Atla Annual 2026: Full Schedule

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8:00am MST

Studying Library-School Administration Relationships within a Regional Library Community

Saturday November 21, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am MST

Despite ATS Standards of Accreditation mandating that library personnel be involved in a seminary’s institutional decision-making, it is not uncommon for seminary administrators to make major decisions affecting library services, collections, and staffing

Speakers

Dr. Evan Kuehn

Dr. John Dechant

Saturday November 21, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am MST
Room TBA Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel (1550 Court Place, Denver, CO 80202)

Administration, Listen and Learn (45 minutes)

8:00am MST

Who is the Patron Saint of Librarians?

Saturday November 21, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am MST

Room TBA

St. Jerome or St. Catherine, or somebody else entirely? Who is the patron saint of librarians? Who says? Does it matter? And what does that mean for you? Welcome to the world of saintly patronage, where the fascinating lives of holy men and women inform q

Speakers

Jordan Patterson

Associate Librarian, St. Peter’s Seminary (London, Ontario, Canada)

Saturday November 21, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am MST
Room TBA Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel (1550 Court Place, Denver, CO 80202)

Identity, Listen and Learn (45 minutes)

8:00am MST

Rights and Permissions: Working with Publishers for Education, Translation, and Publishing Rights

Saturday November 21, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am MST

Room TBA

Learn how to work with the rights and permissions department of publishers, including clarity of purpose, contract terms, and pricing. Presenter and participants will be invited to share experiences of working with publishers of all sizes and configuratio

Speakers

Andrew Keck

Chief of Staff, Perkins School of Theology at SMU

Saturday November 21, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am MST
Room TBA Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel (1550 Court Place, Denver, CO 80202)

Technology/Technical Services, Listen and Learn (45 minutes)

9:00am MST

How can theology libraries support the work of interreligious studies in the current context of war and global conflict?

Saturday November 21, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am MST

Room TBA

In an era marked by armed conflict, forced displacement, and intensifying religious and cultural tensions, this WRIG panel critically examines the role of theology libraries in sustaining meaningful interreligious engagement within academic contexts. Rath

Speakers

Karla Fackler Grafton

Director of Library Services, Hartford International University for Religion and Peace

Susan Ebertz

Emerita Associate Professor & Director for the Library, Wartburg Theological Seminary

Lucinda Mosher

Professor of Interreligious Studies, Hartford International University for Religion and Peace

David D. Grafton

Saturday November 21, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am MST
Room TBA Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel (1550 Court Place, Denver, CO 80202)

Identity, Panel Presentation (75 minutes)

9:00am MST

Spilling TEA: Gameful Design, Critical AI Literacy, and Teaching Across Epistemologies

Saturday November 21, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am MST

Room TBA

What happens when we shift the emphasis from how to evaluate information to why we evaluate the way we do? This Listen and Learn session presents HONR 1010: They Wouldn't Put It On the Internet If It Wasn't True!, an honors seminar at Oklahoma State Unive

Speakers

Chris Rosser

First Year and Transfer Experience Librarian, Oklahoma State University

Saturday November 21, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am MST
Room TBA Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel (1550 Court Place, Denver, CO 80202)

Information Literacy/Instruction/Reference, Listen and Learn (75 minutes)

9:00am MST

The Serendipity of Discovery: Sparking Connections and Elevating Student Research

Saturday November 21, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am MST

Room TBA

In Fall 2024, a graduate of Union College presented her extensive research on an item held in Special Collections & Archives which she first noticed in a display case over a year before. This listen and learn session chronicles the journey of a student’s

Speakers

Megan E. Welsh

Director of Research & Engagement, Union College

Jenna Pitera

Instruction Librarian, Union College

Charlie ᏣᎵ McVicker

Curriculum Developer, ᏣᎳᎩᎯ ᎠᏰᎵ (Cherokee Nation), Language department

Sarah L. Schmidt

Saturday November 21, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am MST
Room TBA Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel (1550 Court Place, Denver, CO 80202)

Special Collections, Listen and Learn (75 minutes)

10:30am MST

A Transformative Partnership: Discovering Best Practices when Small Libraries Merge

Saturday November 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:20am MST

Room TBA

In a climate of complex challenges affecting institutional viability, closures and mergers are becoming more and more common. How do libraries face these changes? Is there a way forward that recognizes change, loss, more work, uncertainty, but also the po

Speakers

Elli Cucksey

Head Librarian - Hamma Library, Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Capital University

Susan Ebertz

Emerita Associate Professor & Director for the Library, Wartburg Theological Seminary

