tory, perspectives from current members on their participation in the organisation, and reflections on its future. Chapters also include practical advice for library prac- titioners on budget management in small theological libraries and classification ethics, as well as discussion of current challenges that have shaped the provision of theological and religious libraries in Scotland and in Ireland.
Finally, new research gives insights into Buddhist libraries, and library and informa- tion resources for alternative spiritualities in the UK. Theological Libraries… will be available open access from Books@Atla Open Press (
https://books.atla.com/atlapress) EPUB and PDF under a CC-BY-NC license and as print-on-demand through Amazon6
.
To open up the topics in Theological Libraries…, we are running a free online seminar every month in our anniversary year, presented by chapter authors and by librarians from ABTAPL member librar- ies. February’s seminar on 16 February 2026 will be presented by Alison Turn- er and Cassy Sachar on the subject of Progressive Jewish libraries. You are very welcome to join us – find more details at
https://www.abtapl.org.uk/
IP – And the 70th Anniversary includes a celebratory conference next month in Oxford. What are the highlights and why should people attend?
CLR & HR – We will be celebrating our 70th Anniversary with a conference at Wycliffe College, Oxford, Leadership
44 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL
and Advocacy: Celebrating 70 Years of ABTAPL 26 to 28 March 2026. In time honoured fashion our conference starts with library visits to Oxford theological libraries, including the new home of the Oxford University Theological Library, the Stephen A. Schwartzmann Centre for the Humanities Library.
As well as three presentations on our keynote theme of leadership in theolog- ical libraries, conference presentations include sessions on teaching with special collections, integrating theological collec- tions, and delivering theological library services online. Chairs and directors from our partner associations in the USA and Europe will also be present to deliver congratulatory messages. The Saturday morning will be hosted by a newly-opened, private theological library: the Lanier Theological Library and Leaning Centre, Yarnton Manor. We’ll
hold our AGM, then a panel session to launch ABTAPL’s new book, followed by TeachMeet presentations sharing member experiences.
As with ABTAPL membership, the ABTAPL conference is open to everyone with an interest in theological, religious or philosophical libraries. A fully catered residential conference place starts from as little as £250 for members and £350 for non-members, and we have free day delegate places available for students. If you’ve never attended an ABTAPL con- ference, you’ll find it small and friendly, and you may wonder why you never came before. IP l
www.abtapl.org.uk
References
1. British Theological and Philosophical Libraries: ABTAPL, in Theological Libraries and Library Associations in Europe: A Festschrift on the Occasion of the 50th Anniversary of BETH, L. Kenis, Editor. 2022, Brill: Leiden. pp. 520-523.
2. Lea, E.R.M. and A.F. Jesson, A guide to the theological libraries of Great Britain and Ireland / compiled by Emma R.M. Lea ; edited by Alan
F.Jesson. 1986, London: ABTAPL Pub.
3. Kerry, D.A. and E. Cornell, A Guide to the theological and religious studies collections of Great Britain and Ireland / compiled and edited by David A. Kerry and Evelyn Cornell. 1999, London: ABTAPL Publishing.
4. ABTAPL, Directory of institutional members. 2026 [cited 2026 24/01/2026]; Available from:
www.abtapl.org.uk/resources/ directory-of-institutional-members/.
5. Gale, M., Common Awards: The Church and the Academy in Partnership; How a Collaboration Between the Church of England and Durham University is Supporting Theological Libraries, in Theological Libraries in the United Kingdom and Ireland : 70 Years of the Association of British Theological and Philosophical Libraries, C. Love Rodgers, H. Riley, and G. Warren, Editors. 2026, Atla Open Press: Ithaca, Chicago, IL.
6. Atla (American Theological Library Association), BETH (Bibliotheques Europeenes de Theologie), and ANTZLA. Beyond the Budget: Supporting Theological Librarianship in a Time of Transition. 2025; Available from:
www.atla.com/ wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Global-Study-Report-Final-Full-1.pdf.
February-March 2026
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