Australian Church Library Association
"Promoting the Christian Faith through Church Libraries"
What is a Church Library?
A church library is a ministry in the local church. It can provide relevant resources for both the congregation and the ministers. Church librarians are people interested in ministering through books and other media. They are not necessarily professional librarians.
A church library can energise a church's program, providing another means of education for members. It can reach out to the community, providing new opportunities to explore the Christian faith. A church library is not a theological library, although it may contain some theological items.
Church libraries can be supported by MEMBERS and DONORS.
MEMBER contributions support the mission of ACLA in outreach and subsidising interstate librarians attending conferences.
DONOR memberships are available for corporations, businesses and individuals, guaranteeing promotion in ACLA publications and on the website.
ACLA's mission
To help promote the Christian faith by:
- Helping church librarians learn about their role and supporting them in their church's ministry program.
- Encouraging churches wishing to set up a new library or revitalise an existing library
- Fostering an interest in Christian literature and media.
- Providing networks for church librarians
- Facilitating resource sharing.
- Giving opportunities for ongoing education and new direction in church librarianship
- Responding to trends in technology in the church environment
- Liaising with other Church Library Associations
- Improving the quality of resources in church libraries
A Short History
The Australian Church Library Assocation was founded in Adelaide in 1990 by the late Margaret Stiller. She called a meeting of people interested in promoting the Christian faith through church libraries.
Off the Shelf, the national magazine, was first published in Autumn of 1994 with Margaret as its inaugural editor.
The first Australia-wide conference of church librarians was held at Nunyara, Belair, South Australia in September 1994. Victoria formed its own chapter in 1995. The New South Wales chapter was constituted in Sydney in early 1999, but has since disbanded.
ACLA’s Logo
The elements of the design are:
- a map of Australia
- a cross
- an open book
The map of Australia represents the ministries of church libraries spreading throughout Australia.
The cross represents the church. The church library is part of the church's ministry to the people and for the people.
The open book symbolises the library with its resources and its helpers, open and willing to be of assistance.