What works (or does not work!) for having a church library?
I am considering putting my theological books at the disposal of the rest of the congregation and encouraging a few others to do the same. I've heard of this being a vital ministry in some churches while in others, the books just gather dust in a corner somewhere.
So what makes a church library work? What is the best method for record keeping? (I've thought of a spread sheet, but then you'd need a PC nearby.) What is the best way to organize -- by theological loci? What kind of review process do you use? I think it would be important to restrict donations to solidly reformed works with some literary merit.
Clearly the church leadership would need to approve the idea, but I'd like to go in with a fairly detailed recommendation. The background work would be within my skill set. (I love organizing and systematizing information.)
I am considering putting my theological books at the disposal of the rest of the congregation and encouraging a few others to do the same. I've heard of this being a vital ministry in some churches while in others, the books just gather dust in a corner somewhere.
So what makes a church library work? What is the best method for record keeping? (I've thought of a spread sheet, but then you'd need a PC nearby.) What is the best way to organize -- by theological loci? What kind of review process do you use? I think it would be important to restrict donations to solidly reformed works with some literary merit.
Clearly the church leadership would need to approve the idea, but I'd like to go in with a fairly detailed recommendation. The background work would be within my skill set. (I love organizing and systematizing information.)