This presentation explores the parallels between S.R. Ranganathan's Five Laws of Library Science and the core missions of the Church. Ranganathan's laws, established in 1931, are foundational principles in library science:
1) Books are for use. 2) Every person his or her book. 3) Every book its reader. 4) Save the time of the reader. 5) A library is a growing organism. The presentation draws analogies between these laws and the Church's objectives:
Service: Just as libraries ensure books are accessible and usable, the Church aims to serve its community by making spiritual resources and services readily available. Inclusivity: Ranganathan's emphasis on matching every person with their book mirrors the Church's mission to reach out to every individual, addressing diverse spiritual needs without prejudice. Engagement: The idea that every book has its reader parallels the Church's endeavor to engage each person, recognizing that different individuals connect with different aspects of faith. Efficiency: Saving the reader's time in a library context is akin to the Church's efforts to make spiritual guidance and services efficient and accessible, minimizing barriers for congregants. Growth: Viewing the library as a growing organism reflects the Church's vision of growth, both in expanding its congregation and in deepening the spiritual development of its members.
Learning Outcome
Attendees will learn to apply Ranganathan's Five Laws of Library Science to enhance church services: 1) Innovative Service Strategies: Using "Books are for use" to improve access to spiritual resources. 2) Personalized Engagement: Applying "Every person his or her book" to tailor outreach for diverse spiritual needs. 3) Effective Resource Allocation: Utilizing "Every book its reader" to align resources with congregants' interests. 4) Operational Efficiency: Implementing "Save the time of the reader" to streamline church operations. 5) Sustainable Growth Planning: Adopting "A library is a growing organism" to view the church as a dynamic entity.
Audience Engagement
1) Interactive Discussions: I will encourage audience participation through open dialogues and Q&A sessions to foster a collaborative learning environment. 2) Real-World Case Studies: Drawing from my experiences as a librarian and church leader, I will present practical examples that illustrate the application of Ranganathan's laws in church settings, making the content relatable and actionable. 3) Visual Aids: I will utilize clear and concise slides with reader-friendly fonts and appropriate backgrounds to enhance understanding and retention. 4) Audience Polls: I will incorporate live polls to gauge opinions and encourage active engagement, ensuring the session remains dynamic and interactive.
As a part of the redesign of the Introduction to Theological Education course, BSK Theological Seminary pre- and post-tested students in the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 sections of the course using “Module 3: Research & Scholarship” from ACRL’s Threshold Achievement Test for Information Literacy (TATIL). The aim was primarily to get a sense of the Information Literacy competencies had upon entering (or early in their seminary careers) and to gauge development in a short timeline. This was a largely successful trial despite some mixed results and limitations. The results and conclusions of this study will aid the seminary to improve both Information Literacy Instruction (ILI) and program assessment. An overview of the testing process, high level testing results, and recommendations will be included in this session.
Learning Outcome
Assessment of ILI can be vague: a primary aim of this session to offer attendees a sense of the return on investment for this particular tool/set of instruments. Secondary takeaways would be to get attendees to be motivated to imagine ways to assess ILI in their contexts and to consider what the timeline for this type of skill building might be.
Audience Engagement
Other than the standard Q and A time (as well as questions during the presentation) I would hope to include a limited amount of live polling to engage more than eyes and ears. Demonstrative slides and data visualization will be included. For better or worse, this is very much a “what we did, why we did it, and how it turned out” style proposal.
