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Library Service Committee Suggests Methods of Donating Bahá’í Books
The purpose of the National Library Service Committee is to encourage placement and use of Bahá’í literature in public and other libraries.
As time goes on and world tensions mount, more and more public interest will be drawn to the Faith with its universal and remedial program. Where will people secure their information? They may interview the Bahá’ís, or, more probably, they may seek an impersonal source of knowledge in libraries. By providing authentic up-to-date material we can lay the foundation now for future wide understanding.
The basic teaching of our Faith is unity. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to establish an attitude of friendly cooperation and appreciation for all the services of the library, and not approach it solely as a vehicle for propaganda.
Before offering a book, get acquainted with the collection, both general and religious.
1. Are there enough Bahá’í books for public demand?
2. Do they present the Faith clearly, simply; do
they challenge an awakening interest?
3. Are they in good condition, up-to-date, attractive,
accessible?
Every collection should first have a very few of such basic works as Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era and Bahá’í World Faith. This latter contains a representative selection from the Creative World which will satisfy most sincere seekers until they contact the Bahá’ís. These might be gradually supplemented with others. for example: Foundations of World Unity; Some Answered Questions, and Paris Talks. College and large city libraries may eventually need a more complete and scholarly collection.
Sometimes older libraries find their shelves choked with books that do not circulate. In that case, a local spiritual assembly, group, or authorized individual may confer with the librarian, asking if such books may be withdrawn by the library staff, and replaced, little by little, with new and attractive titles.
We have no authority to remove books by enemies of the Faith. It might be tactfully mentioned that they are not authentic Bahá’í publications. Avoid making an issue. This committee will be very glad to offer suggestions for the building of a balanced collection.
Donations are made through local spiritual assemblies, groups, or individuals. The National Library
Service Committee does not have funds for this purpose.
Many believers, with understandable and laudable zeal, wish to bestow at once a large collection, including such books as Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh and World Order of Bahá’u’lláh. However, in the majority of cases this is unwise because the library staff is overburdened with concentrated load of cataloging; library shelves may become overcrowded with unread books, and the librarian becomes reluctant to add, in the future, more books which might prove a liability.
When wishing to give a book, arrange for an interview with the head librarian, to gain acceptance of your donation. It is sometimes a good idea to present a copy of the catalog of the Bahá’í Publishing Trust.
Donate only books in hard covers. If there is an attractive jacket, leave it on. Then, if the library will cover it with a clear plastic book cover, its chances for circulation are increased.
When a donation has been made and accepted, please notify the National Library Service Committee the name of the Bahá’í book or books, where placed, name of the city and the date.
When visiting the library. watch for the book to appear on the shelves. Asking for it to create a demand may hasten cataloging, but remember, libraries are busy places, and our books are not the only ones that require processing. This takes time.
It is an excellent practice for the Bahá’ís themselves to borrow the books in order to insure a constant circulation.
Books in most libraries are numbered according to the Dewey Decimal Classification. A new number has been assigned to the Bahá’í Faith: 299.15. This is an accurate classification.
In order to stimulate circulation, it is sometimes recommended that such books as Portals to Freedom, Divine Art of Living, and Spell of the Temple be classified in their subject numbers, i.e., Biography, Devotions, Architecture. etc.
In most cases all titles are brought under “Bahá’í Faith" in the card catalog so that they may be readily located.
Catalog cards are no longer available. Most libraries prefer to order their own, as they do for other books.
There are legitimate ways in which library facilities can help promulgate the Faith, if we will keep in mind always that the library is a public service agency, while we are only one segment of that public.
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Librarians will often cooperate by including your
donation in a list which they publish in local papers.
They also may be willing for you to call attention to it
in your Bahá’í publicity (but let it be a cooperative
arrangement), and they are usually glad to offer space
and the use of their collections for displays especially
when they see that the presentation is attractive,
dignified, colorful, and informational in a universal
way. Certain nationally publicized days, like World
Religion Day and UN Day, afford special opportunities
for Bahá’í displays.
It is not considered wise to put the name or address of an individual or a local spiritual assembly in a book donated for public use. Interested persons will usually find the Bahá’í name in the telephone directory.
