Organizing church library by simplified DDC system? Please help

Hi everyone,

I'm a new LibraryThing member grateful for any tips / help.

I recently took charge of my parish's old, neglected library. Since then, I've gotten an actual library room (as opposed to a few bookcases shoved into a stairwell), more bookcases, a children's section, reading chairs, more donations, etc., but am struggling to get the library organized again. I have no previous library experience and am figuring this out as I go.

The old system which was handed off to me was a combo of an old card-catalog and a list of Dewey decimal topic numbers all within the 200 Religion category (e.g. 248>Saints, 249>Apologetics). Some books had old labels falling off, some had a pocket at the back, some were uncategorized.

I want to print new spine labels on all the books and get some sort of very simple (easy to use and maintain) system going again which can be continued whether I'm in charge of the library or not, no matter how many more books the library gains once I hold a book/DVD drive.

>>>>>>> How does this system idea sound? Anyone foresee problems? And any advice for an honor system checkout and how to keep the children's section tidy would be much appreciated.

Here's my basic proposal:
Each spine LABEL would only have a shortened, 3 digit topic number, ALL within the 200 RELIGION section. I'd need to figure out how to keep track of MULTIPLE copies of the same book, maybe adding a .2 or .3 after the 3-digit number. Within a topic, all the books will just be shelved randomly or by author. ?
So, for example, three shelves in BookCase #4 will be filled with all #248 SAINT books.

CHECKOUT would be basic, operating off an honor system as usual but without the index cards.
#1 Select the book you want off its shelf,
#2: Write down the book's Title, the 3-digit # on the spine label, today's date, your name, and phone/email on a blank spreadsheet by the library door (+ any other important info)
#3: Return the book within three weeks.

I've been practicing different ways to add books on Library Thing.
For example, "The Golden Thread: A Novel about St. Ignatius Loyola." I typed in the title, LibraryThing instantly suggested the cover, ISBN, edition, author, Dewey #: 823.914 and LC #: PR6007 .E84.
I don't want to use that 823 (English Fiction) Dewey topic, so I typed in: "248" and LibraryThing accepted my edit.

Thank you all so much for any help and patience as I figure all this out and sorry for such a lengthy post!

GO SLOW at the beginning! Redoing is the worst. I tackled the same situation 20 years ago and again recently at my current church in another local.

Go in other church libraries and see what they've done. Talk to the decider/organizer. Hopefully you'll get more replies here.

See if this article is still in the LibraryThing records: http://www.librarything.com/topic/3344
I still have it and a DD 200 breakdown. I'll try to check back if you need them.

See if you can get a helper for the time-consuming physical work of labeling, etc. They may become someone who can carry on what you've done.

Collect lists of Christian Classics and important new works. See if you can get say .05 of the budget for purchases. It's a start and donations will NOT provide a solid base. Used books in good condition can often be found (online) at low prices.

God bless your service! Joyce

Just found this under a Group thread: "Belated answer: I bought their "Handbook for Church Librarians" and thought it was worth every penny. The National Church Library Association went out of business but this book is still available through Amazon for $20. I'm not a trained librarian but that handbook gave me the knowledge to help modernize and improve our church library. Using ideas/info from this book, our circulation went up 500% between 2010 and 2016. Joyce