How To Organize A Church Library

Creating Your Own Parish Library

You lot take found this link because y'all accept volunteered or been asked to organize your church'southward library. Get ready for a fun chore! I say fun, considering you get to wear many hats: storyteller, public relations specialist, creative director, detective, CEO, and data-entry clerk!

Thebad news is that the job is time-consuming on the front finish and the pay is low, or probably non-existent, but theskillful news is that you are bringing the life of the Church and the lives of holy men and women to adults and children seeking the Kingdom of God. And there's fifty-fifty more thangood news! You don't accept to do this alone, and yous are probably the only person who volition know if you brand a error.

The pictures and examples are from St. John Orthodox Church in Memphis, TN.

You may contact me at:  Judy Terry,Librarian – jterry@stjohnmemphis.org

Introduction

This article volition take you step-by-stride through setting up your library. Some of yous are starting from scratch with a box full of books in the parish hall. Some of yous have a room with a bunch of quondam books that have been gathering grit for ten years.  Some have inherited a functioning library from someone who has moved out of town. Managing a library can be very intimidating. Most of y'all are volunteers, possibly former or active school teachers or just folks who like to read. Notice, I did not say you need to be a professional librarian!

Keep reading and you volition find much more information in item on choosing a suitable and attractive location, selecting resources, organizing the books and media, shopping for supplies, getting your titles fix to check out, promoting your library, and finding other sources for communication and ideas.

And call up, if y'all really get stuck or want to throw in the towel, in that location are some experienced librarians in parishes who are a mouse click or call abroad and are happy to listen to you lot and answer your questions.

Location, Location, Location (Where is the library?)

Blest is the librarian who gets a option! This is unremarkably a 1-time decision, so choose with the future in mind. Don't settle for a cupboard in the parish hall when you hope to outgrow it in a couple of years. A library that attracts users has windows and good lighting, a comfortable temperature, space for expansion and a work area for you.

Looking Expert (Appearance)

Making the library inviting and comfortable is 1 of, if not the well-nigh important office of your job. A pleasant appearance tells parishioners that the library is well-cared for and that their presence is welcome. Put a rug on the floor and plants on the shelves. Hang children's Church School "art", icons and pictures on the walls. Make the shelves appealing past leaving some empty space on each one. This allows patrons to easily browse through the books. Pick the well-nigh colorful, middle-communicable book on the shelf and place it on display at the front or terminate of the shelf. Put a book cease behind information technology for support.

And This Shall Be A Sign Unto Yous (Signage)

Well-nigh parish libraries are open whenever the church has services and office hours, only few librarians can be present for all that time. So, the library should be as self-service equally possible. Every shelf should be clearly labeled, and directions for employ, such as how to check out items, should be posted in apparently sight in an attractive manner. All the same, information technology volition even so necessary for you to oftentimes instruct readers how to find titles.

Take a Seat (Furniture)

The size of your space will make up one's mind the number and sizes of tables and chairs you need. When yous know what you demand, shop for piece of furniture in austerity stores, at k sales, at used office supply stores, and in attics of friends. Contact your school system'south surplus warehouse. Visit and college public libraries and inquire for their leftovers. Also, call neighbor churches for their castoffs. If your gleanings look too mismatched, take a painting political party.

What'south In Your Wallet?

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions, (A Library Plan)

Before you go shopping, you must devise a plan!  Nosotros all know where whim buying leads.  A packed full closet, trip to the Conservancy Regular army Donation Center, and year-old clothes with the tags even so on.

And so, take time to think and plan. Confer with your priest, parish quango, and other parish librarians.

• Know yous budget constraints.

• Know your space limitation.

• Know what titles you lot already have, if any.

• Know your fourth dimension limitations.

• Know how much, or little, assistance you volition have.

• Know your selection policy.

