Rightsizing the 21st Century Theological Library Print Collection

Abstract

Natural sciences and humanities differ as disciplines in the types and age of material needed for research. Natural sciences require cutting edge, recent research while the humanities and social sciences utilize more dated material and primary sources. These differences consequently reflect different rightsizing criteria for the print collection. This article argues that similar differences exist in the disciplines represented in a theological library: systematic, historical, biblical studies, and practical theology, for example, and that these differences should be reflected in rightsizing decisions regarding the print collection. This article explores those rightsizing differences and delineates criteria for the biblical studies section in a theological print collection.