Creating and maintaining a church library can sometimes be a daunting task, particularly since most people doing so are the only ones in their congregation. But we are here to help make it easier.
Listed below are resources that may be useful to church librarians or those church members considering starting or reviving a library in their church. The list has been used in the workshop offered by the Congregational Library for church librarians.
Additional recommendations, requests, and questions are welcome. Please contact Claudette Newhall, Librarian, at cnewhall@14beacon.org, or phone 617-523-0470 x 229.
Websites
Books
Articles
Book Reviews
Publishers and Booksellers
Automation
Library Supplies
Selling / Donating Books
ALA Fact Sheet No. 16: Starting Up a Library: A Resource Guide
http://www.ala.org/ala/alalibrary/libraryfactsheet/alalibraryfactsheet16.cfm
Association of Christian Librarians
http://www.acl.org/
Evangelical Church Library Association
http://www.eclalibraries.org/
Church & Synagogue Library Association
http://cslainfo.org/
Church Library: An Outline of Procedure
http://www.acu.edu/academics/library/cfm/churchlibrary.html
Libraries in Churches: Associations
http://members.shaw.ca/scbrouwer/associations.htm
National Church Library Association
http://www.churchlibraries.org/
New Mexico State University Library - Selection sources for Congregational libraries
http://web.nmsu.edu/~ebosman/church/index.shtml
Web Resources for Church Librarians
http://www.churchlibraries.org/links.htm
WorldCat
http://worldcat.org
A Handbook for Church Librarians: Everything You Need to Know to Create, Organize, and Manage a Successful Church Library. Stillwater, Minn: National Church Library Association, 2006.
Campbell, Carol, Dianne Oswald, and Glenda Strombom. Organizing a Library or Resource Center: Creating a Policy and Procedure Manual. 1st ed. Portland, OR: Church and Synagogue Library Association, 2010.
Berthelot, Sue. "How to Begin or Renew a Church Library," LifeWay.
http://www.lifeway.com/article/?id=155041
DiMattia, Robin F. "Church Library Makeover," Christianity Today, Mar/Apr 1998, Vol.44, No. 2, Page 44.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/yc/8y2/8y2044.html
Martin, Kyle. "How to Build a Christian Church Library," eHow.com.
http://www.ehow.com/how_5994101_build-christian-church-library.html
Books and Culture: a Christian Review
http://www.christianitytoday.com/bc/
Bible Probe - Christian Book Reviews
http://bibleprobe.com/books.htm
Christian Library Journal (CLJ)
http://www.christianlibraryj.org
Crosswalk.com
http://www.crosswalk.com/books/
Focus on Fiction - Christian Fiction
http://www.focusonfiction.net/html/book_reviews.html
Christian Book Sellers
http://www.focusonfiction.net/html/book_reviews.html
Pilgrim Press
http://www.ucc.org/the-pilgrim-press/
Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.org
Alban Institute Bookstore
http://www.alban.org/Bookstore.aspx
Massachusetts Bible Society
http://www.massbible.org/book-services
LibraryThing
http://www.librarything.com/
Automating & Organizing Solutions
http://www.librarysupportstaff.com/4automate.html
RCL Software - Media Library Manager
http://www.rclsoftware.com/mlmdescription.htm
Church & Synagogue Library Association - Software Companies
http://www.cslainfo.org/page.php?pagecode=libsoft
Brodart
http://www.shopbrodart.com/default.us.aspx
Gaylord
http://www.gaylordmart.com/lobby_gaylordmart.asp
Highsmith
http://www.highsmith.com/
The Library Store
http://www.thelibrarystore.com/
Amazon
http://www.amazon.com
Better World Books
http://www.betterworldbooks.com
Theological Book Network
http://www.theologicalbooknetwork.org
Got Books
http://www.gotbooks.com
Bible Foundation
http://www.bf.org/index.htm
Book Prospector
http://www.bookprospector.com/site/library/index.php