POWER TOOL

The computer in the church library.

Sites visited or mentioned at the CLABC 2003 workshop

To save typing all the squiggles and slashes that are necessary to locating the websites correctly please feel free to contact Shawn Brouwer at to have this list emailed to you. Or, use Google (or your preferred search engine) to locate the sites you want to view

Search engines

  • Uses Google

Some booksellers

Used booksellers:

Library Resources

  • for Church Libraries

Fran Rose’s CLABC site. This is a good gateway to all kinds of resources for church librarians created by one of our own members.

Church And Synagogue Library Association links. Similar to Fran Rose’s site but with some variations.

Evangelical Church Libraries Association. Another general purpose gateway; especially useful for beginners are the Booklist link and Publishers links

Anglican Library Society, maintained by Steven Olderr is especially useful for the Link library and the Librariana link, with some library humour

Ellen Bosman’s Selection Sources for Congregational Libraries— Aims to be a gateway to church librarianship. Emphasis is on locating book reviews on the Internet. Library associations, library-related software, best seller lists, awards lists, library signage, and readings related to church librarianship are also included. Prepared by a professional librarian and former church librarian.

Three sites more specific to the “how-to’s” of running a church library

  • The Church Library: An Outline of Procedure manual. A good introductory how-to site.
  • The Church Library. The Reviews link is helpful.
  • Parish libraries. Catholic perspective

LINC list is not a website per se, but an email discussion list you can join and send questions to church librarians around the world. 117 members. To join or to read the archive, follow the instructions at

Pacific Northwest Association of Church Libraries, Not of much use unless you live in the area and want to make contact with Church librarians in the Pacific Northwest.

Australian Church Librarians Association

Other resources

  • Reviews:

Christian Librarians Journal. Requires free registration, but a great source for reviews

Also useful is Provident Bookfinder online

  • Other good sites for reviews and recommendations

Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (Awards link lists top books since 1978)

The Christy Awards for Christian Fiction Links also lists publishers

  • General Library sites

The LibMary. Sprawling but comprehensive- especially useful are the on-line learning links

The Library spot: another sprawling gateway. Try the librarians’ shelf link on the left side of the page

Library Media and PR. A starting point for promotions ideas.

Cataloguing sites

Library of Congress (For “importable” records compatible with your library software Search Our Catalogues – then Alternative interface then Advanced SearchZ39.5 gateway) or go straight to

Don’t forget the link to other libraries: LC WWW/Z39.50 Gateway to get “importable” formats from the National Library of Canada, or British Public Library, among others.

Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary Library Online Catalog Services. Allows you to search 21 university/college libraries (not all Mennonite) Not Z39.50 format but MARC format available. Tip: you may find the Dewey call number of an item in the 082 field in a MARC record

OPALL consortium. Online Private Academic Library Link. OPALL is a consortium of 8 private college libraries in the Pacific Northwest. Members are: Concordia University, Mount Angel Abbey and Seminary, Multnomah Bible College and SeminaryNorthwest Christian College, Warner Pacific College, Western Baptist College, Western Seminary. Not Z39.50 but MARC format available

Two sites listing seminary libraries. Useful to find material pertaining to a denomination- The American Theological Association

or The Wabash Center

An index of libraries (If you can’t find a record for the item using the sites above, try the author’s hometown library!)

Champion Forest Baptist Church Library Webrary—Church library card catalogue helpful if you're having trouble cataloguing. With more than 26,000 items in the collection, it gives a "one person library" a second opinion.

For the do-it yourselfer: Dewey guides

Some Church library sites

Ashgrove Baptist (Note their policies. Some links don’t seem to work)

Bethel Mennonite Church (nice layout, new site)

Knox Church Toronto (good list of links)

The computer as a resource

There are 1000’s of valuable Christian resource sites on the web. Major ministries all have websites as do many individuals. Publishers and authors, even book series have sites to ‘enhance the reading experience.’ Use Google (or your preferred search engine) to find the ones that are right for you.

A must is the Bible Gateway featuring many versions of the Bible on-line.

CLABC member Ed Knorr has compiled a brief list reflecting his interests

Beliefnet takes an ecumenical approach

Ember Days on-line spirituality has interactive exercises.(my favourite)

A translation service

ResourceMate tips and tricks

Whatever software your library uses you should subscribe to their newsletter and update your software from time to time. (Upgrades are available when you pay an annual support fee)

Ideas to take home

  • Try different search engines to see what works best for my needs
  • Use the internet and web bookseller sites to supply images and reviews for dust jackets posters and other promotional material
  • Use the cataloguing work done by experts to catalogue material in my library.
  • My computer is a tool and a resource to be used!
  • Join LINC List -the Libraries in Churches discussion list.

May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:18

Other sites to note and explore that came up in the workshop:

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