Based on this Pew Research study results, let's talk about what our church library ministry teams might do to reach young adults who have walked away from church families. What changes do we need to consider? What do we currently do that needs to be strengthened? How do we get young adults involved in our teams? How do we intentionally connect with the young adult ministries of our churches? How do we work with Baby Boomer leaders who have stopped appreciating libraries? Those are just a few questions to get our dialogue going. Let's see if we can come up with some radical responses and perspectives for today's churches.
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One idea is to sponsor a class/conference on a "hot topic" with the young adults. Topics might vary from location to location/church to church. Feed them a healthy meal and make provisions for their children. The draw will be the speaker - someone they are familiar with and trust. Hopefully this person will do the conference for you for free. The adults are used to paying for seminars, so a charge would/could be in order to cover the meal and child care. The library ministry team does not have to do the conference, just sponsor it. Then provide the attendees with a mediagraphy of materials pertinent to the subject that you have in the church library. "If you enjoyed this.....you will enjoy these."
This is the same question we are asking ourselves at my church. I don't have an answer; but I've had some thoughts. I have a vision of the library reaching out to more than just church members. I think church libraries would be a great connection for homeschoolers. To me this is a big possibility!
There are also other programs that you could have - animal therapy dogs who shy children can read to.
Getting the word out about what books we have might help. I am hoping to create a church blog that will have reviews of books that people have read.
There needs to be a partnership between books and technology. Again we get into the conversation about how member's of the church could rent ebooks through their libraries. My church has the possibility to get some free laptops. I would like to see a wall with 3 or 4 computers anyone could use. It would also be a way to have different ages interact. The younger more tech savy could help seniors who need to sign up for various programs, etc. Using the computers could be a nice to supplement what the public libraries do with computer availability.
I read a curious thing in Dewey the library cat - this small town library rented out cake pans. Different shaped cake pans. maybe there is something unique that we could add to our library collection.
Those are my thoughts for now. Love to hear other's thoughts
Our little church is surrounded by new home subdivisions, whose primary residents are young families. I would love to hear from someone who has reached out to include these residents who are not church members.
We have a wonderfully stocked church library and I am searching for ways to bring members as well as these neighbors into our library.
We are in need of new outreach programs...
Maybe a story time for young children would be something that would be welcomed. Maybe if there are stay-at-home moms, they would enjoy a coffee time in the church near the library while the children are being read a story. Invite them to use the library for leisure reading and help them to expand into parenting helps and into deeper spiritual material. Maybe a short Bible study or devotional time could be started . . . and, of course, invite them to the services of your church. Maybe some of your members would volunteer to host these groups by providing light refreshments and to volunteer to read to the children.
our church library has been open to the community on Thursday evenings for a long time. We do have spells where we get people in and other times we are able to use that time as work time. but homeshcoolers are using our library on a regular basis, we have a homeschool group that coop in our chruch so they are there about one time a week. So I have actually been purchasing a little differently. I get with some of the parents and get their reading lists. we already have some of those books but I try to put new items on the shelves that they will need during the school year. I still work parttime but really want to open several days a week during the day, NOT at "church" times so the community don't feel pressured the community are not likely to come in during "Church time" we have also built up our collection of Good family orineted DVDs, so we have a good circulation on those.