-        a Web-Traveller's Toolkit of Church Librarianship Resources

Need some help in starting a church library or re-evaluating various aspects of your church library? Go on a virtual tour to explore some of the basic tenets of church librarianship.
Compile your own list of the Top Tips.

Automated software  Check out Anne Kelly’s brief evaluation (http://library.ferris.edu/anne/churchlib.html ) or Shawn Brouwer’s extensive vendor listing (http://members.shaw.ca/scbrouwer/vendors.htm#_top ) of North American church library software or take a peek at an Australian product at http://www.nexus.edu.au/bookmark/products.htm .

Book Reviews
Independent reviews, eg CLJ http://christianlibraryj.org/online.html  
See Ellen Bosman’s listings of award winners or her suggestions about electronic reviews at http://web.nmsu.edu/~ebosman/church/index.shtml 
Christian publishers provide descriptions to promote their own products. Bookmark your favourite publishers and think about receiving email alerts.

Book Selection can be a balancing act. Try the suggestions at http://www.wels.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?2617&collectionID=618&contentID=6885&shortcutID=6630 or http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=131.

Book buying - Support your local Christian bookshop or buy Australian at
Rainbow Books (www.rainbowbooks.com.au/ ),
Matthias Media (http://www.matthiasmedia.com.au/),
John Garrett (http://www.johngarratt.com.au/ ),
Openbook (http://www.openbook.com.au/shop/default.asp ),
Pauline Media (http://www.paulinebooks.com.au ).

Cataloguing and Classification – Dewey, LCCN, Subject-based, Pettee, Sears, Weine? Which to choose?
Check some options at http://www.sldirectory.com/libsf/resf/catalog.html or http://www.oclc.org/dewey/resources/summaries/.

Copyright resources can be found at the Australian Copyright Council at http://www.copyright.org.au/publications .Can you find the book and information sheets that apply to your library?

Display Ideas – find some inspiration at http://school.discovery.com/schrockguide/bulletin/index.html or http://www.asla.nsw.edu.au/displays.htm .

Library supplies from QLS http://www.qls.net.au/index.php?via=catalog or Raeco http://www.raeco.com.au/ or your local stationery supplier.

Non-book materials can provide their fair share of hassles. Maybe it’s DVDs that are giving you grief. Get some advice from http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/thecrawfordfiles/2003columns/september2003.htm or http://www.clir.org/pubs/reports/pub121/sec5.html . Or perhaps it’s their irregular shapes and the associated storage problems. Check out Organizing Non-book materials at http://www.acu.edu/academics/library/cfm/clorgnobook.html .

Policies! Not sure where to start? Check out the two pages of WELS sample statements at http://www.wels.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?2601&collectionID=618 .

Processing books Ron Maness (http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=131 ) give some tips on the tasks involved; so does Organising Books at http://www.acu.edu/academics/library/cfm/clorgbook.html#catal

References online (Biblical): atlas, concordance, commentaries various versions of the Bible, dictionaries at http://www.anova.org/sev/atlas/htm/ and http://bible.christiansunite.com/ .

Repairs, Maintenance & Preservation advice can be found at Brodart (http://www.shopbrodart.com/site_pages/h2guides/default.htm )
or Book Care and Repair http://www.tcpl.lib.in.us/tech/bookcare.htm .

Weeding – LifeWay has some suggestions at
http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/article_main_page/0%2C1703%2CA%253D155175%2526M%253D200019%2C00.html

Personal assistance - ACLA website ( http://www.acla.asn.au ) to find local libraries or to email for mentoring assistance or join the LINC Discussion-list (http://members.shaw.ca/scbrouwer/linc%20List.htm ) for help from over 100 experienced church librarians. 

© Natalie Schwarz, April 2005
Email: webmanager@acla.asn.au