Karen is the Library and Student Success Director at Pacific Rim Christian University in Honolulu, HI (150 FTE). She has been an ACL member since 2017.
Describe yourself using a book title: Only one book title? It’ll be a toss-up between Bossypants and Confessions of a So-Called Middle Child.
What’s the best thing about being a librarian? Helping students grow in their confidence as library users and consumers of information as well as growing their faith in Christ.
What are you currently reading? All I Ever Wanted by Kathy Valentine.
Describe ACL in three words: Amazing, Collaborative, and Friendly.
How do you (or How have you), as an academic librarian, contribute to your campus? I wear many hats, not only am I PacRim’s Library Director, but I also manage the Writing Center and the Student Disability Services Department.
I began my career as a librarian… by accident. I used to be an Urban Planner and go to the city library and archives to do property research. I made friends with the librarian, and she told me how she became a librarian. She said that I would make a great librarian and that I should seriously consider library school. Well, I applied, got in, and the rest is history!
What do you value about ACL? I value the members! Everyone is so knowledgeable and helpful!
How were you introduced to ACL? PacRim’s former librarian told me that if I wanted to network and make friends in the theological library world – ACL was THE place to become a member.
How are you or have you been involved in ACL? I am a new member of the CLC team, and I had the pleasure of attending my first ever online ACL Annual Conference this summer! I’d also love to be one of the amazing Christian Periodical Indexer if there is an opening.
Do you have any specific interests in the library world? I love rare books, and I am a big fan of the University of Michigan’s Papyrology Library. They have the actual Letters of Paul and have translated and digitized them.