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.

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.

As the field of theological and religious studies librarianship changes and grows, so do the associations that serve us. Join representatives from Atla, Association of British Theological and Philosophical Libraries, Australia and New Zealand Theological Library Association, Bibliothèques Europeennes de Theologie, and Forum for Asian Theological Librarians for an engaging conversation that looks into their respective associations, the challenges facing the members they serve, and the potential opportunities for collaboration to benefit theology and religious studies librarians across the globe.

Learning Outcomes

Attendees will gain a greater understanding of the inner workings of several associations for theological and religious studies globally. They will learn of the challenges facing librarians and gain an understanding of how this changes depending on locale. Finally, they will learn of the potential for collaboration, strengthening all associations to provide better services for members.


Audience Engagement

There will be an opportunity to ask questions of the panelists at the end of the discussion