The annual Atla Summary of Proceedings has served as a historical record of the Annual Conference of Atla. The Proceedings for the 2025 conference is the final edition of this publication.
Copyright (c) 2026 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Copyright (c) 2026 Katie Thorman https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Copyright (c) 2026 Beth Kumar https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Copyright (c) 2026 Katie Thorman, Todd Aiello https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Copyright (c) 2026 John Kutsko https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Collecting Catholic Open Access Religion Journals
One way that librarians can do more with less is by adding open access (OA) journals to their library’s holdings. But how does one identify and evaluate what is available? In his Atla Annual 2021 Listen and Learn session titled “Open Access Religious Resources for your Students,” Jeff Siemon shared his collection of approximately 800 OA religion journals. Siemon inspired me to create my own collection of Catholic OA religion journals, which I presented later that year at the Catholic Library Association’s Fall Conference. Nearly four years later, my collection has more than doubled. I describe how I found these journals, highlighting specific journal indexes, including a comparison between the Directory of Open Access Journals and Atla RDB. I also present updated analyses of journals by continent and country, by language, and by subject, highlighting remarkable trends.
Copyright (c) 2026 Barnaby Hughes https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Based on their panel discussion at Atla Annual 2025, members of Atla’s Code of Conduct committee present the rationale for the Code of Conduct and provide a timeline of key events in the process of its creation. They also detail the responsibilities of the committee, as determined by the prior work of the Board of Directors and Code of Conduct Task Force. They discuss the relationship between their role in the association and the principles of restorative justice. The committee hopes that this introductory work will inform Atla’s membership, encourage increased dialogue, and continue to build a culture of respect built on concrete documentation instead of unspoken norms.
Copyright (c) 2026 David Kriegh, Matthew Ostercamp, Stephen Sweeney, Jennifer Ulrich, Matthew Wasielewski https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
The Atla Committee for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Conversation with Jeannine Hill Fletcher’s “The Promising Practice of Antiracist Approaches to Interfaith Studies”
In this conversation session, the Atla Committee for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion guided conversation between Atla members and Jeannine Hill Fletcher’s essay, “The Promising Practice of Antiracist Approaches to Interfaith Studies.” We examined Atla’s history of diversity efforts and initiatives and looked forward to potential futures. The purpose of this conversation session was 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.
Copyright (c) 2026 Brady Beard, Elli Cucksey, Karla Grafton, Stephen Sweeney https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
This presentation draws parallels between S. R. Ranganathan’s Five Laws of Library Science and the Church’s role as a dynamic, community-serving institution. Ranganathan’s laws emphasize accessibility, personalization, efficiency, and continuous growth—principles also central to the Church’s mission. For example, “Books Are For Use” aligns with the Church’s call to live out faith in action, while “Every Reader His/Her Book” mirrors personalized spiritual care. “Every Book Its Reader” parallels the Church’s outreach, ensuring spiritual resources reach those in need. Likewise, “Save the Time of the Reader” reflects the Church’s efforts to offer timely, accessible support, and “The Library is a Growing Organism” resonates with the Church’s evolving nature in response to societal changes. By comparing these institutions, the paper highlights their shared commitment to serving individual needs through relevance, accessibility, and growth, ultimately showing how both enrich lives and communities as ever-adapting sources of knowledge and spiritual guidance
Copyright (c) 2026 Ayodele John Alonge https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Introducing the Australia and New Zealand Theological Library Association
This paper is a brief introduction to the Australia and New Zealand Theological Library Association (ANZTLA). It covers the Association’s inception, its administrative structure, and some of the current and future services provided to members. It is intended as a very simple overview for anyone who is unfamiliar with ANZTLA and would like to learn a little more about the Association. Some of the information in this paper was discussed in the panel discussion Global Theological Library Associations: Engaging of the Profession Worldwide, and there is also some additional information about current and future initiatives, including some collaborative projects with Atla.
Copyright (c) 2026 Nick Gellatly https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
As a hub for learning, the theological library facilitates the resourcing and delivery of academic material on campus. Within this setting, library staff serve at the forefront of curating content to support student objectives. The advent of Artificial Intelligence has led libraries to analyze anew the meaning of information literacy as students increasingly turn to this recent technology to research, analyze and disseminate their knowledge. This conversation group examined how the rise of AI has impacted various seminary settings through the lens of the library which is often tasked with developing and implementing new AI policy. An initial review focusing on student/faculty needs and AI policy development within the context of Columbia Theological Seminary. led to subsequent discussion among the participants about the development of AI guidelines at their respective institutions.
