ACL is a non-profit organization governed by a president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, executive director, and six directors-at-large. The home office staff are responsible for the daily operations of the Association. Multiple teams develop and direct programs that carry out the mission of ACL.
Members
The members of ACL are a diverse group of Christian librarians who serve in universities, colleges, seminaries, public libraries, and schools across the globe.
Mission
The mission of the Association of Christian Librarians is to strengthen libraries by equipping Christian librarians through professional development, scholarship, and spiritual encouragement for service primarily in higher education.
Vision
The Association of Christian Librarians (ACL) is an influential, vibrant, growing community that integrates faith, ministry, and academic librarianship through the development of members, services, and scholarship.
Beginning
During the summer of 1956, the idea of the Association of Christian Librarians was first conceived when five librarians met on the campus of Nyack Missionary College in Nyack, NY to enjoy fellowship and discuss current challenges that they faced as Christian librarians. These ‘founding Mothers’, Shirley Wood of Columbia Bible College, Dorothy Spidell of Nyack Missionary College, Mary Jane Kergerize and Marian Boyjiam of The King’s College, and Emily Russel of Faith Theological Seminary, could not have imagined what would come from this first meeting. In 1957, the Christian Librarians’ Fellowship, now known as the Association of Christian Librarians was officially established. Through the initial goals of this small group, an annual conference was developed to provide professional development and opportunities to network with other librarians for encouragement and collaboration, The Christian Librarian, a professional journal was started, and the Christian Periodical Index (CPI) was created.
As the organization continued to grow, the leadership began to dream of expanding the purpose of the Association to provide financial assistance and to operate more like a charitable organization. In 2002, the Foundation for the Advancement of Christian Libraries was created to provide a tax benefit for the activities of the Association. The ACL Home office property was purchased in 2005 in Cedarville, OH. Eight years later with the overwhelming support of the membership the Association of Christian Librarians and the Foundation for the Advancement of Christian Libraries transitioned into one 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Foundation for the Advancement of Christian Libraries is the legal name of the organization while The Association of Christian Librarians is the d.b.a that is commonly used.
Over a decade later, with nearly 700 members worldwide, ACL is still supporting librarians, providing grants and financial assistance to Christian Librarians around the globe, and expanding its membership to include Christian librarians serving seminaries, public and private K-12 schools, and public libraries.
Statement of Faith
We believe that there is one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We believe the Bible in its original writings to be the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
We believe in the Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious death and atonement through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal and visible return in power and glory.
We believe that man was created in the image of God, that he was tempted by Satan and fell, and that, because of the exceeding sinfulness of human nature, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely necessary for salvation.
We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by Whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life, and by Whom the Church is empowered to carry out Christ’s great commission.
We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the saved and the lost, those who are saved unto the resurrection of life and those who are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
Association Documents
Take a peek behind the scenes of the Association of Christian Librarians (ACL)! Email us with any questions you have about these documents.
2024 Annual Report: an overview of the Association’s activities of the past year.
2021 Strategic Plan Priorities
Bylaws: ACL’s governance document
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