I’ve worked in academic libraries for 37 years: 19 at Indiana University, 12 at Point Loma Nazarene University, and 6 at Lenoir-Rhyne University. All three institutions had some kind of faculty status for librarians, and all three allowed for promotion in rank, service on faculty committees, and other faculty responsibilities and benefits. For the most part, I think faculty status has been a strong positive for libraries and librarians. With these systems in place, I was promoted several times, received tenure at two different institutions, and served in leadership roles on faculty committees at all three institutions.
Sabbatical
Director of the Warren Library – Palm Beach Atlantic University – West Palm Beach, FL
Job Summary
Palm Beach Atlantic University, a private Christian university of over 4,000 students in West Palm Beach, Florida, seeks an experienced and visionary leader to collaborate with the University community in positioning the Warren Library for ongoing excellence in supporting student success, enabling faculty and student research, and serving as a central nexus of the campus. The successful candidate for this position will be deeply knowledgeable about emerging technologies and will use that understanding as a foundation for leading the library toward a vision of serving current and future needs of PBA’s undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and greater PBA community.
Library Director – Bushnell University – Eugene, OR
Job Summary
Bushnell University was founded as Eugene Divinity School in 1895, and remains committed to preparing students for purpose-driven lives within a Christ-centered environment. It holds regional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), affirming that it meets high standards of institutional quality and integrity.
The Library Director provides leadership and direction for Kellenberger Library operations, resources, and services. Develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive and integrated information literacy plan, and provide and oversee bibliographic and information literacy instruction for students and faculty. Develop and implement a full range of appropriate research and reference services for students, faculty, and other users. Collaborate with faculty and administrators to promote and incorporate library services and instruction within the curriculum. In cooperation with library staff and faculty, develop the collection through ongoing and systematic selection and weeding. Requires evening and weekend hours.
01/2025 – Frank Quinn
A Better Shape
When we are facing adversity and a spiritual battle, it is easy to blame God and to beg Him to remove us from it. “Why me?” is something that easily falls from our lips instead of gratitude and worship. We think if we are doing battle, God is picking on us, or just AWOL. Libraries and librarians, as well as Christians, are facing a lot of adversity and uncertainty currently, and many of us are facing them in our personal lives as well.
12/2024 – Tonya Fawcett
The God Who Sees Us
Being a librarian often feels like being invisible. It’s rare that people know exactly what it is we do. Many people believe librarians are two-dimensional beings that exist to shush people or who get to camp behind a reference desk and read whatever they want all day. Sometimes librarianship can feel like a thankless job. No one sees the long hours spent on cataloging, book display creation, or acquisitions. No one sees the stress of patron-librarian interactions or the frustration of trying to keep library programs afloat. We often feel unseen in our struggles and in our work.
11/2024 – John Leonetti
Hope in the Midst of Uninvited Challenges
Sometimes our hopes and expectations are dashed; things we would not have chosen happen to us or our loved ones. Sometimes these things are consequences of our own doings. Other times, these uninvited, difficult things, such as changes to or in our jobs, issues with colleagues or patrons, problems in work or family relationships, unanticipated changes in our institutions, or unexpected health issues, seem to just happen.
