Lauren is the Consortium Librarian for SIL International in Reidsville, NC (20 libraries). Lauren has been an ACL member for nine years.
Describe yourself using a book title: Christ’s Servant Librarian Dancing on an International Tightrope
What’s the best thing about being a librarian? Connecting people with resources (people, print, electronic, counseling, training, etc.) to help them go beyond what they envisioned for their areas of interest or expertise. Be a sounding board to people see ways they could expand or enhance their ministry/mission.
What are you currently reading? Crucial Conversations by Joseph Grenny , Kerry Patterson , Ron McMilan, and Al Switzler ; Single, Dating, Engaged, Married by Ben Stuart ; Take Back Your Life by Levi Lusko ; and What Does It Mean to Be Chosen? by Amanda Jenkins, Dallas Jenkins and Douglas Huffman.
Describe ACL in three words: Resource, Community, Supportive
How do you (or How have you), as an academic librarian, contribute to your campus? I help librarians in our consortium problem solve and use our library software. I enjoy helping make the catalog easier for people to use both patrons and library staff. I’m always looking for ways to make life easier for the people around me.
My professional career began…as an elementary school librarian from 2001-2008 then went on the mission field helping organizations, schools, and colleges set up their libraries doing a variety of things and helping local staff maintain the library in August 2008. In 2015, I changed mission organizations to Wycliffe and in 2017 joined SIL International as a library consultant to their libraries and partner libraries in Asia and Africa. In 2020, we went global and added a library in Germany and the JAARS library in North Carolina. My role has expanded to include systems librarian for the consortium as well as Area Coordinator for Africa libraries.
What do you value about ACL? I value everyone’s knowledge and experience and how openly everyone shares it.
How were you introduced to ACL? A librarian friend shared about ACL while we were helping a college library in Bulgaria.
How are you or have you been involved in ACL? I am currently the Member Liaison for CILA (Commission for International Library Advancement), a K-12 Librarian Mentor, and I just presented a workshop during the ACL Conference last week.
Do you have any specific interests in the library world? I enjoy technology, management, leadership, cataloging, training, helping people, and all things Koha (an open-source ILS)