ACL Award

Our Library belongs to the Association of Christian Libraries, an organization of like minded institutions. Every year, the ACL offers us an opportunity to recognize outstanding student papers that have used library resources well and evidence excellence in character and leadership. A professor has to nominate students for the award and send the paper they feel deserves recognition.

This year we received a number of excellent papers. It was difficult to choose one despite our evaluation grid. Count the number of library owned resources. How many are scholarly? Did they cite properly? Did the paper address some issue or controversy with solid support? Was there an idea worth following through on? For many of the papers, we could say yes to everything.

After conversation, we selected one paper written by a member of the staff who is completing her bachelors degree through our Organizational Management program. Not an easy task for sure, juggling work and study, class and home responsibilities. But her paper addressed the topic of how to provide the kind of support students need in order to do just what she herself is doing. She surveyed other students, then identified common themes. And provided practical recommendations that the school will actually follow up on. Good work!

We gathered in the Fireside Reading Room, a handful of Librarians and Faculty and Staff to award her the certificate and small gift card. The Director of the Library gave some background about the award and the process. Her recommending faculty person bathed the event in words of support and pride. The Director of the division where she works also added his comments about how they would be using her paper results in ongoing initiatives.

We took pictures and applauded her accomplishment. Good for you! And keep it coming! She has decided to apply for a graduate program. Brava. Perhaps we will see her again at one of these events! I hope so.