Church Library: Relic or Resource?

A few years ago, a post on the Christian Reformed Church’s community website, the Network, asked, “Is There Still a Place for Church
Libraries?” The post was designed to be a discussion-starter, and it succeeded, receiving lots of responses. Some responders mourned the loss of their church’s library; some defended the place of church libraries; others wondered if the church library needs to exist at all.

As a reader, I don’t know if I could ever dismiss the church library as a relic, and I’m sure plenty of book lovers agree. However, there are lots of avid readers who choose to engage electronically and don’t see a need for a physical library in the church today—especially if space or funding is at a premium. I connected with a few librarians and others from across the denomination to see what they could tell me about church libraries and their role in the life of a congregation.

In some churches the library is underutilized—the shelves are full, and the borrowing system is in place, but the books aren’t checked out very often. In response, some churches have chosen to close their libraries, to distribute the books free to members or to local thrift stores, and to repurpose their former library spaces for other ministry needs.

When Christine Lankhof took on the role of librarian at First CRC in Chatham, Ont., the library committee was ready to call it quits, she said, since the church library was seldom used. “I love reading, and I did not want our church to be without a library,” she said, so she offered to explore what she could do to save the library. “The first thing I did was to move the library [from the church basement] to the fellowship hall, where everybody goes for coffee and fellowship. . . . All the shelves were taken from the old library and put into the new location,” she explained. 

The books were sorted, and volunteers helped to move them and to decide which to keep and which to donate. The change in location worked; for the past 15 years the library has been well used and appreciated. Several other librarians or library users agreed that having the library in a natural gathering space such as a fellowship hall helps to raise borrowing numbers and use. 

When a change in location is not possible and the library is a bit out of the way, some church librarians have gotten creative in finding ways to invite people to use the facility. Beth Hoekstra, who manages the library at Kelsey Creek Church in Bellevue, Wash., wheels a book cart into the entryway each Sunday to feature new books, seasonal books, and books that connect with the latest sermon or Sunday school topics. In addition, a team brightened the library decor to make it more inviting, and they launched a new attraction, “Art in the Library.” Hoekstra added that instead of buying artwork for the library, they “ask artistic members to loan a piece of art for a couple months,” and that  brings people into the room as well. 

Ken Krause, pastor of Fellowship CRC in Big Rapids, Mich., said he has found displays of new or featured books helpful. He explained, “I recently discovered a Christian leadership book on display at another church that I ended up using for a group study at my church.”

Another way in which librarians are inviting church members and regular visitors to borrow books is to make sure the library is always available. The library at First CRC in Brandon, Man., for example, is in the church fellowship hall and, like a growing number of church libraries, it has a self-checkout system for borrowing books. “Mostly the library is accessed on Sundays, but members who come into the church during the week are more than welcome to use the library. It is always open,” explained librarian Shaunna Wesselius.

Another way to promote library use is to introduce new or timely books through the church bulletin or newsletter, on slides presented before a worship service, and via the church’s social media group. Several librarians noted that this can take the form of a review, a brief summary such as one displayed on the back cover of many books, or a recommendation. 

Lankhof said she provides a “Library News” section in the weekly church bulletin, highlighting new books, magazines, or children's books. “I try to make it interesting in a way that makes them want to check it out,” she added. And to help interest children in borrowing books, she said, she lets them stamp the date on the cards and on a sign-out sheet.

Krause said he appreciates the role a church library played in his faith journey, remembering it as an indispensable source of helpful information about faith and the Bible when he became a Christian. At the same time, he says, “I'm not so sure about the usefulness of traditional church libraries in today’s digital age. If I had a smartphone when I was a new Christian, I would have looked up answers to my questions online instead of going to the church library.” He suggested, though, that a small, well-curated library can serve as a middle ground to provide room for “helpful devotions, Bible study guides, denominational magazines, and other materials, as well as inspirational books that the current leadership would like to highlight and encourage people to read.”