Be Choosey (A Selection Policy)

A selection policy is necessary even if your collection is pocket-size and you have inherited someone else'southward books. Include CDs and DVDs as well if you have room. You should meet with the clergy to discuss the goals of the library. Is it primarily for theological inquiry, education of catechumens and parishioners, or teaching the Religion to children? Perhaps information technology is all of these with emphasis on lives of the saints, doctrine, or Orthodoxy in everyday life. Regardless of its purpose, y'all and the clergy should be in agreement so you lot tin make wise choices. Do you take infinite for duplicate titles? Do you want only Orthodox authors? Practise Non keep donated books that are old, out of date, or torn.

This book will only collect grit.

Begging (Donations)

Blest are librarians who inherit an existing collection. However, if you are starting from scratch or yous demand more titles, ask for them. Start past asking your priest and parishioners to donate their Orthodox books and magazines when they have finished them. Put a request on your church's website and/or Sunday bulletin. If in that location is some other Orthodox church building in your area, enquire the priest to put the word out. However, exercise Not experience obligated to put all donated items in your collection. That's why y'all have a selection policy!!

On the Cheap (Gently Used)

Save money by ownership used books at these places:

• Amazon

• Alibris

• AbeBooks

• Ebay

• Library book sales

• Used volume stores

• Thrift stores

• Yard/estate sales.

Almost of these are non rich sources of Orthodox books, but you can find ones at that place on subjects that round out your collection: art history, world history and literature with a spiritual nature, e.g. The Brothers Karamazov.

Subscription Price (Magazines)

Many Orthodox periodicals are eye-communicable and are like shooting fish in a barrel reads. Often, they volition attract more library users than theological tomes. Subscriptions for many of them are inexpensive or gratuitous. Some monastery journals are free or available for a small donation for postage. Inquire your parishioners to become a subscription and give y'all the issues when they have read them.

Something for All (Starter Collection)

Adults Only (High Schoolers & Upwardly)

It'due south a expert idea to start with a drove that covers with the basics of the Faith by prominent authors.  The books listed below are good ones to begin with. I advise having as many of these in your holdings as you can:

• Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture*

• Organized religion, The: An Orthodox Catechism by Clark Carlton

• Father Arseny: Prisoner, Priest, Spiritual Father

• The History of the Church building by Eusebius

• An Indication of the Way into the Kingdom of Heaven past St. Innocent of Alaska

• The Mountain of Silence: A Search for Orthodox Spirituality past Markides Kyriakos

• On the Incarnation by St. Athanasius

• The Orthodox Church by Met. Kallistos Ware

• Orthodox Saints by George Poulos

• Orthodox Study Bible

• The Orthodox Way by Met. Kallistos Ware

• The Prologue of Ohrid* by St. Nikolai of Velimirovitch

• The Synaxarion*

• The Truth of Our Organized religion: Discourses from Holy Scripture on the Tenets of Christian Orthodoxy past Elder Cleopa

*Multi-volume series. These are expensive. Commonly, your priest volition have these sets. Perhaps he will put them in the library if you designate them "Reference", meaning that they will not circulate.

Let the Children Come Unto Me (Kids' Books)

Information technology'southward wise to also brainstorm with some really good, colorful children'south books. Start with books on the lives of the saints. Brand sure your Church Schoolhouse teachers and parents know you have them. Some grownups who never would check out books otherwise, will check them out to read to their children or godchildren. Then, y'all've made library users out of adults and kids! These are popular in St. John Library:

• The Abbot and I by Sarah Cowie

• A Boy, a Kitchen and his Cave by Catherine Contopoulos

• The Life of Saint Brigid: Abbess of Kildare by Jane Meyer

• Letters from Heaven: an Illuminated Alphabet by Susan von Medicus

• Lucia: Saint of Light by Katherine Hyde

• The Northward Star: St Herman of Alaska by Dorrie Papademetriou

• Saint Innocent of Alaska by Sarah Cowie

The Story of Mary: the Female parent of God by Dorrie Papademetriou

Magazine, Anyone? (Periodicals)

Route to Emmaus is the most popular periodical in St. John Library.  It is published quarterly and edited by Mother Nectaria McLees. The articles are primarily interviews of local Orthodox people who comment on the Faith in their particular countries.  They show readers a flick of Orthodoxy the world over through the eyes of the faithful who are living it.  It costs $thirty per year.  If your parish cannot afford it, enquire two or three members to go together for a subscription and to donate the issues when they've read them. Articles on many back issues are online. Become toroadtoemmaus.internet for more data.

