19

INTEREST GROUP  
REPORTS

Public Services
By: David Schmersal, Chair

Present

Melody Diehl Detar (Duquesne University), Jane Elder 
(Bridwell Library, Perkins), Evelyn Frangakis (Princeton 
Theological Seminary), Kaeley McMahan (Wake Forest 
University), Elizabeth Young Miller (Moravian Seminary), 
Mary-Carol Riehs (Garrett, Styberg Library), David Schmersal 
(Bridwell Library, Perkins), Gerrit Van Dyk (Brigham Young 
University) 

Leadership

Chair: David Schmersal

Vice Chair: TBA

Secretary: TBA

Welcome and Introduction of Leaders:
The Public Services Interest Group met during the 2018 ATLA annual 
conference in Indianapolis, IN on June 15, 2018. Over the last year, PSIG’s 
chair, David Schmersal, has been in contact with Roger Morales, ATLA’s 
Members Program Librarian, to examine how PSIG can maximize its 
efforts and turn our attention to new opportunities to collaborate 



20  ANNUAL YEARBOOK

with others and create new projects. In that vein, during our meeting 
we explored several topics: 

 •  Who we are—library professionals who serve (mostly) in positions 
that interact directly with our patrons or who are otherwise inter-
ested in promoting excellence in public service

 •  What we do—plan and offer sessions at ATLA conferences, offer 
webinars, and maintain channels of communication throughout 
the year.

Ideas for Future Efforts 

 1.  Create and distribute a survey to garner ideas for future confer-
ence sessions; possible topics/questions:

a. What are some challenges facing public services?

b.  How could the Public Services Interest Group assist you and/or 
your library?

c.  What are some topics of interest for future public services’ 
presentations?

d. Are you interested in presenting? If so, on what topic?

e. How have online/hybrid classes affected your work?

 2.  Create a Google Doc members can use to share topics that are of 
interest for discussion, presentation, etc.  You can find it here: 
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xSeMY2yoa2JVeasx-
WATQ7xxMpfoqc7Zyqrvs_Mw70g/edit?usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xSeMY2yoa2JVeasx-WATQ7xxMpfoqc7Zyqrvs_Mw70g/edit?usp=sharing
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xSeMY2yoa2JVeasx-WATQ7xxMpfoqc7Zyqrvs_Mw70g/edit?usp=sharing

	Preface
	Committee reports
	Committee for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
	Conference
	Endowment
	Professional Development

	Task Forcereports
	International Theological Librarian Education
	Scholarly Communication

	Interest Group Reports
	Public Services
	Small Libraries 
	Special Collections 
	Technical Services 
	World Religions 

	denominational Group reports
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	Lutheran 
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	memorials
	Officers of ATLA (1947–2018)
	ATLA Organizational Directory (2017–2018)
	ATLA Member Directory (2017–2018)
	historical Annual conferences
	AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS OF AMERICAN THEOLOGICAL LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
	2017 ATS Library Statistics