The Theological Librarian’s Role in Fundraising

Abstract

"While the necessity of fundraising is well known, the exact role of theological librarians in the process has never been clearly defined. There are instances of seminaries where the librarian and the development officer work closely together, but these are frequently rare, according to recent feedback from ATLA members. Theological librarians have skills and knowledge that can be helpful to development officers and can position the library as a resource for development efforts, but this intersection of need and skill is too often left unexplored. By adding fundraising knowledge and skills, theological librarians position themselves for success on their campuses. Now more than ever, coordinated efforts to secure the financial future of theological libraries are crucial. It is never too early to start and the resources identified in this essay should serve as encouragement to begin now."