Copyright (c) 2026 Robert Griffin, Emily Peterson https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Using an Open-Source Library Catalog for Specialized Bibliographies
This presentation reports on two specialized bibliography projects: The Andrews Bibliography of Ethnic/Minority Scholarship in Theology (ABEST) and the Hisban Interactive Archive Project (HIAP). An open-source library catalog, Koha, was used. The processes of citation collection and representation are discussed.
Copyright (c) 2026 Terry Robertson https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Introducing the Association of British Theological and Philosophical Libraries
In this brief survey of ABTAPL’s activities, Christine Love-Rodgers, Deputy Chair of ABTAPL introduces herself and her role in ABTAPL, with a reflection on how she ended up in her current position. She outlines the organization and governance of ABTAPL and the current nature of its membership. One of ABTAPL’s most important activities is its annual conference, which includes library visits and conference dinners as well as conferences sessions. ABTAPL members benefit from publications including the ABTAPL Bulletin, co-operative services including an interlibrary loan system, and mentoring, training and grant programs. Christine acknowledged the challenges that ABTAPL members face, including diminishing budgets and reducing student numbers, which may lead to library closures of mergers. But there are opportunities also for ABTAPL to develop and to collaborate with Atla, including online training, open access publishing and potentially ‘twinning’ US and UK libraries to learn from each other.
Copyright (c) 2026 Christine Love-Rodgers https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
The Graduate Theological Union (GTU) received an Atla Digitization Grant which was used to pay for staff scanning operators supplied by the Internet Archive (IA). The initial appeal for funds focused on digitizing the John Capistran Borley Collection of Islamic Manuscripts; a collection of manuscripts that is frequently used in class visits and student scholarship. The collection was deemed in need of pre-digitization conservation work and removed from the initial appeal, but new public domain materials were identified to scan. The project also served as a testing ground for the second collaborative initiative between IA and the GTU which involved the installation of their scanning equipment for use onsite at the GTU.
Copyright (c) 2026 Colyn Wohlmut https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
The five panelists in this session consider, debate, and discuss important questions concerning neutrality in theological libraries. The goal is to inculcate a greater, if more nuanced, appreciation for the complexities inherent in the professional aspiration toward neutrality and objectivity, and a deeper understanding of the reasons it may at times be necessary and appropriate to set aside this aspiration. Such insights can help guide both reference interviews with students and acquisitions decisions.
Copyright (c) 2026 David Edward Schmersal, Deanna (Dee) Roberts, Robin C. McCall, Ezra Jiseok Choe, Gerrit van Dyk https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Minions, Secret Weapons, Future Colleagues
Colleagues share insights into how we might harness the power and potential of our student workers (for good, naturally). We also consider best practices, and cautionary tales, related to hiring, scheduling, training, supervising, and retaining student workers. Finally, we commend student employment as a fruitful recruiting ground for potential future colleagues.
Copyright (c) 2026 David Edward Schmersal, Marlon Patterson, Vincent Williams https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
UK University Librarians in Theology & Religious Studies
This paper explores the roles of TRS (Theology & Religious Studies) librarians in larger UK universities and their participation within ABTAPL (Association of British Theological and Philosophical Librarians). Beginning by investigating the historical participation trends and current dynamics within TRS librarianship, it utilizes literature review, data analysis, and a bespoke survey targeting TRS librarians across the UK. Love-Rodgers identifies a disconnection between TRS university librarians and ABTAPL, contributing to limited event attendance and organizational engagement. The results indicate that this disengagement is influenced by a shift in librarian roles from subject specialists to more broad-based academic roles, compounded by a significant decline in TRS student enrolments and the shrinking presence of TRS departments within universities. The investigation recommends strategic changes for ABTAPL to increase relevancy and connection with university librarians.
What Does It Take to Build an Open Access Theological Encyclopaedia?
The St Andrews Encyclopaedia of Theology (saet.ac.uk) is a free online reference work dedicated to widening access to theological scholarship. With more than 200 peer-reviewed articles already published, the Encyclopaedia is a readily available resource for students, academics, members of faith-based institutions, and interested laypeople. This contribution shares some reflections on the opportunities and challenges involved in building an open access theological encyclopaedia for the 21st century. In particular, how has the publication’s online format and open access philosophy shaped its behind-the-scenes strategies for information management? This brief overview focuses especially on enriching, preserving, and accessing theological information in the context of a digital encyclopedic resource. Finally, it highlights a particular challenge faced by theological e-resources that do not share the static publication model represented by journals and ebooks.
