Theological Librarianship LIS 590TL
University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign
Graduate School of Library and Information Science
LEEP Fall 2008
Instructor Information:
Carisse Mickey Berryhill, Ph.D.
Special Services Librarian and Associate Professor of Library Science
Special Collections, Room 222, Brown Library, Abilene Christian University
760 Library Court, Abilene, Texas
Mailing address: Box 29208, ACU, Abilene, TX 79699-9208
Email:
Work: 325.674.2538 Fax: 325.674.2202 Home: 325.676-0716 Cell: 325.660.3250
AIM screen name: CarisseB
Catalog Description:
Provides an overview of the contexts, materials, services, and issues characterizing theological librarianship. Course activities include readings, online discussions, writing assignments, exams, and a weekly two-hour live session. Students interact with a number of librarians currently working in the field. Students enrolled for 4 hours complete an additional term project. Offered for 2 or 4 hours of credit.
General Course Objectives: Each student will be able to:
• Identify key resources about theological librarianship as a profession.
• Understand and appreciate the variety of contexts and roles that theological librarians have in the teaching and learning of theology.
• Become acquainted with the types of reference tools in theological librarianship and with selected particular tools.
• Appreciate how collection development, preservation, and cataloging function in the contexts of theological librarianship.
• Construct a personal philosophy of service to the theological reader based on 1) a grasp of basic skills for organizing, searching, and evaluating theological materials, 2) an understanding of research and writing processes used by theological readers, and 3) attitudes toward one’s own gifts.
• Identify significant trends and issues affecting theological librarianship.
Required textbooks:
Alexander, Patrick H., et al. The SBL Handbook of Style. Peabody, MA:
Hendrickson, 1999. This book will be your essential companion in answering
numerous ready reference questions about theological literature.
McMahon, Melody and David R. Stewart, eds. A Broadening Conversation: Classic
Readings in Theological Librarianship.Lanham, MD: Scarecrow, 2006. This
collection of seminal articles from ATLA members introduces the theory and
praxis of theological librarianship. Readings from it appear almost every week
of the semester.
Stewart, David R. and John A. Bollier. The Literature of Theology: A Guide for
Students and Pastors. Rev. ed. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press,
2003. The most up-to-date guide in print to the reference literature of
theological studies.
Recommended textbooks (not required):
Core, Deborah. The Seminary Student Writes. St. Louis, Mo.: Chalice Press, 2000.
This accessible and student-oriented guide will help you troubleshoot the
difficulties theological readers and writers face.
Johnston, William M. Recent Reference Books in Religion. 2nd ed. Chicago :
Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers, Incorporated; Independence : Taylor & Francis,
1998. Johnston’s bibliographic essays make useful comparisons between reference
tools and will help you distinguish which may best answer a researcher’s need.
Kepple, Robert J. and John R. Muether. Reference Works for Theological Research.
3rd ed. New York: Univ. Press of America, 1992. A classic annotated
comprehensive guide to theological literature.
Vyhmeister, Nancy Jean. Quality Research Papers: For Students of Religion and
Theology. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008. Offers especially helpful chapters
on various genres of theological papers used in seminary work.
Yaghjian, Lucretia. Writing Theology Well: A Rhetoric for Theological and Biblical Writers. New York: Continuum, 2006. Extended process-based discussions of developing and shaping various genres of theological writing. Excellent cumulative exercises.
Course Requirements (for 2 credit hour students): 100 points
1. Attendance and participation at each online session (10 pts).
2. Prompt completion of assigned readings.
3. Prompt completion of journal entries (1 per week), questions for next guest
(1 per week), and discussion board posts (min.3 per week) (30 pts)
4. Graded Essays (4) (50 pts)
5. Peer evaluation (10 pts)
(For 4 credit hour students): 200 points
In addition to the 5 requirements listed for 2 hours (100 points), 4-hour
students will complete an individual project worth 100 points. The nature and
form of the project must be individually approved. A one-page prospectus for the
project is due on or before September 21. Completed projects are due December 8.
Late projects will receive a deduction in the grade for every day late. The
project must 1) interact with professional literature and must 2) represent an
investment of effort equivalent to that required for a 30-page research paper.
Depending on the circumstances and preferences of the student, the project may
vary. Here are some possible examples, including but not limited to, a digital
media presentation for library readers (accompanied by a bibliographic essay); a
paper analyzing the results of a topical literature search; a report on a
practical library project with a reflective essay interpreting that project in
light of professional literature; a web site (accompanied by a bibliographic
essay); a webliographic and/or bibliographic essay comparing multiple current
resources in an area of theological study; and so forth. Students are encouraged
to look for opportunities to integrate their projects with their current work
settings.
Grading scale: 100-90 A; 89-80 B; 79-70 C; 69-60 D; below 60 F
Policy Statements:
Disability concerns: To insure that disability-related concerns are properly
addressed from the beginning, students with disabilities who require assistance
to participate in this class are asked to notify me as soon as possible.
Students cannot be required to disclose that they have a disability. However,
those with known disabilities who choose not to self-disclose accept
responsibility for the consequences of that action. The identity of students
with disabilities which are not obvious will not be disclosed directly or
indirectly in class, and the accommodation arrangements of individual students
with disabilities will not be discussed in class.
Academic Integrity: Please review the academic integrity requirements of the
University at the following link

Important Dates:
First session: August 27
Essays due: Sept 15, Oct 13, Nov 17, Dec 17
Thanksgiving Holiday: November 22-30
Last live session: December 10
Course evaluation: December 12 (tentative date)
Exam Week: December 12-19 (no exam)