Home - Association of Christian Librarians

We provide Christian librarians with opportunities for
professional growth, service, and collaboration.

Do you need…

encouragement in your work as a librarian?
connection to a group of Christian colleagues?
strategies to advocate for your library’s many needs?
help to stay current and prepare for the future?
a place to share your own wisdom and experience?

ACL members are equipped, resourced, and ready to take on the challenges of librarianship.

CONNECT

The Members Discussion Group is networking central-providing feedback, support, and information on a variety of topics important to librarians. Engage, interact, and collaborate with librarians in similar work environments, roles, season of librarianship, or interest through our 11 Professional Interest Groups. We also have sections for those at similar types of institutions.

LEARN

Whether it’s attending our annual conference, reading an article in The Christian Librarian, participating in the free ACL Mentoring Program, or asking your library-related questions on the all-member discussion list, ACL is here to help you develop and grow on your professional journey!

GAIN

ACL membership gives your library access to valuable resources like the Reciprocal Borrowing Program, Interlibrary Loan Program, and the ability to post open job positions on our website. Libraries at Christian institutions can join the Christian Librarian Consortium to stretch their budget even further with amazing cost savings on library products and resources.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

ACL members have an opportunity to make a difference through volunteering in the organization, mentoring less seasoned librarians, sharing research and expertise in The Christian Librarian or at conference, or simply giving to the Legacy Endowment. There are many ways member librarians positively contribute to the Christian librarian landscape.

Who can join?

Any Christian who affirms the mission of ACL is eligible for membership, regardless of job title or educational background.

The members of ACL are a diverse group of Christian librarians who serve in universities, colleges, seminaries, public libraries, and schools across the globe.

ACL cares about the success of libraries and librarians.
We are thankful nearly 700 members world-wide trust us to help guide them in their vocational journey.

2022 Membership Stats

Total Individual ACL Members 567

Total Christian Library Consortium Institutional Members 193

Total Funds Distributed to Support Librarians and Libraries $15,990

Unique Countries Represented in Membership 22

Upcoming events

05 Jun 2023
June 5, 2023 - 3:00 pm - June 8, 2023 - 4:30 pm
2023 ACL Annual Conference
The ACL Annual Conference is our keystone librarian gathering of the year, where we seek to inform attendees about contemporary…
26 Jun 2023
June 26, 2023 - 11:00 am - June 27, 2023 - 5:00 pm
2023 ACL VIRTUAL Conference Online
We know that not all can come in person to our Annual ACL Conference (June 6-8) at Cedarville University with…

Updates from our gallery

What librarians have to say about ACL…

A K-12 Librarian Perspective

Along with the wealth of knowledge and expertise shared through the listservs and the camaraderie among all ACL librarians, I deeply value ACL as a Christian librarian association. School librarians who are Christians generally have only loose, informal contact at best, and quickly find some of our beliefs and thus practices are quite different from our non-Christian counterparts in established school library associations. ACL is a refreshing supportive association of like-minded professionals who seek to honor our Lord in every area of our lives and practice.

Linda Brogden, Head Librarian

Valley Christian Schools, San Jose, CA
A Resource for Young Librarians

I know that if I have questions, I can rely on members of ACL for advice and guidance.

Ezra Choe, Theology & Philosophy Librarian

Baylor University, Waco, TX
Spiritually Encouraging

The monthly devotionals and member highlights as well as the consistent and faithful prayer support of the Spiritual Encouragement Team make this group a very personal and supportive association. And if I ever need a quick poll or answer for a library question, members on the discussion group are exceptionally helpful and respond quickly!

Linda Poston, Director of Murray Library

Messiah University, Mechanicsburg, PA
More Valuable than Library School

I can honestly say I have learned more from ACL than from getting my degree!

Renee Carey, Librarian

Faith Bible College, Norfolk, VA