Library Fund

The Library Fund is a project sponsored by the national Women’s Ministries Department. The Library Fund’s mission is to provide religious reference and study books for the libraries of Assemblies of God World and U.S. Missions Bible schools. The Fund is maintained from the sale of canceled postage stamps and contributions from churches and individuals.

Women’s Ministries coordinates the collection, preparation and shipping of the canceled postage stamps. The stamps are sent to the national Women’s Ministries Department for marketing.

Churches receive “Assemblies of God Total Giving” credit for offerings given to the Fund. A value cannot be placed on shipments of stamps sent to the national department to be marketed.

The Library Fund is a project that appeals to many Women’s Ministries groups because it does not require a large amount of finances or fund-raising.

Collecting the Stamps

A Ministry Group or appointed committee may oversee the Library Fund project. Responsibilities include promoting, collecting, preparing, sorting, packaging and shipping.

Involve the entire congregation in the project. A collection box placed in a convenient, high-traffic location reminds members to save stamps and introduces visitors to the project. Promote the Library Fund in the church bulletin and display posters throughout the church to focus on the project.

Preparing the Stamps

Check with local businesses (such as utility companies) to periodically obtain their discarded envelopes.
The method for preparing stamps helps to determine their value. Follow these steps:

Stamps should be carefully trimmed with a ¼-inch margin around the entire stamp or set of stamps. Please do not cut the stamp.
Stamps damaged during trimming are of no value and should be discarded.
Do not tear or peel stamps from the envelope or leave a large ragged piece of paper around the stamp. Metered imprints are of no value and should not be saved.
Discard stamps with extremely heavy canceled markings, those with pen or pencil marks and those with obvious defects such as staple holes, held on with tape, etc. Stamps cut by letter openers and machines cannot be marketed and should be discarded.
Leave stamps attached to very old post cards (pre-1950) as the entire post cards are worth much more intact.
Do not fasten stamps together with tape, rubber bands, thread, paper clips or staples. Stamps need not be counted since they are sold by weight, not number of pieces.
Shut-ins can be involved in the Library Fund project by trimming and sorting the stamps.

Sorting the Stamps

Stamps should be sorted into the numbered categories listed. Place each category of stamps in a separate envelope or box. Mark the category number on each envelope or box. Then place all envelopes or boxes into one large envelope or box for shipping. This reduces mailing costs.

Common Small USA Stamps

All small (regular) stamps with a face value of 1-2-3-4-5-6-8-10-13-15-17-18-20-22-25-29-32-34-37-39 cents (include current first-class postal rate stamps)
Common Small USA Stamps

All small (regular) stamps with a face value of ½-1 ½- 4 ½-7-9-11-12-14-16-19-21-23-28 cents

All postage due stamps

All official mail stamps (red, white, and blue with an eagle design)

All small USA stamps issued before 1940

All bulk rate, non-profit and pre-sort first-class stamps (no metered imprints)
Christmas and Love USA Stamps

Some stamps in this category will be large and some small. All can be mixed together.
Commemorative USA Stamps

Large size stamps (about twice the size of regular stamps) issued to commemorate a specific subject (sorting is not necessary)
High Value USA Stamps

Stamps of face value exceeding the current first-class postal rate

All duck and other hunting stamps (please send the entire license)

All express mail stamps
Worldwide (Foreign) Stamps

All foreign stamps (including Canada and Mexico ) of all values, sizes and countries mixed together (sorting is not necessary)
Off-Paper Stamps

Do not peel stamps from the envelope

Do not soak stamps from the envelope
Stamp Albums

Leave complete as a unit

Stamps that “look different” from the rest of a similar issue could be ones with errors and should be separated from the mixture for further evaluation

It is unnecessary to separate stamps into individual designs, such as all flag stamps, all flower stamps, all bird stamps, etc.

Foreign stamps and commemorative USA stamps generate the greatest income for the Library Fund. However, there is great demand for all categories of stamps.

Sending the Stamps

After stamps have been sorted into separate boxes or envelopes for each category, place all the boxes or envelopes into a larger box for shipping.

Send prepared stamps to:
Women’s Ministries Department
Library Fund Project
1445 N. Boonville Avenue
Springfield, MO 65802 -1894

Ship stamps by the least expensive method: parcel post (standard mail B) or UPS. Do not send by first-class mail-the cost of postage could exceed the value of the stamps. Only rare collections or albums should be insured.

Grants from the Library Fund

Assemblies of God World and U.S. Missions Bible schools are eligible to request grants for reference and study books for their libraries. The requests are channeled through the AGWM and AGUSM and granted as funds permit. Since the Fund was established in 1962, grants from the Library Fund have exceeded $65,000.

“We appreciate the work Women’s Ministries is doing to help the Bible schools of our worldwide Fellowship. The faithfulness of people trimming the stamps off their envelopes and sending them to the national Women’s Ministries Department is paying rich dividends in the lives of Bible school students worldwide. God bless you!”
Phil Rojak
Missionary/Academic Dean

This information was reprinted from the brochure: The Library Fund, available from Gospel Publishing House. Order yours online through the link above or by phone at 800-641-4310.