A Resting Librarian

It’s been a while since I posted a librarian update!

As a reminder: years ago, I offered to take over the running of our church’s library. Since I love books, it seemed the perfect fit!

Well, as of late, due to the pandemic restrictions, our little church library has sat unused. (The books at least are unused: our pastors have been using the room itself as a place to record their online sermons.) And due to the continued restrictions on gatherings, the books will likely sit unused for a while yet.

When I first realized this, I was hit with a feeling of loss.

I’ve done so much in that library.

One thing I changed early on was the fiction section: dividing it into separate genres, and sorting the books by author. It took a lot of work - and some dear helpers - to get that done. And since it’s been finished, I’ve noticed readers picking out their favourite genre, or taking out books from a particular author.

Since then, I’ve done so much re-organizing, moving, buying, and removing of books in the non-fiction genres, I don’t even remember what it was like before I became the librarian.

I’ve spent many hours caring for the library’s hundreds of books, driven by a vision to “connect people with books that are meaningful to them.” I feel I’ve succeeded in this vision: answering people’s questions, directing them to various titles, and making the organization easier to follow.

I’ve missed that, and the purpose I felt there.

However, I’m also convinced God knew I would need the break, and the chance to step back and take joy in what has been done - instead of only seeing what still needs doing.

A Librarian Part 2

A librarian’s work is never done.

Back in the blog post A Librarian, I mentioned that I’m now running the library at my church.

I’ve learned a few things about the people in my church just from working in the library.

One, the children love reading; which is a mixture between the blessing of “Yay, children who get excited about books!” and the curse of eternally untidy children’s book shelves.

And two, the adults love to donate books, often in large amounts; which is a mixture between the blessing of “Wow, we have a very giving congregation!” and the curse of piles of books to sort through and prepare for entry into the collection.

All in all, the work isn’t bad, but a more gargantuan task than I expected it would be. Though at the end of the day, how gargantuan it is depends on just how organized you want to keep things. Do you care if the children’s books are facing every which direction on the shelf? That fiction titles aren’t organized by the author’s last name? That we have two or three copies of the same DVD? That someone left the lid off on the hot chocolate powder by the sink and now the ants are devouring it?

If nothing else, running the library has thus far been a fun learning experience, both about the people in our church and about myself.