Although students are often in the library, using resources and engaging collections, they can also be a rich source of support for library goals. In the 2016-2017 academic year, the Pitts Theology Library piloted a “Library Scholars Program” that offered exceptional graduate students the opportunity to participate in discussions that guide the future of the library. As a part of the program, students have created and executed a project in one of three areas: research, pedagogy, or community engagement. Current student projects include work with special collections items, the creation of Research Guides, and working with exhibits. This presentation will share the results of this year's pilot program. It was our hope that the Scholar projects would allow students to gain valuable academic and professional experience. We also hoped that these projects would spark the interest of each individual scholar, as they partner with librarians to enhance Pitts offerings in service of the broader community. Through their work, these students will also act as library ambassadors, serving as a vital point of connection, collaboration, and accountability.
Traditionally name authority records served a backend purpose of collocating resources in a library catalog that are by or about a person, corporate body, or conference. The primary purpose for developing a name authority heading was to differentiate the entity represented by the heading from other entities with the same name. Additionally, the information in name authority records primarily served to inform catalogers about where the elements of the heading came from. However, in preparing for a linked data environment, RDA now allows a cataloger to provide much richer information in name authority records enabling the records to serve researchers and reference librarians, in addition to cataloging librarians. This session will discuss the kind of information available in name authority records, how it supports FRBR user tasks, and how reference librarians can use it to serve the researchers they support.
Sebastian Castellio (1515-1563) was a largely forgotten but a very interesting reformer who worked with Jéan Calvin but got into a fierce conflict with him about persecution of heretics. As one of the first theologians to propose a freedom of conscience in the matters of doctrine, Castellio placed ethics above dogmatics, foreshadowing the Enlightenment and even liberal theology.
