Rev Lynden Broadstock loves his volunteer role at Dalton McCaughey Library in Parkville. Image: Sarah Hellyer
By Andrew Humphries
As he gets ready for his weekly volunteer shift, retired Uniting Church minister Rev Lynden Broadstock admits to feeling like a small child in a lolly shop.
For the lifelong reader, his volunteer role at the Dalton McCaughey Library in Parkville is about as good as it gets.
So good, in fact, that Lynden says his work reshelving books sometimes takes a back seat to enjoying the books themselves.
Lynden is part of the small team ensuring the theological library maintains its status as one of the world’s best.
It’s a role he stepped into in late 2014, when he retired from full-time ministry.
Beginning as a minister with the fledgling Uniting Church in 1977, Lynden served numerous congregations and, while officially retired, he continues to offer his services as a supply minister to a number of congregations in Melbourne.
As an avid reader, Lynden’s volunteer work at the library is a perfect use of his skills and interests.
“I love libraries, I love books and I read a lot,” is his simple explanation for why he loves his role so much.
“Libraries are places I have always loved, so it’s a wonderful opportunity to be able to connect with this library as a volunteer.
“I have always enjoyed reading books on theology, including here as a student, and we are lucky enough to have a library with a brilliant collection, something that I value a great deal.”
Lynden’s current role involves returning the books to their proper place within the library’s extensive shelving system, a task that always brings with it a sense of discovery.
“I have had a number of roles since I started and I’m now the ‘shelving guy’,” he says modestly.
“That’s absolutely fine because I’m always discovering new things to read.
“I have to confess that sometimes my shelving work slows down because I have found an interesting book to explore.”
Lynden began his volunteer role in 2014, after retiring from fulltime ministry. Image: Sarah Hellyer
Lynden says the library’s stellar reputation is well deserved.
“It’s a great place and a fantastic space full of incredible wisdom and learning,” he says.
“The staff are wonderful and I think everyone who comes here finds it to be a welcoming space.”
Lynden admits to one regret, though, when it comes to his volunteering.
There simply aren’t enough hours in the day to enjoy the library’s vast collection.
“I keep finding books that are so interesting but I know I won’t read before I die,” he says.
“Every time I come here I go home thinking there is so much I don’t know that is still waiting to be discovered.
“I’m always amazed at the quality of the material here and that is what I find so exciting about a library like this.”
Lynden says his library role is also useful in providing ideas and subjects he can use in his supply ministry role.
“So much of what I read feeds into my preaching and informs my own theological thinking,” he says.
Lynden hopes to remain with the library for some time to come, allowing him to continue to give back to the Uniting Church.
“That kid in the lolly shop is a perfect description of what it’s like to work here,” he says.
“I love coming here and I’ll keep going until I’m not able to lift some of the bigger books.
“I think my library role, and supply ministry, allow me to continue to contribute to the life of our Church.”