Copyright (c) 2026 Rebekah Dyer https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
The Catholic News Archive (CNA) is an invaluable digital resource, granting researchers access to a wide range of Catholic newspapers that illuminate theological, social, cultural, and political developments. This article demonstrates how scholars, students, and librarians can employ the CNA to investigate historical narratives, public discourse, and community dynamics, particularly in relation to issues such as immigration, civil rights, education, and international relations. The CNA’s extensive holdings, including non-English and ecumenical newspapers, offer unique perspectives on immigrant communities and interfaith dialogues, making it a vital tool for interdisciplinary research. Practical guidance is provided for effectively navigating the archive, integrating its rich primary sources into teaching and research, and fostering critical engagement with historical media that shaped both local and global Catholic experiences.
Copyright (c) 2026 Mark Shelton, Brian Morin, Jean McManus https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Assessing Information Literacy Instruction with TATIL
During the 2024-2025 academic year, BSK Theological Seminary examined the institutional assessment potential for the Threshold Achievement Test for Information Literacy (TATIL) in a master’s level seminary setting through pilot testing of students near the beginning of their academic career. The student test results themselves, while largely positive overall, were a bit mixed for some individual test takers. The pilot program was successful in helping form plans for institutional assessment and in exploring the administration of external testing and the interpretation of the results. This report addresses the basics and a few important aspects and limiting factors of TATIL as well as including suggestions for potential use and possible implementation.
Copyright (c) 2026 Ryan Shrauner https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Brews & Books is an event series designed to increase engagement with our library’s Special Collections through intentional, community-centered programming. Held three times a semester, each event features hand-selected materials curated by our Reference and Instruction team. These events invite students, faculty, and staff to view unique materials in person while enjoying coffee and tea in a relaxed setting. To enhance access for our hybrid and distance learners, we created a LibGuide that includes digitized versions of the materials, supporting resources, and event visuals. By connecting archival materials and rare books to classroom discussions, current events, and student interests, Brews & Books bridges academic content with community life, while demystifying the research process and showcasing the richness of Special Collections. The collaboration between departments not only fostered greater internal knowledge sharing but also helped students become more confident and curious researchers. Through this initiative, we created new opportunities for discovery, both within our Special Collections and across our campus.
Copyright (c) 2026 Deanna Roberts, Emily Corbin, Chelsea Williams https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
The Impact of Leadership Development for Theological Librarians
This panel presentation explored the transformative impact of leadership development in theological librarianship, highlighting the variety of approaches individuals can bring to leadership. Through a narrative-driven style, the presentation aimed to inspire readers to recognize their potential as leaders and pursue opportunities to cultivate their distinct skills. The Leadership Development for Theological Librarians Program, launched in 2023, celebrated the graduation of its second cohort in May 2025. Funded by a grant from the Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion and co-led by Kelly Campbell from Columbia Theological Seminary and Myka Kennedy Stephens from Fosgail, the program provides mentoring and executive coaching for theological librarians from varying backgrounds, roles, and institutions. Panelists shared the origin story of the program, discussed their unique leadership journeys, and reflected on how the program has shaped their professional growth.
Copyright (c) 2026 Christa M. Strickler, Kelly Campbell, Aileen Mulchrone, David Kiger https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Over the past decade, ATS accredited seminaries have expanded their outreach to Latino communities by creating Spanish-only, bilingual or Latino-centric programs at the certificate, graduate and doctoral levels. The proliferation of these programs has coincided with the shift towards distance-learning modalities, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic. Theological libraries have been tasked with providing access to databases and online catalogs, as well as acquiring resources for courses taught in Spanish or about Hispanic and Latin American theologies. This essay discusses strategies for curating Hispanic and Latin American digital resources for distance-learning programs in Spanish.
Copyright (c) 2026 Déborah Enid Ortiz-Rivera https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
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An Interview with Dr. Lynn Silipigni Connaway
Copyright (c) 2025 Lynn Silipigni Connaway, James Estes, Megan E. Welsh https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Copyright (c) 2025 James A. Estes https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Copyright (c) 2025 John Kutsko https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0