We have instituted exactly what Etienne has suggested and it works out well. The Elders purchase books out of the church budget, using a line item for the
church library. One of the Elders reads the book, gives a short synopsis of the book to the congregation and then places the book in the church library. The
congregation is then able to check the book out for their use. This allows both the Elders and the congregation to benefit from the purchase. This is not to
say that the Elders don't have their own libraries that are purchased out of their own personal funds.