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Editor’s Introduction
Derek J. Rieckens, Editor-in-Chief

In person at last! Such was the common refrain among those who 
traveled to the first on-site Atla Annual in three years. With the placid 
shimmer of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor for a backdrop, attendees once 
again shared the irreplaceable pleasures that come of gathering un-
der a common roof, such as chance hallway conversations, excur-
sions with friends old and new, and nine innings at Camden Yards.

But this was no ordinary conference. In a first for the association, 
Atla Annual was a fully hybrid event. Attendees and presenters alike 
had the option to participate remotely in the lion’s share of live sessions, 
thus enabling a broader audience and richer discourse than would 
have been possible within the confines of the Hyatt Regency alone.

In this volume, I present you with the flower of the conference. 
Over two dozen presenters have distilled their sessions into a con-
venient written form for your edification and enjoyment. One of 
the major leitmotifs in this year’s offerings is innovation in library 
services—sometimes necessitated by the lingering pandemic, some-
times driven by the changing landscape of theological education it-
self. From mental health awareness and remote work to gamified 
spiritual formation and support for unconventional curricula, Atla 
members everywhere are adapting services to meet emerging needs.

There are also several pieces that shine light on the need for in-
creasing social responsibility within the profession, whether by re-
thinking descriptive cataloging practices, attaining more equitable 
treatment for staff with disabilities, or growing in intersectional 
awareness to inform our decisions. Rounding out the menu are such 
evergreen topics as collection evaluation, information literacy, digi-
tal libraries, and (everyone’s favorite) ILS migration.

So, whether you spent June of ’22 hunting for crabcakes in Charm 
City, or rifling through your SnackMagic box at home, or doing 
something other than Atla Annual, there’s something here for you. 
Happy reading!


