One of our new CLN members is beginning the process for his church to revitalize their library. This library room is also used as the Welcome Center. We haven’t discussed multiuse approaches for a church/synagogue/parish library in a long time. Perhaps this approach is increasingly being used in today’s libraries due to the increasing cost of building materials. Your suggestions, experiences, and thoughts?
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My experience is of three different church libraries. A very large church had a special room off the Narthex for their library, but it seemed the doorway was so out of the way, few went in to see what was there. It was very well packed, it didn't leave much room for expansion without weeding big time. They finally moved the library to a space at the head of a long staircase leading to class rooms and balconey of the sanctuary. While there wasn't as much space it did appear it was more useable and accessible, but I had the feeling there were fewer visits other than those in the classes. The second library was in the narthes proper, and visual when entering the church. It was a very small church comparatively in a small community (that had 7 or more churches) and while not really active, there were at least 50 books circulating each month for a congregation of a bit more than 200 members. A third, very large church remodeled, moved the library to a basement from a room near the Sanctuary. I don't know what the circulation is, but it was pretty nil and very small collection for such a large church. Trying to find out about it was pretty strange. As far as I can tell, there is no mention of it in any of the communications or website pages.
My take is, if a church library is going to be of use, other than for staff or ministers, it must be where people are going to find themselves before and after services and events...along with lots of mentions in all communications and online sites. I notice that two of these are now putting their service bulletins up on Facebook, but nothing about the libraries yet. Without any in-your-face promotions or space, library collections are going to be ignored.
We have the story with pictures of what started at Taylor First Baptist Church in Taylor, South Carolina in 2016. I had the opportunity to participate in a South Carolina Church Library Conference in this church in 2020. So, I took pictures and asked the library team to write an article for the Church Librarians Network. I think we will all find the pictures and story interesting and helpful.
Search Results - Photos - Church Librarians Network
The Connection Center - Articles - Church Librarians Network
Lately, I’ve wondered what is happening there today. I am stunned by what I found on their library web page on the church website.
Resource Center - Taylors First Baptist Church - Taylors, SC
A growing number of us have started leaving the library door open and using a self-checkout system. The key to such big changes is our prayerful openness to collaborating with our church leaders. My church family is getting ready to implement a new vision for our church campus. I think the time is right for me to step up because the Enrichment Center is in the center of our church campus. Thank you, Judy Dorn and Susan Tyler!
My pastor and the leadership team is quite anxious to commandeer the library as a welcome center and I am not happy about it. I plan to be quite adamant that this not happen so I look forward to this exchange. We have what I think is one of the best church libraries in the southwest corner of the state of Wisconsin and would hate to see the collection reduced in size so we can have coffee tables. Perhaps I need my mind changed?
Hold fast to your Library! Your comment about coffee tables is spot on. That is exactly what l thought of the sample library elsewhere in this newsletter. It was basically a conference room with a few bookshelves off in one corner. 😟
I am also in Wisconsin, NE corner.
My library was also in the foyer of church. I loved the location as I received a lot of traffic. Yes, some materials did disappear, but I was thankful they were being used. Most of my materials were donated by the congregation, so there was no financial loss. Accepting donations was a way to save money and get the congregation involved. I did have to sort through materials and pass a lot of them on to other non-profits, but I received some excellent materials at no cost.
I would also consider not calling the space a library. Most people think of libraries as a home for books. Calling your space a Resource Center allows you to broaden your outreach to include referrals to church programs, websites, other ministries, etc.