Blog

Rachel Wallenbeck – 12/2023

Rachel is the Electronic Resources Librarian at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska (7,600 FTE). Rachel has been a member of ACL since 2019 and was recently appointed the Assistant Coordinator of ACL’s Mentoring Program.

You can follow her on Twitter: @w3tiger13

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What and Whom Do I Represent?

Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works… (Titus 2:7 ESV)

A footbridge on my wooded undergraduate college campus was named after an early 20th century dean who told her students, “Remember who you are and what you represent.” Our college leaders continually reminded us that we were members of our college community and that we were to represent our college by upholding the honor code, the few rules, the rigorous liberal arts education, academic honesty, and to respect our fellow students and local community.

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2024 ACL Annual Conference Update

Please make plans to join us at the 2024 ACL Annual Conference at the University of Northwestern – St. Paul in St. Paul, Minnesota June 10-12.

The conference theme, “The Great ACL Get Together: Connecting People, Connecting Ideas,” was inspired by the Minnesota State Fair’s slogan, “The Great Minnesota Get Together.” Our retro-style postcard logo, featuring custom drawings of popular Twin City sites by Nate Farley, mirrors the fair’s essence. Much like how fair attendees gather for entertainment, showcasing talents, exploring innovations, and savoring diverse food options (often on a stick), the ACL conference similarly brings together Christian librarians. It fosters personal connections while exchanging essential learning and faith-related ideas crucial to librarians’ growth and development.

The 2024 conference program promises relevance and practicality for the librarians ACL serves. We’re thrilled to announce our keynote speaker, author Samuel James. Based on his recent book Digital Liturgies: Rediscovering Christian Wisdom in an Online Age, he will explore the human need for embodied community in an online age through a recovery of Christian wisdom and with implications for the role of libraries.

Offering Continuing Education Units (CEUs) via ACL-Pro Plenary Workshops reaffirms our dedication to fostering continual professional growth and learning within our membership. These workshops are tailored to offer essential training and valuable insights covering topics of broad relevance to librarians. The 2024 ACL-Pro Plenary workshops will specifically address the popular topics of active learning and teaching, as well as AI/ChatGPT.

Our conference provides a platform for librarians and information professionals to contribute to the field and engage with their peers through presentations and poster sessions. By presenting at the ACL Conference, librarians can showcase their expertise, discuss innovative practices, and contribute to the ongoing development of the profession. We are accepting presentation proposals through December 8, 2023.

The cost for the 2024 conference can be found on our website to help you start planning for your attendance. We expect registration to open at the beginning of March 2024.

We look forward to welcoming you to the conference, ACL’s key event for 2024!

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David Michels – 11/2023

David is the Public Services Librarian at the Sir James Dunn Law Library, Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (545 FTE in the Law School and 19,000 FTE University wide). David has been a member of ACL since 2016.

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Remembering Joy

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation (Isaiah 12:3, NIV).

This is a well of remembrance. Here we draw life-giving water from springs that never run dry. Do you remember when you first fell in love with Jesus? That moment when you experienced His salvation that changed your life forever? This free and totally undeserved gift fills me with unspeakable joy, but it often gets lost in the busy day-to-day life of an information professional, mom, wife, volunteer, friend, sister, and daughter.

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Meescan

Timeline: Ongoing 

Receive a 10% discount on an annual Meescan license. Also, any libraries new to Meescan that purchase before March 31, 2025 will receive a $200 equipment credit to put towards the costs of kiosks or security stations.

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Larissa Orman – 10/2023

Larissa is a circulation aide at Belgrade Community Library in Belgrade, MT serving a population of just under 125,000. Larissa has been a member of ACL since 2019.

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Right Where You Are

“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.”  (1 Peter 4:12, NIV)

Anxiety is something that many of us deal with in our daily lives. Recent circumstances in our world have made anxious thoughts commonplace. How can we overcome anxious thoughts? How do we not allow anxious thoughts to permeate every aspect of our lives, including our jobs?

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Randy Miller – 9/2023

Randy is the Graduate Research and Instruction Librarian at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA (100,000+ FTE). Randy has been a member of ACL since 2005.

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EBSCO

Religious eBook Collections

Timeline: Annually (Sept 16-Dec 13, 2024) 

Four new customized collections of EBSCO eBooks in Biblical Studies, Pastoral Ministry/Missions, Leadership, and Mental Health.

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