This survey was accessed from CRC News, February 9, 2011, under In the Forums: Church Libraries.
Q: How do you view the church library?
A: As a ministry. See comments below.
Q: Would you say your church library is part of the Ministry Team in your church?
A: No.
Q: Do you have regular contact or input from the pastor, group leaders or council in your church?
A: No.
Q: What would be the biggest area served in your church? ie small groups, children, dvd's, fiction, non fiction
A: Children. A close second is fiction.
Q: Size of your congregation?
A: 577.
Q: Number of items in your library:
A: About 3,500.
Q: Method of sign out? card, computerized, other
A: Card.
Q: Do you feel supported in your work?
A: Yes. The previous church administrator acquired the licenses needed in order for us to put in a lending library videotapes ordinarily licensed only for home viewing. I received help from the current church administrator when I needed to make it known I was looking for volunteers to be “staff” in the church library. I regularly get help from the church office two ways: (1) the church office mails overdue notices; and (2) the church office mails reminders to “staff” before their Sunday in the church library. I have not asked for any other support, but I believe I would get it if I asked for other similar support.
Q: How many “staff” do you have?
A: 4.
Q: Do you have a committee?
A: No.
Q: Do you make reports to your council?
A: No.
Q: Do you have a budget amount?
A: Not this year. There normally would be a budget amount, but the budget line for the church library was eliminated from this year's budget because we are in a time when contributions to the general fund have been less than the budgeted amount, resulting in cuts to local ministry and to ministry shares supporting denominational ministries.
Q: Do you fundraise?
A: No.
Q: Do you have a newsletter/publication in the church newsletter or bulletin?
A: No.
Q: Do you have contact with a library association?
A: No.
Q: Add your own comments here:
A: Our view of the church library as a ministry has three consequences that come to my mind:
How we select items to add to the library collection. We select library materials that will nurture faith in our children and help our adult members mature in their faith.
How we handle overdue library materials. We do not collect fines for overdue library materials. We are lenient in renewals, allowing as many renewals as requested if for an item no one else is waiting for.
How we drop library materials from the library collection. We drop library materials from the library collection if they are checked out to someone no longer attending church here, without asking for restitution. We drop library materials from the library collection if they are returned damaged and are no longer worth retaining in the library collection, without asking for restitution. Getting people to use library materials is more important than preserving them in the library collection.
Posted in: Should church libraries be viewed as a ministry?
p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }
Survey: Church Libraries as a Ministry
This survey was accessed from CRC News, February 9, 2011, under In the Forums: Church Libraries.
Q: How do you view the church library?
A: As a ministry. See comments below.
Q: Would you say your church library is part of the Ministry Team in your church?
A: No.
Q: Do you have regular contact or input from the pastor, group leaders or council in your church?
A: No.
Q: What would be the biggest area served in your church? ie small groups, children, dvd's, fiction, non fiction
A: Children. A close second is fiction.
Q: Size of your congregation?
A: 577.
Q: Number of items in your library:
A: About 3,500.
Q: Method of sign out? card, computerized, other
A: Card.
Q: Do you feel supported in your work?
A: Yes. The previous church administrator acquired the licenses needed in order for us to put in a lending library videotapes ordinarily licensed only for home viewing. I received help from the current church administrator when I needed to make it known I was looking for volunteers to be “staff” in the church library. I regularly get help from the church office two ways: (1) the church office mails overdue notices; and (2) the church office mails reminders to “staff” before their Sunday in the church library. I have not asked for any other support, but I believe I would get it if I asked for other similar support.
Q: How many “staff” do you have?
A: 4.
Q: Do you have a committee?
A: No.
Q: Do you make reports to your council?
A: No.
Q: Do you have a budget amount?
A: Not this year. There normally would be a budget amount, but the budget line for the church library was eliminated from this year's budget because we are in a time when contributions to the general fund have been less than the budgeted amount, resulting in cuts to local ministry and to ministry shares supporting denominational ministries.
Q: Do you fundraise?
A: No.
Q: Do you have a newsletter/publication in the church newsletter or bulletin?
A: No.
Q: Do you have contact with a library association?
A: No.
Q: Add your own comments here:
A: Our view of the church library as a ministry has three consequences that come to my mind:
How we select items to add to the library collection. We select library materials that will nurture faith in our children and help our adult members mature in their faith.
How we handle overdue library materials. We do not collect fines for overdue library materials. We are lenient in renewals, allowing as many renewals as requested if for an item no one else is waiting for.
How we drop library materials from the library collection. We drop library materials from the library collection if they are checked out to someone no longer attending church here, without asking for restitution. We drop library materials from the library collection if they are returned damaged and are no longer worth retaining in the library collection, without asking for restitution. Getting people to use library materials is more important than preserving them in the library collection.
Roger A. Whitman