Shane Ratzell

Biography and Professional Achievements

I personally aspire to foster resource exploration and knowledge creation. As the Outreach and Instruction Librarian I aim to provide services that are useful and enlightening to students. I am often seen as the face of the library. During my time at CCU I have developed the Book A Librarian service. This service is a one-on-one appointment system with a librarian that helps the student see how a professional researcher finds sources and organizes them. It helps the student develop time management skills and it also encourages students to jump into research by raising the enthusiasm of their research. The Book A Librarian service has given the library an increase in library usage in the order of 1000’s of percent increase. It has become so popular that other universities have began running this service under my tutelage. As I meet with the student I try to inspire them with what I discovered, get them excited about what they are about to embark on and encourage them to go beyond the assignment and learn. Matthew 5:41 says “[a]nd if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” (ESV) It is inherently my Christian duty to cultivate an environment of research and learning that encourages rather than overwhelms. The Lord’s guidance has helped me to develop Book A Librarian into something that inspires them to go further in their research exploration and to create new knowledge, and above all else, consult the Lord’s word on everything they do. It is my mission that they see the library as the first and best place for their research needs.

In addition to Book A librarian, I supervise the web and reference services at CCU. I oversee the Interlibrary Loan department, I lead the outreach efforts at CCU’s library with successful programs like Late Night Study Hall. I also try to see every student that attends CCU, virtually and in person, CAGS and CUS, as I teach all of the Information Literacy sessions throughout the university.