Saturday November 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:20am MST
Room TBA Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel (1550 Court Place, Denver, CO 80202)

Identity, Conversation Group (45 minutes) – In Person Only

10:30am MST

Book Talk: Tolkien and the Problem of God: Truth, Goodness, and Beauty by Craig A. Boyd

Saturday November 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:20am MST

Room TBA

Join Dr. Craig A. Boyd and his daughter, Joanna Boyd-Wilhite, for a lively conversation about Dr. Boyd’s forthcoming book from Cambridge University Press, Tolkien and the Problem of God: Truth, Goodness, and Beauty. In this session, Ms. Boyd-Wilhite will

Speakers

Dr. Craig A. Boyd

Professor, General Studies, St. Louis University

Michelle Spomer

Ms. Joanna Boyd-Wilhite

Assistant Professor of English, Greenville University

Saturday November 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:20am MST
Room TBA Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel (1550 Court Place, Denver, CO 80202)

Religion/Theology, Book Talk

10:30am MST

Liber Ex Machina: The Rise and Rapid Growth of Open Access Publishing at Bridwell Library (SMU)

Saturday November 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:20am MST

Room TBA

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, conversations about the future of publishing emerged in various theological circles and particularly at Southern Methodist University a decade after its distinguished press closed. Through a series of studies and conv

Speakers

Anthony Elia

Director & Associate Dean of Special Collections and Academic Publishing, SMU

Originally from New York, I've been at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX since 2018. In 2022, I founded Bridwell Press at SMU, which has grown into a broad coalition of creative scholars, translators, writers, and thought leaders. I have graduate degrees from the University... Read More →

Saturday November 21, 2026 10:30am - 11:20am MST
Room TBA Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel (1550 Court Place, Denver, CO 80202)

Scholarly Communication, Paper (45 minutes)

11:30am MST

All Conference Meeting - Association Update and Business Meeting (Luncheon - In-Person Only)

Saturday November 21, 2026 11:30am - 2:00pm MST

Room TBA

During this session Executive Director John Kutsko will provide an update on the association. Then Board President Leslie Engelson will acknowledge first-time conference attendees, members who have retired, and members who have passed away. The Board Secretary will report the results of the 2026 election and President Engelson will welcome new Board members and thank outgoing Board members. Finally the gavel will be passed to incoming Board President Dr. Richard Manly "Bo" Adams, Jr.

Lunch will be served for in person attendees from 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM MST.

The Association Update will begin at 12:00 PM MST immediately followed by the Business Meeting.

The Zoom session will be open starting at 11:50 AM MST.

Speakers

John F. Kutsko

Executive Director, Atla

John F. Kutsko is the Executive Director at Atla. Heading up the association’s staff leadership team, he oversees all aspects of the association, including Atla’s scholarly research tools, and programs and services for members. He works directly with the Board of Directors, ensuring... Read More →

Dr. Richard Manly Adams

Director of Pitts Theology Library, Candler School of Theology, Emory University

Vance Thomas

Director, Charles C. Myers Library

Leslie A. Engelson

Metadata Librarian, University Libraries, Murray State University

Saturday November 21, 2026 11:30am - 2:00pm MST
Room TBA Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel (1550 Court Place, Denver, CO 80202)

2:30pm MST

Atla Sponsored Break at the SBL/AAR Exhibit Hall

Saturday November 21, 2026 2:30pm - 5:30pm MST

Exhibit Hall

Explore and attend the exhibits at The Annual Meetings hosted by SBL and AAR. The Saturday afternoon coffee break in the exhibit hall is sponsored by Atla.

Saturday November 21, 2026 2:30pm - 5:30pm MST
Exhibit Hall Colorado Convention Center (700 14th St, Denver, CO 80202)

6:00pm MST

Hosted Dinner(s) (In-Person Only)

Saturday November 21, 2026 6:00pm - 7:30pm MST

TBA

Join Conference Committee Members in a hosted dinner. Details forthcoming

Saturday November 21, 2026 6:00pm - 7:30pm MST
TBA

7:30pm MST

Game Night (In-Person Only)

Saturday November 21, 2026 7:30pm - 9:00pm MST

Room TBA

Join your colleagues in an evening of fun and games! A variety of board games and more will be provided.

Saturday November 21, 2026 7:30pm - 9:00pm MST
Room TBA Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel (1550 Court Place, Denver, CO 80202)

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11:30am MST

2:30pm MST

6:00pm MST

7:30pm MST

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