Organizing and Building Up the Sunday School: Modern Sunday School ManualsHurlbut, Jesse Lyman
Religion
Organizing and Building Up the Sunday School: Modern Sunday School Manuals
Hurlbut, Jesse Lyman
Sunday schools
(1) _Purchase of Books._ The simplest method for finding books is far
from being the best method. It is to have a quantity of books--a hundred
or more at one time--sent by booksellers on approval. This method
involves hasty examination, and generally results in obtaining many
useless, worthless books intermixed with a few good ones. The better
plan is for the committee, first of all, to be supplied with catalogues
from reputable publishers of books for children and young people, and
also books on religious and biblical education; next to read carefully
the reviews of books in these departments as given in the best literary
and religious periodicals; then, to send only for such books as they
judge will be desirable, receiving them on approval. Every book should
not only be looked at, but read; and if at all doubtful read by more
than one member of the committee. In some Sunday schools there is placed
at the door a library box, in which may be deposited the names of books
desired by members of the school. Lists of approved books are published
by various houses and societies; and the catalogues of a few good
Sunday-school libraries will aid committees. The library committee must
scrutinize closely all donations of books offered to the library, and
resolutely decline every book that is unsuitable, even at the risk of
offending the donor. The Sunday-school library room must not be turned
into a mausoleum for dead volumes. The committee must also beware of
bargains offered by some booksellers who would unload upon Sunday
schools their left-over and unsalable stock. That which costs little is
generally worth less. The Sunday school must obtain only books that will
be read and are worth reading.
(2) _Frequent Additions._ The usual method is to use the old library
until its best books are either worn out or lost, and then to make a
strenuous effort at raising money for the purchase of an entirely new
collection. But the better plan is to add a few carefully selected books
each month to the library. To examine at one time two hundred volumes is
an impossibility, and in so large a purchase many undesirable books are
sure to be included. It is not difficult to select after careful
examination ten books each month, and thereby keep the library always at
a high grade of excellence. With each purchase a slip describing the new
books might be printed, and distributed to the school, thus keeping the
library constantly before its patrons.
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