Sample
Digital Resources
(see
other pages in this website for subject pathfinders and Dewey Decimal catalogued
digital resources)
iConn: Connecticut
Digital Library (online access to periodicals and reference books using your
public library card) - http://www.iconn.org/
netLibrary
(online access to eBooks using an account through your public library) - http://www.netlibrary.com/Gateway.aspx
Christian
Classics Etheral Library (online access to older religious texts) - http://www.ccel.org/
Pitts Theology
Library, Digital Image Archive, Emory University (PDF files and digitized
images of text and woodcuts from Reformation-era Christian materials) - http://www.pitts.emory.edu/DIA/woodcuts.htm
Project
Wittenburg (online access to texts by and concerning Luther and the early
Lutheran church) - http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/wittenberg/wittenberg-home.html
Religious
Studies Web Page: Electronic Images (links to sites grouped by faith perspective)
- http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~lipton/images.html
The Revised
Common Lectionary, Vanderbilt University (text of scheduled readings for Cycles
A, B, and C organized by season of the church year) - http://divinity.lib.vanderbilt.edu/lectionary/
Scrolls
from the Dead Sea: The Ancient Library of Qumran and Modern Scholarship (Library
of Congress exhibit with images of fragments of ancient scrolls and religious
artifacts from caves near the Dead Sea, rediscovered in 1947) - http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/scrolls/
The Dead
Sea Scroll Project and Other Hebrew Manuscripts, Oriental Institute, University
of Chicago (digital images of scroll fragments with scholarly commentary)
- http://www-oi.uchicago.edu/OI/PROJ/SCR/Scrolls.html
The Complete
Hildegard (texts written by Hildegard von Bingen, 1098-1179) - http://www.geocities.com/pmaxnavy/
U.S. Holocaust
Museum (text and images documenting the Nazi persecution of Jews and others)
- http://www.ushmm.org/
Digital
Collections, Library of the Jewish Theological Seminary (art, text, and ephemera
illustrating Jewish faith and life in America) - http://www.jtsa.edu/library/digitalcollections.shtml
John Templeton
Foundation (links to research and resources concerning the relationship of
religion, science, and health) - http://www.templeton.org/
Yad Vashem:
The Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes Remembrance Authority (images from museum
in Israel dedicated those who suffered and died under Nazi persecution) -
http://www.yadvashem.org/
Ad Hoc:
Resources for Teaching and Researching the History of Christianity, Yale Divinity
School, Yale University (images and texts of ancient manuscripts, archeological
sites, and artifacts) - http://www.yale.edu/adhoc/
Online Resources,
Connecticut Conference, UCC (HTML, PDF, ZIP, and MSWord files) - http://www.ctconfucc.org/resources.php
Selection
Sources and Tools for Congregational Libraries
Selection
Sources for Congregational Libraries (New Mexico State University Library)
- http://web.nmsu.edu/~ebosman/church/index.shtml
Starting
a Church Library (Ron Maness, Bible.org) - http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=131
The Church
Library: An Outline of Procedure (Emma Jean Loveland, Special Collections
Librarian, Abilene Christian University) - http://www.acu.edu/academics/library/cfm/churchlibrary.html
Space Planning:
Table of Frequently used measurements for Library Space Planning (Ellen Bosman,
New Mexico State University Library) -
http://web.nmsu.edu/~ebosman/church/spaceplan.shtml
Resources
for Church Librarians (Baptist Bible College) - http://www.bbcnet.edu/library/alum/churchlib.htm?BBC_Session=30a6b9792aad9c7fd09c93951cdc38ed
Christian
Fiction (William C. Robinson, Univeristy of Tennessee - Knoxville) - http://web.utk.edu/~wrobinso/590_lec_chr.html
LINC-List:
Libraries in Churches: The Discussion List for Congregational Librarians -
http://members.shaw.ca/scbrouwer/home.htm
Book Reviews
from Libraries, the journal of the Church and Synagogue Library Association
- http://cslainfo.org/reviews.html
National
Church Library Association - http://www.churchlibraries.org/
Publishers
Weekly Religion Bookline - http://www.publishersweekly.com/index.asp?layout=eletters&industry=Religion+Bookline
Standard
Catalogues: The Librarian's Resource for Collection Development (H.W. Wilson)
- http://www.standardcatalogs.com/
; links to Best Books Lists, Editor's Picks, Books on Hot Topics, etc. with
content summaries, book review citations, etc.
