The purpose of Prague Christian Library is to enable Christians, inquirers and observers to access information relating to Christianity and the Bible.
Prague Christian Library wants to also provide resources that will encourage Christians to continue to grow in their spiritual journey, develop leadership and practical ministry skills as well as acquaint users with a Christian world-view.
The library is a non-profit organization which was incorporated as a Czech Society for Public Welfare (Obecní prospešná spolecnost - o.p.s.) in 1999. It is not affiliated with any particular educational or religious institution.
The original vision for a Christian library came in November 1990 when Willard Black, Executive Director of the Institute for Christian Resources, began to prayerfully seek God’s purposes as to how to provide much needed Christian resources here in the Czech Republic.
During an exploratory trip in the summer of 1994 with Jim and Laurie Barnes, which involved meeting and talking with various Christian leaders and observing the spiritual and social landscape, God provided significant confirmation of the need, desire, and potential for a public Christian library, and He has continued to provide the means.
The Barnes arrived back in Prague in March, 1997 and began to make further contacts, seek a suitable location, and begin the process of establishing the library as a legal entity.
In the fall of 1997, inquiries about permission to use an address for legal paperwork led to a potential site for the library. A ground floor space at Baranova 32 was being renovated, and it met the size, location, and cost requirements. The facility was leased in early 1998.
The legal process was rather involved, requiring the completion of many steps before the papers could be filed. One of the first requirements was the selection of the Board of Directors and Supervisory Board. A founding document was drafted and filed in late September, 1998. Government approval came five months later in February, 1999. The library was incorporated in early April, and the first Board meeting was held on April 26, 1999. The next six months were an extremely busy time processing books, furnishing the facilities, adopting policies and procedures to guide the daily functioning of the library, and ensuring that things were in readiness for opening.
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With over 90 people present Prague Christian Library was dedicated on November 20, 1999. There was a lot of time for prayer and reflection as that same week was also the 10th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution -- the event that brought down the communist government in the Czech Republic.
Lumír Ptaček, chairman of the Board of Directors, reflected on how God's purposes can be realized sometimes only over time -- in the wave of post-communist exuberance, a flood of ideas and plans ensued and while some have unfortunately faded or fallen, the concept of a Christian library, available and open to the general public has endured to the point of reality.
Pavel Raus founder and past director of Navrat domu, one of the largest evangelical publishing houses in the Czech Republic, who has also served on the library board, confirmed that the written word can indeed be a very powerful and culturally relevant tool to touch hearts -- to bring change and hope and a better future.
Comments were made by Willard Black and Jim and Laurie Barnes, Library Administrators. David Snell who works with the Institute for Christian Resources in providing and developing leadership training for local pastors, gave the prayer of dedication.
It is recognized that especially during the formative years of operation, the library will be dependent on donations and grants from a variety of sources including primary support from the Institute for Christian Resources.
Ultimately the goal would be that the library becomes self-sustaining in terms of basic operational expenses with support coming from a local support base of individuals and churches.
- The library has a basic operating budget including rent, utilities, insurance, security, postage, office and book processing supplies, etc of approximately 60,000 Kc ($2500 USD) per month.
- Fees and fines go towards basic operational expenses as well as addition of new resources.
Financial contributions towards the purchase of books or other resources or for the overall operating expenses of the library are always welcome. Please contact the library administrators for more information.
Following are general use statistics for 2006:
| new patrons (600 total) | 90 |
| visits | 1 850 |
| first time visitors | 165 |
| checkouts | 3 482 |
As God leads, future plans call for the addition of approximately 500 volumes each year with the capacity for the current location being approximately 6000 resources.
RECENT ADDITIONS
- Audio drama CDs
- Children's books
- Czech books
- DVDs
- Music CDs
Check out Collection for a complete listing.
Also see the Special Activities page for upcoming events being held at the library.
Eventually plans call for:
- Development of a periodical collection and addition of CDs, and audio tapes
- Addition of a Public Access Catalog (PAC) to expand search capability of library patrons
- Provide on-site internet access at cost.
- Expansion of current hours of operations.
| TIMELINE FOR LIBRARY DEVELOPMENT |
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| 1990 |
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Original vision for a Christian library in Prague. |
March 1997 |
Arrival of Jim and Laurie Barnes to begin work of establishing the library. |
October 1997 |
Permission secured for use of Baranova 32 as address for legal paperwork. Learned of planned renovations for ground floor facilities |
December 1997 |
Renovations at Baranova 32 completed. |
January 1998 |
Lease signed for ground floor at Baranova 32. |
September 1998 |
Founding document completed and filed. |
February 1999 |
Approval of library's application as a non-profit organization (o.p.s.). |
April 7 1999 |
Library formally incorporated at Register Court. |
April 26 1999 |
First Board of Directors meeting held. |
August 26 1999 |
Policies and Procedures approved by the Board of Directors. |
November 20 1999 |
Opening and dedication ceremonies for Prague Christian Library. |
November 22 1999 |
Library opens for regular business. |
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