Editorial

A new Theology Cataloging Bulletin (TCB) is coming your way. You’ve already seen some changes this year with the renaming of the “Testimony” column to “Perspectives & Practices” to better reflect its content and scope, as well as the introduction of a new HTML format in addition to the PDF version. But even more changes are coming.

A brief survey sent out in the latter part of 2020 showed that most readers utilize TCB for the updates to Library of Congress subject headings and classification. However, participants also indicated they would be interested in other topics related to the technical services environment, such as open access content management, collection management, e-resource licensing and management, library systems, and acquisitions.

Therefore, in order to appeal to a broader audience—including persons acquiring and cataloging materials at museums and archives—as well as to provide opportunities for interdisciplinary engagement with other library technical services professionals, we will roll out an expanded TCB beginning in 2022. To reflect the broader scope and coverage of the publication, the official name of the publication will change to TCB: Technical Services in Religion and Theology.

While the subject heading and classification updates and other sections, including upcoming professional development opportunities and bibliographies, will remain in the new TCB, new content will be developed and sought, covering acquisitions, collection management, and other areas of technical services. Additionally, we will introduce a new section wherein our readers will have the opportunity to offer reviews of open source and proprietary software used by library technical services. The goal is to continue providing the information you count on, as well as news, practices, and opportunities for all technical services professionals.

To help us prepare for the January 2022 changes, we invite you to consider writing for TCB, either by submitting a piece to Perspectives & Practices, reviewing software implemented by your library, or providing a first-hand account of a training or other professional development event you’ve participated in. You can find out more about how to submit to TCB by visiting serials.atla.com/tcb/about/submissions. You may also email the editorial board with your feedback and questions at tcb@myatla.org.

We look forward to hearing from you and receiving your contributions. TCB will remain a publication that focuses on the needs of technical services professionals, transforming from a publication for catalogers of materials in religion and theology to one that addresses the interests of all technical services staff who may be working with materials in religion and theology.

–the Editors