There is a wealth of information on running a church library available from the Evangelical Church Library Association (ECLA). They have a bi-monthly magazine with topics ranging from organizing the library, book reviews, and promotional ideas to using library software and book repair.
Also, in October they hold a conference in Wheaton, IL with a workshop, a book swap, publisher tables offering discount books and videos, and a free book giveaway from the various publishers. I usually come home with 4-5 free books, boxes of book swap books and my head swimming with ideas to improve our library. It's also a wonderful opportunity for our librarians to be able to spend some time together away from the 'work'.
More information is available on the ECLA website: http://eclalibraries.org/
I have been going for years and used the knowledge gained from this organization to start libraries in two churches. It's wonderful. If you have questions or would like membership info, please ask me — I love them.
Cheryll
Comments
I've heard of them. Worth the membership cost?
We love the ECLA! We live in southwest Michigan and have been to their conference a few times and loved it (my friend and I both spoke one year, too). We are looking forward to the next one in a few weeks!
They are also very good about providing assistance to librarians via a mentorship program of sorts. If you have questions, they will match you up with another librarian who might be able to help you out.
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