“Metrics of Success in Theological Libraries” (David Stewart and Pat Graham)
This was (imho) the best session I attended, prompting us to think more specifically about how one would measure the success of a theological library. They promise to post their presentation to a blog they created for the purpose:
http://metricsositl.blogspot.com/
I hope they will be continue the conversation online.
David briefly mentioned that aligning the library with the educational mission of the school also aligns the expected outcomes of the library with the educational measures used by the school. This is a really profound insight. The measures we have traditionally used have very little to do with the educational mission of the school unless, one makes the assumption that a large collection, high gate-count, and high circulation can be used to measure the success of an educational effort. It’s hard to draw a causal relationship.
Tags: ATLA Annual Meeting, Theological Libraries, assessment
maimonides
on Jan 31st, 2007
@ 1:41 pm:
Can you start a topic about breaking into the profession? I’m a school teacher on his way to seminary who is seriously considering theological librarianship. I have hopes of working at the best theological library in the country while in seminary (I guess you know where that is) and get my mls next door at a state school in the northeast. I have questions about the job market. Is a Ph.D a must or is an m.div and a thm enough? What do you see ahead as far as the job market is concerned? Is the theological librarianship class at Urbana a good idea? Foreign language knowledge is it particularly advantagious in the field let’s say more than other academic libraries? Forgive my ignorance but I came accross this blog and I almost fainted. The possibility of information is exciting. Thanks!
jwa
on Jan 31st, 2007
@ 4:14 pm:
Please don’t faint…
I may invite some of my colleagues to assist with this, but briefly I would suggest that the theological librarianship class at Urbana is a wonderful opportunity. There are also opportunities offered by the American Theological Library Association associated with the Annual Conference in particular and some regional offerings. A PhD isn’t necessarily essential, though you should think about career track. If you want to move toward library administration (Library Director) you might find the PhD helpful. These positions are often considered faculty or faculty equivalent positions and carry the expectation of a doctoral degree.
dstewart
on Jan 31st, 2007
@ 5:21 pm:
Greetings from Mpls-St Paul, where it’s marrow-cracking cold today.
Am glad this topic came up, and will throw out a few random thoughts before exiting office for the day.
a. when the earliest discussions re: ATLA sponsoring an intro/overview course came (late 90s) it was noted that there is no single approved mode-of-entry into theol librarianship. People have found their own various ways in.
b. given the (to me) surprising degree of interest in the course that eventually grew from these earlier discussions (the course now offered by UIUC LEEP program), it would not surprise me if enrollment in this course came to be seen as “expected”.
c. having been in the job market myself a few years ago, I saw no instances where a PhD was an issue one way or another. But from the interviewers’ standpoint, PhD/no PhD may be one (admittedly unfair or imprudent) way of shortening the applicant pile. The best i could say is that the arguments run both ways.
Again, thanks for raising a good question.