Book Review
Journals available online through iConn Digital
Library (Connecticut library cardholders) in InfoTrac OneFile and Expanded
Academic ASAP subscribed databases, including American Libraries, Booklist,
Books and Culture, Children's Bookwatch, CHOICE: Current Reviews for Academic
Libraries, Christianity and Literature, Contemporary Literature, History:
Review of New Books, Horn Book, Library Bookwatch, Library Journal, Library
Quarterly, Publishers Weekly, Reference and User Services Quarterly, Reviewers'
Bookwatch, School Library Journal, Today's Christian, Wilson Library Bulletin.
Users from other states should consult with local librarians to identify
similar databases subscribed by public libraries.
Library
Media & PR: Toolbox - http://www.ssdesign.com/librarypr/toolbox.html
Video Librarian
Online: The Video Review Magazine for Libraries - http://www.videolibrarian.com/index.html
Library
Success: A Best Practices Wiki - http://www.libsuccess.org/index.php?title=Main_Page
Sample Library
Policies for the Small Public Library (Wisconsin Association of Public Librarians)
- http://www.owlsweb.info/L4L/policies/sample.asp
An Excerpt
from 101 Ideas for Serving the Impaired Elderly (ALA Association for Specialized
and Cooperative Library Agencies) - http://www.ala.org/ala/ascla/asclaissues/101ideasserving.htm
Serving
Seniors: A How-To-Do-It Manual for Librarians / by RoseMary Honnold and
Saralyn A. Mesaros. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers (2003) [REQ]; Serving
Seniors, companion website with bibliographies and links for both secular
and religious resources and programs.
Canadian
Guidelines on Library and Information Services for Older Adults
(Canadian Library Association,
2002)
Introduction
to Dewey Decimal Classification (OCLC) - http://www.oclc.org/dewey/versions/ddc22print/intro.pdf
Dewey Decimal
Classification System - http://www.tnrdlib.bc.ca/dewey.html
Dewey Decimal
System Summaries - http://www.bookrags.com/wiki/Dewey_Decimal_Classification
025.431:
The Dewey blog - http://ddc.typepad.com/025431/2005/06/ddc_summaries_a.html
Christian
Library Journal: The Book Review Journal for Christians and Their Libraries
(Online; Subscription Required) - http://www.christianlibraryj.org/index.htm
Librarians
for Fairness - We work to ensure that Israel's viewpoint is represented
fairly in our libraries through books, periodicals, audiovisuals, online resources,
and scheduled events. Librarians for Fairness will also dedicate itself to
opposing anti-Israel bias in our nation's public libraries and professional
library organizations.
40 Days
and 40 Bytes: Making Computers Work for Your Congregation (No. AL288),
Aaron Spiegel, Nancy Armstrong, and J. Brent Bill.
Librarian's
Guide to Developing Christian Fiction collections for YA / Barbara J.
Walker. Neal-Schuman (2005).
Honey
for a child's heart: The imaginative use of books in family life / Gladys
Hunt. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan (1989).
The
book tree : a Christian reference for children's literature / Elizabeth
McCallum, Jane Scott. Moscow, Idaho : Canon Press (2001). [WPL]
The librarian's
guide to developing Christian fiction collections for children / Barbara
Walker. New York : Neal-Schuman Publishers (2005).
See
the Celebrations!
