This presentation will compare several methods for determining whether seminary library databases are meeting the information needs of students and faculty. Reports of low usage of online databases have persisted since the beginning of online databases. However, the accuracy of these reports is questionable. Here, I illustrate a very direct method of accessing usage, i.e., student papers, and compare them to available statistical reports from database vendors. The purpose is to help seminary libraries respond to Standard 6.5 for the Association of Theological Schools, which asks that we document that the informational needs of students are being met.
Director of Library Services, Memphis Theological Seminary - Library
I have worked in both academic and public libraries since the early 1980s. I started my current position as Director in January 2020. I started in academia but left in 2000 because I was certain that everything in university and college libraries would shortly move to an entirely... Read More →
What are our obligations to our organization as we begin to think about the next steps in our professional life? Should we start thinking about those who will succeed us in our job? Perhaps it may not be that, but will there be someone who could take some of your responsibilities while you are on a sabbatical or vacation? What will the library be like if we leave? If we leave, will the administration take this as a way to downsize the library? As we think about the transitions and career moves in our life, succession planning may be something to consider. This session will talk about identifying and developing skills within the library staff and mentoring them not only for our library but for future jobs they may have. We will also examine ways in which we can begin to mentor our supervisor to help manage the transitions and changes that will inevitably arise when we leave. There will be time spent in discussion.
Upcoming self-study or visit? Come learn about the new(ish) ATS Standards and how they apply to libraries and how librarians can play a leadership role in the accreditation process for their institutions.
The Graduate Theological Library is a consortial library located in Berkeley, California, serving the students of the GTU consortium. The GTU consists of nine separately accredited Theological Schools from Catholic, Protestant, and Buddhist traditions, five academic centers, seven affiliates, and non-degree certificates, which include the traditions of Islam, Jewish, Hindu, Baha'i, and interfaith practices, such as the Interfaith Chaplaincy Program. The degree programs are at the graduate level and include DMin, MDiv, MA, and PhD, with the library serving as the connecting hub of all students.
As part of the five-year campus strategic plan that began in January 2021, the Graduate Theological Union Library was required to reduce its physical space by almost half (a reduction of 15,742 sq ft) and reduce our budget and staffing through a reorganization and reduction of hours. At the same time, we increased patrons' access to resources, all in the middle of a pandemic and remaining open through construction phases. This presentation details how we made decisions about the collection shifted staffing to serve all patrons better. The alterations to the library were completed by January 2023, with other floors completed by January 2024. During this period, the GTU consortium added a member school and several affiliates, serving Theological Schools outside of California for the first time. In early 2024, our Collection Development Policy was revised to reflect our emphasis on online access and the changing demographics of our students. A strong partnership with Internet Archive is a cornerstone to achieving our mutual goals of providing open online access to theological materials. We continue to adapt our services and collections in the face of declining enrollment, a trend shared by many in our discipline. As we go forward, we are deep in assessment and evaluation as we create the next phase of what the library will become.
