A library looking for a reading room / meeting place

I would love to hear from anyone in Vancouver who knows of a suitable space for a reading room, one which could serve as a kind of meeting place / community centre for the Christian community.

I have the books – a least a good start, about 3,000 volumes – though I’d love to see it grow.

There is some urgency. Currently I am paying to keep the books in a storage unit, and the rates will increase dramatically at the end of October.

A free storage place would also be helpful, in case I cannot find a reading room right away. While I do think such a spot can be found, I know it won’t be easy. Space is tight for everyone.

Such a reading room / community meeting place would be a boon to the church in the long run.

To answer a few questions:

• What kind of reading room? 

The reading room would have books, of course. But also key would be access to coffee and tea, and ideally another room or two for meetings.

Over the past 40 years I have attempted to link Christians through BC Christian News and Church for Vancouver – and by supporting any ecumenical, inter-church initiatives that have come along. These have waxed and waned, partly because there is no infrastructure to sustain them.

I still have big hopes for such a network – but I’m happy to start small. A reading room / community centre would allow for interaction and networking between pastors, church leaders and anyone keen on seeing the church thrive in Vancouver.

• What kind of books? 

Most of the books would be by and about members of the Vancouver / BC community. Not Christian books, for the most part.

For example:

• History: Jean Barman: The West Beyond the West
• Biography: Emily Carr: Growing Pains: An Autobiography
• Politics: Jodi Wilson-Raybould: Indian in the Cabinet
• Law: Tom Berger: One Man’s Justice
• Fiction: Wayson Choi: The Jade Peony
• Indigenous: Harry Robinson: Write it on Your Heart – the Epic World of an Okanagan Storyteller
• Environment: Rex Weyler: Greenpeace
• Arrivals: Hassan Al Kontar: Man at the Airport
• Mysteries: Iona Whishaw: A Killer in King’s Cove

Really, anything that allows us to get to know our neighbours, our community and our history better.

Christians increasingly talk about getting outside church walls and learning how God is already working out in the world.

I’m convinced most of us don’t know as much about that world as we ought. As I have collected these books, I have been surprised at how much I – a native Vancouverite – have not been aware of.

There are some Christian books as well – basically missional and apologetic, as well as some by local Christian authors. The range of books could certainly expand, depending on what people are interested in and the setting.

• What kind of setting?

I am not sure what would work best. Probably the ideal would be to expand upon a coffee shop or public setting outside a church. That would be welcoming for everyone, including those outside the church.

However, a church could be good too, as long as it was willing to allow public access during the day.

• Aren’t church libraries closing down?

Good point. Many are, unfortunately. But that doesn’t mean no one is reading. I would argue that many church libraries have not kept up a good supply of new books. Or classics for that matter.

This reading room would allow those who do want to read to have access to a wide range of interesting and valuable literature, and the opportunity to discuss it with fellow believers, or whoever else attends.

Even those who are not keen readers will be influenced just by glancing at the variety of books on such a wide range of topics as they walk by the shelves.

• Other kinds of media?

There could certainly be access to other kinds of media, though I have not collected them.

• Where would be the best location?

I have been imagining Vancouver proper, somewhere central and accessible, but I am certainly open to suggestions.

• Contact

Please email me at [email protected] if you know of a suitable location, or if you have any suggestions. I would love to chat.