Educational screen & audio-visual guide (c1956-1971])

1 From "Mid-East Profile," produced for the Commission on Missionary Education by Film Productions International. TpHE religious film librarian knows from experience that the coming of Lent brings with it the biggest peak in church use of motion pictures and other audi.ovisuais. In times past, when suitable subjects were few and prints thereof still fewer, this was a time of great frustration for the librarian who sought to meet this seasonal demand. Today there is an almost infinite variety of suitable films and filmstrips, slides and recordings as well as a more nearly adequate supply of copies of all but the extremely costly highly seasonal subjects. Ch urches have developed a broader range of demand also. While interest in Biblical subjects still ranks first, there is an increasing tendency to supplement this type of demand by use of materials stressing application of the teachings of Jesus and personal dedication to His work. In our own church, for instance, there will be a series of six week-night supper meetings, followed by a 45-minute period devoted to the showing and discussion of a film on the general theme of "Facing Your Day-to-Day Problems as a Christian." Individual topics, a different one each week, include Christian attitude and behavior on the job, in the home, the church, in leisure pursuits, in decision making, and on the part of youth. This discussion continues until it is time for the evening worship service. In another local church a similar series of family nights is given over to a film and discussion of selected Biblical "incidents" in the life of Christ. There is a wide choice of materials for this type of program in the extensive series produced by Family Films (The Living Bible), Cathedral Films (Living Christ), the Concordia filmstrips and others. Today no church worker need be at a loss to know what materials are available for almost any purpose in the total work of the church — nor of where and how to get them. In and around Chicago, for example, there are at least 20 sources engaged in renting religious films, and in many instances also in the sale of low cost audiovisuals, such as filmstrips, slides and recordings. Well-qualified audiovisual dealers stand ready to demonstrate, counsel and sell any item of equipment a church may need. Any active religious film library has descriptive catalogs and other material that not only list titles and prices but offer many useful suggestions on utilization. The leading film producers offer utilization aids and descriptive lists of their materials keyed into the church calendar. These are obtainable without charge either from local rental libraries or direct from tW source. Denominational, interde nominational and commercial li braries offer joint access to prodi ucts from numerous sources. Especially in meeting peak seai sonal demand, such as that durinj Lent, libraries are known to serv^ one another's customers so that al locally available resources will b in use. Producers make reservn stocks of seasonal subjects availabl to libraries all over the country tii help take care of seasonal peaks. As in many other fields, the mai jor hurdle between user and sourc is that of communication. A filni rental catalog must get to the righ person, at the right time, so that h can order the right film, from th right source, and use it right, fo the right purpose. Catalogs alon are not enough. A "new" catalog il usually out of date even before i goes to press. Denominational p u b 1 i s h i n : houses play a major role in keep ing their affiliated churches ir formed of audiovisuals that corrt late with their special emphase and their curriculum time table Religious and audiovisual maga zines publish monthly lists of ne\ materials, as well as reviews, usuall constructively critical, and utiliza tion suggestions. Local councils of churches ca^ do much to acquaint their membe congregations with what audiovif uals are available and how to us them to strengthen their ciiurche; In The Church Federation o Greater Chicago there is an Audio Below: "Triumph and Defeat," Episod II of Cathedral Films LIVING CHRIS