The Ohio Theological Library Association had its beginning in February 1968 when librarians from six Ohio seminaries met in Lafayette, Ohio to lay the ground work for programs of cooperation. The organization evolved into the Ohio Area Theological Librarians (OATL). In 1977 the group changed their name to Ohio Theological Librarians (OTL). In 1986 the OTL voted to have both personal and institutional members. The organization ratified a new constitution and bylaws in 1988. With it came a new name: Ohio Theological Library Association (OTLA). This name change was made to acknowledge that theological libraries as well and their librarians were a part of the organization and engaged in cooperative efforts.
Originally the membership included seminary librarians and their libraries. Over the years the seminary libraries have been joined by some theological or religions collections. Personal members now include seminary librarians and librarians at non-member institutions who work with religious collections or have interest in the field. Some retired librarians are also active.
OTLA Activities
The association’s first project was the publication of a union list of serials, which included the holdings of seven seminary libraries, six in Ohio and one in Indiana. Another focus for the association has been cooperative collection development. During the 1970s, the member libraries worked up a list of denominational groups and divided them up so that at least one library in the state took responsibility for collecting materials by and about each group. The members also shared information about where important expensive sets and series were held so that the availability of these materials could be shared with patrons. In 1983 a Union List of Standing Orders was published, in part to support cooperative efforts on a D.Min. Program by the All Ohio Theological Seminaries Cluster. OTLA libraries agreed to grant borrowing privileges to all D.Min. students in this program in 1972. During these pre-automation years, sharing information about individual collection strengths was also important.
Reporting news from each library and school has always been a significant part of regular meetings. During the early years, the members also took turns presenting programs on topics of interest about which they had expertise. This practice has continued with members giving presentations on denominational collections or history, copyright law, special collections, bibliographic instruction, and the like. During recent years, a number of meetings have also been held at sites where special collections of interest are housed or from which services are provided that would benefit OTLA libraries and their patrons. OCLC in Dublin, OH, the Ohio Historical Society, the Ohio Wesleyan Methodist Collection, the Southern Ohio Church of the Brethren Historical Center, the Afro-American Museum, and the State Library have been a few such sites. Outside speakers are also invited to present programs of interest.
The OTLA has presented or hosted workshops and training events over the years. In 1989 Trinity Lutheran Seminary hosted the American Theological Library Association (ATLA) Annual meeting with OTLA help. A joint meeting was held with Team-A, the Kentucky regional group, on proposed ATLA changes. In 1994 a workshop on Marketing for Theological Libraries was sponsored. In 1997 a training session was held for OTLA members on religious materials in public libraries. OTLA members then presented a Pre-Conference Workshop, “Exploring Resources on Religion” for the Ohio Library Council’s annual meeting of public library representatives. In 1999 OTLA and the Ohio Humanities Council sponsored a presentation at Taylor Memorial Public Library, Cuyahoga Fall, Ohio on the Diverse Religious Traditions in Early Ohio. A Workshop on Information Ethics was held in 2001. In 2005 a seminar on plagiarism was held at Ohio State, and in 2006 a presentation on Resources in Judaism and Islam was presented at Wittenberg University.
Affiliations
In 1977 the Ohio body became a regional group of the ATLA. Ties to that national group continue. In March 1990 the membership voted to join the Ohio Council of Library and Information Services (OCLIS) to keep in touch with and have a voice in the wider library community within the state. OCLIS members are all library groups and OCLIS membership gives OTLA members access to the continuing education programs sponsored by other library organizations in Ohio.