American Theological Library Association Library Development Program Records

The primary objective of the Library Development Program of the American Theological Library Association was to strengthen book collections in North American theological libraries by enabling them to increase their book purchases. With the support of The Sealantic Fund, Inc., the Library Development Program provided more than $1,300,000 in book and related funds to ninety participating institutions during the period 1961 to 1966.

Each institution participating in the Library Development Program was challenged to increase its average annual book budget by as much as $3,000. Whatever the library spent in excess of its normal budget was matched by funds from The Sealantic Fund. Emphasis was placed on standards of quality and discrimination in book acquisition, as well as on effectiveness in library service. Each library was encouraged to engage in a critical analysis of its own services. In addition, the Library Development Program (LDP) made visitation teams available. The role of these teams was to spend a period of time at an institution and provide outside assessment of the quality of the library facilities and services. A total of sixty-nine institutions were visited by LDP teams.

The Library Development Program operated out of the office of Dr. Raymond P. Morris, who was Librarian of the Yale Divinity School at the time, and chairman of the LDP. A Theological Book List was compiled by Dr. Morris to assist participating institutions in assessing their book holdings, and a Self-Study Guide was prepared to assist in library evaluation.

Additional information about the procedures and results of the Library Development Program is available in nineteen bulletins issued by its administrative office, contained in Box 1, Folder 1 of the collection.