iSchool at Illinois Course
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Atla, in partnership with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 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 School of Information Sciences as IS 582 TL: Theological Librarianship.
Course activities include readings, online discussions, writing assignments, exams, and a weekly two-hour live chat 3:00-5:00 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 course typically runs in the spring semester, which aligns nicely with Atla Annual.
Students will register with the University of Illinois 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.
Contact ischool-continuinged@illinois.edu to register.
This program is part of the University of Illinois School of Information Sciences Non-Degree / Community Credit Programs.
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.