Title: Working at the Crossroads of the Great Transition in Theological Education: Serving Students Inside and Outside the Church’s Walls
Theological education is the midst of a series of tectonic shifts in a time that has been called the Great Transition. Schools are changing dramatically, and the contexts in which students serve are increasingly diverse and complex. What role can librarians and information services provide in this age of acceleration in digital technologies? How can theological librarians contribute and adapt to meet the needs of the 21st C. student in this age of information proliferation and disinformation dissemination?
Bio: Frank Yamada is the sixth executive director of the Association of Theological Schools. He brings to this role decades of leadership experience in theological education and in communities of faith. Under his leadership, ATS has fostered and encouraged innovation in member schools while strengthening their diverse missions to address the shifting landscape of communities of faith and the broader public. He has written about and speaks on the future of theological education. Before coming to ATS, he was the tenth president of McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago.
Hear from Atla's Products team for updates on content and scope of our trusted research tools for the scholarly study of religion and theology, including Atla Religion Database® (Atla RDB®) — the premier index in all fields of religion, as well as AtlaSerials® (Atlas®), and AtlaSerials PLUS® (Atlas PLUS®) — the go-to full-text collections of journals in diverse areas of religion and theology and related topics.
The update will include a presentation by Barnaby Hughes, an Atla Metadata Editor and Subject Matter Expert on Catholicism and its major orders, Medieval theology and history, the writings of the Church Fathers, and many related interdisciplinary topics. Barnaby will discuss his work as a Metadata Editor and highlight exciting content additions from the past year. We will also hold an interactive Q&A session.
We invite you to join us for the OCLC update breakfast at ATLA. Vance Thomas, Director of the Library at the University of Dubuque, will join us to share his first-hand experiences with WMS. Learn why Vance chose WMS while at Central Baptist Theological Seminary and why the University of Dubuque continues to use WMS. We’ll discuss how they, along with other ATLA libraries, partner with OCLC to improve their day-to-day operations and the user experience. You’ll also get a quick update from OCLC about what’s new, including advanced search options in WorldCat Discovery, how libraries are using Choreo Insights to analyze collections, and more. Note: This Event’s attendance will be limited to the first 30 registrants.
Title: Reimagining the Sacred Space: Libraries, Technology, and the Future of Theological Scholarship
In a time of rapid technological change, how can theological libraries not only adapt but thrive? Drawing on experiences in re-envisioning a major research library, this address will explore the dynamic intersection of technology, creativity, and evolving service models. Discover inspiring strategies and future-forward perspectives to empower theological librarians in their vital role of supporting scholarship, fostering community, and navigating the evolving landscape of theological education.
Bio: Keith Webster was appointed Dean of University Libraries at Carnegie Mellon University in July 2013 and was additionally appointed as Director of Emerging and Integrative Media Initiatives in July 2015 and was installed to the Helen and Henry Posner Jr. Dean’s Chair in 2021. He also has a courtesy academic appointment at the University’s H. John Heinz III College. Previously, Keith was Vice President and Director of Academic Relations and Strategy for the global publishing company John Wiley and Sons. He was formerly Dean of Libraries and University Librarian at the University of Queensland in Australia, leading one of the largest universities and hospital library services in the southern hemisphere. Earlier positions include University Librarian at Victoria University in New Zealand, Head of Information Policy at HM Treasury, London, and Director of Information Services at the School of Oriental & African Studies, University of London.
Keith has held professorships in information science at Victoria University of Wellington and City University, London. He is a Chartered Fellow and an Honorary Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (UK), and has served on government advisory boards, journal editorial boards, and as an officer in professional and learned societies around the world. He was Chair of the National Information Standards Organization in 2018/19, and now serves on the board of the Coalition for Networked Information.
Keith is a professional futurist, and regularly consults with not-for-profit and professional organization boards. His professional interests include AI and data-informed community engagement, research evaluation, and the future of scholarly communication. He is a regular speaker on topics such as the future of communication and the impact of open science on publishing and libraries.
