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What motivates a congregation with an adult membership of 504 to check out about a hundred books every Sunday, bringing the total to almost 6,000 for the year?

Mrs. Marjorie Zimmerman, of MacArthur Park Evangelical Lutheran Church in San Antonio, gives primary credit to the high priority Pastor George Schwanenberg gives to reading. This is evident in a number of ways.

1. An annual library budget in the area of $2,500.

2. The pastor refers frequently to books and encourages people to read.

3. Library location is given primary consideration. In the church's first education unit, the library had the prime position. In 1980 when the congregation built an additional educational unit, they planned it with the library in the center. The large hallway leading from the old library (still used for family and children's books) to the new is utilized as a promotional area. Both sides of the hallway are lined with shelves displaying books. These books are changed frequently.

The entrance to the new library unit is a large foyer-type room with two sides of glass with double doors, making the library both visible and easily accessible to all. This section contains a desk and comfortable chairs. One entire wall is lined with over 600 cassettes (not the pastor's sermons). Records and magazines are also available for check-out.

The core of the new library unit (and its largest room) is the reference room with commentaries and study help books. Two round reading tables invite people to use this room.

To reach the fireside room, where Bible studies are held and youth meet, one must pass through the youth books area.

4. A lively four-page brochure about the library is included monthly in the church's newsletter.

5. A volunteer plans three reading charts ...

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