We would love to hear about your church's library ministry highlights! Follow the prompts and share your stories. While you share about 2015, be sure to share your plans for 2016.
Morlee Maynard's Posts (72)
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What are your thoughts about these research findings by the Barna Group?
Donna Duncan from First Baptist Church of Arkadelphia recently joined the CLN. She shared their need to develop a vision statement that will help them serve their 21st Century church. One of our realizations in recent years has been the importance of our church libraries connecting in strategic ways to the vision statements of our churches. Let’s start a discussion on how our library teams have done that. Would you share how you did that and how you use this vision of where your team wants to be in the future in your planning process.
Rose Newcomb, First Baptist Church, Cami, IL sent in the following:
Our church library purchased one of the tall DVD spinner type storage units a couple years ago. When it was assembled, we didn't think it was stable enough to stand alone in the library. One of the librarian's husband, Tom Smith, figured out a way to attach it to the wall.
Tom just attached another spinner like the one that was on the bottom to the top and attached the storage unit to the wall. Once Tom put the spinner on the top, the whole thing spins around and works
great and we don't have to worry about it tipping over. So we can use all four sides.
great and we don't have to worry about it tipping over. So we can use all four sides.
When the Illinois Library Conference was held at our church a few years ago, several of us had talked about the pros and cons of one of these tall DVD spinners.
What are your 2014 Accomplishments and your 2015 goals for your church library? Click on comments here to respond.
Let's pray for each other as we seek to glorify God through our libraries in 2015.
Recently, Dottie Almond from Hudson, NC emailed me about her team's successful use of the Check Points for Ministry guide. We thought you would enjoy seeing what is going on in Hudson.
Thanks for the Check Points for Ministry guide. Our biggest downfall is using the Desk Book and written instructions for tasks performed in the Media Center by a group of workers that have worked together effectively for many years. I update the Desk Book every few years but no one ever uses it. When we have new workers, we show them how we operate, promote, process, etc. rather than giving them written instructions. The staff meets once a week for our work/planning sessions and we seem to stay on top of things that way. I will work on some written instructions so if something happens to all of us, someone else could come in and pick up where we left off. However we did rank in the Excellent Library rating on the Check Points scale.
God has been so good to us this year. Many changes in the library (I now have two staffers with their Master’s in Library Science and one other staffer who works at the public library). In addition, our church moved into our new 3.4 million dollar Christian Life Center last January and had the note burning recently. We never had to have a mortgage. We are not a large church with a lot of money but God provided in miraculous ways. He will continue to provide. The library is in need of space, but our location is perfect, so until we can expand, we manage our collection by weeding and removing items that are not in much demand. I look forward with anticipation to see what He will do.
Dottie Almond, Media Center Director
First Baptist Church
Hudson, NC 28638
Thank you, Dottie, for sharing your experiences with us! Congratulations! Based on First Baptist, Hudson's experiences, we encourage you to consider the Check Points process as an evaluation tool for your church library. To view and download the guide, click here.
Join me in celebrating the ministry of Beth Andrews. Share your love and admiration for Beth as well as your experiences with her through the years.
Thank you, Beth, for letting God use you in our lives in such significant ways. Thank you for all the miles you have traveled on our behalf and for all the words you have written that still guide us today. The work you have done regarding church library policies has been a true gift for most of our libraries.
May your retirement be a continuation of your ministry with all of us! We love you!
Peggy Krause sent in this great idea!
My sister, Diane Moody, has just released her newest book. Must admit, I almost read it in one sitting which is unusual for me. Could not put it down! Great historical fiction that tells the story of a little known part of WWII. As you will see on the Amazon reviews for this book, men are interested in this book and highly recommend it. And you will see that Diane based the story on the life of our Dad, but he is not the main character as such. However, he did grow up in Chicago on Yale Avenue! If you would click on the book cover, it will take you directly to the Amazon page for this book. Thanks!!
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A long-time friend of mine from my seminary days has just published an excellent new Bible study tool, Jeanette Ford. As the title indicates, Jeanette is an archivist who served with the National Archives in the 1970s and 80s. This new tool arranges the twenty-seven books of the New Testament in to four sections--the books relating to Peter and his evangelistic team; those relating to James and his companions; the documents of Paul and his evangelistic group; and the writings of John and the brothers. She has used archival principles in this arrangement. Many of your Bible study teachers and facilitators will find this book to be a helpful Bible study tool.
It is available on Amazon as a print book and an eBook:
One of our heroes in church library ministry has written a devotional book--Keith Mee. Sometimes we don't consider devotional books for our libraries but I encourage you to consider this one. Keith has done an excellent job with these thoughtful Bible studies.
Click here for more information and to purchase this book:
Hi Everyone! I'm wondering what you are doing this summer with a reading club? If you are doing one, would you post what you are doing so the rest of us can enjoy your experiences this summer with you? And we can be praying for you and your club members! If you have pictures of your reading club in action, please post in the Photos area. Thanks!
