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From the President

Q&A with Library School Students

by Matthew Ostercamp

In January I had the privilege of being interviewed by the current class of Theological Librarianship students. Professor Carisse Berryhill did a fantastic job facilitating an interesting conversation with her bright and energetic group of students. Three themes emerged in the students' questions: What value does ATLA offer me as…

Association News, From the President

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ATLA Board Responsibilities

by Matthew Ostercamp

Have you voted in the ATLA elections yet? The polls close on January 31. Once again this year I find more great candidates on the ATLA Board ballot than I have votes - if only I had such problems in all elections (hear our prayer)! As we deliberate on this…

Association News, From the President

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Time to Celebrate

by Matthew Ostercamp

I love it when a plan comes together! I hope that 2017 has seen each of you make progress towards some of your significant goals and would encourage you to take time this month to reflect on and celebrate that progress. I often find it easier to either dwell on…

Association News, From the President

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New Membership Categories

by Matthew Ostercamp

Last month I wrote about the importance of community and how both libraries and ATLA create community. An aspect of the ATLA community that I value is the range of library experience present in our group. I learn from both the questions asked by the young members who are just…

Association News, From the President

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From the President: #Community

by Matthew Ostercamp

What is your campus’ hashtag? At my shop our 2017/18 #motto, displayed on t-shirts and Instagram posts, is #betternews. While my mind usually goes to information literacy, the intended reference is to Luke’s Gospel. Whatever meaning you puzzle out of #betternews, I think we would all welcome some. In this…

Association News, From the President

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Three Lenses of Scholarly Communication

by Matthew Ostercamp

500 years ago, the proclamation of a scholar’s theses in Wittenberg proved to be profoundly disruptive to religious and political life in Europe. The issues leading to Martin Luther writing his 95 Theses and the fall-out from his protest were complex and continued to be explored and debated in books…

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New Year’s Goals

by Matthew Ostercamp

Hello from sunny San Diego! I’m writing from the University of California at San Diego (USCD), where preparations are underway for the start of another school year. Early August is the time many of us finalize our goals for the upcoming academic year. The ATLA Board of Directors has some…

Association News, From the President

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Serious Times Call for Singing People

by Matthew Ostercamp

“Serious times call for serious people.” This short sentence from World Relief President Scott Arbeiter’s address at this year’s Justice Conference stuck with me as I boarded the plane for ATLA in Atlanta. These feel like serious times. I suppose I could try to justify this feeling in many ways.…

Association News, From the President

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Managing Change

by Timothy D. Lincoln

My wife is an organizational psychologist. When people casually ask her what her job is about, she says that she deals with organizational change. Organizations are constantly changing and change is hard. At this point, people typically say that her observation is rather obvious.  To which she replies, “That part…

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Your Library and Accreditation: Seize the Day

by Timothy D. Lincoln

For many institutions, navigating the relationship between themselves and accrediting agencies conjures images of a beleaguered sea captain attempting to gain safe harbor despite icebergs, hidden shoals, and failing navigational equipment. For librarians in many settings, the need to meet reporting expectations of regional accreditors or the Association of Theological…

Association News, From the President

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