Magazine Subscriptions?

[Myka]

I'm trying to start putting together a budget proposal for next year,
to get the library added to the general church budget. One item that
will factor heavily in the budget is magazine subscriptions.

We currently do not have any magazine subscriptions. Whatever
periodicals we do have are donated or sent to us for free.

Question for discussion: Is it worthwhile for us to subscribe to a few
choice magazines? I'm thinking of Sojourners, Christian Century, etc.
An alternative to paying for our own subscription might be to solicit
donations from people in the congregation who currently subscribe and
would give us their issues when they're finished reading them.

Note: We do not have the space to maintain a permanent periodical
collection, so periodicals are discarded after a period of time.

[Dan Browning]

I would consider a subscription to Sojourners to be a very worthwhile
investment for our congregation.

Dan

[mel...@druidhillsumc.org]

I have a subscription to Christian Century and would be glad to donate the
copies when I'm done with them.

Original Message:
-----------------
From: Dan Browning daniela...@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2007 11:38:15 -0400
To: DHUMC_...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: Magazine Subscriptions?

Dan

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[Janie Alexander]

Solicit donations from folks who subscribe to journals already. We probably have someone who subscribes to most of the popular ones.  I get Sacred Journey and can bring that one. Janie

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[Pat Ziebart]

I think we should start with the magazines we have subscriptions for like Interpreter, New World Outlook, Response.  the Wesleyan Christian Advocate.  Do we have people who come into the library to read periodicals?

(I have not objection to Sojourners and the Christian Century, if there are funds.)



Best,
Pat

On 10/18/07, Myka < Myk...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Myka Kennedy Stephens]

UMW sends us their copies of Response when they are finished with
them. I got an issue of New World Outlook about a month ago, but I'm
not sure if it was also from UMW voluntarily or if it was put in my
box by mistake. I bring in Interpreter from home (not sure how much
longer I'll be getting it since I'm no longer "clergy"). I also bring
in copies of Circuit Rider, which Darryl gets from Candler. Rex said
he would be giving us Wesleyan Christian Advocate, but that happens
once in a blue moon. I think he forgets.

As far as I know, we do not have people coming into the library for
the express purpose of reading periodicals. We have several e-mail
subscriptions that I was maintaining in notebooks, but not having the
reliable Internet connection and means for printing them has delayed
getting those in the library. I have the feeling that since we do not
have any reliable periodicals, meaning subscriptions patrons can count
on finding when they come in, there's no incentive for coming in to
look at them.

As with many things regarding our library renewal, I'm faced with the
chicken-egg conundrum. On one hand, I feel that if we build a great
collection of [fill in the blank], then people will come and use it.
On the other hand, without a true need for [fill in the blank], it
won't matter if we're providing a great resource unless the people
want/need it.

Much of the success lies in promotion and marketing, which is another
difficult thing I've found over the last two years. I've tried to
create as many methods of reaching the congregation as possible, but
each way (blog, The Story, bulletin board, worship announcements,
etc.) only reaches a few people, even fewer of which actually show
interest.

If I sound a little negative and tired, its 75% pregnancy hormones
talking. But there is definite mountain to climb. Each of the issues
we discuss here all have the same bottom line: How to get people to
use the library more. In this case, we're looking at the cost-benefit
to adding paid subscriptions to our collection. Anyone else have any
thoughts? Please chime in.

[Dan Browning]

I'm pretty sure also that Rex has a subscription to the Wesleyan
Christian Advocate, and I would be remiss if I didn't suggest getting
his copy and putting it in the library once he's done with it.

Dan

[Janie Alexander]

I can't remember if I responded yet.  I like the idea of having people bring the magazines  they already have on hand.  Sojourners would be the one that I would be interested in if we end up buying any subscriptions.Concerning use of the library...I have found that the only time I can get in there is quickly between Sunday School and church if choir is not singing or quickly after church.  I have enjoyed finding all sorts of books.  These quick times of running in there to look do not allow for looking up on computer, browsing which I regret.  A long time ago when we had regular Wed. evening suppers, the children checked out any book they wanted from our upstairs children's library. I think once people realize the neat books that are in there, they will find a time they can get there and arrange for it.  We can keep showing good books at other gatherings - Wed. evenings, Admin. Council, Sunday School classes, worship service, etc.  (You can have a book moment any time that is just quick show and tell. I think I did that with Pat Brown's Path to Prayer.) If others do this, Myka won't have to do all of it.

[Janie Alexander]

I can't remember if I responded yet.  I like the idea of having people bring the magazines  they already have on hand.  Sojourners would be the one that I would be interested in if we end up buying any subscriptions.Concerning use of the library...I have found that the only time I can get in there is quickly between Sunday School and church if choir is not singing or quickly after church.  I have enjoyed finding all sorts of books.  These quick times of running in there to look do not allow for looking up on computer, browsing which I regret.  A long time ago when we had regular Wed. evening suppers, the children checked out any book they wanted from our upstairs children's library. I think once people realize the neat books that are in there, they will find a time they can get there and arrange for it.  We can keep showing good books at other gatherings - Wed. evenings, Admin. Council, Sunday School classes, worship service, etc.  (You can have a book moment any time that is just quick show and tell. I think I did that with Pat Brown's Path to Prayer.) If others do this, Myka won't have to do all of it.

Pat Ziebart <pszi...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Jim Wynn]

I agree with Janie - spend little money until we have a "marketing plan".   - Jean