The conference offered free book giveaways, fellowship with other book lovers, a chance to meet Christian authors and publishers, as well as training to improve your library ministry.
Information about, and learning materials from, our past conference.
Conference Logistics
Date: October 18th – 19th, 2013
Location: Grace Bible Church, 398 Eggleston Avenue (cross street: Berkley Avenue), Elmhurst, Illinois.
Registration Fees:
- Friday Workshops: $10 members, $15.00 non-members.
- Friday Dinner with Authors: $15.00 all attendees.
- Saturday Events (includes lunch): $45.00 members, $55 non-members.*
- ECLA Membership Fee: $40.00.
*Add $5.00 after September 27th.
Closest Hotels:
Keynote Speaker
Stan Guthrie
Stan Gurthrie, writer and editor, provided the keynote on “Getting Over Yourself: The Joy of Letting Go.”
Stan is a Christianity Today editor at large; host of the Books & Culture podcasts; author of Concise Guide to Bible Prophecy: 60 Predictions Everyone Should Know, All That Jesus Asks: How His Questions Can Teach and Transform Us, and Missions in the Third Millennium; and coauthor (with Jerry Root) of The Sacrament of Evangelism.
Visit his website at www.stanguthrie.com.
Conference Schedule
Our conference brochure is available for download available for download (.pdf).
Friday, October 18th
(2:00 p.m.) Registration
(3:00 p.m.) Workshops
Book Repair — Larry Henricksen
Instead of replacing torn and broken books, learn to repair them and thus save money. Learn what tools and supplies you’ll need and the techniques that are most useful to save your books.
Larry volunteers at the Wheaton Bible Church Library in West Chicago, Illinois, where he is responsible for book and DVD repairs.
Helping Your Church Minister to People with Disabilities — Dr. Karen Roberts
Disability ministry is one of the fastest growing ministry needs in America. Is your church ready? This workshop focuses on God’s Word and heart; unique blessings, challenges, and practical tips for becoming a disability-friendly church; and resources and steps to begin a church disability ministry.
Karen is the Academic Studies and Church Relations Manager of Joni and Friends Chicago.
Handouts: 5 Stages of Disability Attitudes (.pdf) and Disability Etiquette (.pdf).
(4:00 p.m.) Break
(4:15 p.m.) Workshops
Nuts and Bolts of Running Your Library: Ask Us Anything — Jane Ahrens, Mary Clapp, Diane Fisher
This is your turn to ask questions you have about church libraries and learn from other people’s questions. The panel will do their best to give you the help you need.
Jane has been a church librarian for 20 years and is involved in book discussion groups in her community and church.
Mary has been a church librarian for 25 years and is currently working in the technical services department of a public library. She also serves on the ECLA board.
Diane is librarian at Bethel Presbyterian Church, Wheaton, Illinois, and has worked in public, school, and academic libraries as well. She serves on the ECLA board.
Automating Your Library with ResourceMate Software (remote class) — Denise Mastalerz; Elaine H Hooker, moderator
Get an overview of this popular software program for automating your library’s card catalog and circulation. There will also be a short time for Q & A.
Denise has been providing software support and training for more than 20 years and specifically for ResourceMate for more than six years.
(5:15 p.m.) Break
(6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.) Dinner with Authors
Friday evening, a dozen Christian book writers joined us for dinner, to talk about their writing, and to sell their books.
- Max Elliot Anderson.
- Lynn Austin.
- Lin Johnson.
- Ginger Kolbaba.
- Cleo Lampos.
- Maureen Lang.
- Carolyn Larsen.
- Diane and David Munson.
- Carolyn Nystrom.
Saturday, October 19th
(7:45 p.m.) Registration
(8:15 a.m.) Opening General Session
Publishers Present: New Books Preview.
