In the late days of summer, I am often preoccupied by two thoughts: the prospect of a new academic year, and the condition of my garden. The first is a perennial condition of the academic library vocation, and the latter is a personal antidote to the condition of the former. As a gardener and librarian, I find that steadfast endurance is a requisite commitment I make to any hope of ever seeing the fruit of my labor. Just as weeds of the garden inevitably crop up and crowd for space, so too are the unexpected needs of the patron on the well-crafted academic schedule. Each requires tending. James (1:2-3) reminds us that our faith is no different. We will “encounter trials of various kinds” and the “testing of our faith produces steadfastness”. It’s a reminder that the greatest return on our service investment, regardless of occupation, is not in the lofty or grand moments, but in the mundane, everyday obligation of tending the weeds and needs. Truly, in moments of great trial, a resilient faith is required, but the measure of our resilience comes only with the sharpened practice of steadfast endurance in everyday adversity. The daily grind, it turns out, has purpose far beyond the paycheck or of vocational awe.
Tending the Weeds & Needs: A Steadfast Faith
8/2024 – Leslie Starasta
August 2024
Note from the Coordinator
Greetings! I trust your summer is going well. Maybe you have had a chance to work on those ubiquitous summer projects. But I hope you have also had (or will have) a chance to renew and recharge before the busyness of a new school year begins.
We want to welcome David Purdy as our newest CLC team member-at-large! David is the University Librarian at Crandall University in New Brunswick. He will be working with Scott in reaching out to and negotiating with new vendor partners as we continue to explore new discount opportunities.
Speaking of which, please take a look at the vendors/products listed below. If any of these are of specific interest to you, we would request that you just send a quick email to clc@acl.org letting us know. As we plan and talk to vendors, it will be helpful to know the areas of greatest interest to you. Proquest has already asked us about member interest.
- Accordance Bible Software
- ACRL Benchmark
- AM Digital
- Docuseek
- Grammarly
- Loeb Digital Library (through Harvard UP)
- Proquest (Religion Database & Dissertations & Theses Global)
- Ubiquity
You may always submit other suggestions to us via the Suggestion Form.
Beth Purtee
CLC Team Coordinator
Vendor Update
SAVE 20%
We have just received updated CLC discount pricing for ThirdIron’s LibKey product. Libraries at all FTE levels receive a minimum of 20% off list price, with a greater discount for our smallest members. For more information about LibKey, click here: https://thirdiron.com/#
Act NOW to secure these savings!
Time Sensitive Offers
The enrollment and renewal period is NOW open through September 11.
SAVE 10%
Theological Research Exchange Network (TREN) provides access to over 25,000 theological thesis/dissertation titles. Our partnership with TREN offers CLC members a 10% discount (possibly higher based on participation) on an annual subscription. Those who already subscribe to TREN through the CLC offer will receive a notification of continuance. To participate as a new subscriber, please fill out the order form. Deadline for participation is September 11.
SAVE 10%
Did you know that CLC members get a 10% discount on a subscription to Galaxie’s Theological Journal Library (TJL)? The deadline to participate in this year’s offer is September 11. Please fill out the order form. Current TJL subscribers can transition to the ACL/CLC billing cycle to take advantage of the cost savings. Please contact Hampton Keathley and fill out the order form as soon as possible if you are interested in making this switch.
Prepare now to save big!
Upcoming Opportunities to Save!
SAVE 10%
Save 10% on an annual Meescan license! Also, libraries new to Meescan that purchase before March 31, 2025 will receive a $200 equipment credit toward the costs of kiosks or security stations. Want more information about Meescan? A demo is scheduled for Monday, September 16, at 2 pm EST. Please register via the link below:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEkcu6spjspE9NF5W97-mISVAkmHP7yopys
SAVE 30%
Make plans to participate in the CLC EBSCO Fall 2024 eBook offer, which will run mid-September through mid-December! We will provide more details as they become available.
Save $100 off the registration price to the Internet Librarian Conference!
Link to register: https://site.pheedloop.com/event/ILC24/register#category
Program: https://site.pheedloop.com/event/ILC24/conference/agenda
Please email clc@acl.org to receive the group discount code.
July 2024
Note from the Coordinator
Greetings! I want to thank each one of you for renewing your CLC membership for 2024-2025! I trust that your membership will continue to be of benefit to your library.