The Veil andLife Transfiguredare monastic journals which are costless but a donation is requested. The articles are brusk and very easy to read.

Contact data forLife Transfigured:
Orthodox Monastery of the Transfiguration
321 Monastery Lane
Ellwood City, PA 16117
724-758-4002
orthodoxmonasteryellwoodcity.org  (the current upshot is online)

Contact information forThe Veil:
Protection of the Holy Virgin Monastery
2343 Land Rd. 403
PO Box 416
Lake George, CO 80827
719-748-3999
oca.org/parishes/oca-nosotros-boupvm

Your archdiocese'due south publication is probably sent to your church automatically. The Word is the magazine of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese. See Antiochian.org for this periodical. Problems from 2008 to the present are on online.

Get Organized (Arranging Titles)

All libraries arrange their resources by the subject, and all book arrangement systems are created to practise that. Only the question is, "What blazon of system is best for your library?"

Nigh people assume the Dewey Decimal System is the only/best way to arrange the books.  Notwithstanding, the deciding factor is the estimated size of your drove when the library grows.  Or, in other words, how much space practice you lot take?   If your collection is large (over 2000) and has a wide variety of subjects, the Dewey system is fine.

Do We? (Dewey Decimal System)

This organisation groups titles together according to their subjects by assigning a number to each bailiwick.  e. g. 213 – cosmos, 221 – Old Attestation, 232 – Christ, 238 – Nicene Creed, 246 – art in Christianity, 254 – parish authorities, 265 – sacraments, 273 – heresies so along.

What It'south About (Discipline Arrangement)

If your collection is and will remain small (a few hundred), don't utilise the Dewey Decimal System. Since nearly of your books deal with Orthodoxy, they would all have a call number that begins with 2 since that's the beginning Dewey numeral for books on organized religion. It'due south hard to discover a volume if all of the spine labels begin with "2" and they are bundled by the number.

The Dewey Decimal number is the kickoff tier of the call number which is located on the spines of books. Some libraries use three to five tiers of numerals and letters for telephone call numbers, merely a parish library needs just ii or three. The Dewey number is the offset tier and get-go three letters of the author'southward proper noun should be the second. The Dewey number (first tier of the call number) will always be at to the lowest degree three numerals. Information technology can be followed past a decimal point and more than numerals. My advice is to utilise no more than two numerals past the decimal point. Using more makes finding books confusing for virtually users. Dewey Decimal numbers allow y'all to arrange all the titles in numerical club. So, obviously virtually of the books in a church library that uses this system have call numbers that brainstorm with "2".

Unless you are a trained librarian, y'all volition need to consult a source that has already assigned a Dewey number to your book rather than catalog it yourself. Here are v ways to find the Dewey number:

i. Look on websites for other parish libraries.   Nearly Orthodox ones do not take their itemize online, so your options here will be limited. St. John Library does not use Dewey. However, St. Maximus the Confessor does.  Meet stmaximus.org/parish ministries/ parish library.

ii. Several parishes use librarything.com for finding Dewey numbers and creating a itemize of books.

three. Commonly public and modest college libraries use the Dewey Decimal System.  Click on their online catalogs and meet what Dewey numbers are assigned to their copies of your titles.  Unfortunately very few of them volition have Orthodox books, but you lot may get lucky!

4. Go to the Library of Congress website loc.gov.  Click on the Library Catalogs tab. Put the title, omitting "a", "an" or "the" if it's the first discussion, in the Quick Search box.  In the box to the correct, click on the drop-down arrow and select "title keyword."  Then click on "search."  Then you will see a list of books.  When y'all have found your title, check the writer because sometimes several books have the aforementioned title, but different authors. Click on the title you want, and so on the "full tape" tab.  Wait towards the bottom of the listing for the Dewey class number.  Information technology may accept iii numerals, a "/", a decimal betoken and a few more numerals. The numerals and the decimal (if any) before the "/" make upwardly the basic Dewey Decimal number.  Unless you have many hundreds of books, this is sufficient for the Dewey number. The longer the Dewey class number, the more problems users have in finding books.  The beginning three messages of the writer'due south terminal proper noun continue the spine label below the Dewey number.

