Stephanie is the Technical Services Manager at the Greene County Public Library in Xenia, OH. She has been an ACL member since 2000.
Describe yourself using a book title: I had to ask my best friend, and she said A Girl of the Limberlost almost immediately. Now I need to go read that!
What’s the best thing about being a librarian? Not having to work outside and working in a quiet environment.
What are you currently reading? Mrs. Jeffries in the Nick of Time; NBBC, Philippians: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition; the Bible; and Lou Gehrig: The Lost Memoir.
Describe ACL in three words: Supportive, practical, and necessary.
How do you (or How have you), as an academic librarian, contribute to your campus? I worked in an academic library in Oklahoma for 19 years. I visited classes and helped students learn to use our databases and find books. I was called a “bulldog” because I didn’t give up until I found the ILL materials that the faculty needed. I was actually mentioned in the acknowledgements of one of our faculty’s books; that was pretty cool! Now I get to supervise a group of eight wonderful staff, and we make sure our branches get the materials that come through our building. Seeing all the new books is fantastic!
I began my career as a librarian…I began my career as a librarian as a student worker in the technical services office at Mt. Vernon Nazarene College (now University). I loved seeing the new books and processing them for the students and faculty to use. During graduate school at Simmons College, I worked for the Thomas Crane Public Library in Quincy, Massachusetts; I loved it there. I was called to missions, so after graduate school, I went to work in the library at Asia Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary (Manila, Philippines) and got to work with Anelia Bugaay. That is where I learned how to do original cataloging and enjoyed it. After ten years there, and having gained my husband and two daughters, we returned to the U.S. to live in Oklahoma. I began a new position at Bartlesville Wesleyan College (now Oklahoma Wesleyan University) as an expanded services librarian. My job was to visit all the adult student cohorts and teach them how to use our databases, find books, and research. My job evolved over the years as adult students became more computer savvy and our staff dwindled. By the time I left in June 2019, my job was technical services, ILL, reference (shared with my colleague), collection development, class visits, acquisitions, processing, donor intake, etc. I am now the Technical Services Manager for a wonderful library system with seven branches and a bookmobile. It has been fun to see eight people do what I did but on a much bigger scale. I am definitely reading a lot more now that I see the new books that interest me!
What do you value about ACL? I value the practical help and support in prayer; especially meaningful after a horrible car accident in 2004. This group lifted our family in prayer for years and supported us through dark, dark days. When we lost our daughter twelve years later, ACL was still there praying for us which was such a precious gift. Thank you to all the prayer warriors.
How were you introduced to ACL? I was introduced by long-time members of ACL, Wendel and Amelia Thompson.
How are you or have you been involved in ACL? I have attended a couple of the conferences and prayed.
Do you have any specific interests in the library world? Technical services.