43 Lutheran Richard A. Lammert, Convener MEMBERS PRESENT • Kellie Barbato, Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary • Susan Ebertz, Wartburg Theological Seminary • Dan Flores, Texas Lutheran University • Richard Lammert, Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Convener The two long-time members of the group, Susan and Richard, welcomed the two newcomers, Kellie (nine months at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary) and Dan (not quite two weeks at Texas Lutheran University) INSTITUTIONAL REPORTS Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary Kellie has been on the job as director of the Lineberger Memorial Library for about nine months. The seminary and the library are in the process of restructuring positions. The seminary has appointed a new professor for practical ministry. The faculty have participated in DEI training. Enrollment has been steady at the seminary. The semi- nary would like to reach out more in encouraging United Methodist and Baptist students to attend. The library was closed from January to mid-March, but is now open again. 44 A NNUA L Y E A RBOOK Wartburg Theological Seminary The seminary has a new president. Last fall, the seminary added new professors in liturgics and systematics. The seminary is currently searching for persons to fill positions in Hebrew Bible, homilet- ics, and dean of the chapel. The seminary will be having in-person classes in the fall. The library was open to students during the COVID- 19 pandemic; in addition, it is now open to the public. Texas Lutheran University Dan just started his job (nine days) ago as director of the Blumberg Memorial Library. He is excited to be at Texas Lutheran University and to be a part of the Atla Lutheran denominational group. The students at the university are 40% Hispanic; one of his goals is to expand materials that are available for them. Concordia Theological Seminary The seminary has been able to maintain a consistent enrollment. The current seminary president has been elected for a third five-year term. The library never closed to staff during the past year, since the director’s conviction was that the staff had to be physically pres- ent to provide services. At the beginning of the pandemic shutdown, library items were provided for pick up; by fall, staff and faculty were allowed in the library, and later, the wider community. The library currently has an archivist intern for one month to provide help in moving archive materials into the new library space and provide assessment in how to organize them. Denominational Group Meetings 45 In general discussion among the group, the following possibilities of joint work were discussed: • Sharing lists of discarded/weeded books among the libraries—this could most easily be accomplished through the Atla Lutheran list. • Making digital copies of archival items available to other libraries—this was particularly noted in regard to scans of Loehe’s letters, which are of interest to both Concordia Theological Seminary and Wartburg Theological Seminary. 2020-2021 GROUP: [pictured, left to right] Cindy Aalders, Brian Shetler, Stephanie Garrett, Jane Elder, Patrick Milas, Chris Anderson, Roger Loyd, Patrick Cates, Connor Flatz