Grace is the Director of Library Services at Wesley Biblical Seminary in Ridgeland, MS (152 FTE). Grace has been an ACL member for 6 years.
Describe yourself using a book title: A Barrel of Laughs, a Vale of Tears
What’s the best thing about being a librarian? The thrill of the hunt! I love learning new techniques for honing the research process and sharing these with students and faculty, and I also love getting to hear first-hand from passionate researchers about their quests.
What are you currently reading? The New Testament in Its World, Only the Lover Sings, The Mysteries of Udolpho, The Silmarillion, and The House in the Cerulean Sea
Describe ACL in three words: Welcoming, Resourceful, Engaging
How do you (or How have you), as an academic librarian, contribute to your campus? I’m a solo librarian, so I get to do everything that relates to the library! Among other things, this involves reaching out to students to encourage them and remind them of resources, scanning chapters to fulfill information requests, conducting information literacy sessions in classes and through recorded tutorials, and serving on Faculty Assembly as a voice in guiding the curriculum.
I began my career as a librarian...quite by accident. I graduated college with an English degree and then made the unfortunate discovery that no one pays you to go to school…or so I thought! I took a job as a receptionist at WBS as an in-between gig while I was hunting, and the opportunity to start working as a library assistant here came up. A few short months into this role, I decided to pursue my MLIS and start learning the ways of theological librarianship. I found that everything I loved about my English degree–research, careful thinking, discussing ideas with brilliant people, and looking at how thoughts and stories shape the world–fit into the career of a librarian! So here I am, never having intended to be a librarian, but loving (almost) every minute of it.
What do you value about ACL? I love that we share the bedrock connection of Christ and are only librarians secondarily. This impacts everything–the way we view and work with information, the approach we take in relating to patrons, and the eagerness with which we help each other through the listserv. It is a delight to find a place in the academic and professional world that demonstrates true concern for the good of others.
How were you introduced to ACL? When I started at WBS as a Library Assistant, my supervisor, Jane Stauble, connected me with ACL. I owe her eternal gratitude for showing me the tricks of the trade and introducing me to such a helpful group of people!
How are you or have you been involved in ACL? I serve on the Spiritual Encouragement Team and on the leadership team of the Bible Core Section. I have contributed book reviews and a co-authored article to The Christian Librarian and have presented at conference. I am also involved in a few interest groups and discussion lists.
Do you have any specific interests in the library world? Information literacy, library instruction, reference, information overload and poverty, theological librarianship