From Our President

RUSTY TRYON
CSLA President

InNOvation

I think many of us would conclude that the word "no" came into existence at the same time as congregational libraries. Think of how often we hear this word - or one of its various expressions - in relation to our ministries: no money, no space, no support, no volunteers, no supplies, etc.

Oftentimes (certainly more often than we would prefer) our ministries encounter challenges. Rather than assume an attitude of defeat in the face of these challenges, we should view them as opportunities. When such instances come our way, we have the chance to employ our inherent creativity and innovation.

If you have no budget, make the most of donations and brainstorm creative fundraising efforts and strategies. If you have a less-than-desirable location for your library, take a book truck to a more prominent location in your congregation to promote your library. The increased visibility will likely result in increased traffic in your library space, even if it is somewhat out of the way. If your ministerial staff has yet to catch on to how vital the library's ministry is to your congregation, patiently prove how invaluable the library truly is. Although some of us may have been members for as long as the new minister is old, we must humbly persevere...again. If volunteers are lacking, host a promotional event and demonstrate what great opportunities for service exist in the library. Communicate that even a few hours (or minutes) a week can benefit the congregational library ministry. If supplies are lacking, make do with what you have. For example, if you have no spine label protectors, use a small piece of book tape to insure that your labels remain affixed to book spines.

Although we often find ourselves on the receiving end of negativity and are provided forced opportunities for innovation, we must remember that we may also employ the powerful word "no." Now more than ever - or so it seems - we face pressures to cut back, or even entirely eliminate, our ministry. Funds are limited. Support is waning. Competition (yes, libraries face competition as "the" source for information) is increasing.

Our response must be marked by dedication and perseverence. We cannot stop what we do; we must not. However, we can change how we provide services and do our ministry.

It is my opinion that we must change. In so doing, we can prove ourselves to be relevant. Through creativity, we can find our budgets to be sufficient. We can find ourselves to be a real presence in the unrestricted realm of cyberspace! We can find ourselves to be a place in our congregations where volunteerism flourishes. (Many younger people enjoy website maintenance and can create an attractive site for the library; if your library does not have a website, these same volunteers could create one for free!)

Through our resolve and innovation, we can watch our challenges diminishing in their supposed formidability. "No" is not the end; it is just the beginning of a transformed ministry marked not only by creativity and innovation, but also unparalleled relevance.