Frequently Asked Questions

Scroll down for help with the following questions:

1.   What does Mennonite Church Canada mean by a "one-stop shop"?

2.   Since the MC Canada website has added a database, how do I now find MC Canada resources?

3.   My keyword search request has generated a long list.  How do I best make sense of it?

4.   I've misplaced items from this month's Equipping package.  How can I find those?

5.   How long can I borrow a resource?

6.   Can I request an item in advance?

7.   Can I place a hold on an item that is currently on loan?

8.   How can I renew items I currently have on loan?

9.   How can I change my password?

10.   When I place an order, can I be assured that my credit card information is secure?

11.   I am a member of the Herald Press Ministers' Bookclub.   Can I receive that discount on this site?

12.   How can I make a bulk order from Mennonite Publishing Network without processing it on my personal credit card?

1.                  What does Mennonite Church Canada mean by a “one-stop shop”?

The Resource Centre partners with other Anabaptist resource providers so that more Mennonite materials are accessible to the user in one web location.  On your visit you can conveniently do a combination of transactions:

• borrow books, videos, puppets or other materials from the Resource Centre's library collection of 7000 items
• purchase Mennonite Church Canada publications or Heritage Centre books from the Resource Centre
• download free Mennonite Church Canada resources from the Resource Centre
• purchase a title from some of our partners (Mennonite Publishing Network, Cascadia Publishing House)

Each transaction will be carefully delineated in your shopping cart.  Items from Cascadia and Mennonite Publishing Network will be grouped together and sent to you from Waterloo, ON with one shipping charge.  Items from the Resource Centre will be shipped from Winnipeg, MB.

Check the instructions for placing a single or multiple order.

2.                  Since the MC Canada website has added a database, how do I now find Mennonite Church Canada resources?

There are two basic methods for conducting a search of this database:  by subject or by keyword/advanced search.

Subject search: 

To locate Mennonite Church Canada materials, simply click on the “Mennonite Church Canada Resources” button on the top of the left sidebar.  This brings you to a listing of our program areas and resources. 

Here, we are integrating:

·        all resources that appear in our monthly Equipping congregational packet

·        electronic downloadable materials developed from our various departments (for example, Pastoral Leadership, Human Resources)

·        e-commerce products from our various departments (eg. New books at the Heritage Centre)

·        library resources from our various offices (eg. Native Ministries library).

Keyword/Advanced search: 

Because Mennonite Church Canada resources are now integrated into a larger searchable database, it is possible to locate items by theme, author, scripture reference, or other keyword.  The bonus is that your search may also yield other helpful resources on your topic!

Click here for Advanced Search options.

In addition, we have created various icons/thumbnails that reference specific Mennonite Church Canada resources. 

Familiarity with these will also help in the search process.

Click here for downloadable version of icons.

3.      My keyword search request has generated a long list.  How do I best make sense of it?

• Note that all lists are arranged by resource type.  Click here for the way the types are prioritized.
• Try adding other additional words to your keyword search.  The more you can give the search engine the better - separate words by a comma.
• Check any related subject category(s) that your keyword search has yielded (subject categories appear at the top of the search list, and are identified by this icon - ).  Subject categories are pre-arranged bibliographies assembled for your convenience.
  
• Try using our Advanced Search options.  Narrow your search by audience, scripture reference, resource type, author, etc.
• Try a Subject Search and look for materials from our growing list of bibliographies.
  

4.      I've misplaced items from this month's Equipping packet.  How can I find those?

·        The current Equipping packet has a link on our left sidebar.  From there you can also access older issues by clicking on “Back Editions” on the horizontal yellow bar.

·        Or, type “equipping, {date}” as a keyword search and the electronic contents of that packet will be listed.

5.                  How long can I borrow a resource?

·        There are slightly different loan periods for longer video series, seasonal materials, and partner resources, though the typical loan period is 4 weeks.  Please check our Loan Policy for specific details.

6.                  Can I request an item in advance?

·        Certainly.  Place the resource(s) in your cart and in the check-out procedure simply adjust the dates in the loan period accordingly.

7.                  Can I place a hold on an item that is currently on loan?

·        Yes.  Note the return date on the selected item(s).  Then, in the check-out procedure, select a date that succeeds its return.  You can also view the reservation calendar of any resource that is currently unavailable.

   

8.       How can I renew items I currently have on loan?

• A one-time two-week renewal is subject to the resource's availability.  Please call or email the Resource Centre to make a renewal. 
  

9.        How can I change my password?

• Click "My Account."  This will list your personal profile.  Simply make the changes to the username/password fields and save the record.

10.        When I place an order, can I be assured that my credit card information is secure?

·        Yes.  This website uses encryption on a secure server to ensure that your credit card information is protected.  For security reasons, we also do not store this information on our data base.

11.                  I am a member of the Herald Press Ministers' Bookclub.  Can I receive that discount on this site?

·        This is currently not available.  To take advantage of this discount, apply and order directly from the Mennonite Publishing Network website.

12.                  How can I make a bulk order from Mennonite Publishing Network without processing it on my personal credit card?

·        Congregational bulk orders can continue to be made through Mennonite Publishing Network directly.  Contact Kathy Shantz at 1-800-631-6535 or hpcan@mph.org.  Also check MPN’s website.

·        Various curriculum and periodicals from Faith and Life Resources (Gather 'Round Sunday School, annual Vacation Bible School materials, Purpose, Leader, With, Rejoice), due to their bulk-order status, are also not currently for sale from this site.  Please contact Mennonite Publishing Network directly.