First Church in Chattanooga was first organized and chartered in 1897. So it follows that the Reading Room has been a constant fixture in downtown Chattanooga since the early 1900’s, although in several locations. Its present location is on one of the main arteries running through a growing, revitalized part of the city. (Chattanooga has recently been named among the top weekend destination cities in the country.)

On the ground floor of a tree-lined block, it has two large windows for prominent displays to attract passers-by. The Weekly Lesson Sermon is featured in one window, with large books opened and marked with selected passages. Each day attendants select different citations from the lesson to feature. The same window is used to display a monthly "sale" item.

"We thought it would be a good idea to put something on sale each month," notes Joe Word, librarian. "First we offered Science & Health at 20% off. This month we’re offering Tributes from the Press at the same discount."

The other window features other literature and events. One month a Monitor display featured the latest edition opened for all to read a timely article.

A permanent box just outside the door provides free, dated literature to anyone who wants it. When the Reading Room is open, attendants may also choose to set out a wrought-iron table with free Sentinels and Monitors. "We have a lot of foot traffic, especially during lunch hour," notes Joe. "Our free literature goes very quickly."

Some other new ideas at the Chattanooga Reading Room include:

• Bus advertising - After getting such good results from bus advertising for a lecture, signs on the back of city buses are being used to promote the Reading Room and church services.
• The selling prices of periodicals in the Reading Room are reduced or pro-rated as they age.

Recently church workers came together to renovate the space. They provided a fresh coat of paint and new carpet. The office-style desk was replaced with a counter-style desk with bookshelves. Bookcases in the front sales room were brought out at an angle to allow traffic flow around them, looking more like a bookstore.

The study room offers all the Bound Volumes, two desks with marked books, a computer with Internet access and an audio player for tapes and CDs.

##### 10/3/05