Library A Week

Bishop O'Rourke Library

2010 no. 22

Library Profile

Library Name: Bishop O’Rourke Library Location: 604 E. Armory, Champaign, IL 61820 Type: Special Mission: Our mission is to make available a core collection of materials centered on Catholicism and Christianity for the research and spiritual needs of St. John’s Catholic Chapel and Newman Foundation communities. Library Website: http://www.sjcnc.org/library.aspx LTLS Directory Page: http://www.lincolntrail.info/qmn.html LTLS Member Since: 2001   An interview with Librarian, Emily Pickell.

What is unique about your library?

The focus of the collection is specifically Catholic/Christian and we work to keep an academic edge on that collection. We also have some of Bishop O’Rourke’s personal library housed in our library. That special collection can only be viewed in the library and is not available for check out. Our library is open 24/7 for students and staff in Newman. During times I am not working, the check out system is an honor system.

What are the primary goals and objectives of your library?

We want to meet the needs of the students and staff at St. John’s, as well as anyone who comes into our library. I want to keep current with the happenings in the Catholic faith and the academia surrounding it. It is important to keep the library current and relevant for our patrons.

What cooperative efforts are you currently doing?

We cooperate with professor, Dr. Kenneth Howell who teaches religion classes and we try to make sure that we have the materials that students need for his classes. We are part of St. John’s Catholic Newman Center and I hope to do more cooperation with them this coming year on larger projects and events.

Tell us a story about your library.

We have a U of I alum that comes back to Champaign often. He knew about St. John’s from his time at the U of I and he called me looking for a specific book. We actually had a few books by the author. He visits frequently and always checks out materials. He has become a “regular” patron, even though he lives 100 miles away.

If money were no object, what services would you add?

The first thing I would do is make my position full time. I would then be able to expand assisted hours and outreach. St. John’s has a Spanish mass and I would like to expand the collection to include Spanish materials as well as further expand our current collection keeping it as up to date as possible. I would do more outreach to the parishioners in our area. It would even be very helpful to set up a system with parish libraries for better collection sharing.

What is popular in your library?

Cardinal John Henry Newman and Pope John Paul III are two prominent subjects that are often checked out. The Theology of the Body by Pope John Paul III is very popular with college students. We have several C.S. Lewis books that always seem to be out. There are also a lot of local authors who are very popular as well.

How does your library use online tools to connect to your users?

We have an online catalog which is part of the Newman Center’s website. I have a Facebook page in the works. St. John’s uses blogs and YouTube and I would like to tap into that and make the library a bigger part of the whole.

Request a visit to your library If you would like to set up a special date for us to visit your library contact LTLS Consultant Michelle Ralston Library of the Week is published by Lincoln Trail Libraries System, 1704 W. Interstate Dr., Champaign, IL 61822 217-352-0047  -   ltls@lincolntrail.info Executive Director: Jan Ison, Editorial and Design Team: Michelle Ralston and David Lottes