This format is our new mode of communication that will be distributed to the primary and secondary contact of your CLC record. You can come back to the CLC Update portion of our website at anytime to view these updates.
To all who were able to attend either the CLC Membership Meeting at the in-person conference or the Lunch with CLC during the virtual portion (or both), we were glad to see you! We appreciated your interaction and feedback. For those who couldn’t make it, a short recap of the information shared is below.
Looking forward to another great year together,
Beth Purtee
CLC Team Coordinator
CLC Meeting Summary
The CLC team was introduced, including Beth Purtee as the CLC Team Coordinator, along with Pam Greenlee, Rebekah Leidenfrost, and Scott Lloyd as members-at-large. The goals for 2023-2025 were discussed, with the 2023-2024 objectives focusing on recruiting an additional member-at-large, expanding consortial vendor options, and investigating the expansion of the Reciprocal Borrowing Program to include virtual libraries. For 2024-2025, the goals include recruiting another member-at-large to assist with vendor partnerships, continuing to expand vendor options, and collaborating with the ACL Home office to make changes to the CLC newsletter.
Time-sensitive offers were highlighted, including deals from Perlego (June 21), EBSCO Spring Offer (June 21), World Trade Press (July 1), and Bloomsbury (July 14). Updates on the ACL Interlibrary Loan (ILL) and Reciprocal Borrowing Programs (RBP) were provided. The ACL ILL continues to support smaller schools and make unique collections available, with thanks extended to lenders. The ACL RBP is being reviewed to potentially include virtual-only libraries and to clarify policies for lenders.
Current conversations about new discounts are ongoing or forthcoming with several potential partners, including AM Digital, Docuseek, Grammarly, Loeb Digital Library, ACRL Benchmark, and Proquest. Members are encouraged to express interest in these possibilities by contacting clc@acl.org or submitting additional suggestions via the Suggestion Form.
During the Q&A session, discussions covered the timeline for new offers, with survey results indicating a bi-annual release to capture a broader audience. The CLC leadership confirmed that CLC members receive a 15% discount on CPI and reviewed details on products such as Third Iron and Perlego. Questions were raised as to whether ACRL Benchmark’s offer applies only to the US and if the offer from Demco would return; these were noted for further investigation. Suggestions included exploring consortial discounts for Bible software like Accordance and direct physical purchase offers from publishers (i.e. Baylor UP, B&H Academic, Lexham).
Below are a few pictures from the CLC Meeting and Poster at the 2024 ACL Annual Conference.
There is still time to take advantage of our Bloomsbury consortial discount, but the open enrollment period closes July 14. In addition to the minimum 15% consortial discount available to CLC members, Bloomsbury is currently providing a special discount on some of their religion resources – deadline also July 14.
An additional 10% discount is available for the following products:
- t&t clark Theology Library
- t&t clark Jesus Library
- Library of Catholic Thought
- Bloomsbury Religion in North America
- Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary
- Anchor Yale Bible Commentaries
- Eerdmans Digital Reference Library
- Eerdmans Bible Commentaries: New Testament
- Eerdmans Bible Commentaries: Old Testament
- t&t clark Encyclopedia of Second Temple Judaism
For the Bloomsbury ebook collections linked below, there is a 20-35% discount available:
- Take 20% off Frontlist Collections (2022, 2023, 2024)
- 35% off Backlist Collections (2021 and earlier/Archive)
Please contact Katie Bennett, our Bloomsbury rep, for quotes/pricing information.
Don't miss out on these upcoming offers!
Looking Ahead
Did you know that CLC members get a 10% discount on a subscription to Galaxie’s Theological Journal Library (TJL)? The deadline to participate in this year’s offer is September 11. Please fill out the order form on the website. Current TJL subscribers can transition to the ACL/CLC billing cycle to take advantage of the cost savings. Please contact Hampton Keathley and fill out the order form as soon as possible if you are interested in making this switch.
Theological Research Exchange Network (TREN) provides access to over 25,000 theological thesis/dissertation titles. Our partnership with TREN offers CLC members a 10% discount (possibly higher based on participation) on an annual subscription. Those who already subscribe to TREN through the CLC offer will receive a notification of continuance. To participate as a new subscriber, please fill out the order form on the website. Deadline for participation is September 11.
