Perhaps for fun, what are some odd challenges that you have experienced through your library ministry? Some of these may not be so fun.
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Perhaps for fun, what are some odd challenges that you have experienced through your library ministry? Some of these may not be so fun.
You need to be a member of Church Librarians Network to add comments!
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Our library is used as a classroom during the week and for Deacons' meetings before Sunday School sometimes on Sunday mornings. We have an open library with self-checkout, but the most popular time for visitors is during Sunday School and the break between Sunday School and Worship services. Recently I had someone try to commandeer the library for private meetings with the American Heritage Girls all Sunday morning! I had to be very assertive to keep them out.
We occasionally get people who come in and just need to talk.
We definitely on a regular, though not frequent basis have someone bring back a book, and tell us, "I don't know why this is in the church library". We always ask them why and then look into it. Sometimes we remove it, most often we don't. If it's one we keep, we try to encourage people to avoid authors or genres which don't appeal to them, and remind them that some other people like those books.
Aaaah the "authors disgrace themself" issue...that's come up a few times! Sometimes we hear about it and remove a book. Sometimes our pastor will tell us to remove books by a certain author.
When we receive donations, we always ask the donor if they want the books back if we can't use them. We don't really go into a lot of detail other than "if we already have it or can't use it" and I don't recall anyone ever challenging that in any way. Only once, as I recall, did the donor want them back. The rest are just happy to get rid of them!
"Banning books" is such an interesting concept because in general, it's really just selection....which we all have to do, every single library in existence. There are definitely books we would not buy for the church library no matter how much we like them ourselves. I'd be interested to hear what others have experienced in this area.
We have a nice book return box which sits out in the hallway and doubles as a check-out station. It was built by a church member years ago and it works really well. Sometimes people will bring their books inside the library and place them on the desk where the librarian on duty processes them but the book return gets used all the time and we find it to be very helpful.
Tell us about your checkout station in the hallway.
Seeing as how we still use the old-fashioned "sign this card" method, this area has a cup of pencils/pens and a box where people can put their card when they are done. Also due-date cards are provided for those who like to use them.
Sorry the first picture came out sideways - I can't figure out how to remove and rotate it.
Our Presbyterian Church in the small town of Enumclaw, WA was struggling with getting the Internet into the main church. We had two other building which were wood, the actual church was wide wall brick. I used repeaters, and a host of other things in the church, but it would not hook up to the church's system at the office. I finally was able to connect by buying my own ISP but eventurally had to run it through a router set in the tower...the only place we could get a signal.
Here's a starter list for us to consider and add to this week:
Can’t remember names.
Sunday morning visits by adults on their way to worship who need a listening ear.
Can’t appeal to everyone.
Political differences among church members.
What to do when an author disgraces him or herself.
Difference of opinions on the CLM team.
Team members accuse you of having favorites.
Donations of unacceptable books and DVDs.
Are church libraries exempt from banning books?
What would you add? Which ones are true for you?
Where to put returns.
Sunday School classes/groups meet in the library.