webinar that intrigued my thoughts about 2026.

Carey Nieuwhof is a Canadian pastor and a leadership expert known for helping church leaders thrive in a rapidly changing world. Recently, he did a free webinar title

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Building a Different World?

As I prepared for the Tennessee Library Conference that took place this past Saturday, I collected random quotes to share in specific sessions.

For my first session, I planned to use the following quote as a conclusion to our focus on Revitalizing o

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Library Desk Books for Today's Libraries

 

We have discussed the Desk Book in the past. Click here to find some ideas for organizing and what to include in a Desk Book. This relates to the idea of being prepared when someone suddenly steps away from the library team. The free book Church Li

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Preteen, Middle School, and/or High School Book Clubs During the School Year?

We are familiar with book clubs/challenges during the summer. How about during the school year? Anyone have experience with this approach during the school year?

During this summer we had 2 reading group sessions for preteens. Sort of like test runs

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Libraries that Serve Seminary Cohorts that Meet in the Building

My church is the location of Southeastern Baptist Seminary student cohorts. For the first time, the leader of these cohorts asked the Enrichment Center Team to include the textbooks for a course that starts August 18. He asked us to add 16 books for

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Starting the School Year 2025

Did you hear the school bus this morning. School started where I live so I heard it this morning. What have you done this year to welcome the new school year with the kids? 

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How do you welcome someone who starts using your church or synagogue's library?

Yesterday, I had the joy of welcoming someone to our Enrichment Center library. She just starting coming to our church. What a joy to see her face light up as I introduced her to our library, two of our team members who were shelving, and users who w

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Summer 2025 Reading Challenges

Many of us are starting to see the end of summer coming soon. Do you have a reading challenge this summer? How about a report on what is happening with the reading challenge?

We already have lots of reading change reports from past years on the Churc

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What’s Next? Independence Day! Any special ideas for the library this year?

Let's consider what we have posted in recent years for July 4. I found pictures of displays and points of interest. Click here:

Search Results - July 4 - Church Librarians Network

What are you creating for your church this year?

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