Last updated: August 16, 2007

ATLA, in partnership with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), is pleased to once again offer a graduate-level course in theological librarianship. This course, available to members and non-members, will be offered online through the LEEP program of the university's Graduate School of Library and Information Science (GSLIS) as LIS 590TL Theological Librarianship.

	Requirements
	Dates
	Tuition and Enrollment
	Course Description

Requirements

Course activities include readings, online discussions, writing assignments, exams, and a weekly two-hour live chat 4:00-6:00 p.m., CST, on Wednesdays. Students will have the opportunity to interact with a number of librarians currently working in the field. LEEP requirements include both synchronous and asynchronous assignments. The usual requirement of one weekend at the UIUC campus has been waived for ATLA members and non-members.

Dates

The course will run fall 2008.

Tuition and Enrollment

Students will register with UIUC through the LEEP program according to its usual class structure. Students may enroll for two or four credit hours. Those enrolling for four credit hours will complete an additional term project.

ATLA members will be able to register at in-state tuition rates, a major cost savings.  2007 tuition prices were:

	2 hours:	= $896
	4 hours:	= $1,792

Marianne Steadley, steadley@uiuc.edu, will be handling registration for non-UIUC students. 

All ATLA member libraries are urged to encourage potential students to enroll.

Course Description

The course will provide an overview of theological librarianship, covering briefly its various components, in order to develop in the student a basic understanding of the contexts, materials, services, and issues that characterize theological librarianship.

Discussion of the contexts of theological librarianship will include history, professional organizations, theological discourse and texts, the variety of theological library career paths and academic cultures, and negotiating the teaching role of the librarian in collaboration with other theological educators.

Consideration of the materials of theological librarianship will emphasize bibliography of theological resources, acquisition of theological literature, publishers and series, denominational collections, and archival collections.

Services studied will be organizing theological materials, providing reference services in the context of the reader's writing processes, searching databases (with special attention to scripture searching), and evaluating web resources.

Among the issues and trends facing theological libraries today, the class will consider globalization, dealing with religious sensitivities and controversies, the role of the librarian in facilitating technology in teaching and learning, and the digital future.