5. Get to worldcat.org. This site shows you the collections of over 10,000 large libraries. The problem here is that nearly higher and academy libraries don't apply the Dewey System. So, later on clicking on Books, so typing your title in the search box on the abode page, and clicking on search books, you volition run across a list of libraries that ain your title. Click on a public library listed, click on the give-and-take book beside the icon of a volume, or name of the library and you volition probably observe a Dewey number in the book'due south tape. Another problem here is that the Dewey number may have more numerals than you want/need to utilise and their second tier may be different from the first three letters of the author'due south last name.

If you can't find a Dewey number for a book anywhere, you will need to catalog the book yourself.  Please call me for help if you are in this situation.

If your collection is and will remain modest (a few hundred), don't use the Dewey Decimal System.  Since most of your books deal with Orthodoxy, they would all have a number that begins with 2 since that's the offset Dewey numeral for books on religion.  Information technology'due south difficult to find a volume if all of the spine labels begin with "two" and they are bundled by the number.

Look over your books and determine some major subject headings and sub-headings for them.  St. John uses this method with the following subject field headings:  Fine art, Biography, Catechetical books, Lives of Saints, History and Geography, Children'due south, Patristics, Fiction, Reference, Scripture and Spirituality.

The top tier is the first 3 letters of the subject, e. g.  children's books all have KID for the top tier of the spine label. Books on the Bible all have a SCR (Scripture) for the first tier.

The 2d tier is commonly the showtime iii messages of the writer'southward name. KID (first) FOR (second)

Now, identify the titles on the shelf in alphabetical lodge past the first tier and and then alphabetical society by the second tier, the author'south last proper noun.

Classification Arrangement

Reference books such as The Nifty Synaxarion, The Prologue, Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, too demand spine labels with REF equally the first tier. These books are shelved separately from the circulating books.

Newsstand (Periodicals)

Magazine subscriptions are one of the least expensive resources on the Church, past and nowadays. Just they need to be shelved differently. Issues will fall over if not put in a container. You tin can purchase these from an office supply store. Make sure they have a partially open front and then users tin scan the issues. Stick a characterization in the upper left corner of each issue with the title of the journal, engagement, and volume and number. Put a label on the container with the issues contained on the airtight portion of the forepart then the contents tin be easily seen. Accommodate these bins in alphabetical lodge by the title of the periodical, then the problems arranged chronologically from oldest to newest. I highly recommend starting your collection with Road to Emmaus and The Orthodox Word.

Testify Me (Media)

Some librarians inter-file media with books; others identify them on separate shelves. Either manner is fine. My personal preference is to separate them. CDs and DVS are small-scale, and they tend to get lost or pushed to the back of the shelf when inter-filed with books.

I advise having these supplies on paw:

• Scotch 845 book tape

• Borrower'southward cards (cards users sign to check out items)

• Book pockets, newspaper or clear (they agree the borrower's cards in the book)

• Charging tray (box to put the borrower'south cards in)

• Charging tray guides (tab cards to arrange the borrower's cards)

• Small and large steel book supports (book ends)

• Engagement Due slips (newspaper sideslip where the due appointment is recorded) (if desired)

• Date postage (if desired)

• Ink pad

• Card and pocket labels, Avery like shooting fish in a barrel skin, no.5160

• Spine labels, Avery removable multi-purpose no. 6467

• Articulate plastic label protectors big enough to cover two or 3 tiers of spine labels and lap over onto the book covers.  Mine are 1 ¼ by three inches.

• Shelf characterization holders

• Clear plastic book jacket covers

• Ownership postage stamp "Library of church proper name"

• Stamp "REFERENCE – Exercise NOT REMOVE"

• Pair of scissors, tape, periodical bins, etc.

