Committee & Task Force Reports  9

Professional Development
Gillian Harrison Cain, Atla Staff Liaison

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

• Martha Adkins, University of San Diego, Chair
• Michael Bradford, Harvard, Secretary
• Yasmine Abou-El-Kheir, Chicago Theological Seminary
• Justin Lillard, Harding University
• Warren Watson, Payne Theological Seminary
• Karen Clarke, Pacific Rim Christian University
• Gillian Harrison Cain, Staff Liaison

The Professional Development Committee (PDC) fosters development 
of librarians and related information professionals who serve theo-
logical and religious studies scholarship and study. By determining 
member needs, identifying expert resources, and utilizing a variety of 
methods and delivery mechanisms we provide professional develop-
ment opportunities that facilitate the exchange of ideas and support 
members at every point in their careers. 

At the annual Fall meeting, held in conjunction with the joint Align 
2018 meeting of all committee members, interest group leaders, advi-
sory council and task force chairs, and board members, committee 
members reviewed past activities, discussed future coordination of 
activities with the International Theological Librarianship Education 
Task Force, and planned for continued execution of existing programs.

During FY2019, PDC members reviewed and approved one regional 
grant application to fund a professional development opportunity hosted 
by PNWRTSLA entitled “The Yemen Manuscripts Digitization Initiative.” 
The PDC sponsored four webinars, three of which focused on content 
from popular conference programs. The webinars included: “Orienta-
tion for Atla SACO Catalogers,” “‘The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up’: 
The Art of Decluttering and Organizing Library Collections,” “Zotero for 
Librarians,” and “The Meaning of Innovation in Theological Libraries 2.0.”