Church Library

[SolaSaint]

Hi All,

I was reading another post in here on books and it I'm wondering how many in here utilize their church library? Almost every church we ever belonged to had a fairly large library of books but was never used much by it's members? Why is that? It may have to do with the books in the library. Have you ever just took the time to research what kind of books are in your church's library? I did this at a couple of ours and found out there were several books that shouldn't even be in the church. How to books on transcendental meditation and mystical books. I also see modern books by Rob Bell and others of his theology.

Does this sound like your church library?

 

[Scarlett O.]

I, along with a professional librarian, served as the church librarians for several years.

We worked very hard in setting up a great library. We took donations from church members and of course people brought their junk books (rat eaten on the edges), old stuff no one will ever read, and inappropriate reading material. We threw away about 200 books.

I don't know why people want to donate trash to the church!! (broken down, unfixable pianos, rat eaten books, out of date cookies for the children, and so much more). But that's another story.

We did get some wonderful NEW, quality OLD, and very appropriate books and the church gave us a small amount of money and we bought relevant Christian and Baptistical reading material: biographies, commentaries, Bibles, fiction, and more .... lots more.

Two years ago we closed the library for lack of interest. No one checked out anything. They didn't take the time. They got to church just in time for Sunday School or worship service. And they left as soon as the last "amen" was spoken.

We just gave the books away. Many to the local public high school for their religious section and the rest to church members.

 

[Deacon]

"...transcendental meditation and mystical books" ...young earth creationist stuff...

We have two libraries - one for research and the other for kid stuff, popular reading material, and old favorites. The latter tends to collect junk and gets regularly purged.

Rob

 

[Iconoclast]

Scarlett

Two years ago we closed the library for lack of interest. No one checked out anything. They didn't take the time. They got to church just in time for Sunday School or worship service. And they left as soon as the last "amen" was spoken.

We just gave the books away.

This happens when there is no real appetite for the things of God. They do not want the books that will help them learn and grow, they do not want the sermons, or nothing more than a few minutes...they cannot wait to escape from the fellowship...to do those worldly things they "really want" to do.:wavey::wavey:

 

[annsni]

I'm not sure how often people use ours but right now I have More than a Carpenter on my coffee table because I just could not find our copy and we needed it for homeschool. I've used a number of books from the library and am grateful for it being there!

 

[SolaSaint]

It is so sad to see a library collect dust. We have a real sweet lady trying to build up our library and motivate the congregation to check out books. I do think there needs to be accountability though as Scarlett said most libraries are built from donations and people only give away books they don't like or need.

 

[ktn4eg]

The church of which I'm a member ( www.lighthouseministries.org ) "shares" its library with its Christian Day School that it sponsors. Over the years I've donated several books to the library.

I'm not exactly sure if any of the church members actually use it since the building in which it's located is also used for some of our children's church services during our corporate worship services.

For those wishing to donate books to your church/school, you can deduct the assessed value of them from your federal income taxes provided that you get a receipt for them from your church/school.

Don't know how long the IRS will continue to allow these kind of deductions, but as long as it does, you might as well take advantage of it.

Please note: There are some limitations on exactly how much you can deduct for such a donation. It'd probably be best to check with your tax preparer and/or a CPA for details.

 

[quantumfaith]

"...transcendental meditation and mystical books" ...young earth creationist stuff...

We have two libraries - one for research and the other for kid stuff, popular reading material, and old favorites. The latter tends to collect junk and gets regularly purged.

Rob

That wouldn't be "Rob Bell" now would it.

 

[Gina B]

I think there's a level of fear with a book from a church. Who wants to risk losing something that belongs to a sacred institution, or have their kids scribble "Bobby is a doody-head" in crayon over the book, or bring it back stained with buttery cookie crumb prints or juice spills? Tragedy! If it happens to a library book, one could pay a fine, or not feel too bad about hoping nobody notices, but a book from CHURCH? You start to doubt yourself and wonder if there really is something to saying Hail Mary's as you get all shaky and go in to confess.

In one of my churches, I think the girls read every book. And I didn't have to worry about it much because I was the one who organized it all, and half of the books were ones we put in there to start with. Made it much more bearable and less fearful to borrow a book. :laugh: We never did try from other places when they were younger.

 

[evangelist6589]

Hi All,

I was reading another post in here on books and it I'm wondering how many in here utilize their church library? Almost every church we ever belonged to had a fairly large library of books but was never used much by it's members? Why is that? It may have to do with the books in the library. Have you ever just took the time to research what kind of books are in your church's library? I did this at a couple of ours and found out there were several books that shouldn't even be in the church. How to books on transcendental meditation and mystical books. I also see modern books by Rob Bell and others of his theology.

Does this sound like your church library?

If it was I would be in another church.

 

[evangelist6589]

I, along with a professional librarian, served as the church librarians for several years.

We worked very hard in setting up a great library. We took donations from church members and of course people brought their junk books (rat eaten on the edges), old stuff no one will ever read, and inappropriate reading material. We threw away about 200 books.

I don't know why people want to donate trash to the church!! (broken down, unfixable pianos, rat eaten books, out of date cookies for the children, and so much more). But that's another story.

We did get some wonderful NEW, quality OLD, and very appropriate books and the church gave us a small amount of money and we bought relevant Christian and Baptistical reading material: biographies, commentaries, Bibles, fiction, and more .... lots more.

Two years ago we closed the library for lack of interest. No one checked out anything. They didn't take the time. They got to church just in time for Sunday School or worship service. And they left as soon as the last "amen" was spoken.

We just gave the books away. Many to the local public high school for their religious section and the rest to church members.

Did you throw away old Puritan writings??? I think one problem is that people these days do not like to read theology.

 

[evangelist6589]

It is so sad to see a library collect dust. We have a real sweet lady trying to build up our library and motivate the congregation to check out books. I do think there needs to be accountability though as Scarlett said most libraries are built from donations and people only give away books they don't like or need.

You could try selling the books on amazon, half.com, ebay, and or other online book sellers. I buy used books all the time from those sites.

 

[evangelist6589]

That wouldn't be "Rob Bell" now would it.

Do you read books from him?

 

[quantumfaith]

Do you read books from him?

I did read the book that sparked controversy a few years ago. Don't remember much about it, other than it was marked by lots of questions. I try not to be over critical about a book....if I have not read it for myself.

 

[SaggyWoman]

Back in the day, church libraries were more popular. But here in the media age, not so much. WE do have access on a lot of levels to what you term as "inappropriate" books, but if nothing else, for the sake of argument.