Sonne is librarian at General Theological Seminary Library.
From the description of Niels H. Sonne papers, 1959-1972. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 155473627
The American Theological Library Association was founded in 1947 in order to bring its members into closer working relationship with each other, to support theological and religious librarianship, and to improve theological libraries.
From the description of American Theological Library Association records, 1946-2000 (inclusive). (Yale University). WorldCat record id: 702164430
From the description of American Theological Library Association Archives Addendum A 1985-2007 1991-2005 (bulk). (Yale University). WorldCat record id: 702182871
The primary objective of the Library Development Program of the American Theological Library Association was to strengthen book collections in North American theological libraries by enabling them to increase their book purchases. With the support of The Sealantic Fund, Inc., the Library Development Program provided funds to ninety participating institutions during the period 1961 to 1966.
From the description of Archives of the American Theological Library Association Library Development Program, 1960-1973 (inclusive). (Yale University). WorldCat record id: 122449830
From the description of American Theological Library Association Library Development Program records, 1960-1973 (inclusive). (Yale University). WorldCat record id: 702182057
1947 Jun
First
national conference of seminary librarians held at Louisville Presbyterian
Seminary with fifty librarians in attendance. A permanent organization was
created by adopting a name, tentative constitution, and a slate of officers
with an executive committee.
1947
Committee on
Religious Periodical Indexing appointed
1948
Periodical exchange program initiated
1949
Committee on Microphotography appointed
1950
1952
Joint Committee of ATLA and American Association of Theological School
drafted revised accreditation standards
1951
Committee on Cataloging and Classification appointed
1952
Committee on Religious Periodical Indexing coordinated a
cooperative effort of twenty libraries to do indexing. First volume of
Index to Religious Periodical
Literature edited by Stillson Judah
1953
ATLA newsletter created; Donn Michael Farris served as editor for
thirty-nine years
1956
ATLA received
grant from Sealantic Fund to support microtext and indexing programs
1957
Board of Microtext
organized, with Raymond P. Morris as chair (retired in 1972), assisted by his
wife Jean as volunteer office staff. Six serials were filmed in 1958. By 1965
over 150,000 linear feet of microfilm had been produced, utilizing the
facilities at the University of Chicago Department of Photoduplication.
1957
Index Board organized, with
Jannette Newhall as chair and Lucy W. Markley as editor (1957-1959).
1959
1968
Grants received from
Lilly Foundation to improve education qualifications of theological
librarians.
1960
Calvin
Schmitt appointed chair of Index Board (retired in 1979) and G. Fay Dickerson
employed as full-time indexer and office manager. Members of Index Board had
editorial oversight of Index until 1965 when Dickerson was appointed editor
(retired in 1983)
1961
1963
Grants
received from Sealantic Fund to support the Library Development Program, a
program designed to strengthen the book collections of libraries.
1961
Committee on Reprinting
organized to coordinate reprint of scarce titles
1962
First report of Committee on Statistical Records
issued
1964
Ecumenical
Periodical Exchange begun, which included fifteen Roman Catholic and twenty-one
ATLA libraries
1966
Grant
received from Sealantic Fund to improve professional and academic
qualifications of head librarians
1968
Committee on
Publication appointed
1970
Catholic
seminary librarians had joined ATLA and ATLA Index representatives met with
Catholic Periodical and Literature Index representatives to explore possible
cooperation
1970
New
constitution adopted in 1970, which had a provision for relationship to other
organizations, an expansion of membership beyond AATS institutions to include
accredited institutions with post-graduate theological programs, creation of
the office of Executive Director, provision for chapters of the Association,
and clarification of committee structure.
1970
Committee on Archives appointed to care for ATLA records; archives sent
to Presbyterian Historical Society in Philadelphia; oral history program
conducted
1971
Revised
By-Laws adopted
1972
Board of
Microtext reorganized following retirement of Raymond P. Morris and appointment
of Charles Willard as chair. By 1974 there were more than 250 periodicals and
400 monographs in the microtext program
1972
Committee on Publication reorganized as a standing committee and
launched two scholarly series in religion and theology - a monographic series
and a bibliographic series - published by Scarecrow Press with ATLA as the
sponsoring body. Kenneth E. Rowe appointed as editor of both series
1972
Reader Services Committee
appointed, which operated an Instruction Clearinghouse
1973
Committee on Standards of Accreditation appointed
1973
Certificate of Incorporation
and revised bylaws approved, with President Peter VandenBerge (1972-1973) as
catalyst
1973/4
Second
reorganization proposed by President John D. Baker-Batsel (1973-1974) with
full-time staff, central office, and unified publications and communications
program
1974
Ad Hoc
Committee on Serials Control appointed to run pilot project on developing a
union list of periodicals held by ATLA libraries; funding not found to develop
permanent program but concept was referred to Bibliographic Systems
Committee
1976
First volume
of Religion Index Two: Multi-Author
Work (RIT) issued.