Curating books to suit the needs of the congregation is an important part of managing a church library, said Chris Jager of Baker Book House in Grand Rapids, Mich. Jager said she meets regularly with librarians in West Michigan to offer reviews, recommendations, and advice. Noting that there are no universal solutions for creating a well-balanced selection of books for a church library, she explained, “We advise on topics, authors, and content, helping librarians make the best decisions for their churches. As I tell them all the time, ‘You know your readers better than I do; I can only give you ideas, you know what works.’”

Lankhof said she strives for a balance of books and magazines for men, for women, and for readers of all ages and life situations, providing categories such as novels, singleness, marriage, family, parenting, spiritual growth, real-life stories, devotions, and children's books. 

Frances Reinink, who serves as librarian at Bethel CRC in Listowel, Ont., purchases new books each spring and fall, she said, featuring the newest books on displays. When new books come in, some older books need to go, and that can be a tough decision, she said. As library volunteers work through the selection process, though, she said, “We know which books are really good ones, and we hang on to them; there are new generations coming up who can read them.” 

Hoekstra said she uses a similar strategy at Kelsey Creek’s library—getting rid of old or damaged books and buying new editions of classic Christian titles, like those by C.S. Lewis.

Many church libraries also carry a large selection of fiction in comparison to their nonfiction selection. There are a few reasons for this, said Jager. For one, in many churches, novels are the most popular resources borrowed by people who use the library. “Fiction that people can trust is what seems to work very well in churches,” she observed. Another reason, she suggested, is that people who read nonfiction “want to study the book, write in it, and maybe reread it. That is all very hard to do with a library book.” 

Children’s books are also a good choice for church libraries, added Jager. Children like to have a place to find new stories; parents enjoy having a selection of books they can trust; and the church library offers easy access. Jager explained, “I might not have time in my schedule to get to the public library, but I am at church every Sunday and can easily fit in a quick visit for myself and anyone else in the household.”

Finding new books and knowing which ones are well written and promote faith and a Reformed perspective can be a challenge, several librarians agreed. Reinink said she purchases many of the books for Bethel’s library through a traveling book service that brings a multi-day book sale twice a year to a venue in Listowel, then invites all of the local church libraries to come. She added that she appreciates being able to look through the books and to ask questions before she buys them for the library.

Hoekstra noted that she reads reviews in The Banner, Christianity Today, and publications from Hope College and Calvin University; checks out the authors at Calvin’s Festival of Faith and Writing; and takes recommendations from members at Kelsey Creek. Peggy Mollema of Orland Park CRC in Oak Forest, Ill., added that she joins the bimonthly meetings for librarians hosted by Baker Book House to hear about new titles for adults and children.

The element of curating books that can help readers grow in the Christian faith is a major reason to continue supporting and using church libraries even in an increasingly digital age, stated several librarians. “While many churches have downsized or eliminated their church libraries,” said Mollema, “I feel very strongly that a library is important to both support the other ministries of the church and to provide families with a place to find books that have been selected with a biblical worldview in mind.”

People can read on their tablets and ereaders, said Lankhof, but there is something special about holding and reading from a physical book. She added, “If churches drop libraries, they drop a very valuable resource of books that can be used for generations.” 

A church library is important, Reinink agreed, because “reading is important. And so is getting different viewpoints. You gain a different feel for people. You get to know people in a different way.” Jager noted that studies have indicated that people who read fiction are more empathetic toward others.

Although these can be financially challenging times for churches, Jager acknowledged, she encouraged churches and councils to continue to support their libraries. “Support from the council shows people who use the library that they are just as important to the church as any other program,” she suggested. 

Thrive, the congregational and ministry-leader support agency of the CRC, is currently exploring ways to help train and equip church librarians and to provide networking opportunities for readers, as part of a process of reviewing resources for parents in light of feedback from recent listening sessions, staff reported. Librarians and readers with questions or suggestions can reach out to Thrive at [email protected].