page of this Web site for links to resources and background related to
Christian Holy Days and secular, national, and regional holidays that could
be part of a seasonal focus for your library
ILS
Software
Library
Thing (free online cataloguing software, allowing users to connect to other
readers and collections) - http://www.librarything.com/
Integrated
Library System Reports (online journal with reviews and links to ILS software)
- http://www.ilsr.com/index.htm
LibDex:
The Library Index (links to online catalogs organized by software vendor,
with a few congregational libraries included) - http://www.libdex.com/
ALA TechSource
(reports and recommendations on library software) -
http://www.techsource.ala.org/index.html
Library
Technology Guide (developments and issues in library automation) -
http://www.librarytechnology.org
Alexandria,
COMPanion Software - http://www.goalexandria.com/
Right On
Prgrams - http://www.rightonprograms.com/
Book Systems
Inc. - http://www.booksys.com/
Church Related
Online Software Systems (MS Access-based database program for small libraries)
- http://www.cross-products.com/
Follet Software
Company - http://www.fsc.follett.com/
Library
World, CASPR Library Systems - http://www.caspr.com/
PC Card
Catalog, Library Concepts, Diakon Systems - http://www.libraryconcepts.com/
ResourceMate,
JayWil Software Development - http://www.resourcemate.com/
Sagebrush
Corporation (Accent, Athena, Winnebago, Spectrum ILS systems) - http://www.sagebrushcorp.com/
Surpass
Software - http://www.surpasssoftware.com/
Church Library
Software Links and Church Administration (Neil McQueen, Sunday Software) -
http://www.sundaysoftware.com/accounti.htm
Tools
for Information Literacy & Inspiration
Birthdays
of Children's Authors and Illustrators (New York Public Library) - http://kids.nypl.org/reading/childrensauthorbirthdays.cfm
Collaborative
Summer Library Program - http://www.cslpreads.org/index.html
READ
America! 2006 Summer Reading Program Manual (Fairfield County Children's
Librarians' Roundtable and Connecticut Librarian Consortium)
Connecticut
Children's & YA Authors & Illustrators (Connecticut State Library)
- http://ct.webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=6158
Connecticut
Authors Past & Present (Manchester Public Library) - http://library.ci.manchester.ct.us/ra/readlists/Connauthors.html
101 Ideas
for Serving the Impaired Elderly (Association of Specialized and Cooperative
Library Agencies) - http://www.ala.org/ala/ascla/asclaissues/101ideasserving.htm
The Librarian:
Quest for the Spear / (TNT) (2004) - DVD
Librarian
2: The Return to King Solomon's Mines / dir. by by Jonathan Frakes (TNT)
(debut, 3 Dec. 2006).
LIBRARIAN 2, THE: RETURN TO KING SOLOMON'S MINES (TNT, 12/3/06)
^Back to
Top^
Getting
Started & Keeping Going
Would your
congregation benefit from starting library (or starting over again)? Are you
daunted by questions of budget, space, and how-to-do-it issues? Join the Church
and Synagogue Library Association -- their inexpensive guides will lead you
through congregational library planning, management, and operations, whether
you have a graduate library science degree or just a love of libraries.
Visit other
congregational libraries in your area. Seek out members with library experience.
Recently, Michael Fazzino, a young adult member of St.
Teresa's of Avila Roman Catholic Church (Woodbury, CT), organized the
construction and collection of materials for a congregational library as part
of his Eagle Scout project. He secured donations of labor and materials to
construct bookshelves and collected donations of books, videos, and audio-recordings.
(See "Woodbury Scout earns Eagle rank: Built library at his church"
/ Emily Boisvert. Republican-American, 12 July 2006, page 3B.)
Many local
libraries and churches hold used book sales, which can be sources of inexpensive
additions to your collection. Mark your calendar to visit the book sales at
Minor Memorial Library (Roxbury,
CT); C.H. Booth Library (Newtown,
CT); Westport Public Library
(Westport, CT); Pequot Library
(Southport, CT); St. Paul's Episcopal
Church Annual Church Fair (Woodbury, CT).
A simple
(and no-cost) service you can provide to your members is to inform them about
faith resources available through the public library system. First, public
libraries include religious books in their collections; you can recommend
some titles to the congregation. Second, libraries subscribe to many periodicals
in electronic format which library cardholders can access from home. In Connecticut,
the iConn Digital Library provides thousands
of such periodicals. (See the Online
Periodicals section of the Special
Materials page on this Web site.) Stay in touch with area
libraries and bookstores to inform your members about book talks, book discussions,
author events, and special exhibitions that relate to your religious needs.
Library
Ministry / John Kimbrough, Sightings, Marty Martin Center, University
of Chicago Divinity School (5 April 2007); commentary on the role of librarians
as ministers, "to teach users a kind of information literacy that includes
making the time and space for genuine textual encounters," which "can
change lives."
Online
Congregational Librarian Instruction (Church and Synagogue Library Association);
"a 16-lesson training course dealing with all aspects of librarianship
to help even the most inexperienced librarian become an expert and to help
congregational librarians with years of experience hone their skills."
"The
Little Library That Could" / Leadership Books, Christianity Today
(24 July 2006); story of creation of military chapel library through donations
at Fort Alien, Puerto Rico.
"Online
book club boosts interest in church library" / United Methodist Church.
Church
Library Makeover: Get the assets of that special room back in circulation
/ By Robin F. DeMattia. Church Products and Services, Christianity Today
(Mar/Apr 1998).
Book
Love: Confessions of a Church Librarian / Albert Hsu. reGenerations,
Christianity Today (Winter 2001).
Library
Alive / Mildred Tengbom. Christianity Today (24 July 2006). "What
motivates a congregation with an adult membership of 504 to check out about
a hundred books every Sunday, bringing the total to almost 6,000 for the year?"
