Let’s Continue to Grow Together – It’s Time for Atla Membership Renewals

In this digital age, the role of libraries and librarians is more crucial than ever. Now is the time to highlight the irreplaceable value of human expertise, curation, and community that Atla and its members provide. Now is the time to explore together how we can not only affirm but demonstrate the unique value that libraries and librarians bring to their institutions, theological education, and society at large.  

Renew your membership and join us in telling our story in compelling ways. In the Organizational Ends, the Board has articulated a need to empower members to enhance and demonstrate their value to their institutions. Together, we can build understanding and bring awareness to the vital role of theological libraries and libraries in the digital age. Together, we can craft a narrative that showcases how our expertise and services remain indispensable, even as technology evolves.  We want your voice and support to help us articulate the enduring importance of our profession and the transformative impact we have on scholarship, education, and spiritual growth. 

Membership Bundling. Last year, Atla introduced membership bundling to help us communicate better with staff at institutional member libraries and give them access to more Atla membership benefits in addition to those benefits already available to their institution as a member. 

In the inaugural year, 22.3% of all institutional members took advantage of the program. And newly joining individual members accounted for 43.1% of the members that are part of a bundle.  

Timing of Renewal Notices. To give institutions time to take advantage of this program, we are sending renewal notices to institutions in early August and won’t be sending renewal notices to individual-type (individual, student, retired, or emeritus) members until mid-August. We appreciate your patience as we navigate this new renewal process. 

For those institutions wanting to take advantage of membership bundling, your renewal notice will contain detailed instructions on how to renew or add bundled individual memberships while renewing your institutional membership. Or you can contact Atla staff for information and assistance.

Securing the Future of the Atla Community. We also invite you to consider donating to the Scholarship & Grants Fund or the Endowment Fund. Both funds support the work of the Association (https://www.atla.com/donate/), and it is easy to add a donation during the membership renewal process. Your gift helps provide educational programs, scholarships, and other professional development opportunities that are vital to supporting our community of members.  

Thank you again for being part of the Atla community and helping us to grow together.  

Susan Ebertz  

Atla Board President 2024-2025