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Founded in 1960 - Affiliate of The Church and Synagogue Library Association |
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The Congregational Library Association - National Capital & Suburban Areas |
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Member Shared Information |
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All library materials are selected to reflect our church mission statement and the following listed principles and guidelines. Recommendations are solicited from the clergy, the Parish and respected publishers. Selection of materials is made on an on-going basis by the librarian and the Library Council. Acquisitions for the library may come from the Church budget or from donations in kind or gifts. PLEASE CHECK WITH THE LIBRARY COUNCIL BEFORE DONATING MATERIALS. |
Selection Policy |
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St. John’s Norwood Parish |
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We can provide guidance so that your gift will become an appropriate and important part of the library services, reflecting our mission. The selection policy includes the following guidelines: 1. Does the item meet the needs of the St. John’s library users? 2. Is it on the library's Wish List? www.Amazon.com “Wish Lists”: St. John’s Norwood Parish Library 3. Has it received favorable reviews? 4. Is more information on this subject needed? 5. Is it acceptable from the standpoints of content, expression, and format? 6. Will it complement the library collection? Will it serve our community of readers? Will it help fulfill the purpose of the library? 7. Is the quality of a non-book item superior: e.g., sound, photography, script, etc? 8. Is the item of equipment appropriate for use with the church’s audiovisual materials? Is it sturdy as well as easy to operate and maintain? |
Principals or Mission |
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St. John’s Norwood Parish |
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The mission statement of our church is “Building Community at the Crossroads of Faith and Life.” This reflects our commitment to the wider world beyond the church and recognition that the church is not primarily a building for worship but a community for faithful and loving action in the world. Our parish library is part of the ministry of St. John’s Episcopal Church. Members of the church are active in a number of outreach activities and we have a large and growing church school. This includes an active youth group who plan a pilgrimage as part of their “Journey to Adulthood” program. In order to support the various ministries of our church, the library promotes the following: Education Guidance Discernment Materials in the library (books, audiovisual materials, equipment and supplies) reflect the following principles: Beauty: durability, attractiveness, integrity, wholesomeness. Truth: scholarship, balanced, authoritative, excellence; materials that reflect the balance of: 1) Scripture 2) Reason and 3) church tradition. Reverence: supportive materials that are inclusive and appreciative of the many gifts each of us brings to the church community. Compassion: materials that challenge us to greater understanding of ourselves and others as we travel on our chosen faith journeys. Responsibility: recognition of the vital role the church has in guiding future generations. Freedom: openness to new ideas and new ways of thinking about our relationship with God. A balance of classic Christian/World Religion texts and references plus recently published timely discussions on topics affecting our current lives. Peace: the library provides a sanctuary for spiritual reflection and discernment both for individuals and the parish community. |
Other Documents |
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APPLICATION FOR NORWOOD PARISH FUND GRANT
Purpose:
To establish library resources to support the educational and inspirational needs of the St. John’s Norwood Episcopal Church community.
Extending the Ministry and Support of the Mission and Vision Statements:
As a “people of the Book”, words and ideas are an integral part of our faith journey. · A functioning and welcoming library will support the growth of St. John’s parishioners in this journey. · A church library offers a quiet space for reflection and study on God’s Good News. · A church library offers information and understanding of our story as a part of the history and the future of the Anglican Communion. · A church library offers inspiration in times of despair or grief or joy or thanksgiving. · A church library offers guidance for church educational offerings. · A church library offers resources for parenting and guiding our children as they learn about God. · A church library connects us to the larger faith community and other great thinkers and teachers in World Religions. A church library supports our mission in the wider world by providing resources to help us understand the meaning of a Christian life of service, justice, love and peace.
Future and Outcomes:
The library has a small but solid collection of important historical and contemporary materials at this time. Seed money for the library project would:
provide supplies for cataloguing these materials, create a simple system for borrowing materials create a starter fund for acquiring new books and materials connect us to other volunteers in a Congregational Library Council (Membership in this Council, established in the D.C. area for library volunteers in different denominations and synagogues in 1960 is $15/year)
Input from other book lovers, the clergy, church education teachers and interested parties will be solicited to help select new materials and retire those that are outdated or inappropriate.
I envision our own voluntary Library Council to oversee the library. Their mission would be to work with the clergy, children’s church school teachers, Music Ministry, the Adult Forum and also the Op Shop and annual Book Sale to obtain appropriate materials for the library.
The Church Library could be self-supporting if the project remains small. Future money for the library could come in several ways: 1. Donations (money or materials) 2. Special offerings 3. Proceed sharing from Book Sale and/or other projects Inclusion in the operating budget. (Should the Library become an integral part of the Mission and it is desirable to expand)
Measurable Outcomes to be reported to the Parish Fund after 12 months:
1. Monthly records of borrowed materials 2. Accounting of volunteer time and activity for the library 3. Survey of the parishioners (use of the library, materials desired) 4. Timely updates in the newsletter; book reviews, suggestions etc. Accounting of all purchased materials
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To share your information, email send by email to president@tcla.info |
