Jason Burd wasn't a member of the Church while growing up in Great Falls, Va., but many of his closest friends were. Together they played high school sports and joined in other teenage activities. He was invited by his friends to an occasional Church meeting, and unknown to him at the time, was also the guest of honor at several family home evenings.

But after his friends left to serve missions and he was alone at Virginia Tech, he felt something lacking in his life. Remembering his friends and their love of the gospel, he visited the campus library where he found a copy of the Book of Mormon and began reading. He soon joined the Church and then completed a mission in June in the Utah Ogden Mission.Elder Burd's experience of turning to the library for information about the Church mirrors the results of a recent Church survey.

"We found," said Elder Dale Hanks, a Church service missionary, "that a surprising number of investigators and recent converts turn to public libraries to learn more about the Church. We also learned that most libraries have little accurate information about the Church, or have books that misrepresent Church history, beliefs and doctrines. Often, copies of the Book of Mormon that they do have on the shelves are tattered and worn."

In response to the need for correct information about the Church, explained Elder Hanks, the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve approved a two-year project in 1998 in which boxes of Church-related books and audiovisual materials were provided to stakes through the United States and Canada. These materials were to be donated to local public, university and college libraries.

"To date," explained Elder Hanks, "we have received reports that about 7,000 boxes -- nearly half of the 14,000 sent out -- have been placed.

"The purpose of this library donation project," said Elder Hanks, who serves as coordinator of the project, "is to provide balanced information about the Church as a public service. We believe that balanced information will lead to better understanding among people, which in turn, leads to tolerance and a diminishing of negative stereotypes."

Items selected for the book donation were chosen after extensive research among library directors across the country, including the responses of librarians in focus groups in Baltimore, Md., and Dallas, Texas, said Elder Hanks.

"We learned during a two-year test period that librarians responded favorably to high-quality material that was donated by respected members of the community. We found that they were interested in authoritative, scholarly material and would shy away from material that attempted to promote or proselytize.

"We also learned that cataloging material was helpful, so we provided index cards for card catalogs and electronic files on disk for electronic cataloging."

Once items for the donation were selected, Elder Hanks set out to identify major community and university libraries located within the boundaries of all stakes in the U.S. and Canada. Working from a computerized list of libraries, Elder Hanks and his committee aligned the libraries of a geographical area with a corresponding stake.

"There were stakes in New England and Minnesota where upwards of 150 libraries were located within the boundaries of one stake," he said. "So in such areas, where 40 or more libraries were located within one stake, we sent library donations to the closest bishops."

The first library donation boxes were shipped in August and September 1998. Since then, stake and ward public affairs committees have visited local libraries to offer the books.

"It's been a marvelous experience," explained Elder Hanks. "Not a day goes by that we don't receive inspiring reports. In some cases, members have traveled 200 miles to donate books. They report how they come home with feelings of satisfaction."

In addition to supplying libraries with meaningful information about the Church, the experience of meeting library officials by members of the Church has created new friendships.

"In all," said Michael Choppin of the Green Valley Ward, Aurora Colorado Stake, "it has been a positive and uplifting experience. While donating these materials may seem a simple thing, it has proven to be a means of making friends and sharing the blessings of the gospel."

In the course of presenting the donation to the librarian of the Aurora Public Library, Brother Choppin and his stake president learned of the library's need for community volunteers. "I explained to the librarian that, in addition to such public contributions like the book donation, we are also active in community volunteer programs. She seemed delighted and looked forward to our assistance in the future."

Clareen Hays, director of public affairs for the multi-stake region in Bakersfield, Calif., had already established a working relationship with the executive director of the Kern County libraries from previous community activities.

"We displayed the book donation on the table and he was thrilled when he saw the Encyclopedia of Mormonism. He asked for copies for all 27 branch libraries," Sister Hays said.

Because of other friendships established during past community activities, Sister Hays was able to place the books in libraries in several universities, community colleges and juvenile detention centers.

"The time was right for this project," continued Elder Hanks. "The details have fallen together. Most librarians have readily accepted the donation. It's been a rewarding experience."