Theological Librarian

Critical to the functioning of any theological school or program is having a well-stocked theological library. Although university and seminary librarians typically have backgrounds in library science, sometimes it is helpful for them to have experts in biblical and theological studies to carefully curate library resources in that field. Working in a campus library would provide an opportunity to stay abreast of the latest research and allow for continued writing. However, it would be essential to also get a MLIS degree to work in this field.

Dr. Stephen R. Spencer

Theological Librarian

North Park Theological Seminary (Chicago, IL)

“Theological Librarian” can describe multiple job positions and responsibilities. Most often, the phrase describes a person who is responsible for reference and instruction in a theological school. Sometimes the person is the sole staff person responsible for biblical/theological/ministry students in a larger library with other staff responsible for other duties. Sometimes a theological librarian is the staff person responsible for the reference and instruction duties in a theological school. Sometimes the title designates the director of a library in a seminary. In those cases, such an administrator usually has additional staff persons to assist, sometimes a larger number. In larger seminary settings, other library responsibilities such as collection management (selecting and deselecting the library’s resources), cataloging (the description and classification of the resources, i.e., the information you find when you search in the catalog), managing the circulation desk, interlibrary loan, and electronic resources are assigned to various staff members, some of whom may have advanced degrees in biblical or theological studies. 

I have used my PhD in a variety of ways over the years. My degree (from Michigan State University, College of Arts and Letters) was in Interdisciplinary Studies and included coursework and comprehensive exams in history, philosophy, and religious studies (medieval and Reformation-era Christianity). Over the years I taught each of those disciplines individually and in varying combinations as a tenured faculty member in seminaries and liberal arts colleges. I taught for 30 years and later taught the research methods course in a seminary as an adjunct for six years. I have also served in libraries for many years in various capacities.

My library experience is broader than theological librarian. I have worked in libraries as a student worker, as part-time librarian for theology, philosophy, and history, as collection development librarian in a liberal arts college with graduate programs, as cataloger in a university that includes a seminary (including archival cataloging) and as theological and cataloging librarian in that school. I also have served as head of reference and as interim director of archives.

In all those roles, the breadth and depth of my doctoral studies has been invaluable. Coordinating the selection and weeding of materials for a broad liberal arts collection, cataloging resources in various media, and doing reference and instruction work for biblical, theological, and ministry students (and the rest of the students in the university) all draw on as much knowledge and experience of as many disciplines as we can bring to the task. Professors have indicated they appreciate working with librarians who know their disciplines and are familiar with the language and resources of their fields. Students likewise appreciate help from librarians who have taken similar courses and understand the challenges of the assignments. 

Theological librarians have many reference/teaching opportunities, sometimes before an entire class, but more often with individual students, whether scheduled or not. Adjunct teaching opportunities are also often available to librarians with appropriate degrees. Some librarians with PhDs prefer to concentrate on research and publication rather than teaching, whether in their free time or as part of the responsibilities and opportunities for library faculty positions. (Some library positions are classed as faculty, others as staff, depending on the institution.)

An MLIS degree (Master of Library and Information Studies) or equivalent is usually required for theological librarian positions, though sometimes people are hired with the stipulation that they acquire that degree after they are hired. A PhD is surely not required for theological librarianship, but the degree will enrich the contribution of librarians and benefit faculty and students.