Remarks by Cindy Derrenbacker, newly elected ANZTLA President, ANZTLA AGM, 25 June 2026

Cindy Derrenbacker, new ANZTLA President

Dear ANZTLA Friends,

Thank you for this honour; I am humbled to step into the role of President for ANZTLA this year, given the service and effective leadership many of you have offered this Association in past years. I look forward to supporting this community of theological librarians and, indirectly, the institutions and students and faculty we serve, as we foster the study of theology and religion.

Our libraries provide access to a significant corpus of specialized knowledge, reflecting both ancient wisdom and new, emerging voices. Our libraries serve as a sure foundation for research, spiritual formation, and academic excellence across Australia and New Zealand. As we work out our profession in our respective libraries during these challenging times, it is reassuring to know that we are not alone, but that we have like-minded colleagues, a professional support network of creative and collaborative colleagues, within our reach.

I am excited to build upon the strong foundation laid by my predecessors. Thank you especially to our most recent Board members Nick Gellatly, Eve James, Carlos Lopez, and Harriet Sabarez, David Osman, Stephen Morton, Erin Elton, and Philip Harvey. Working alongside a talented and largely new Board, my focus will be on ensuring we provide a certain continuity of vision, along with the resources, collaboration, and advocacy our members need to flourish in a rapidly evolving landscape. I hope you will engage with the Board and share your thoughts for how best this Association can undergird your work.

Thank you again for your trust, for your passion for theological librarianship, and for your continued dedication to this Association. This is a special year as ANZTLA celebrates its 40^th anniversary. We look forward to our joint celebration on the 26^th of August and to connecting, many of us in person, at the Sydney Conference, 25-28 November 2026.