Articles

Written by Sue Berthelot

With your plans in hand for your book drive, here are some implementation ideas. These ideas include selection, bookstore, online, pricing, helpers, room set up, before the drive, day of the drive, and additional tips.

Selection: Print a subject list of your collection and use it to make a list of areas that need books, audiobooks, and DVDs. Browse websites and catalogs to search for items as you prepare a shopping list. In addition, use this shopping list to prepare a mediagraphy for those who cannot attend the drive, but wish to purchase items for the library. 

Bookstore: The team leader should visit the bookstore two to three months before the scheduled drive. Discuss the process with the manager and have a clear understanding about removing items from the store. Will it be on consignment or charged to the church account? What is the date the store will need your list of items to facilitate pulling and packing items or ordering out of stock items? Ask about the store policies regarding libraries.

Online: If you do not have a bookstore in your area, consider ordering from various online book distributors. Some options might be Christian Book Distributors, Ingram, Amazon, and LifeWay. Each of these offer library accounts. Ask the financial office to assist you in setting up accounts for the library.  

 Pricing: As you label each item that will be displayed during the drive, round up the cost of an item to avoid the need for loose change. Selling an item at full retail price will help offset the cost of processing supplies. If you are required to collect sales tax, the person handling sales during the drive must have a clear understanding of the tax rate. All checks need to be made out to the church. If you are going to accept credit cards or debit cards work out the details with the church financial office.

 Helpers: Assigning team members to tables is important. They need to be familiar with the items on their tables so that they can answer questions concerning the items. Other helpers will be needed to collect the money, remove purchased items from the tables, and assist with filling out Gift Information Sheets (See page 44 of the Church Library Ministry Information Service) .

Room Set Up:  Arrange tables so people can easily move around and view the items. Place the items on display tables according to age group and type of selected items. Use signs to identify the items on each table. A dowel stick with information on an attached sign, anchored in a two-liter green bottle filled with sand, can be placed in the center of each table. If the ceiling is drop style, a sign attached to clear monofilament line could be tied to a clear plant hook from the ceiling over each table. A table, away from the items area, will be needed to collect the money. Allow enough room for customers to write checks. Another table with chairs would provide an area for people to fill out Gift Information Sheets. Decorations can add a festive atmosphere to the drive but are not always necessary. Refreshments, optional, should be away from the display area to avoid accidental damage to the items.

 Before the Drive: About three days before the drive, visit the bookstore to pick up the items. If you are planning a large book drive, secure help to move the items to the designated area. Remember the church is responsible for all items not returned to the store in original condition. Inventory the items as they are placed on the display tables and have all supplies in place. If you are ordering items, be sure to discuss delivery with the online company to ensure all items arrive on time.

Day of the Drive: The team must be in place thirty minutes before the drive begins. Eagerly anticipate a successful day. Be enthusiastic as someone approaches a table to look at an item, but don’t hover. Be patient. Give them time to make selections or ask questions. Direct them to the check-out area where their choices will be place in sold containers. At the end of the drive, enjoy looking at the empty tables and knowing the library has a large selection of new items to meet the needs of the users.

Additional Tips: Some church members may wish to have their donation recorded on their giving records or the item given as a memorial. Ask the church financial office if church policies allow this kind of giving. If so, provide offering envelopes clipped to Gift Information sheets, as an easy way for them to fill out the information to be given to the financial office. Church membership rolls and a phone book will provide a quick reference for addresses and correct spelling of names.

Suggested Supplies:

Related articles to help you have a fun and successful church library book drive include “Planning a Church Library Book Drive” and “Wrapping Up a Church Library Book Drive”.

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Sue Berthelot is a Church Librarians Network Team Member and leader of the Ascension Baptist Church, Gonzales, LA church library team.

Download here: Implementing a Church Library Book Drive