BV

The materials represented by the BV section of the LC schedule break down into multiple programmatic areas. Although this can be argued for all divisions of the schedule, the case is stronger for the BV’s than any other division. Therefore, all the narrative statements for relevant programs have been placed at the beginning of this section. The LC schedule is then laid out in a single continuous pattern.

BV 1-4; 4000-4167; 4320-4470

Bibliographer: Homiletics/Religion & Personality

Date Revised: September 14, 1998

General Purpose:

The Practical Theology (General) and Pastoral Theology collections in the Divinity Library are intended to support undergraduate religious studies classes; M. Div., M.T.S. professional programs; M.A. and Ph.D. graduate programs; faculty research; and continuing studies by ministers; primarily in the area of Religion and Personality. We collect widely in Practical Theology (General) BV 1-4 in response to the contemporary discussion and revisions of Practical Theology. The strengths of the collection Pastoral Theology (General) & of Religion and Personality at Vanderbilt; pastoral theology (pre- and post- 1950), pastoral psychology, and pastoral counseling. The other sections contain only a handful of books. These four areas will continue to be the focus of collection development with additional funds used to buttress select areas such as the "Early to 1800" area. The area Pastoral Theology: Education BV 4018-4167 should receive increased attention due to the interest in theological education of Professor Farley and the faculty as a whole. The areas Pastoral Theology: Other Pastoral Offices BV 4320-4399 and Practical Church Work BV 4400-4470 supplement Pastoral Theology (General) for the area of Religion and Personality and are important for general pastoral ministries studies.

Languages;

English-language material is emphasized with German works being the most frequently collected foreign materials. Some French and Spanish materials are also collected.

Geographic Areas

The collection strongly emphasizes works written by persons in the United States. However, materials written in Great Britain are receiving more attention than in the past. Within continental European writings, German materials are collected more often. Some Latin American Materials are also collected.

Chronological Limits:

Works written after the Civil War are emphasized. [The periods used for analysis--pre-1865, 1865-1890, 1891-1917, 1918-1945, 1946-1960, 1961-1970, 1971-1980, and 1981--were determined by engaging periods in the pastoral care movement, transition periods in the psychoanalytic tradition, and Holifield’s typology. Between the Civil War and 1890 a number of new pastoral theologies were written. 1891 marks Freud’s emergence and the beginning of thinking about clinical education. During and after World War I a "psychology of success" emerged and pastors seemed more concerned with pastoral care and counseling informed by this relevant psychology. Furthermore, it was in this period that clinical education was born. The period beginning in 1946 is used to indicate post-World War II trends and the neo-Freudians, even though persons such as Horney were writing before 1945. Although still valuing the insights from the psychological sciences, pastoral theologians began a search for their theological roots in the sixties. For the sake of convenience the subsequent years are divided into decades.]

Types of Material Collected:

Monographs and sets.

Serials, including reports or proceedings of associations, societies, symposia, conventions, and others.

Microform materials.

Although neither classified here nor the responsibility of this bibliographer, collections such as the Kelly Miller Smith Collection fall into this area.

Cassette tapes, especially of lectures.

Some dissertations which hold a promise of pertinent and excellent research and of a good bibliography.

Phonodiscs, film and audio and video tapes in rare cases.

Appropriate professional newsletters, e.g., from the College of Chaplains and ACPE.

Other Factors;

BV 5 - 525; 4200-4317

Bibliographer: Homiletics

Date Revised: September 14, 1998

General Purpose:

The Homiletics and Liturgics collection supports the teaching and research associated with a graduate program in Homiletics (M.A. & Ph.D.) as well as the professional training by the Divinity School (M.Div., M.T.S., & D.Min.). Additionally, the collection provides for the continuing study of clergy and church workers who are graduates of the Divinity School.

Languages:

Most of the collection is comprised of English-language editions. There are, however, some modern language volumes in each subject area. German editions are the most common of these, followed by French.

Geographic Areas:

The historical treatments of preaching and liturgics in Western Europe, Great Britain, and the United States are those most commonly collected. We anticipated collecting more materials form less-developed regions, especially Africa and Latin America, as they are generated.

Chronological Limits:

Material is collected from the beginning of Christianity to the present. Particular attention is given to the development of modern proclamation of the gospel as well as current applications of liturgical practices.

Types of Material Excluded:

Printed matter such as monographs and sets, serials, hymnals, liturgies, and some compendia of illustrative material are collected. The proceedings of major lectureships are also collected, e.g. the Kerr and Lyman Beecher lectures.

Types of Materials Excluded:

Recordings, slides, and films are not collected as a rule. The library does have an interest, however, in preserving the papers and cassettes of distinguished faculty members such as the Rev. Kelly Miller Smith. Dissertations are collected only when specifically requested.

Other Factors

Much supporting materials for homiletical studies are found outside the BV section in Hermeneutics (BD), Metaphor (BL, PN), and Semiotics (ON). Extensive collections in Poetics and other language-related topics housed in the Central Library also support studies in current homiletical theory.

BV 590 - BV 1692

Bibliographer: Homiletics

Date Revised: September 14, 1998

General Purpose:

The Practical Theology--Ecclesiastical Theology collection in the divinity Library is intended to support undergraduate religious studies classes; M.Div., M.T.S., and D.Min. professional programs; M.A. and Ph.D. graduate programs; faculty research; and continuing studies by ministers. the collection specifically supports the Systematic & Philosophical Theology [598-603, The Church], Religion & Personality [659-690, ministry, Clergy, Vocation], and Homiletics & Liturgics [800-874, Sacraments] areas of study as well as general pastoral ministries.