If you have had some fruitful experiences in your projects of teaching through the library, send your stories to Bahá’í NEWS.
Your National Library Service Committee stands ready to serve you to the best of its ability. Feel free to share with us any problem you may have or any suggestion which may prove helpful to others.
—NATIONAL LIBRARY SERVICE COMMITTEE
Davison Work Scholarships Offered
A limited number of work scholarships will be offered at the Davison Bahá’í School Summer Session July 18 to September 6. Anyone interested is urged to write immediately to the Manager, Davison Bahá’í School, 3208 S. State Rd., Davison, Mich., stating age and experience. A work scholarship will supply half tuition.
APRIL ‘1959
Marriages
Agana. Guam: Miss Fay Bartlet to Mr. Charles T. Mackey on November 2, 1958
Detroit, Michigan: Miss Marilyn M. Meese to Mr. Darrel Wayne Smith on December 20. 1958
New York, NY.: Miss Gina Mahboubi to Dr. Manouchehr Mahboubi on December 24, 1958
Los Angeles, Calif.: Miss Linda Kay Schall to Mr. William Nicodemus, Jr. on December 27, 1958
Kirkland, Wash.: Mrs. Margaret K. Place to Mr. Wesley E. Baker on January 24, 1959
Webster Groves, Missouri: Miss Farah Eghrari to Dr. Maarten
WORLD CRUSADE BUDGET Sixth Year: 1958-59
Annual Budget . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$450,000.00 Total Requirements: May 1 to February 28 375,000.00 Total Contributions: May 1 to February 28 248,500.00
—U.S. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
Nieuwenhuizen on December 15, 1958
In Memoriam
Mrs. Mary Rugge West Winfield, New York January 7, 1959
Mr. Joseph Colon San Francisco, Calif. About December 12, 1958
Mrs. Grace K. Mann Ogden. Utah January 16, 1959
Mr. Francois Morse Miami, Florida January 19, 1959
Mrs. Virginia Foster Beverly Hills, Calif. January 28. 1959
Miss Barbara E. Hayden
Greenfield, New Hampshire January 16, 1959
Mrs. Selma P. Klem Worcester, Mass. December 30, 1958 Mrs. Helen Inderlied Binghamton, New York February 2, 1959 Mrs. Grace Woods
Kalamazoo, Michigan February 3, 1959
BAHA'| DIRECTORY CHANGES
ASSEMBLY SECRETARIES
Southern California Santa Monica: Mrs. Victoria Longstreet, 1739 Franklin St. West Hollywood: Mrs. Kathryn Motley, 1022 N. Sweetzer, Los Angeles 46
Indiana Fort Wayne: Mrs. Mildred Holmes, 2103 Florida Dr. (new address)
Ohio Toledo: (new secretary to be reported)
Tennessee Nashville: Miss Mary Roche Watkins, 1608-B 18th Ave., Z. 12
ADDITIONS TO COMMITTEES
American Indian Service Mrs. Beatrice Bechtold
Area Youth Committee—East Central States Donald Streets
Mr. Samuel Benjamin Baldwin, Michigan April 2, 1957
Mrs. Tooba Javid Edgewater, New Jersey January 24, 1959
Mrs. Nannie H. Budd Silver Springs. Maryland February 5, 1959
Mr. Eric S. Olson Bradley Beach. New Jersey February 11, 1959
Dr. Alph J. Sampson South Bend, Indiana February 16, 1959
Mrs. Pearl Dixon Columbia, So. Carolina February 16, 1959
Mr. Howard Dudley Inglewood. Calif. February 5. 1959
Mr. Willie Wilson Detroit, Michigan February 2, 1959
Area Youth Committee—New England States
Charles Moore
Roy Mottahedeh Carlos Pereira Robert McLaughlin Scott Clift
Miss Terry Taylor Miss Carole Greenway
Area Youth Committee—CentraI States
Mrs. Mary Lou Lauchner
Aden Lauchner Mrs. Virginia Eilers
Miss Bernita Joyce Hockgraver Area Youth Committee—North Central States
Miss Kathie Herting
Area Youth Committee—Northwestern States
Miss Eda Burns
Miss Susanne Taylor Miss Patricia Taylor Miss Michaele Calvin
