Booklists, Guidelines and Creative Promotional Ideas.
Sent to members automatically, twice a year in the spring and fall.

View our new promotion tips and ideas sheets:

Promote your church library with flair!

19 Promotion ideas for the church library.

Libraries Alive, the NCLA quarterly publication.
Features informative articles, a sharing of ideas, reviews of books and
other media, Internet resources, plus news of authors, chapter news, and
news of upcoming regional and national workshops. Subscription included with membership.

View a recent issue of Libraries Alive (1.3 Meg pdf file)

Contact Libraries Alive:

E-mail the editor to submit an article

Inquire about advertising

Get help setting up a new library, finding and keeping volunteers, starting a storytime or summer reading program, planning a budget, organizing and weeding a neglected collection, or computerizing your library. Membership in NCLA offers you personal advice, printed materials, and online help to support and multiply your efforts.

View our recent 5-part series on Library Basics (pdf files):  

Part I:  Writing your library’s mission statement 

Part II:  Designing a materials selection policy

Part III:  A good donation policy -a church librarian’s best defense

Part IV:  Weeding: your library will thrive on it

Part V:  Dealing with challenged materials

A Handbook for Church Librarians, 2006 2nd revised edition
Everything you need to know to create, organize and manage a successful church library

Top librarians teamed to create this definitive reference guide for the church librarian. Within this essential companion, core areas of church library ministry are explored.

• First steps to library ministry
• Building a library team
• Finances and budgeting
• Selection strategy
• Classifying and cataloging
• Adding, processing and shelving new materials
• The circulation cycle
• Care and repair of books
• Circulating videos, music, magazines and more
• The automated church library
• Creative promotional ideas
• Planning and evaluating

An icon throughout the book indicates special information for automated libraries.

Also included are a glossary, fully updated subject headings, and the newest Dewey Decimal classifications-updated for church librarians-plus a section on useful print and online resources.

Receive a FREE copy automatically when you join NCLA!

Ordering information:

To order a copy of A Handbook for Church Librarians, mail your request along with a check or money order to NCLA. Sorry, no credit card orders.

Retail price: $35.00 (plus $4.00 shipping and handling)
Special NCLA member price: $21.00 (plus $4.00 shipping and handling)

Mail your order and payment to:
National Church Library Association
275 South Third Street Suite 101A
Stillwater, MN 55082

Personalized Support.
By phone, mail & e-mail.

Specific information sent to you at your request.
On any other library related topic you need help with.

Available to members, experienced church librarians are ready to help by offering friendly and personal assistance.

NCLA Mentors are available to help with:

• Starting a church library
• Revitalizing a church library
• Cataloging
• Computer Automation
• Storytelling
• Promotion
• Fundraising
• Young Adult Resources
• Weeding
• Book groups
• Music for your library
• Circulation practices
• And more!
  

Click here to request a mentor or to volunteer to be a mentor!