Languages:

English-language material predominates with German being the only other language of any sizeable percentage within a given section. French, Latin, and Spanish materials are also collected.

Geographic Areas:

The collection strongly emphasizes works written I the United States and Europe but there is an increase of materials written in Central and South America.

Chronological Limits:

Except for "Sacraments" most of the materials were written after 1865, most of these being written during the 20th century. [10% of "Sacraments" titles were written before 1865, almost 20% before 1900.] However, retrospective materials will not be a focus.

Types of Materials Collected:

Monographs, sets, and serials.

Microform materials especially as the ATLA Preservation Project begins to film materials in this area.

Cassette tapes.

Audio-visual materials in rare cases.

Some dissertations which hold promise of pertinent and excellent research and of a good bibliography.

Others Factors:

Although the Vanderbilt Divinity School is basically an academically oriented, mainline Protestant institution, representative evangelical materials are collected as are some more popular or practical works.

Missions, Evangelism, Practical Religion

BV 2000 - 3705; 3750 - 3799; 4485 - 5099

Bibliographer: All bibliographers

Date Revised: September 14, 1998

The whole team of bibliographers bears responsibility for selection of materials suitable for the Kesler Service, since there is interest among ministers in all disciplines of Divinity. Interest of Kesler members can be expected to be most like those of students in the professional Divinity programs. Thus, it is often a matter of duplicating choice titles for the professional programs to meet multiple demands.

The Kesler Assistant is responsible for the mailing service, while the circulation staff serve local clergy and church agencies as a regular function of the Circulation operation.

Historical Background:

The Kesler Circulating Library for Rural Ministers came into existence in 1936 in response to a development in the life of the School of Religion know as the Rural Church School. From the time of severance of the School form the Methodist Church, there was the loss of financial support from the Church; meager as it had been, it was crucial. The School was redefined in broader, ecumenical terms as it appealed for foundation support. In the late twenties an innovative program, called the Rural Church School, caught the attention and support of John D. Rockefeller, Jr.

John Louis Kesler, Professor of Religious Education and Librarian, was active in securing from the Carnegie Foundation in 1936 a grant of $6000 to begin a collection of library materials for use of rural ministers related to RCS. The service was set up as a mailing operation, a new experiment in adult education. In 1938, its success was rewarded with a second Carnegie grant of $6,000.

Professor Kesler, who retired in 1936, maintained a strong interest in the Circulation Library. In 1945 he donated $50,000 as an endowment for that library, with the provision that his gift be matched; it was so matched by the University. Thus, the John Louis Kesler circulation Library for Rural Ministers was named for him who enable it to maintain a separate collection , staffing and mailing service.

By the seventies, the endowment bought less than it did in the forties. To economize, the separated Kesler Collection was intershelved with the Divinity Collection, and the Kesler staff was reduced to student assistants.

At a time when the South was largely rural, the Kesler service filled a great need. As the South has been industrialized and urbanized, the role of Kesler has evolved somewhat. The endowment, maintained in the spirit of John Louis Kesler himself, continues to enable the Divinity Library to serve the School’s alumni, local clergy and ministers of all types. In a very real sense it assures that the Collection is kept relevant to the world of ministry; it helps maintain a certain balance in school that prides itself in its research strengths by providing for the practical side of ministry.

General Purpose:

Currently the Kesler Service operates with a degree of independence from any program of the Divinity School. It is best regarded as a service to alumni and to any one in church related vocations by providing library materials useful in the various practices of ministry. The endowment enables the Divinity Library to maintain a certain relevance to the ministerial profession and community that it might not otherwise have.

Languages:

English language purchases are the rule, though an occasional request may be received for materials in another language.

Geographic Areas:

The center of interest for most materials is limited to continental United States, although no area is specifically excluded; consider for instance, the geography of the Biblical world and the Christian Church.

Chronological Limits:

Current for the most part, with some interest in historical questions.

Types of Materials Collected:

Monographs, audiocassettes, videocassettes if affordable. As a rule, materials which can be handled via U.S. Postal services.

Types of Materials Excluded:

Since the Kesler Service operates from the Divinity Collection, no materials in the divinity collection are explicitly excluded, except as their use by Kesler members would create some problem for the resident clientele, i.e. the faculty and students of the academic programs. In such instances, duplication of materials is in order. Materials not easily shipped by mail might also be reason for exclusion.

Other Factors:

Since Kesler membership interests cross the range of Divinity disciplines and include many interest of a general nature as well, purchases are scattered throughout the LC schedule. Since the Kesler Collection has been intershelved with the Divinity collection, there is not easy way to make a count of what might be considered "Kesler" materials. For the most part it is a matter for each bibliographer of level of collecting - - often a matter of duplicating rather than a separate activity. As was anticipated, integration of the collections brought multiple demands for the same materials.

Only one LC section is more readily recognizable as being "Kesler" material than any other, that is the BV section. While parts of it are claimed by Religion & Personality and Liturgy and Homiletics there remain three sections not otherwise claimed: Missions, Evangelism, and Christian Life. Observations for these three areas follow in the BV alphabet.