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Selection Sources for Congregational Libraries:
Library Associations
- American Theological
Library Association (ATLA)
- The ATLA's web site introduces visitors to the Association, including
history, mission statement, news, conference information, and product
catalog. Membership information includes job openings, newsletter,
mentoring program, and member directories. Last site visit: September 2006.
- Anglican
Library Society (ALS)
- Established in 2002 the ALS supports libraries, archives, and web
sites of the Anglican Communion. The site contains a worldwide directory
of Anglican libraries with online catalogs and digital libraries with
full text. Check out the fun library related poems and prayers in
the LIBRARIANA section. An electronic discussion forum is "designed
to be the heart" of ALS, so sign up and join the discussion. The forum,
like membership in ALS, is free. An extensive collection of Anglican
and book related links rounds out the site. Color scheme makes reading
difficult. Last site visit: September 2006.
- Association of Christian
Librarians (ACL)
- "Serving the academic library community worldwide," the
ACL site features a table of contents linking to general information,
membership, publications, conference data, frequently asked questions,
Christian resources, strategic plan and bylaws, and job announcements.
Although lacking book reviews, the site is a well organized overview
of the group. Last site visit: September 2006
- Association
of Jewish Libraries (AJL)
- Site contains information about the Association, its history, awards,
members, conferences, publications, and electronic discussion group.
The list of 100 links to Jewish related libraries, special collections,
and publishers is useful. Tips on web-based viewing of Hebrew and
Yiddish and inclusion of Library of Congress Subject Headings for
Jewish Studies typify the power of the Internet to disseminate information
to a specialized audience. Although the site does not contain book
reviews, the bibliography
bank and book
club reading lists are well worth a look. An exemplary site.
Last site visit: September 2006.
- Association of Seventh-day
Adventist Librarians (ASDAL)
- Packed with data, including collection statistics, the ASDAL site
archives its constitution, bylaws, minutes, proceedings and reports,
membership directory, conference news, and scholarship announcements.
Librarians will find reviews in ASDAL
Action and interested parties may join SDA-Librarian, an electronic
discussion forum for Seventh-day Adventist librarians. Overall, a
well-developed church library site. Last site visit: September 2006.
- Australian Church
Library Association (ACLA)
- The ACLA, founded in 1990, is a relatively young library association.
Their web site provides a brief history of the group, news from local
chapters, membership and conference information, helpful tips, a "featured
library", and a links area. A solid site, containing all the pertinent
information. Last site visit: September 2006.
- Catholic Library
Association (CLA)
- Attractive, well organized site packed with information, including
mssion statement and objectives, membership form, conference information
and related links. Last site visit: September 2006.
- Church and Synagogue
Library Association (CSLA)
- The largest church library association, CSLA's site links visitors
to information about the group, membership, awards, publications,
and contact details. Conference news and announcements. Membership
application and order form for publications purchase available. Site
map links to regional chapters. Sample reviews from the CSLA's bimonthly
periodical are a useful introduction. Related links and instructions
for authors would be helpful. Last site visit: September 2006.
- Church Library
Association of Ontario (CLAO)
- This attractive web site is for church libraries in the Ontario,
Canada area. CLAO, founded in 1969, is nondenominational and has approximately
250 members. Membership fees are incredibly inexpensive, about $1.00
per month, and include a subscription to the Library Lines
newsletter. Although the newsletter is not yet available online a
few previous computer-related articles are provided. The Association
holds conferences twice a year, spring and fall, on the first Saturdays
of May and October and conference information is on the web site.
Some image links are missing, but the links still work. Last site
visit: September 2006.
- Congregational
Library Association of British Columbia (Canada)
- A lengthy collection of links, but no information about the library
association. Last site visit: September 2006.
- Evangelical
Church Library Association (ECLA)
- This attractive site includes details on the Association's publication
and a sample table of contents. Membership application and order form
included. Information for school and church librarians includes winners
of Christian book awards. Check out the Book Lists link for
core lists of recommend fiction and nonfiction titles arranged by
age. Last site visit: September 2006.
- Fellowship
of Christian Librarians & Information Specialists (FOCLIS)
- A group of professional librarians and information scientists which
meets during American Library Association conferences. FOCLIS members
seek to reflect their faith in their personal and professional lives.
The group is loosely organized and nondenominational. Last site visit: September 2006.
- Librarians'
Christian Fellowship (LCF)
- A group of British professional librarians providing assistance
and support to libraries that might not otherwise be able to afford
the help of professional librarians. Their web site contains a brief
history, information about the group's activities and special projects,
and their publications. Publications, included with membership or
available for purchase, include the Christian Librarian, published
annually, and the LCF Newsletter, published three times per
year. The current table of contents is on the web site, but no articles
are provided, nor does it appear that either publication provides
book reviews. Special publications are available for a small fee,
and can be ordered via e-mail. Last site visit: September 2006.
- National
Church Library Association (NCLA)
- Formerly the Lutheran Church Library Association. This attractive
web site contains all the necessary information related to the NCLA.
Begin with a history of the Association, obtain membership information,
and read about local chapters, news and upcoming events. Join the
Roundtable electronic discussion list and swap ideas or ask questions,
although the color scheme makes reading posts difficult. The Contact
Us section has a web based form to submit ideas, comments, questions,
etc. Last site visit: September 2006.
- Pacific Northwest
Association of Church Libraries (PNACL)
- Founded in 1967 PNACL "...assist[s] in the establishment and operation
of church libraries in the Pacific Northwest states and communities."
Membership includes a quarterly subscription to The Lamplighter,
a New Membership Kit, and use of the Resource Lending Library. Local
chapters and conferences are provided. Last site visit: September 2006
- Southern
Baptist Convention(SBC)
- In 1927 the Southern Baptists were the first Protestant denomination
in the United States to begin a formal organization for church librarians.
Their web site is very attractive, although difficult to locate off
the Convention's main page. Overlooking a few advertisements, the
user will find useful articles and links. Bibliographies of suggested
purchases include citation, price, ISBN, suggested Dewey Decimal classification
and subject headings, although reviews are absent.
The Subject Index of Online Resources for Church Library
is a bit misleading. Instead of finding a list of subject headings
useful in preparing bibliographic records, the user finds a long list
of useful articles prepared by the SBC; many of the articles are duplicated
in the Archives section. Equally misleading is the Church
Library Solutions area, containing such enticing headings as
"a classification system for church libraries." The unsuspecting user
who follows these links find no classification system, but rather
a chance to buy the SBC's publication about classification systems.
Kudos for attractiveness and balancing free content with masterfully
disguised product placement. Last site visit: September 2006
- Wisconsin
Evangelical Lutheran Synod Church Librarians' Organization (WELS-CLO)
- Both a state and denominational based library association, WELS'
web page contains very brief information about their organization.
Nonmembers should check out Book-Talk, a mailing list "set
up for church librarians to share ideas and concerns with other librarians."
The list's traffic is current and easily manageable--your email will
not be clogged with hundreds of useless messages. Also, be sure to
look in the Resources area for short but helpful information
on a variety of topics, including funding and selection criteria.
Finally, if you are thinking about starting a church library and need
some free info, WELS-CLO offers a packet to any church requesting
it. Incentives to members include the newsletter From the Bookshelf
, which contains reviews of materials, although only of materials
published by the synod's press. Last site visit: September 2006.
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