Our Savior’s Library, a family library, established 1962, serves members of all ages and also the community.  Since the beginning, it has continued to expand its types of services and to provide for growing and changing media and educational needs.  Support comes primarily from the church budget, with gifts and memorials welcome. Numerous volunteers, assist the part-time librarian, by helping at the checkout desk, preparing new books, serving on the library committee, repairing books and hymnals, reshelving books, fundraising and many other tasks. New items are added monthly.

LIBRARY HOURS

The Library is open 9 a.m. to 12 Noon Sunday through Thursday, 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday evening and additional hours as staff and volunteers are available. Most items may be checked out for three weeks, the exception is videos/DVDs which are checked out for one week.

PRINT MATERIALS

• The Library has books for all age levels:  Toddler, pre-school, beginning readers, junior, youth and adult.  Non-fiction adult subjects (over 2500 books) are classified under the Dewey Decimal system and include theology and devotional aids, family and personal life, social issues, church history, Christian education, health and science, art, literature, biographies, self-improvement and history. The Library has over 800 fiction titles, which include Christian, popular, and classics. 

• Reference materials in the Library include several sets of Old and New Testament commentaries as well as numerous single volume commentaries, Bible dictionaries, atlases, concordances and many Bible translations.

• The Library has over 80 books in large print.

• You can also find numerous periodicals and magazines available for checkout for children and adults.
  

NON-PRINT MEDIA includes:

• 300 music CDs (for children, teens and adults)
• audiocassettes (music, lectures, Bible, sermons, and over 100 books on tape)
• 24 DVDs
• 350 Christian and educational videos for children, and over 200 for adults and families
• We have just begun our collection of books on CD.

CHECKING OUT

• All items are checked out for 3 weeks, except videos and reserve items, which are due in one week. Our due date is ALWAYS on a Sunday, so if you check out an item on a weekday, you can keep it until 3 weeks from the coming Sunday!

• There is a self-checkout procedure posted on the desk for times when there is no available librarian or volunteer to assist you.

SPECIAL SERVICES OFFERED

• A patron computer is now available for searching the Library’s card catalog.

• NEW! OSL Library offers a delivery service called The Traveling Library.  This is available to anyone unable to come to the Library in person.  Library materials can be checked out by phone (605)336-2942 or by emailing a request.  Deliveries and returns of Library materials will be made by the Parish Cruiser at arranged times. Click  here to email your request.

• On request we can prepare topical reading lists and author lists. (Church staff and boards are encouraged to make requests for materials well ahead of time.

• By filling out a reserve form you can reserve items if someone else has checked them out.

• Books are also renewable for another 3 weeks if they have not been placed on reserve and if they are not a recent Library addition.
• For a fee the librarian can duplicate non-copyrighted cassette tapes.
• Free magazine exchange where you may bring recent magazines that you no longer need and can take other magazines that have been donated.
•  Email requests can be made by writing to sanderson@oslchurchsf.org

Traveling Book Cart.
Our storage space is overflowing with books for the next Library book sale. The Library Committee has designated a book-cart as the “OSL Traveling Book Sale.” This cart is filled with items that have either been donated to or have been weeded from the Library. When you see the cart, browse through it, choose a few books, and leave a donation for the Library.

NON-MEMBERS ARE WELCOME!
Call the librarian at 336-2942 ext. 25, to set up your initial visit and to complete registration form.

ALSO OF INTEREST TO READERS:

• The annual used book sale is held in February.

• Each fall the OSL Library has sponsored a reading program.

• Recently the Library Committee has begun reader incentive programs throughout the year.
• Our Savior’s also has a Short Story readers group meeting in fall and winter on Monday evenings. Call the church office for more information.

• A writer’s group meets during the day on Mondays. Call the church office for more information.
  

OUR SAVIOR’S LIBRARY COMMITTEE AND STAFF WELCOME YOU!

Please make frequent use of the library for your reading, listening and viewing needs.
 
Our Savior's Lutheran Library Mission Statement

As adopted September 1995

The ministry and mission of the Our Savior's Lutheran Library, under the direction of the Librarian and Library Committee

 (A permanent standing committee of the board of Education), is to enrich the spiritual, intellectual and emotional lives of the congregation, its auxiliaries and the nearby community.

To this end, print and non-print materials are selected to:
1.        Emphasize spiritual, moral and devotional growth and development <>
2.        Strengthen the educational programs of the church and aid in Bible study
3.        Help people meet their needs in personal and group relationships and understand the
       problems of others
4.        Help children and youth in their faith development, personal adjustments and creation of
       desirable social attitudes
5.        Inform about social issues of the times and the Christian’s role in the community, nation and world
6.        Aid all ages in the wholesome use of leisure time
7.        Facilitate the communication of congregational/synodical information.

Our Savior’s Lutheran Church
909 West 33^rd
Sioux Falls, SD 57105