2017 American Theological Library Association Annual Conference

A library can create wonderful outreach events but, in the end, success is measured by patron turn out. So, how can these events be advertised in a meaningful, memorable way? With restrictions placed upon how various departments can contact the student population, staff of the MacMillan Law Library face the challenge of finding ways to market events without using e-mail. Wanting to keep advertisements informative while not bogging down students, staff members develop fun and innovative ways to reach students through the use of flyers, stickers, digital signage and advertisements attached to items such as bubble wrap. The MacMillan Law Library makes particular use of these marketing tools to advertise the events of its award winning Stress Busters program. The Stress Busters program seeks to help students get through the stress of finals exams by offering chair massages, therapy dog visits, coloring pages and snack. Events hosted by the MacMillan Law Library consistently see large student turn out. Beyond the Bulletin Board will include photos of various marketing materials developed by the MacMillan Library throughout the years as well as information on the impact of the said marketing approaches with particular emphasis on the marketing for the Stress Busters program.

Basic computer coding is an important and enjoyable skill that can enhance the workflows and scholarship of any academic community. This poster will explore the ways in which the Taylor Library at the Iliff School of Theology has implemented opportunities to form small coding communities where students, staff, and faculty have come together to learn code. In addition, the group will brainstorm ideas to implement similar programs at other libraries.

While comprising less than 1% of Wake Forest University’s student population, students in the School of Divinity are power users of the Z. Smith Reynolds Library Reference collection. Over the summer of 2015, we took the opportunity to convert an unused section of shelving, strategically located near the copiers, scanners, and Reference Desk, into a space designed to help School of Divinity students with their biblical studies and theology research. This poster will explain the workflow procedures, decision-making processes, and final results of this act of making space for research.

Come see a demo and ask questions about joining TLELP. 

After concluding a successful yearlong pilot project in June 2016, the new phase of TLELP has grown from 5 libraries with a 1-year agreement, to 13 libraries with a 3-year agreement, and plans for continued growth. 

With our shared ODILO eBook platform, libraries can bring in content directly from publishers, as well as ingest and share their own publications and/or local content through this innovative and easy-to-use platform: http://www.theologicalebooks.org. 

Traditional and Revolutionary: In similar fashion to print book purchasing, TLELP libraries purchase specific eBooks for their own collections usually allowing one simultaneous user for each copy purchased. Currently, TLELP libraries have acquired over 700 unique titles, with many available as multiple copies for patrons to borrow. 

Moreover, our publishers have agreed to allow TLELP libraries to share their collections with the other libraries. Some publishers have even agreed to offer unlimited, concurrent use to the purchasing library. 

Statistically, adult learners are returning to colleges and universities at a growing rate. However, a number of academic libraries provide instruction designed for the traditional learner often neglecting the adult student. Subsequently, academic libraries are faced with challenges to demonstrate value while accommodating an increasingly diverse student population.  Theological libraries can enhance its significance and support adult learners through the provision of web-based instruction. 
In 1997, Badrul Khan introduced web-based instruction, a revolutionary, hypermedia-based instructional program that applies elements and resources of the Internet. Web-based instruction for adult learners is an interactive touch point in the digital age that can be integrated with information literacy in the theological library. This mixed-method study examined academic librarians’ practices and perceptions on outcomes assessment in web-based instruction for adult learners.