Amy is the Emerging Technologies Librarian as well as an Assistant Professor at Spring Arbor University in Spring Arbor, MI (3341 FTE). Amy has been a member of ACL for 5 years.
Describe yourself using a book title: Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance. This book title describes the way that I aspire to live my life. I am a very determined person and I s
trive to always have “grit” and follow through with my very best effort on every task I undertake!
What’s the best thing about being a librarian? My absolute favorite part about being a librarian are the relationships that I am able to form with students and the opportunity that I get to help them realize their potential and achieve their goals.
What are you currently reading? Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living by Shauna Niequist
Describe ACL in three words: Faith, Friendship, and Growth
How do you (or How have you), as an academic librarian, contribute to your campus? I contribute to my campus by serving as a liaison to several academic departments and teaching library instruction sessions in our ENG104 classes as well as several other classes in my liaison areas. I also designed and maintain the library’s website. I adjunct for our Business Department, serving as the lead faculty member for the Management Information Systems course. I am also a member of the Faculty Development Committee and the Academic Technology Committee.
I began my career as a librarian…as a part-time public librarian and worked my way up to a full-time public librarian and branch manager. I always wanted to work as an academic librarian, and even focused my graduate studies on academic librarianship. By the grace of God, I found my place at Spring Arbor University and have been progressing in my career here for the past five years.
What do you value about ACL? I value the people that I have met and the experiences I have gained through serving on the TCL editorial board. My work on the editorial board enabled me to get to know several other members across the country and being able to connect with some of them in person at the last annual conference was great!
How were you introduced to ACL? Several of my colleagues at the White Library are long-time members and introduced me to the organization.
How are you or have you been involved in ACL? I have presented in two poster sessions at past ACL Conferences. I also participated in the first year mentorship program via email during my first year in the organization. My mentor was Jennifer Walz and I still enjoy keeping up with her on social media and seeing her at conferences. For the last year I have been serving as an Associate Editor for The Christian Librarian journal. My work on the editorial board focuses on the management of the Open Access component of the journal. It has been a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with others in the organization.
Do you have any specific interests in the library world? I am interested in using technology to enhance learning, information literacy instruction, library leadership, and Open Educational Resources.