Frank is the Jonas Branch Library Supervisor at the Lincoln County Public Library/Jonas Branch Library in Lincolnton, NC (approximate population size 96,000). He has been a member of ACL since 1999.
Librarian Career
I began my career as a librarian…as the Patrick County Branch Librarian of the Blue Ridge Regional Library in Stuart, Virginia. I feel like I’ve come full circle!
One thing I wish I had known as an early career librarian…Being a librarian isn’t just about helping people find information. It’s also about helping people in a much broader sense— emotionally and spiritually and also in the gift of being part of a community of richly connected people.
Between the Pages: Getting to Know Our Member of the Month
Describe yourself using a book title: Parable of the Sower
What’s the best thing about being a librarian? People– not only the many good people I’ve had the privilege to work alongside but also the patrons we help on a daily basis– such as blessing!
What are you currently reading? Emma by Jane Austen; The Beautiful Mystery by Louse Penny; Escape from Five Shadows by Elmore Leonard; and The Shadow Rising (Wheel of Time) by Robert Jordan.
How do you as a librarian contribute to your campus or community? As Branch Supervisor, I help plan and schedule library programs, assist staff and patrons as needed, and work to help improve the lives of the members of our community.
Do you have any specific interests in the library world? Censorship and intellectual freedom, collection development, and leadership.
What are your hobbies or interests outside of work? Shopping with my wife, reading, walking. And I have a weakness for the chocolate-covered peanut butter treats called “buckeyes” in the state of Ohio. They’re kind of hard to find in North Carolina….
ACL Involvement
How were you introduced to ACL? I think I first learned about ACL while browsing the Wells Library Stacks at Indiana University, where I came across bound issues of The Christian Librarian. I was intrigued by what I read and decided to attend my first conference at Olivet Nazarene University in 2001. I had a wonderful experience and met so many good and interesting people. I basically fell in love with ACL.
Describe ACL in three words: Compassionate. Loving. Invigorating.
What do you value about ACL? The people. I have had so many extraordinary experiences at ACL conferences—in conversations, at worship, in prayer, and in joyous celebration! ACL has been for me the place where faith and work and fellowship come together in powerful, God-honoring ways.
How are you or have you been involved in ACL? I have contributed a number of conference presentations, have served on the Conference Planning Team, have helped host a conference, served on the Nominations Team, served as a member of the Board of Directors (as Director at Large, President, and Past President), and currently serve on the Innovation Award Review Team and as a Director at Large on the Board.