History

 A Brief History of the All Saints Parish Resource Library

 

The All Saints Parish Resource Library (ASPRL) was founded in 1977, just one year after the parish was established, as a project of the PACE (Parish Adult Christian Enrichment) Committee. The first collections were books for adults only and audio cassettes which were made available through the PACE Committee on the first weekend of each month. The ASPRL started out with only two shelves of reference books in our Pastor's Office, then three shelf units in the original Religious Education office, and finally it was moved into the present facility in the Fall of 1984.

 

Today it still offers the PACE Monthly Book Table for the selling of resources on consignment and the inventory is kept in a display cabinet in the hallway near the library.


The library itself is for borrowing only and we now have materials for all ages and groups in the Parish. They are organized in separate areas according to the audience or purpose they were designed for. Audiocassettes, videocassettes, periodicals, and sound discs have special display/storage units very easy to access and browse. Two metal cabinets hold Vertical File materials. These are small items like pictures, loose-leaf articles, or small booklets which would be lost among the regular books. They are organized by alphabetical order of subject headings. The first cabinet has materials that are not cataloged, while the second contains resources that can be located through the catalog and database.

 

Combinations of different media, e.g., cassettes and guides, are treated as kits and housed separately from individual resources. The present collection holds over 13,000 books, 3,000 audiocassettes and 850 videocassettes. Accompanying notes or handouts for recordings are stored in blue folders on the top shelves above the related recordings.

 

There are three distinct reference collections, one for adults, one for children, and one for young adults. Archives are stored in a separate secured room shared with the Little Saints Child Development Program. A special collection of rare and out-of-print materials is kept in the librarian's office/computer room. Reference, special, and archival materials do not circulate, except in special cases allowed by the librarian. Copies can be made upon request within the allowed parameters of copyright law.

 

A section of the library is reserved for materials relevant to the Religious Education Program (Catechesis). Organized mainly by grade level, these resources are part of curriculum programs that are presently being used or were used in the past. This way the teachers have additional materials to supplement their lessons.

 

Our card catalog is divided in two sections:

 The Dewey Decimal Classification system, the most commonly used approach in small public, school, and church libraries is followed, with additional codes to indicate what section of the Library the item will be found. For example, Y for children, YA for young adults, Ref for reference, VF for vertical file, etc.

 

A color code has been adopted to differentiate media format:

These colors are added as a code line atop the catalog cards and will match the color of the circulation cards used for each media. Automation is in progress. Once completed all checking will be done by computer and the cards will be eliminated. Simple instructions and guidelines have been placed in strategic places to help patrons understand the special codes and to aid them in locating resources. We encourage independent browsing and checkout, but need the return of materials borrowed to be made to the circulation desk for reshelving by staff.

 

The major collections are shelved in the library lounge with three distinct sections

 Any registered parishioner can use the Library. We ask them to limit the number of items checked-out at one time to a maximum of six. Most items circulate for a period of three weeks, only periodicals and video tapes have a one week check-out period. Children use the Library very frequently, but the parents are responsible for the materials they check-out. Non-members of the Parish can also use the Library as long as they are sponsored by a registered parishioner. Laminated library patron id cards are issued on the first visit to the Library.

 

The Library is administratively under the Religious Education Commission, but serves all groups and departments in the community. Resources and equipment are brought to the classrooms as well as to any meeting that requests them. The Library provides its own Adult Enrichment opportunities, including at least two adult enrichment programs, one in the Spring and one in the Fall. Once a year, around Easter time, a display in the Library is dedicated to some form of art or crafts. The Library sponsors an open house in conjunction with the parish Time'N'Talent Fair, usually in the Fall. An informal network is maintain with many surrounding parish resource centers for exchange of materials and expertise.

 

Announcements in the weekly Parish Bulletin, articles in the monthly Parish Newsletter, monthly new acquisitions lists for the staff and teachers, and special lector announcements for scheduled events are used to promote what is happening in ASPRL. A display case outside the Library features a different theme each month. A Bulletin Board at the entrance shares information on current events taking place in the parish or in the surrounding area.

 

/files/Pictures/Miscellaneous/me_1.jpegAll Library services are performed by dedicated volunteers, two of them with professional degrees. A budget within the Education Commission structure and a Library Fund are managed to cover expenses and receive donations.

       

The Library director, Maria I. Bellavance, is very involved with the North Texas Chapter of the Church & Synagogue Library Association (CSLA), which selected her as the Congregational Librarian of the Year, in 1993. She is also on the Board of the Beta Lambda Chapter of the Beta Phi Mu Honor Society.

 

 

 

 

 

Maria I. Bellavance, founder and director of ASPRL