None of these are exclusively sold at Demco. Office supply stores have many of them. Equally far every bit labels and book pockets, make sure you buy self adhesive ones.

Ready, Fix, Go (Getting Items Set to Checkout)

Book It (Processing Books)

When yous get new books:

1. Assign a spine lawmaking/phone call number (subject classification or Dewey number).

2. Blazon the card and pocket labels. These should have the title of the book and the writer's name. Duplicates should take c. 1, c .two, etc. on them.

3. Write the spine code (call number) in the upper left corner of the bill of fare.

4. Stick the pocket inside the front or back cover. It doesn't affair which, just be consistent.  If y'all use date due slips, stick ane on the page next to the volume pocket.

5. Impress the spine label and stick it on the spine near the bottom. Use the bottom front cover for very sparse books.

6. Utilise the label protector.Avery labels have templates you can download for each size label.

7. Postage the ownership postage on the front cover, on the book pocket below the label, and on any one folio inside where there is enough white space.

8. Reference books practice not take a card and pocket. "REF" is the top tier of the spine characterization.  Apply the Reference stamp (for REFERENCE Do not remove from library) on the insides of the front and back covers and on 1 inside page.

9. Cover the paper grit jackets on books with plastic covers.  They make them last longer and wait more than attractive. This is entirely optional only highly recommended. I buy them from Demco on the roll in a size large enough it tin be cut down to fit any size book.

10. Enter the books in your catalogs.

Periodicals Prep (Magazines)

Periodicals should not circulate, because they are easily torn, marked on, and lost. However, they are an invaluable resources and should be available.  Near every parish has a copy machine, and then this will solve the problem of readers asking to accept them domicile. Arrange the bug of each title in chronological order.

Type a label for each consequence. It should read in this order:

1. Championship of the periodical.

2. Engagement – year, month or season.

3. Volume, number and issue (if it has ane). This information is plant on the embrace and/or table of contents page.

4. Use a pocket-sized label, eastward. yard.  Avery 8160 (ane 10 2 five/eight).

5. Put this on the upper left corner of the front end encompass and put a characterization protector over information technology.

6. Postage stamp the front comprehend, title or table of contents page, and any other single page with the ownership stamp.

Add the issues to your periodical holdings box or spreadsheet. An instance is in Stacks of Magazines (Periodical Holdings)

Getting the Prove on the Road (Media)

Media presents a problem because of the diverse sized cases. Utilise clear pockets instead of paper ones. Set the labels just like those for books, only put DVD or CD in a higher place the telephone call number. Put the buying stamp and date due slip, if needed, wherever there is room. You may have to use a label for the buying stamp and then it will show up.

In & Out (Clarifying Apportionment)

It's a Date (Checkout Period & Fines)

There is no ready or correct length of fourth dimension for your books to be out. I use a one-month circulation catamenia.  If your parish draws from long distances, I recommend a month.  If y'all have heavy use and about of the parishioners live close to church, you might consider two weeks.  Whatever time menstruation is best for you, use information technology for all circulating titles.

I do non recommend charging late fines for these reasons:

• Y'all would need to be in the library whenever it's open.

• And, it's too time-consuming to proceed up with.

• It can be seen as castigating.

Ask your priest for support when items are non returned.  It is appropriate to expect parishioners to pay for lost/damaged items.

To check out items, parishioners write their names on the volume card.  At St. John, they write their electronic mail address underneath their proper noun.  This is considering I send overdue notices via the internet. The borrowers put the book cards in the apportionment tray.  The cards are filed alphabetically by title.  This makes putting the right carte back in the returned items easier and faster.  The use of a engagement postage is addressed in the next section.

Do You Have a Stamp? (Using the Date Postage)

If you choose to apply a date postage stamp, brand sure you buy two stamps.  Afterwards a while, 1 volition disappear. Put a agenda for users side by side to wherever you continue the stamp.

1. You can ask users to make sure the appointment stamp is set correctly before they use it, simply look mistakes.

2. Y'all can prepare the engagement every Sunday yourself, but not everyone volition go to continue the book for your entire checkout period, unless Sun is the only time the library is open.

