If you’re reading this blog, chances are that you’re a little bookish, like me, and that you appreciate a good church library. So you’ll resonate with my feelings about the conversation I had this past weekend.
A few years ago my church had a budget to buy a bookcase full of resources for an in-depth Bible class – historical references, Jewish commentaries, atlases of Israel, etc. We kept our collection on the side of a popular meeting room so that anyone could access it, and people were welcome to borrow things on an honor system.
Over time, however, we started noticing that books were evaporating. A Torah commentary would leave and never return, so now no one could look up anything in Genesis. A set of tapes from a really good seminar would disappear forever. I feared for the items that weren’t replaceable, like books that were hefted home in luggage from trips to Israel. Eventually the collection was added to the rest of our church library, which I often visit.
When I was chatting with the librarian this past week, she said books disappear often from church libraries. She said that having overdue books isn’t a big deal. The main problem is people who borrow books but don’t even check them out, even when there is an easy self-serve system. Our library is always accessible, so people stop in and tuck a book into their bag to bring home for a week — they don’t figure they need to record it. But the books fall behind sofas and get hidden under newspapers, and eventually wind up on the bookshelf of a back bedroom.
Really nice books disappear quite often because of this, she said. And once one is gone, there’s no tracking it down. The church buys a book in order to bless dozens of future readers, but it doesn’t get read by more than a few. All you bookish nerds like me might find this a little frustrating.
So I just want to encourage everyone to do others a favor by recording when you borrow a book. And today, how about looking through your stacks and making a little pile of things that will go back with you this next weekend? The book that is gathering cobwebs under your couch may be just what the next person needs.
MIke Davis says
All I can say is …Amen Lois…amen!
bea baldridge says
I have lost books loaned to people and it is so frustrating. Later on in life I started writing them down when I would loan them out.I lost volume 2 of R. Kaplan’s Torah anthology. Makes me sick every time I look at that empty space in the holder. Most people don’t respect books the way us studiers do and think it’s no big deal when they don’t return them. They don’t consider the cost involved in a collection.
Lois Tverberg says
Yes, I know the feeling. I try to be extra careful about keeping track if I’ve borrowed a book from someone.
Don Schiewer Jr says
I decided a few years ago to put my personal library in a public place within our church – many books will never be seen again. I still have mixed emotions about this. I love that others had an opportunity to read books that I’ve loved but books are similar to photographs for me. They contain memories of my spiritual and theological journey…Am I nuts at feeling this way? LOL
btw – both of your books were ‘subtracted’ from my library twice! What can I say your books must be a hot commodity on the black market. Though they were two of my more recommended books to folks interested in Jewish Roots.
Lois Tverberg says
I understand. Funny about my books being missing. I’m glad that they’re of interest, but hope they’ll come back.
Feel free to forward my blog post on to anyone who needs a hint. 🙂
steve says
Maybe churches should have a sign on the door to the book room reminding them that failing to return books constitutes theft which God says is a sin. If nothing else it reminds them of their actions.
Lois Tverberg says
Steve, I see your point, but I’m sure not one person sees their actions as “stealing” – just “borrowing, but haven’t gotten it back yet.” Stressing how much others need the books they’ve borrowed will be much more effective at getting them back than posting threatening signs.
Kathleen says
I wonder if a note in the bulletin once a month or so would be helpful?
Lois Tverberg says
That’s a thought.
I made a sign that said “Stop Book Evaporation Syndrome” and then gently explained what it meant. We had it out for a while. It didn’t move to the main library though.