(9:15 a.m.) Break
(9:45 a.m.) General Session
Christian Fiction: What’s New, What’s Hot, What’s Good — Chris Jager, Fiction Buyer
Chris has been a reader for as long as she can remember. She has worked for Baker Book House, the bookstore arm of Baker Publishing Group, for more than 16 years where she does a job that is a perfect fit for her: fiction buyer. She blogs about fiction for the store at www.bbhfiction.blogspot.com. Some of her favorite people on the planet are librarians as they have always helped her find the perfect book to read.
Handout: Christian Fiction with Chris Jager.
(10:45 a.m.) Break
(11:00 a.m.) Keynote
See Keynote description above.
(12:00 p.m.) Lunch
(1:00 p.m.) Workshops
Promoting Your Library Where Readers Are — Lisa Kern
Learn to go where people are and find out what they need, rather than only trying to attract them to your library space and selling what you have. She will touch on her experience with social media’s usefulness and invite discussion about that method.
Lisa has been the librarian at College Church, Wheaton, Illinois, for 10 years.
Getting Teens into Your Church Library — Dr. Melody Green
Many Christian houses publish fiction and nonfiction to help teens navigate the difficulties of growing up. At the same time, however, it is difficult to know which books will be worthwhile for your church’s teens and lure them into the library where they can find these books. Learn successful ways to bring teens into your library and get them interested in what they find there.
Melody has a Ph.D. in literature for children and adolescents and was a church library coordinator for 14 years.
More Fiction Reviews — Chris Jager
Discover more fiction published this year that you’ll want to put in your library, as well as news about what is coming in this genre next year.
Chris has been the fiction buyer for Baker Book House for more than 16 years and blogs about fiction for the store at www.bbhfiction.blogspot.com.
Behind the Scenes of Suspense Books — Diane and David Munson
Have you ever wondered where novelists get their ideas? Hear the story of how an investigation of a victimized Christian organization in Wheaton, Ill., inspired the Munsons’ first novel, Facing Justice, and resulted in seven other fast-paced thrillers. They will share examples of God’s faithfulness through their exciting and dangerous careers.
Diane and David write “factional fiction” thrillers based on cases from their past careers as a federal prosecutor and a NCIS and undercover DEA agent. Visit their website at: http://www.dianeanddavidmunson.com.
ResourceMate Library Software for New Users (remote class) — Denise Mastalerz; Elaine H Hooker, moderator
In this session, we will focus on the following topics: ISBN retrieval and library search; reporting, including card and label printing and overdue notices; as well as various methods of circulation. There will be time for a short Q & A period.
Denise has been providing software support and training for more than 20 years and specifically for ResourceMate for more than six years.
(2:00 p.m.) Break
(2:15 p.m.) Workshops
ABCs of the Children’s Section: Arrangement of Books, Bulletin Boards and Displays, Challenging Children to Read — Carol Carlton and Kathy DeJong
Increase the traffic in your children’s section with proven ideas for organizing the books, promoting them with bulletin boards and table displays, and sponsoring reading programs.
Carol and Kathy are church librarians. Carol is also an ECLA board member.
Book Discussion Basics — Ceil Carey
Learn the basics of starting and leading a book discussion. Then join in for a short discussion of the book Tangled Ashes by Michele Phoenix. Try to read this book before coming.
Ceil is a public librarian and has been a book discussion leader for more than 10 years. She also serves on the ECLA board.
Handouts: Youth Book Recommendations (.pdf) and Bulletin Boards and Displays (.pdf).
Making Online Connections: You, Your Library, and ECLA — Tinna Mills and Christy Ewing
Have you wondered how to stay connected with ECLA and the network you meet at conferences? Learn the basics of how social media and the ECLA website can help you better connect with your fellow librarians and provide a model for what you can do with your own church library.
Tinna and Christy both have a masters degrees in library science, work in libraries, and serve on the ECLA board.
ResourceMate Library Software Q&A (remote class) — Denise Mastalerz; Elaine Hooker, moderator
In this session, we will focus on the following topics: advanced searches, entering multiple copies and items in a series, extending return dates, managing reservations, and overdue notices. There will be time for a short Q&A period.
Denise has been providing software support and training for more than 20 years and specifically for ResourceMate for more than six years.
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