3. Yous or the reader stamps the date on a engagement due slip which you can stick on the page side by side to the pocket.  If you don't want to buy the slips, you must utilize a pocket that has built-in space on it for the date.

Don't Demand a Postage (An Alternative)

I exercise non utilise a date stamp for several reasons:

1. Our library is open during church building office hours, 5 days a week and during all services.  Obviously, I cannot exist at that place all those times which ways well-nigh users check out their own fabric.

2. This besides ways that items are checked out and due back about every day.  I cannot exist there to change the appointment on a postage nor should the secretary or clergy be asked to practice information technology.  I cannot await users to remember to change information technology, much less go along up with where the stamp belongs.

3. Using a postage stamp requires the extra expense of engagement due slips and calculation another step in processing the book.

So, I purchased extra book cards, red ink, and a postage that says: RETURN I MONTH FROM TODAY. TODAY'S DATE IS:

I use a red ink pad and place the stamp on the top of these cards. I put it in the pocket of each detail behind the book card which the user signs. The readers write today'southward engagement in the date column of the book card and on the carte du jour with the red stamp. They file book bill of fare in the circulation tray and leave the Render…card in the pocket. That carte du jour is their reminder of the engagement due.

You're Belatedly (Overdue Items)

About once a month I send overdue emails. These emails should list the championship of the overdue book and when information technology was due. They should be courteous and allow the reader and you salvage confront past allowing that we all brand mistakes. But be sure to cheque the shelves before sending the email to brand sure the item is not there!

Your Cat(alog) (The Holdings)

Even though y'all may be starting out small, you demand to enter all of your titles in a catalog or database, even if you lot use librarything.org.   St. John library doesn't have a figurer on site that parishioners may use, so I have a printed itemize available.

I recommend using an excel spreadsheet so you lot can sort information whatever way you need to. I brand columns for type of media, championship, author, circulating or reference, call number, and discipline headings. This is a lot of work, but volition salvage you lot much work in the long run every bit your collection grows. You can sort the data so you lot can print out catalogs arranged by title, author and subjects.

List an author by the last proper name, showtime name. For saints, list starting time name, St. (final name if known). e. g.   John, St. (Chrysostom)

List the championship by the starting time give-and-take except a, an, or the.

Limit your subject headings to three or less.  If a book covers many topics, list the major three ones or use "handbooks" or "catechism" if the book is instructional. If the subject is a person's name, list it like an author.

Check the St. John Library website to see my catalogs.  These may give you an idea for a format. Yet, my catalogs may be more or less detailed than you demand.

What You See Is What Yous Become (Inventory)

Once a year I inventory the holdings so I can update the catalog. Do this by using a shelf listing which is a print out from the excel spreadsheet sorted by phone call number. First, check your shelves to make sure all the items are in the correct club. So, lucifer the entries on the spreadsheet with the items on the shelves. If an item is not on the shelf and not checked out, information technology can exist noted on the shelf list as missing and after deleted from the catalog.

Stacks of Mags (Periodical Holdings)

Continue a tape of your subscriptions and bug the library owns. This tin can be on a excel spreadsheet or on cards in a file box. Include the source, address (physical and electronic mail), telephone number and cost. Don't forget to update it as new bug arrive!

Put Out of the Welcome Mat! (Promoting Your Library)

Works Every Time! (Ways to Increase Circulation)

Hither is where your creativity really kicks in! Unless you have a very unusual parish, you'll need to work at making the library very visible.

Here is where your creativity really kicks in! Unless y'all have a very unusual parish, y'all'll demand to work at making the library very visible.

• Conduct monthly story time activities.

• Add a library link to your church'southward website.

• Include your hours, checkout policies, new titles, book reviews, etc.

• Brand certain to use plenty of pictures in your publicity.

• Make use of your Sunday bulletin. Put something in it every week: new titles, books on saints commemorated each week, short volume reviews or recommendations, etc.

