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Reading Center
Guaranteed Paperback Service

The Guaranteed Paperback Service (GPS) offers monthly selections of the best in inexpensive religious paperbacks for the whole family. Expert Catholic editors review and select each month’s package of books to ensure quality, importance, relevance, and appeal. Selection is always based on Christian principles.

Subjects include

  • Catholic teachings and customs
  • prayer and meditation
  • family life resources
  • inspirational stories
  • current topics
  • and much more

How to Establish a Reading Center (A Parish Ministry):

The following information provides some ideas and thoughts for you to get a reading center underway. As with any worthwhile effort there will be roadblocks along the way but any of these can be overcome by the recommendations offered below or by calling us direct at the Catholic Reading Society Office at 1-800-218-1903.

How to raise funds for the Church: Although you will be providing parishioners with something far more than money, you will be giving them wisdom – Catholic Wisdom – through the introduction of the Guaranteed Paperback Service (GPS) and the Unified Magazine Program (UMP). The parish keeps 20% on all sold magazines and titles offered.

Advantages: High quality paperbacks and magazines are available from one source. The forty year old original source that searches for and provides Catholic literature for parishes and faith communities - no need to shop around. All selected materials are automatically mailed to the parish for placement and sale in the reading center. You can count on top quality authorship at the lowest possible prices.

How to promote a reading center: You have a number of accessible, effective (and free) avenues: your Church bulletin, the lectern, the parish website. You may also wish to use your diocesan newspaper or local community paper. (Most diocesan papers and some community papers will print service ads for free.)

How to get dedicated people to manage the reading center: There are generally many in the parish, perhaps teachers, librarians, retired couples, and professional retailers, who would find the challenges and rewards of operating a Catholic magazine and book reading center worth the time and effort. Working with the Pastor to set up a committee is extraordinarily helpful and could bring together some folks who have been offering their skills to enhance parish life.

What hours are best to offer the sale of magazines and books: The obvious is when parishioners are visiting the parish centers, gathering spaces or meeting rooms. Quarterly, a special day could be set aside for additional promotion or by inviting visitors to the parish library to consider the reading materials that are on display. Discussion groups who break for coffee are always interested in what is being offered within the parish. Those who make communion calls might bring a few devotional books to the homes of the sick. People in need of healing, whether physical or mental, can be helped by good religious publications.
Volunteers may wish to bring Catholic magazines and books to local senior citizen facilities. The elderly in nursing homes appreciate a few minutes of conversation and a piece of religious literature.

What is the best way to keep the reading center stocked?: For every book that is selected for the monthly pack, a few extra copies are generally available through Paulist Press. The purpose for having extra books on hand is to fill re-orders on those books that sell quickly. Much like running a store, watching inventory is essential - keep an eye on those books that sell quickly.

AND IN CLOSING - conscience of the fact that the home is the dominant religious influence on family members, every effort should be made to have Catholic publications available for reading in the home. Contemporary Catholic books and magazines explain the Catholic vision - its stories, symbol system and insights into human nature - so that families may understand the richness, common sense and humanity of their religious tradition.

SUPPLEMENTS TO CONSIDER WHEN ESTABLISHING A READING CENTER:
>> Spinner racks
>> Consoles
>> Portable racks
>> Payment envelopes

  • You will receive eight to ten pre-selected adult and/or children’s paperbacks mailed to your parish each month.
  • You display the books for sale in a parish reading room, library, or reading rack.
  • Your parish pays only for the books sold.
  • Your parish keeps 20% of the selling price on every book sold.
  • You return the title pages of an unsold hardcover book. For paperback books please return the cover only for credit with your invoice payment.
  • You do not have to return unsold books!!! Just distribute unsold copies to local charities at no cost to you.
  • Your satisfaction is guaranteed and you may cancel the program at any time.

Tailor the Program to Your Own Parish’s Needs—
Simply choose the program that’s best for your community:

  • The Adult Pack includes two copies each of adult books only.
  • The A Pack, for smaller parishes, includes one copy each of both adult and children’s books.
  • The B Pack, for larger parishes, includes two copies each of both adult and children’s books.
  • The Kids’ Pack will be designed for children’s interests.

Click here for the order form to join. GPS-UMP Order Form

Please note that both the book and the magazine program are on the same order form, but if you wish, you may elect to join only one. While you can always add the other program later, you don’t have to.
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