In praise of church libraries

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/01/2024 (988 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When I was a young boy growing up in an evangelical church, the church library was my favourite place.

Every Sunday, before the service, I’d go there with friends to get new books to read. I especially enjoyed reading books about Danny Orlis, a young adult series about a high school student living in northern Minnesota written by Bernard Palmer.

In the many books, Orlis dealt with adventure, mystery and suspense, always seeking to stay true to his Christian faith.

My friends and I would often read the books during the sermon — something that was definitely frowned upon! As we learned when a dear old saint always sat in a pew behind us to give us a poke whenever he saw us reading instead of listening to the preacher.

Back then, the library was a very important part of church life. What about now? I decided to ask friends on social media. How many of them attend churches with libraries?

Of the over 50 people who responded from the U.S. and Canada, the majority (36) said their churches had libraries. Of those who didn’t, the most common reasons for not having one was the impact of the pandemic, declining church budgets and lack of volunteers.

While most people said their churches have libraries, they also said they didn’t think they were well used. Some acknowledged they didn’t use them, either.

Said one person who responded to the survey: “We had one that was very low budget, staffed by volunteers, and busy enough before COVID. Since reopening the church, the library has not reopened.”

“My church has a library,” said another. My family uses it very infrequently, despite being heavy users of other libraries.”

“My church has always had a library, but the last book I took out was 50 years ago,” said another person. Added another: “We have a library. I cannot remember the last time I saw it used.”

But one Winnipeg church recently renovated its library. “It has a pretty good selection,” said one person. “The volunteer team is pretty solid too, I think,” she added.

“We have libraries, but I don’t think they’ve been updated in a while, nor used,” said a minister who serves several parishes north of Winnipeg.

One pastor said over the past year there have been several efforts to increase circulation and to get new people to use the library.

Another woman noted her congregation has “a pretty impressive library for a small church. I have never borrowed a book, but many people use it regularly.”

Two people said their churches not only have books in their library, but recently added puzzles for borrowing, too.

At a church in Ontario, the rector has an interesting task: “One of my jobs is to write monthly short book reviews and recommendations for the congregation,” he said.

A woman who looks after the library at her Winnipeg church said it is “a vibrant, popular place. I advertise a new book every week in the church bulletin and on our website.”

For one Winnipeg church, choosing not to have their own meeting facility means they have no room for a library. Their solution is to borrow books from CommonWord, the bookstore at Canadian Mennonite University.

Through a program called Cheaper by the Dozen, churches across Canada can borrow 12 books at a time for their members for a loan period of six weeks, said CommonWord director Arlyn Friesen Epp.

“It’s for churches with no libraries or ones that want to augment their libraries with current titles,” said Friesen Epp, noting this is particularly attractive to churches that are dealing with tight budgets for buying books.

Cost for churches to join the program is $30 a year. Individuals can borrow books, too, at a cost of $7 per time for up to 10 books. CommonWord pays the shipping for both.

“Our goal is to provide books for churches and individuals across Canada,” said Friesen Epp, adding CommonWord specializes in books about the Bible, theology, peace and justice, Indigenous-settler relations, climate change and Anabaptism, along with inspirational titles.

“It’s quite a variety,” he said, noting while they cater to a Mennonite audience, many non-Mennonites use it, too. “Our offerings are suitable for a general Christian audience,” he said.

Another denomination that provides resources to its churches is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Through an app called Gospel Library, members can borrow digital books, training materials, magazines and church-related resources said Christine Baronins, who directs public affairs for that church in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and northwestern Ontario.

“It’s really amazing to have it all in the palm in one’s hand!” she said, adding although her church has a library with books and other resources in it, “I rarely read hard-copy materials.”

Although the library is geared for Latter-day Saints’ members, anyone can access it, Baronins said, adding there are “some wonderful Bible videos and other materials that other Christians could utilize.”

For more information about borrowing books from CommonWord, visit: www.commonword.ca. For Gospel Library, go to https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/learn/mobile-applications/gospel-library?lang=eng

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