LIBRARY LINES (regular column in my church's Sunday bulletin)

Saint Cedd (1/7) is a well-known Celtic saint who was a missionary and bishop in seventh century England.  As a child, he studied in Lindisfarne where he learned of Irish gaelic monasticism.  Bishop Finan sent him to Essex to teach Christianity to the people.  He built several churches and monasteries. He died during a plague and is buried in England.

Friday is a twenty-four hours rich in commemorations for us. Venerable Paul of Obnora (1/10), born in 1314, was a disciple of St.Sergius of Radonezh. See The Wonderful Life of Russian federation'due south St. Sergius of Radonezh (KID STS SER). He lived many years as a hermit and in consummate silence and strict fasting. Despite his love for solitude, he was compassionate and gave wise counsel.

• Host book clubs, inquirers' class, and church commission meetings.

• Ask your favorite readers to write simple book reviews.  Offering your aid or give them a template.

• Display Church building Schoolhouse fine art.

• House the parish message board.

• Create book displays. These displays tin can testify off books on the topic of this week'southward inquirers' class, various saints in the nave, feasts and fasts, American (Russian, Celtic, etc.) saints, and then on. Call back to use children'south books in your displays!

• Make liberal utilise of icons and pictures on the walls. Hang plants or put them on the shelves or tables. Put a carpet on the flooring and make your furniture comfy and homey.

• Brand your signage attractive and easy to see. Post checkout/return directions in plain sight!

• Enlist your Church building School teachers and children to make bookmarks for readers. I in one case asked the middle schoolhouse class to put the label protectors on the periodicals for me. When they were done, I displayed their handiwork at a library open business firm, furnished cookies, and took pictures for the church website.

• Give a "how to use the library" talk to your inquirers and catechumens – in the library, of form.

• When people are baptized and chrismated, give them – or their parents and sponsors – a bibliography of all the library textile you have on the life of their patron saint.

Want More Assistance??? (Adept Websites)

If y'all are looking for a Q&A website and place to commutation ideas, take a look at:

• librarything.com (Look at the church libraries group)

• cslainfo.org (Church and Synagogue Library Association)

• cathla.org (Catholic Library Association)

• letterstoayounglibrarian.blogspot.com

• Churchlibrarians.ning.com (splendid site but largely Protestant)

Other parish library websites:

• holytrinityeastmeadow.org/NewsInfo/library.html

• steliasofatlanta.org

Orthodox Seminary Library Resources Online:

• hchc.edu/library (Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Seminary Library, Brookline, MA

• Hts.edu/library (Holy Trinity Seminary Library, Jordanville, NY – Click on Seminary)

• stots.edu/library (St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary Library Southward Canaan, PA

• Uocofusa.org/library (St. Sophia Ukrainian Orthodox Seminary Library, South Leap Beck, NJ)

• svots.edu/academics/library (St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary Library, Crestwood, NY)

• Look atsvspress.com to see more communication on getting started. (dated just expert info.)

• As well bank check out oca.org/parish-ministry building/parishdevelopment/creating-a-parish-library (very dated)

Join the Club (Networking)

I am working on establishing a network of Orthodox parish libraries, and I promise y'all will 1 day be part of it. Delight e-mail me atjterry@stjohnmemphis.org or call me at 901-274-4419 if you take questions or comments.

High Tech (Software Systems)

These are non necessary for modest libraries. Some are gratuitous but most are non. Some just manage apportionment; some catalog, and practise more. St. John Library does not utilise one, but some people in one of my networks do. They recommend Readerware, Collectorz, and Tiny Cat by Librarything.com. Ane caveat: if yous recollect you will probably need and buy ane in the futurity, purchase and use it at present. Entering an existing collection is very time consuming!!!

Accolades (My Mentor)

Much of the credit for this commodity and for my inspiration to create information technology goes to Katherine Alderson. She was formerly one of the librarians at All Saints of America ROCOR parish when it was in Middlebrook, VA. I discovered her church library website when I was looking for ideas for St. John Library.

Source: https://www.stjohnmemphis.org/creating-your-own-parish-library

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