Overview of Services

The Resource Center for Churches seeks to help individuals and congregations live out their journey of faith. To this end, the Resource Center for Churches offers a number of services:

• An audio-visual library containing over 1,400 titles for children, youth, and adults;
• A print library with numerous titles for children, youth, and adults on a variety of subjects;
• Interactive resources such as a labyrinth, a parachute, a family puzzle, FaithTalk cards for children and youth, and several others;
• A few pieces of computer software;
• An anthem library with numerous titles chosen particularly for small church choirs;
• Audio-visual equipment such as an LCD projector and a DVD/VCR player; and
• Consultation and workshops on program, curriculum, and resources.

Our print and audio-visual resources cover a variety of topics:

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Membership

The Resource Center for Churches is an ecumenical ministry of

• The Minnesota Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church;
• The Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota;
• The Minnesota Conference of the United Church of Christ;
• The Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area; and
• The Synod of Lakes and Prairies, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
  

All congregations in these judicatories are automatically members of the center and have full access to all of our resources. Membership is also open to congregations outside the sponsoring bodies for a very reasonable fee, based on size, giving them full access to all of our resources.

Non-members have limited access to our resources. They may browse and use our print resources, interactive resources, and computer software at the Center, but do not have check-out privileges. Non-members may rent anthems, videos, and DVDs, although an additional $5 non-member fee is charged per use.

In addition, we offer a special membership for non-member congregations just interested in our anthem library; a non-member congregation may have unlimited access to our anthem library for $150 a year.

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Location and Contact Information

The Resource Center for Churches is located in the basement of the Minnesota Church Center, at the intersection of Franklin and Pillsbury Avenues in Minneapolis (122 West Franklin Avenue). You can access the parking lot from Pillsbury Avenue.

Feel free to drop in or make an appointment to visit the Resource Center.

Contact the Resource Center by phone at (612) 870-0861 within the Twin Cities calling area, or toll free at (888) 293-9901 in Greater Minnesota.

E-mail the Resource Center at info@resourcesforthejourney.org or check out the Resource Center website at www.resourcesforthejourney.org.

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Hours

The Resource Center observes the following holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President's Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, the Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. In addition, the Resource Center is closed between Christmas and New Year's Day, and for four weeks during the middle of the summer. During the summer of 2007 we will close at 4 p.m. Friday, June 29, and reopen at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 31. Resources needed during these periods will be shipped before closing. Anytime that we are closed, resources may be returned to the reception desk by the building entrance.

Arrangements can be made to visit the Resource Center and meet with staff outside regular business hours. Call the Resource Center to schedule an after-hours appointment.

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Staff

Meet the new Director, Ginger Stemme

Ginger Stemme (aka Virginia L. Stemme for formal occasions) is the Director of the Resource Center for Churches. She assumed her duties October 3, 2006, and can be found in Suite 2, 122 West Franklin Av, Mpls, most of the time. She has experience with teaching, children's librarianship and literature, reference work, library management and has served as a library consultant for policy and building issues. Her B.A. from Morningside has been enhanced with a Masters in Librarianship and Information Management from the University of Denver. School is a hard habit to break so there is a long trail of continuing education.

Sally Vanderwerf, Resource Assistant

Sally Vanderwerf is available to help you select and reserve resources. Sally is a member of the United Methodist Church. She has previous experience in elementary education, office administration, and working in libraries.

Last updated June 27, 2007.

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