American theological library association

See Record Group 163 for the earlier history of the American Theological Library Association. In 1990 ATLA was reorganized so that the Index Board and Preservation Board were placed directly under the Board of Directors. In 1991 Albert Hurd was 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. In 1993 a three-year Association of Theological Schools Quality and Accreditation Project was launched. In 1996 Dennis Norlin was appointed Executive Director of ATLA. In 1996 ATLA acquired an underground vault at Iron Mountain/NUS in Western Pennsylvania for the long-term storage of microfilm masters. Scholarly Resources, Inc. was hired to market and distribute microfilm to libraries for scholarly use. In 1999 the final annual volume of the Index to Book Reviews in Religion (IBRR) was published in print form as the index transitioned to an online only format. In 2000 ATLA moved from Evanston, IL to new headquarters at 250 S. Wacker Drive, Chicago. In 2006 ATLA headquarters moved across the street to 300 S. Wacker Drive.

From the guide to the American Theological Library Association Archives Addendum A, 1985-2007, 1991-2005, (Yale Divinity School Library)

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)