Member of the Month

Deborah McConkey – 09/2019

Deborah has served in libraries in higher academia for 10 years at institutions in Canada. She is currently consulting with a Bible College in California. She has been a member of ACL for 9 years.

Twitter Handle: @mccdh1

Describe yourself using a book title: Ten Fingers for God by Dr. Paul W. Brand

What’s the best thing about being a librarian? It melded my passion for reading and literacy with administration, leadership, and providing value-added programming and instruction to best help students and faculty find the information they need.

What are you currently reading? Till They Have Faces by C S Lewis, The Sensible Shoes Series by Sharon Garlough Brown, Dare to Lead by Brene Brown, Heaven Wins by Don Richardson and countless other books! I have a problem selecting just one!

Describe ACL in three words: Encouraging, Educational, International

How do you (or How have you), as an academic librarian, contribute to your campus? My contribution is most evident in my availability and presence for faculty and students.

My professional career began…as an elementary school teacher (K-8). I valued having a school librarian at the schools where I taught so much that I decided to become one. I completed my Masters of Library and Information Science at the University of Western Ontario and then got my first job as a children’s librarian.

What do you value about ACL? The ability to discuss library topics with colleagues through a distinctively Christian worldview lens, the generosity of Christian librarians reflected in discussion list conversations, and the rich fellowship experienced at annual conferences.

How were you introduced to ACL? I was specifically looking for Christian librarians.

How are you or have you been involved in ACL? I am a member-at-large in the Bible Core Section serving as their mentoring coordinator, and as a mentor. I have presented workshops at 5 conferences and presented 2 posters. I am a book reviewer for The Christian Librarian. I am also currently serving on ACL’s Spiritual Encouragement team.

Do you have any specific interests in the library world? Academic scholarship, writing, instruction, children’s literature, promoting local Christian authors