Make plans to participate in the CLC EBSCO Fall 2024 eBook offer, which will run mid-September through mid-December! We will provide more details as they become available.
Interested in a self-checkout option for your library? Meescan offers CLC members a 10% discount on an annual license. A webinar/demo of their product, including an additional equipment discount, will be coming soon. Watch for details.
Fruitful Work
May 2024
The spring season is funny in New England. We tend to have long, gray, winters that are quite dreary. Then in April, we start to see little crocuses bravely pop their heads out of the ground and hear cardinals whistling for their families and sometimes we can even have the windows open during the day to air out the house—but we can’t put away the flannel sheets because snow has happened in April before! But within one week of 50-degree weather and sunshine, the daffodils, dogwoods, and songbirds erupt into full springtime mode. It’s very sudden, and doesn’t last long, but is always worth the wait.
CILA has been in a similar pattern—there have been seeds planted and germinating and now sprouting and coming to fruition. You’ll see in this update that a new CILA team has solidified their roles, an interest group has formed for international librarians and allies, and the Global Library Investment Grant continues to support work around the world. The seasonal nature of our work has never been more evident to me, and I am grateful for the prayers of the ACL members, an active group of global librarians who are eager to connect, and the support of the Home Office in managing the unique issues that arise with the variety of inquiries we receive. I hope you are encouraged as you read a summary of our global activities.
Peace and blessings to you all,
Erin McCoy
CILA Coordinator
New! International Librarians Special Interest Group
The goal of this new interest group is to try to meet every other month on Zoom, alternating times and hosts to accommodate all the time zones represented. We will discuss the issues unique to overseas libraries as well as ways to share our expertise and resources with each other. If you have a heart for international libraries or live in a country outside the US please join our group.
Koha is a fully featured, scalable open source library management system. Development is sponsored by libraries of varying types and sizes, volunteers, and support companies worldwide. You can find several SQL reports wiki, Jquery wiki, HTML & CSS wiki, and XSLT Library wiki which as code you can copy to make improvements you can add to your installation.
Koha-US promotes the ongoing communication, collaboration, and education of Koha users in the United States and beyond, partnering with the global community and supporting organizations. They have monthly Special Interest Group meetings as well as several resources to help you learn more about Koha. Reach out to Lauren Denny if you have questions or visit the KohaUS Learn Page for more Koha tools: https://koha-us.org/learn/.
23 International Members
Commission for International Library Advancement
Available in 3 languages
Meet the CILA Team!
| Name | Team Role | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Robert Danielson, Asbury Theological Seminary | Resource Promoter | reaches out to new international members who receive the International Membership Scholarship and connects them with all the benefits ACL membership and CILA provides |
| Daniel Baek, Vancouver School of Theology | Resource Developer | Primarily manages the CILA Libguide, which is currently under construction. If you have resources that would help our global members, please send them Daniel’s way! |
| Lauren Denny, Teamwork Library Consortium | ACL Member Liaison | Primarily the author of the bi-annual CILA updates and convener of the new International Librarian’s Interest Group |
| Gary Flokstra, 4 the World Resource Distributors | Grant Developer | Assists with managing grant paperwork, applications, and assessment of projects |
| Erin McCoy, Massasoit Community College | CILA Coordinator | Manages CILA’s team goals, keeps the team on track with deadlines, and investigates new opportunities for overseas involvement. |
There will be another volunteer opportunity with the CILA Team posted soon. Be on the lookout for information!
2023 Global Library Investment Grant Recipients
- Saint Andrew’s Theological Seminary – Charlotte S. Tad-awan
Quezon City, Philippines
Technology support: Upgrading of Library Management System to Cloud-Based - Institute of Bible and Theology – Le Hoang Anh Vu and Tran Thanh Trang
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Library Training Workshop (pictured below) Note: This is the first-ever theological library training workshop in Vietnam, and it will help the development of theological education in the country immensely. Facilitated by ACL member Katherina Penner. - Mortenson Center for International Library Programs (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) – Peggy Nzomo
Matching grant for international librarians to attend a unique professional development opportunity offered through the center.
