Atla Annual 2025

Most theological libraries employ student workers in various capacities and for various tasks. Indeed, we could not offer the services or hours of operation we do without them. Far from being minions on whom we can fob off grunt work (like shelving), our student workers not only perform essential tasks (like shelving), but also offer a vital connection with the wider student body and can provide valuable insight into students’ perceptions of the curriculum, workload, faculty expectations, and institutional effectiveness. They are our secret weapon. In this session, colleagues will share insights into how we might harness this power (for good, naturally). We will also consider best practices, and cautionary tales, related to hiring, scheduling, training, and supervising. Finally, we will commend student employment as a fruitful recruiting ground for potential future colleagues. After all, many of us began our careers in theological libraries as student workers.

Learning Outcome

In addition to some practical ideas, attendees will come away with a better way of thinking about our student workers, their role in the library, and the work they do, focused less on how many books they shelve (as important as that is) than on the connections they have with the wider student body. This is especially important as theological libraries become more collaborative communal spaces.

Audience Engagement

We plan to engage our audience by sharing and demonstrating practical tools for addressing common challenges (e.g., scheduling), and by offering an opportunity for them to share their own insights, observations, and experiences in the discussion.

In this session, the Atla Committee for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will guide conversation between Atla members and Jeannine Hill Fletcher’s essay, “The Promising Practice of Antiracist Approaches to Interfaith Studies.” We will examine Atla’s history of diversity efforts and initiatives and look forward to potential futures.

Professor Hill Fletcher teaches at the intersection of Systematic Theology and issues of
diversity (religious diversity, Christian cultural diversity, race, and gender). In her essay, “The Promising Practice of Antiracist Approaches to Interfaith Studies,” Hill Fletcher outlines the ways that racial and religious identities have been used to structure relationships between those with power and those without power. By examining the history of White Christian identity within a US context, Hill Fletcher argues that interreligious and interfaith studies in particular, and theological education more generally, must grapple with the histories of White Christian privileges in order to reimagine the impact of religion and education in the US.

The purpose of this session is to better understand the history of Atla within the religious and racial history of the US, reflect on the institutions that make up religious studies and theological education, and identify ways to advance Atla’s affirmation of the intrinsic value of all members.

To fully engage in conversation, participants are encouraged to read Jeannine Hill Fletcher’s essay “The Promising Practice of Antiracist Approaches to Interfaith Studies,” in Interreligious/Interfaith Studies: Defining a New Field, ed. By Eboo Patel, Jennifer Howe Peace, and Noah J. Silverman (Beacon Press, 2018): 137-146.

Learning Outcome

Attendees will leave this conversation session with further knowledge regarding Atla and diversity efforts, especially with regard to interfaith and interreligious initiatives. They will contribute to an ongoing dialogue on the future of diversity in Atla and in their own institutions. Participants will share with each other their laments for their current situations and their hopes and intents for moving forward.

Audience Engagement

After a brief presentation based on the Hill Fletcher article, we will break into small groups for guided conversation and then the groups will report back to the whole.

The Atla Conduct Committee is comprised of Atla members who voluntarily serve to promote the Association's Code of Conduct. The presentation will provide an opportunity for the committee to discuss shared values from the code and restorative steps that are taken when incidents are reported from Atla spaces.

Learning Outcome

1. Articulate to others why would associations or organizations need a code of conduct or similar document and how they may apply in a religious context.
2. Distinguish among issues requiring the work of the conduct committee and issues handled through other channels.
3. Understand the role of a conduct committee relative to the parties involved in a complaint and organization with stakeholders (e.g. Board of Directors).
4. Apply basic principles of restorative justice to mediation and conflict resolution.

Audience Engagement

The panel will share key components of the code, how the code came into existence, and its importance to Atla. There will also be time for attendee Q&A.

This presentation explores the parallels between S.R. Ranganathan's Five Laws of Library Science and the core missions of the Church. Ranganathan's laws, established in 1931, are foundational principles in library science:

1) Books are for use.
2) Every person his or her book.
3) Every book its reader.
4) Save the time of the reader.
5) A library is a growing organism.
The presentation draws analogies between these laws and the Church's objectives:

Service: Just as libraries ensure books are accessible and usable, the Church aims to serve its community by making spiritual resources and services readily available.
Inclusivity: Ranganathan's emphasis on matching every person with their book mirrors the Church's mission to reach out to every individual, addressing diverse spiritual needs without prejudice.
Engagement: The idea that every book has its reader parallels the Church's endeavor to engage each person, recognizing that different individuals connect with different aspects of faith.
Efficiency: Saving the reader's time in a library context is akin to the Church's efforts to make spiritual guidance and services efficient and accessible, minimizing barriers for congregants.
Growth: Viewing the library as a growing organism reflects the Church's vision of growth, both in expanding its congregation and in deepening the spiritual development of its members.

Learning Outcome

Attendees will learn to apply Ranganathan's Five Laws of Library Science to enhance church services:
1) Innovative Service Strategies: Using "Books are for use" to improve access to spiritual resources.
2) Personalized Engagement: Applying "Every person his or her book" to tailor outreach for diverse spiritual needs.
3) Effective Resource Allocation: Utilizing "Every book its reader" to align resources with congregants' interests.
4) Operational Efficiency: Implementing "Save the time of the reader" to streamline church operations.
5) Sustainable Growth Planning: Adopting "A library is a growing organism" to view the church as a dynamic entity.

Audience Engagement

1) Interactive Discussions: I will encourage audience participation through open dialogues and Q&A sessions to foster a collaborative learning environment.
2) Real-World Case Studies: Drawing from my experiences as a librarian and church leader, I will present practical examples that illustrate the application of Ranganathan's laws in church settings, making the content relatable and actionable.
3) Visual Aids: I will utilize clear and concise slides with reader-friendly fonts and appropriate backgrounds to enhance understanding and retention.
4) Audience Polls: I will incorporate live polls to gauge opinions and encourage active engagement, ensuring the session remains dynamic and interactive.

After the success of the first session of this type held in 2024, the Board again invites members to join them in this session to hear more about the work they do and how the Board operates. The panel of Board officers will give insight as to what is expected of those who serve on the Board and provide additional information for those interested in serving. Come prepared to ask the panelists your questions about Board work and the role and function the Board plays in the association.

Theological education is rapidly changing, and our institutions are trying to respond to keep up. Library staff can either hunker down or become adaptive. This session will look at adaptive leadership. The presenter will also talk about identifying and developing skills within the library staff to help them to innovate and lead change instead of what some call "sabotaging change." We will also look at when resilience becomes a roadblock to change. There will be some time spent in discussion.

Learning Outcome

1. Participants will gain tips for mentoring their library staff.
2. Participants will learn to determine what changes are appropriate and how to begin to experiment.
3. Participants will brainstorm ways to keep them from becoming saboteurs of change.

Audience Engagement

There will be a discussion time when the participants will share and brainstorm ideas.