Five Reasons Every Church Needs a Library

Lack of space and the lack of someone to be in charge of it are the major reasons church boards give for not having a church library. Neither of these excuses are good enough to outweigh the reasons why every church should have a library.

It Can Be An Evangelistic Tool

Many people testify that they were turned to God after reading a Christian book. Providing good Christian is a great way to reach out to those who may be looking for answers to many of life's questions. Books can extend the teaching of the church into the homes of its members all week long and, perhaps, even end up being read by other people in those homes who do not attend organized church services.

It Will Help Church Members Save Money.

Books are expensive, and should be recycled whenever possible. Church members who can afford to buy books will be blessed by passing them on to the church library so that those who cannot afford them will be blessed by the opportunity to borrow and read them. Those books sitting on a shelf in your home aren't doing anyone much good. Put them to work in your church library so they will accomplish the purpose their author meant them for.

It Gives Members of the Congregation a Chance to Serve.

Many people would like to do something in the church but feel that they aren't qualified to teach or lead special groups. Working in the church library will give them a chance to provide a needed service. Teaching Sunday School, or helping wash church windows on a church work day may not be physically possible for seniors, but tending the library might be the perfect job for them.

It Can Provide Teachers With Material that Enhances Teaching.

Every Sunday School teacher I know is looking for supplementary material to help them do a better job of teaching. They need material to help them understand the social life of the people, the customs of the times, and the geography of the area they are teaching about. A church library well-stocked with reference material can provide this. As a Sunday School teacher, I have purchased dozens of books over the years with Bible quizzes, ideas for keeping kids interested in class, and art projects that would be useful to other teachers looking for such material. Donating them to the church library makes them available to all.

Good Reference Material in a Church Library Encourages Independent Bible Study.

What pastor wouldn't be delighted to know that his congregation was following up his Sunday sermon with individual Bible study at home, using reference books checked out of the church library? Most of us cannot afford entire sets of reference books, atlases, or commentaries and would welcome access to these tools in the church library. Pastors who update their own personal libraries could donate their older commentaries, Bible dictionaries, etc. to the church library. A number of different versions and translations of the Bible would also be valuable for study and comparison.

If your church doesn't have a library, why not start one? It doesn't necessarily have to be a big one; even a tiny closet with just a few books to start with can be a welcome addition to many people in your church. A notebook with a page for each book so that people can indicate what book they have borrowed is sufficient for a small collection. Before you know it, your church library will outgrow that tiny closet and clamor for a room of its own.