When the Hits Keep Coming
I was driving to work the other day, thinking about all of the trials I’ve been through in the last 4 years. It’s been a very difficult season of life. Just as the thought, “How did I get here? How am I still standing?” went through my mind, Cory Asbury’s Song “Egypt” came on the radio. As I listened to this familiar song, God gently reminded me of who is in control. We know that we face troubles in this world.
Life Fails, God Doesn’t
Life can take unexpected twists and turns. We work hard only to be led away from work we enjoy and love. Our family life does not come to the fruition we expect. Friendships waver; a relationship to a church we love dissipates; we grieve those we have lost in this life. It can feel as if we are drowning in the problems of this world. Our hope, though, is in the trust we can place in Jesus. We can trust that when the mountains seem tall or the journey long that He can and will direct our steps.
Insightful Workshops & Presentations Tailored for Librarians
We are excited about the schedule of workshops for this year’s annual conference. The line-up is wide-ranging and strong. We are pleased to offer 20 in-person workshops and 8 virtual workshops. (All virtual content is available for viewing through September 26, 2024. )
The conference planning team has chosen presentations covering a variety of library topics, including:
- Faith Integration
- Library Spaces & Makerspaces
- Leadership & Management
- Open Education
- Services, including Reference, Cataloging, Archives, & Systems
Check out the Speakers page to meet this year’s presenters and read workshop descriptions. Notice the presentation tracks too. There’s something for everyone!
We hope you are as excited as we are about the 2024 Conference and these great presentations. Be sure to register soon (early bird registration ends March 19th). Remember to invite a colleague! And, we eagerly anticipate all who can come and join us in embodying ‘The Great ACL Get Together’ theme, as we connect people and ideas for a transformative learning experience.
Hope to see you there!
Ruth McGuire
Ruth is the ACL Conference Presentations Coordinator as well as the Host Librarian for the 2024 ACL Annual Conference. She is the Director of Library Services at the University of Northwestern – St. Paul and has been an ACL member since 1999.
Miriam Liethen
Miriam joined the ACL Conference Coordinating Team this year as the Assistant Presentations Coordinator. She is the Electronic Services Librarian at Grace College & Theological Seminary and has been an ACL member since 2020.
ACL-Pro Plenary Workshop Spotlight
One way that ACL prioritizes continuous learning and professional development for its members is through ACL-Pro Plenary Workshops during the Annual Conference. The workshops are included in the conference registration and offer CEUs.* Whether you need the CEUs or not, I think you’ll find these sessions practical and relevant.
Do you provide instruction to your students or library users—both in person and/or online? Looking for guidance on how to improve the efficacy of your teaching? Join us for “Creating Transformative Instructional Design Experiences for Learning” on Tuesday, June 11. This workshop will be led by UNW Education Professors Annalisa Buerke and Jonell Pacyga. You’ll glean insights into how to apply teaching principles and use technology tools to craft successful instructional sessions.
What about questions regarding AI and ChatGPT? Since ChatGPT was released, discussions about its proper usage and what it even is have been circulating in every arena. Join us for “Librarianship in an AI Era: Mindsets and Tools to Wisely Utilize the Potential of Artificial Intelligence,” on Wednesday, June 12. This workshop will be presented by our very own UNW Professor and Research & Instruction Librarian Jessica Moore and Adjunct Faculty and Instructional Designer Adam Minnie. You’ll want to attend this workshop to learn more about AI and its intersection with the library and how you can approach this emerging technology at your own institution.
I hope you’ll take advantage of these opportunities to earn CEUs and learn together with us at this year’s Annual ACL Conference.
*Earning CEUs is a proactive step librarians can take to remain effective and valuable contributors. Attendees simply complete a survey, and the CEU credits are recorded in their membership record with a certificate emailed to them.
Please make note of these important deadlines related to conference:
March 15 – Deadline to nominate colleagues for the Emily Russel or Lifetime Service Awards
March 15 – Deadline for international ACL members to apply for the Spidell Conference Scholarship
March 19 – Early Bird Registration Deadline
March 31 – Deadline to apply for the President’s Conference Scholarship
April 9 – Deadline to submit a poster session application
Hope to see you here in June!
Becky Halberg
Becky is the Library Web Coordinator at the University of Northwestern and serves on the 2024 ACL Conference Host Team. She has been an ACL member since 2022.