Broadening Conversation

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.

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.

• Part 1 ForewordPart 2 IntroductionPart 3 Part 1: The Distinctive Character of Theological LibrarianshipChapter 4 1. IntroductionChapter 5 2. Theological Librarianship as a MinistryChapter 6 3. The Theological Librarian: His Commitment and StrategyChapter 7 4. Developing Professionally on the JobChapter 8 5. That They All May Be OneChapter 9 6. Some Values in Theological LibrarianshipChapter 10 7. On Spiritual Reading and Religious Reading in Peril: President's AddressChapter 11 8. Power and Responsibility: Reflections on Theological LibrarianshipPart 12 Part 2: Theological Librarians at WorkChapter 13 9. IntroductionChapter 14 10. The Cataloger and InstructionChapter 15 11. Problems in Manuscript CatalogingChapter 16 12. Archival Good Works for TheologiansChapter 17 13. Changing a Pile of Books into a LibraryChapter 18 14. Collection Development in a Theological Research LibraryChapter 19 15. Circulation in Theological Libraries: Seeking and Saving the LostChapter 20 16. Parchment, Paper, PDF: The Literature of Theological LibrarianshipPart 21 Part 3: The Theological Librarian as EducatorChapter 22 17. IntroductionChapter 23 18. Seminary Libraries and Theological EducationChapter 24 19. The Community of LearningChapter 25 20. Professors and Librarians: Partners in the OikumenéChapter 26 21. Theological Libraries RevisitedChapter 27 22. The Structures of Religious Literature: Conceptual Frameworks for Improving Bibliographic InstructionChapter 28 23. Theological Libraries and Theological Librarians in Theological EducationPart 29 Part 4: Theological Libraries: Contexts and ConstituenciesChapter 30 24. IntroductionChapter 31 25. Joint Panel Discussion: The Library in the Life of the SeminaryChapter 32 26. Some Thoughts on the Joint Theological School–Liberal Arts College LibraryChapter 33 27. The Theological Library: Servant or Partner?Chapter 34 28. Religious Studies and TheologyChapter 35 29. Serving the Religion Information Needs of the PublicPart 36 Part 5: The American Theological Library Association: Reflections and ReminiscencesChapter 37 30. IntroductionChapter 38 31. Seminary Librarians (Greetings and Challenges from ATS)Chapter 39 32. Six Years of ATLA: A Historical SketchChapter 40 33. Building on Our Strengths for the FutureChapter 41 34. A Look at the PastChapter 42 35. A Combined Greeting to ATLA 40 and Reflection on ATLA 1Part 43 Part 6: Changes and ChallengesChapter 44 36. IntroductionChapter 45 37. On the Union ClassificationChapter 46 38. When Catholic and Protestant Theologies MeetChapter 47 39. Contemporary Challenges to Theological LibrarianshipChapter 48 40. The Index to Religious Periodical Literature: Past, Present, and FutureChapter 49 41. Revolution, Evolutions, and SyndromesChapter 50 42. Can Serious Academic Religious Book Publishing Survive in an Age of Pop Culture?Chapter 51 43. Globalization and Theological LibrariesChapter 52 44. Shadow and SubstancePart 53 AfterwordPart 54 About the Editors and Contributors