Atla to Host Second Institute for International Theological Librarians

Atla hosted our first Institute for International Theological Librarianship in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and had three participants from Fiji, Philippines, and Ukraine. This cohort learned best practices in theological librarianship by attending seminars, Atla Annual, and local library tours.

We are pleased to announce that we will host the second Institute in June 2020 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. All interested parties are encouraged to apply for the Institute before the application closes on December 6, 2019.

Help us connect experts and future experts in the field of librarianship by sharing this program with colleagues, friends, and others who want to develop their skills in theological librarianship.

Institute Details

The 2020 Institute for International Theological Librarians is a ten-day meeting that will provide a rich learning experience for theological librarians from around the globe. Selected participants will arrive in Detroit, Michigan, USA, on June 13 or 14 and depart on June 24.

Participants will experience a classroom setting with a cohort (June 15–16), attend Atla Annual (June 17-20), and visit local libraries (June 20–23).

Participant Expectations

• Must attend and participate in all events for the entire Institute.
• Must prepare and present a short presentation at Atla Annual about their experience/library in their home country.
• Must prepare and submit a written report in English (approximately 1,000 words) that may be published in the Atla Newsletter or other Atla publications. The report should detail the following:
  • Impact the Institute had on the participant
  • Key learnings from the Institute
  • Plans to implement knowledge gained from the Institute in their theological library
• Must secure all necessary visas.
• Must arrive in Detroit in time for the first session, which begins on Monday, June 15, 2020.
• Must return to employment with their theological library or another theological library following the Institute.

Note: All training and conference events will be in English. Applicants may request and receive a certificate of continuing education.

Funding is available for the following expenses:

• Hotel and meals for Saturday, June 13, 2020, through Wednesday, June 24, 2020
• Registration for Atla Annual
• Travel insurance
• Airline tickets (up to 2,000 USD)
• Other expenses if the airline ticket is less than 2,000 USD

Note: Institute funding may not cover all expenses. Applicants should submit a budget that will include anticipated airfare, visa fees, ground transportation to and from Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW), en route accommodation and expenses, with an indication of what their school and/or they are prepared to contribute.

Eligibility

• Applicants do not need to be a member of Atla.
• Applicants must be working full-time or part-time in a theological library in a country classified with a Low, Lower Middle, or Upper Middle income economy as defined by the World Bank as of June 2019.
• Applicants do not need to have formal library qualifications or degrees.
• Applicants will receive preference if all the other selection criteria are equal if they have not previously received an Atla grant or participated in an Atla Institute for International Theological Librarians.

How to Join

Complete and submit an application along with the following three items:

1. A short essay in English, no longer than five double-spaced pages, addressing three questions:
   • How does the applicant expect the Institute to impact their work as a theological librarian?
   • What areas of development or growth does the applicant want to focus on during the Institute?
   • How does the applicant expect to implement new knowledge gained from the Institute in their theological library?
2. Three professional letters of recommendation and/or reference. One of the recommendations must be from the applicant’s home institution or school.
3. A budget including anticipated airfare, visa fees, ground transportation to and from Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW), en route accommodation and expenses, with an indication of what the applicant’s school and/or the applicant is prepared to contribute.
4. Resume/Vita including education and library work.

Submit the application form by December 6, 2019. Atla’s selection committee decision is final and participants will receive notification by January 6, 2020. Applicants not selected may reapply in future years.