A Broadening Conversation: Classic Readings in Theological Librarianship

by Melody Layton McMahon (Editor), David R. Stewart (Editor)

Overview

As the American Theological Library Association (ATLA) celebrates the important milestone of its 60th anniversary this year, the editors have brought together in a single-volume anthology some of the best contributions to this field. Essays and papers from the past sixty years are grouped into six topical chapters (theological librarianship's characteristics, dimensions, educational role, settings, development within ATLA's sixty years, and most noteworthy changes), each of which is introduced by a present-day theological librarian.

This collection is likely to be valuable in many ways: as a compendium of wisdom and "best practices" over several generations, as a means of securing a grasp of how ATLA's importance and influence as an association has grown over time, and even for the way it brings back to light the life and work of so many fine librarians, Raymond Morris (Yale Divinity Library) and Julia Pettee (Union Theological Seminary) among them. Even more important, A Broadening Conversation affirms vividly that (instead of the ethos of tradition and continuity that one might suppose) a mix of trusted routines with perpetual change is what has always been on the menu for theological librarians in their daily work. This is at the heart of what continues to make theological librarianship such a challenging and rewarding vocation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781461655749
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	05/26/2006
Series:	The ATLA Reference and Professional Series , #1
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	374
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Melody Layton McMahon is Catalog Librarian and Liaison to Religious Studies at the Grasselli Library, John Carroll University, University Heights, OH.

David R. Stewart is Director of Library Services at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN. He was previously Associate Librarian at Princeton Theological Seminary.

Table of Contents

Part 1 Foreword
Part 2 Introduction
Part 3 Part 1: The Distinctive Character of Theological Librarianship
Chapter 4 1. Introduction
Chapter 5 2. Theological Librarianship as a Ministry
Chapter 6 3. The Theological Librarian: His Commitment and Strategy
Chapter 7 4. Developing Professionally on the Job
Chapter 8 5. That They All May Be One
Chapter 9 6. Some Values in Theological Librarianship
Chapter 10 7. On Spiritual Reading and Religious Reading in Peril: President's Address
Chapter 11 8. Power and Responsibility: Reflections on Theological Librarianship
Part 12 Part 2: Theological Librarians at Work
Chapter 13 9. Introduction
Chapter 14 10. The Cataloger and Instruction
Chapter 15 11. Problems in Manuscript Cataloging
Chapter 16 12. Archival Good Works for Theologians
Chapter 17 13. Changing a Pile of Books into a Library
Chapter 18 14. Collection Development in a Theological Research Library
Chapter 19 15. Circulation in Theological Libraries: Seeking and Saving the Lost
Chapter 20 16. Parchment, Paper, PDF: The Literature of Theological Librarianship
Part 21 Part 3: The Theological Librarian as Educator
Chapter 22 17. Introduction
Chapter 23 18. Seminary Libraries and Theological Education
Chapter 24 19. The Community of Learning
Chapter 25 20. Professors and Librarians: Partners in the Oikumené
Chapter 26 21. Theological Libraries Revisited
Chapter 27 22. The Structures of Religious Literature: Conceptual Frameworks for Improving Bibliographic Instruction
Chapter 28 23. Theological Libraries and Theological Librarians in Theological Education
Part 29 Part 4: Theological Libraries: Contexts and Constituencies
Chapter 30 24. Introduction
Chapter 31 25. Joint Panel Discussion: The Library in the Life of the Seminary
Chapter 32 26. Some Thoughts on the Joint Theological School–Liberal Arts College Library
Chapter 33 27. The Theological Library: Servant or Partner?
Chapter 34 28. Religious Studies and Theology
Chapter 35 29. Serving the Religion Information Needs of the Public
Part 36 Part 5: The American Theological Library Association: Reflections and Reminiscences
Chapter 37 30. Introduction
Chapter 38 31. Seminary Librarians (Greetings and Challenges from ATS)
Chapter 39 32. Six Years of ATLA: A Historical Sketch
Chapter 40 33. Building on Our Strengths for the Future
Chapter 41 34. A Look at the Past
Chapter 42 35. A Combined Greeting to ATLA 40 and Reflection on ATLA 1
Part 43 Part 6: Changes and Challenges
Chapter 44 36. Introduction
Chapter 45 37. On the Union Classification
Chapter 46 38. When Catholic and Protestant Theologies Meet
Chapter 47 39. Contemporary Challenges to Theological Librarianship
Chapter 48 40. The Index to Religious Periodical Literature: Past, Present, and Future
Chapter 49 41. Revolution, Evolutions, and Syndromes
Chapter 50 42. Can Serious Academic Religious Book Publishing Survive in an Age of Pop Culture?
Chapter 51 43. Globalization and Theological Libraries
Chapter 52 44. Shadow and Substance
Part 53 Afterword
Part 54 About the Editors and Contributors

Editorial Reviews

Melody Layton McMahon and David R. Stewart have compiled an anthology of some of the best contributions to the field of theological libraranship....Every theological librarian can profit from the book, which is meant to be a fun, thought-provoking read for working professionals.

The Christian Librarian

This book is an invitation, not only to theological librarians, but also to faculty and administrators, to broaden our conversations on teaching theology and religion and on the values we share.

Teaching Theology & Religion - Beth Bidlack

Characterized as an exploration of the attic of the American Theological Library Association, the anthology presents 44 articles that have shaped the profession over the past few generations but are no longer easily accessible. They cover the distinctive character of theological librarianship, theological librarians at work and as educators, contexts and constituencies of theological libraries, reflections and reminiscences of the Association, and changes and challenges.

Reference and Research Book News

Melody Layton McMahon and David R. Stewart have compiled an anthology of some of the best contributions to the field of theological libraranship....Every theological librarian can profit from the book, which is meant to be a fun, thought-provoking read for working professionals.

November 2008 The Christian Librarian

This book is an invitation, not only to theological librarians, but also to faculty and administrators, to broaden our conversations on teaching theology and religion and on the values we share.--Beth Bidlack "Teaching Theology & Religion "

Characterized as an exploration of the attic of the American Theological Library Association, the anthology presents 44 articles that have shaped the profession over the past few generations but are no longer easily accessible. They cover the distinctive character of theological librarianship, theological librarians at work and as educators, contexts and constituencies of theological libraries, reflections and reminiscences of the Association, and changes and challenges.--Reference and Research Book News, August 2006

Melody Layton McMahon and David R. Stewart have compiled an anthology of some of the best contributions to the field of theological libraranship....Every theological librarian can profit from the book, which is meant to be a fun, thought-provoking read for working professionals.--The Christian Librarian, November 2008

From the Publisher

Characterized as an exploration of the attic of the American Theological Library Association, the anthology presents 44 articles that have shaped the profession over the past few generations but are no longer easily accessible. They cover the distinctive character of theological librarianship, theological librarians at work and as educators, contexts and constituencies of theological libraries, reflections and reminiscences of the Association, and changes and challenges.

August 2006 Reference and Research Book News