Responsibilities of Librarians

The ward librarian and meetinghouse librarian have a variety of responsibilities as described in "Meetinghouse Libraries," section 13 of the Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2: Priesthood and Auxiliary Leaders (1998), 285–88. These responsibilities include the following:

• "Acquire and maintain library materials, equipment, and supplies" that are approved by the bishopric or, in the case of multiward buildings, by the meetinghouse library coordinating committee (285–86).
  
  
• "Evaluate library materials and discard those that are no longer needed" (285).
  

Acquiring New Materials

"Meetinghouse libraries (materials centers) provide resources to help members learn and teach the gospel of Jesus Christ at home and at church. . . . Leaders and librarians [should] prayerfully consider how the library can help members in gospel study and teaching" (285).

Requests for purchasing new materials and equipment should be based on the above paragraph and on the evaluation of materials presently available in the library as well as on evaluation of new materials that are listed in the Library Start-Up Kit or that are available through Church distribution centers. In large wards, several copies of certain items may be needed to meet the demand of multiple use in classes studying the same topic as well as for use by individuals and families in the home. For more information about the items listed in the kit, see the most recent version of the Church Materials Catalog.

Regarding financing for meetinghouse libraries, the Church Handbook of Instructions states: "With the exception of some equipment, as noted on page 287, operating expenses for the library come from the stake or ward budget allowance funds.

"Before the beginning of each year, ward librarians (or meetinghouse librarians in multiward buildings) recommend a library budget to the priesthood leaders who oversee the library. Librarians ensure that approved funds are spent according to Church policy and as approved by these priesthood leaders" (288).

As stated above, all materials and equipment purchased for meetinghouse libraries should be for the purpose of helping "members learn and teach the gospel of Jesus Christ at home and at church."

Discarding Materials

Materials no longer needed or that should not be stored in the library should be discarded (see 286–87). More specifically:

• "Librarians periodically evaluate materials, repairing or replacing damaged items and discarding those that are outdated or no longer useful" (287).
  
  
• "Church magazines need not be kept longer than 10 years after they are published, though it may be helpful to keep conference issues for a longer period" (287). If online access to Church magazines is readily available to members in your area, the length of time magazines are kept in meetinghouse libraries may be shortened.
  
  
• "If Church records that have potential historical value are stored in . . . the meetinghouse library, they should be given to the stake clerk" (287). He will make the appropriate contacts to determine what to do with these records.
  
  
• "Audio and video materials that are not approved for distribution through Church distribution centers, including animated scripture videocassettes, may not be stored in or circulated from meetinghouse libraries" (287).
  
  
• "Materials that may have been illegally copied or duplicated must not be kept in meetinghouse libraries" (288).
  
  
• Any items that are not included in the annual Library Start-Up Kit or that are not available in Church distribution centers should be discarded.
  
  
• Unapproved pictures, talks, worksheets, and other teaching resources that have been donated to the library should be discarded.
  
  
• Filmstrips and filmstrip projectors (unless they are being used by members) should be discarded.

Items that have been approved for storage in meetinghouse libraries but are no longer needed may be donated to other meetinghouse libraries. Illegally copied or duplicated materials should be destroyed. Other materials may be offered to ward or branch members, public libraries, or Deseret Industries or other charitable organizations.