Stocking
the Stacks / Leadership Books, Christianity Today (24 July 2006).
Successful
Church Libraries / Elmer Town and Cyril J. Barber. Grand Rapids, Mich.:
Baker Book House (1971). Everything you need to get started, excepting library
technology and Internet resources.
The
Christian Librarian's Unique Calling / Steven L. Baker (Union University).
The Compass: Newsletter of the Emma Waters Summar Library, 4:1 (Feb.
2001)
"Christian
Librarianship: Essays on the Integration of Faith and Profession (review)"
/ Cogswell, Robert E. Libraries & Culture - Volume 38, Number 2,
Spring 2003, pp. 195-197, University of Texas Press
Outline
and Works Cited, The Role of the Library in the Character Formation of the
Christian College Student / Gregory A. Smith. G.B. Vick Memorial Library,
Baptist Bible College Graduate School.
The
Church Library: An Outline of Procedure (Abilene Christian University)
The
In Season Christian Librarian [Blog]
Career
Minded — Librarian and Aeronautical Engineer / by Ashley Mays. Brio
and Beyond, Focus on the Family (August 2006).
Starting
a Church Library / Ron Maness (Community Bible Chapel Library, Richardson,
TX).
Cataloging
for Congregational Libraries: A Practical Guide to Creating and Maintaining
a Useful Catalog in Your Church or Synagogue Library (MARCIVE)
Disaster
Preparedness and Response: Disaster Plans (Stanford University)
dPlan™:
The Online Disaster-Planning Tool (Northeast Document Conservation Center);
a free template for writing disaster plans
Library
2.0
Today's
libraries (including congregational libraries) are becoming community centers
of technology resources and know-how. As the functions of the Internet have
expanded beyond simple electronic text, the library's information systems
should expand to take advantage of these powerful computer tools. These developments
are referred to as "Web 2.0" and "Library 2.0" regarding
the Internet and the library, respectively. Consider this description by Stephen
Abram, MLS, SirsiDynix vice president of Innovation in "Web
2.0, Library 2.0, and Librarian 2.0: Preparing for the 2.0 World",
SirsiDynix OneSource Vol. 2, No. 1 (January 2006)
Librarian 2.0 is the
guru of the information age. Librarian 2.0 strives to
· Understand the
power of the Web 2.0 opportunities
· Learn the major
tools of Web 2.0 and Library 2.0
· Combine e-resources
and print formats and is container and format agnostic
· Is device independent
and uses and delivers to everything from laptops to PDAs to iPods
· Develop targeted
federated search and adopts the OpenURL standard
· Connect people
and technology and information in context
· Doesn’t
shy away from non-traditional cataloging and classification and chooses tagging,
tag clouds, folksonomies, and user-driven content descriptions and classifications
where appropriate
· Embrace non-textual
information and the power of pictures, moving images, sight, and sound
· Understand the
“long tail” and leverages the power of old and new content
· See the potential
in using content sources like the Open Content Alliance, Google Print, and
Open WorldCat
· Connect users
to expert discussions, conversations, and communities of practice and participates
there as well
· Use the latest
tools of communication (such as Skype) to connect content, expertise, information
coaching, and people
· Use and develops
advanced social networks to enterprise advantage
· Connect with
everyone using their communication mode of choice – telephone, Skype,
IM, SMS, texting, email, virtual reference, etc.
· Encourage user
driven metadata and user developed content and commentary
· Understand the
wisdom of crowds and the emerging roles and impacts of the blogosphere, Web
syndicasphere and wikisphere
First and foremost, Librarian
2.0 understands his or her users at a deep level – not just as pointers
and clickers. Librarian 2.0 understands end users deeply in terms of their
goals and aspirations, workflows, social and content needs, and more. Librarian
2.0 is where the user is, when the user is there. This is an immersion environment
that librarians are eminently qualified to contribute to. Aspects of librarian
influenced e-learning and distance education as implemented by our institutions
and communities should allow us to contribute to the preparation of our users
to acquire and improve their skills and competencies.
Items which are available
through the local public library system are identified as follows: [SPL] =
Southbury Public Library; [WPL] = Woodbury Public Library; [MPL] = Middlebury
Public Library; [BIB] = Bibliomation library cooperative; [REQ] = Connecticut
StateLibrary reQuest catalogue.
Site
Map (table of contents)
Site
Index (alphabetical keyword index)
Created and Maintained
by Barbara J. Hampton, M.L.S. ©2004, ©2006
Last revised: 11 April 2007; please report any problems with
this site to the Librarian
