Mission & Organizational Ends

For more than 40 years, Atla maintained separate boards to oversee its indexing and preservation microform programs. In 1991, the boards overseeing those programs were merged with the Association board to form one Board of Directors to oversee all of the Association’s activities. The Board of Directors developed policies by which the Association was to be guided and hired an Executive Director to manage the Association’s financial and organizational affairs.

The Board and Membership of the Association adopted a mission statement and Organizational Ends to guide the Association’s activities and programs:

The mission of Atla is to foster the study of theology and religion by enhancing the development of theological and religious studies libraries and librarianship.

Atla exists so that:

Librarians and information providers in theology and religion are connected in a sustainable and diverse global community at a cost that demonstrates good stewardship of resources.

This is further defined to include but not limited to the following:

1. Users have access to quality academic and professional resources.

1.1 Open access resources and special collections are available and discoverable by librarians and information professionals.

2. Institutional leaders have an awareness of the trends impacting the religion and theology library ecosystem.

3. Librarians and information providers are growing in their competencies and skills.

3.1 Librarians and information providers demonstrate competencies in diversity, inclusion, equity, and antiracism.

3.2 Information professionals are able to successfully navigate the changing landscape.

3.3 Librarians and information providers have access to professional development in technical and digital skills.

3.4 Information professionals have opportunities to innovate.

Adopted by the Board of Directors, February 2020