What’s New in YOUR Church Library?
What do you remember about the four-letter question “WWJD?” “What Would Jesus Do” was such a huge catchphrase from the 1990s! Bracelets sporting the letters abounded. In my naivety, I assumed some bright Christian entrepreneur had coined the phrase and started making jewelry. Half of that is true; bracelets were the fad then. However, the phrase goes back much further.
Now that I’m reading one of the books recently donated to our library, I realize the question goes back at least 128 years to the late 1800s. Charles M. Sheldon (a preacher from Topeka, KS!) used the phrase as a premise in his book, In His Steps, published in 1897. Posed as a challenge from the pulpit to his church members, Rev. Henry Maxwell is committed to living by this concept for a year. The small town of Raymond is turned upside down and inside out by those also taking the pledge. I’m halfway through the book, so not quite sure how this all will play out yet, but very enthralled by the storyline. It is amazing that a book from more than a century ago is still so relevant and thought-provoking.
So…short book report to get to the point…your church library has so much to offer! Our Dewey 248 (Christian Experience, Practice, Life) collection is unsurprisingly the largest section in the library. Beef up your summer reading by easily accessing Christian books on any topic. Our catalog program allows searches for any title, author, or topic from your phone or computer. Go to the northsidecoc.org website, click on MEDIA/RESOURCES, scroll down to Church Library Catalog, click on Northside Church of Christ in blue letters, and there it is! The latest library additions are pictured, and clicking on the photo icon will give the location and call number to find your selection. The search bar is featured right on the top of the page for easy searches. Logging in should not be necessary to view books or summaries, but, if required, select “log in as a guest.”
Forget Hallmark movies; back to this book from 1987 to see what happens to the tiny town of Raymond!
For children’s teachers and parents: We have a new Juvenile Reference section featuring 24 beautifully-bound volumes including an index and NIV large print Bible. Each volume features the life of a biblical character with large print, beautiful drawings, and pictures. This section is located on the center bottom shelf of the Children’s section along the library counter.
To everyone! I’m looking for Volume 3 of the Chronicles of Narnia set, A Boy and His Horse. It has been AWOL for several months and it wasn’t checked out on the clipboard list. It is very difficult to find a hardback copy anymore! Please return it ASAP or simply write your name on the checkout list to reassure the librarian it will come home.