1977
Periodicals
Exchange Committee became the Library Materials Exchange Committee and program
administered by office of Executive Secretary after 1980
1978
Subscriptions to Religion Index One (RIO), previously the IRPL,
exceeded the 1,000 mark
1978
Ad Hoc
Committee on the Preservation of Theological Materials appointed to investigate
cooperative possibilities for storage and preservation of theological
materials. Based on investigations of Andrew Scrimgeour and Charles Willard,
Committee recommended program to film more than 250,000 volumes of theological
materials know to be in advanced states of deterioration
1979
Board of Directors initiated an increase in dues and brought
the Boards of Microtext and Periodical Indexing into closer alliance
1979
1981
President Simeon Daly
(1978-1981) initiated efforts to improve communications in the Association and
to improve program elements of the annual conference. Task forces proposed a
number of organizational changes: production of the annual Proceedings was
entrusted to editor; Recording Secretary appointed to record minutes for Board
of Directors and Association; office of Executive Secretary restructured along
the lines of an executive director; Program Committee created to plan annual
conference
1980
Activities of
Committee on Cataloging and Classification transferred to Committee on
Bibliographic Systems
1980
Volume on
Festschriften (1960-1969)
issued, a project prepared by Elmer and Betty O'Brien
1980
1984
Lilly Foundation funded Project 2000, a study to reassess the
role of libraries in theological education, headed by Stephen Peterson
1982
Retrospective project,
RIT: Multi-Author Works,
1970-1975, partially supported by NEH grant published
1982
Aggressive program of
microfilming added over 100 additional serials to the program
1983
Interim Board for the
Preservation of Theological Monographs appointed
1984
Preservation Board created by merger of Interim Board for the
Preservation of Theological Monographs and Board of Microtext: responsible for
running preservation microfilming programs for serials and monographs
1984
Ad Hoc Committee on
Financial Management appointed to recommend improved financial program and
organizational management for ATLA ; New York firm of Peat, Marwick, Mitchell
and Co. (PMM) hired as consultants
1985
Indexing
program restructured to provide for an Executive Director, an editor, and two
assistant editors. Albert Hurd appointed as Executive Director of indexing
program
1985
Robert
Markham hired as full-time Director of Programs for Preservation Board
1985
Retrospective upgrading of
first four volumes of IRPL published under title
Religion Index One: Periodicals,
Volumes 1-4 (1949-1959)
1986
PMM
recommendations approved by Board of Directors; Financial Management Committee
appointed; Controller employed; unified accounting system created
1986
New product,
Index to Book Reviews in Religion
(IBRR) developed
1987
1992
Preservation program received nine grants totaling more the $1.5
million, but program ran deficit due to recession in late 1980s and reduced
subscription support from participating libraries
1988
Index Board and Preservation Board voted to work together
under a Joint Executive Committee and with one Executive Director
1989
Religion Index Two: Multi-Author
Works, 1976-1980, a cumulated and augmented edition, issued; index
databases available online via Wilsonline system;
Research in Ministry (RIM)
continued in publication; Methodist
Reviews Index published on contract from United Methodist Board of
Higher Education and Ministry; thesaurus of index descriptors issued.
1990
Reorganization of ATLA so
that Index Board and Preservation Board were placed directly under Board of
Directors
1990
Pew
Charitable Trust grant for three-year International Christian Literature
Documentation Project
1990
Ten-year
project begun to film denominationally specific materials
1991
Albert Hurd appointed chief executive officer of ATLA. This
restructuring made Executive Director responsible for all staff appointments,
with the Board of Directors now construed as a policy making body that vested
management of the Association in the Executive Director and his/her
staff.
1991
John Bollier
appointed first Director of Development
1993
Three-year ATS Quality and Accreditation Project launched
From the guide to the Archives of the American Theological Library Association, 1945-1997, (Yale University Divinity School Library)
The primary objective of the Library Development Program of the American Theological Library Association was to strengthen book collections in North American theological libraries by enabling them to increase their book purchases. With the support of The Sealantic Fund, Inc., the Library Development Program provided more than $1,300,000 in book and related funds to ninety participating institutions during the period 1961 to 1966.
Each institution participating in the Library Development Program was challenged to increase its average annual book budget by as much as $3000. Whatever the library spent in excess of its normal budget was matched by funds from The Sealantic Fund. Emphasis was placed on standards of quality and discrimination in book acquisition, as well as on effectiveness in library service. Each library was encouraged to engage in a critical analysis of its own services. In addition, the Library Development Program (LDP) made visitation teams available. The role of these teams was to spend a period of time at an institution and provide outside assessment of the quality of the library facilities and services. A total of sixty-nine institutions were visited by LDP teams.
The Library Development Program operated out of the office of Dr., Raymond P. Morris, who was Librarian of the Yale Divinity School at the time, and chairman of the LDP. A Theological Book List was compiled by Dr. Morris to assist participating institutions in assessing their book holdings, and a Self-Study Guide was prepared to assist in library evaluation.
Additional information about the procedures and results of the Library Development Program is available in nineteen bulletins issued by its administrative office, contained in Box 1, Folder 1 of the collection.
From the guide to the Archives of the American Theological Library Association Library Development Program, 1960-1973, (Yale University Divinity School Library)