Theological libraries and change of media

1. Theological libraries and change of media

2. Libraries are service institutions of parent organisations • memory in the Body of Christ • pointer finger • stewardship and access • hospitality

3. Library Chapel Classroom Field site

4. Libraries are service institutions of parent organisations - What do users want/need? - Depends on generation and on area of study - No representative studies, but some observations, informed guesses - Can libraries change ahead of their parent institutions?

5. Problems with e-resources • Few high quality and relevant materials • Costs, access and use questions • Preservation of digital materials • Community and spiritual formation • How will the future church look like?

6. individualistic abstract thinking objectivity rationality distance from emotional life intensifies a right brain encounter with God retrieves Eastern Orthodox and medieval Catholic spirituality reverses our capacity for abstract thought and critical reasoning skills questions our belief that conversion is a one-time binary event weakens the role of abstract propositional faith Print and electronic culture Hipps, following MacLuhan, 2005

7. Theology of technology? • MacLuhan, “Understanding media: the extensions of men” • Difference between tools and machines • Are users ready for the technology?

8. Predictions for future • Death of print? • Content does not transfer well from one medium to another • Hybrid libraries

9. Problems of hybrid library • Need to house large amount of materials in various forms • Need to test technology before accepting it • Hybrid library draws double expense • Moral and spiritual responsibility? • Roles and tasks as well as the view of librarians’ jobs needs to be different

10. Roles and tasks • Multi-media user – comfortable with a wide range of formats • Intermediary – with a good knowledge of sources and user requirements • Metadata producer – creating records of information sources in a variety of schemas • Communicator – formally and informally connecting with users • Team player – working with colleagues in library, IT services and academics • Trainer / educator – taking on a formal role to teach information skills and information literacy • Evaluator – sifting free and paid for resources on behalf of users • Negotiator – dealing with publishers and suppliers • Project manager – leading on development projects to enhance the service • Innovator – not just following the routine but also looking at improved ways to deliver the service • Fund-raiser – working for greater income from the institution and beyond Ariadne, 2001

11. Skills • Technical and IT skills • Flexibility • Ability to work under pressure • Ability to learn quickly • Communication skills • Negotiating skills • People skills • Presentation skills • Teaching skills • Team working skills • Customer service skills • Analytical and evaluative skills • Subject skills • Project management skills • Vision

12. Future? • Theological libraries will still have a substantial and growing print collection • Libraries will continue to serve as places • ‘One size for all’ does not work – need to serve each individual user with their varied needs and abilities • working against Google and digitization efforts is not an option – how can we work with them?