Faculty Spotlight
Degrees and Experience
- MBA, Business Administration (Colorado Christian University)
- M.L.I.S. Library and Information Science (Drexel University)
- B.M. Music Performance (University Of Northern Colorado)
Biography and Professional Achievements
Shane Ratzell aspires to foster resource exploration and knowledge creation. As the Outreach and Instruction Librarian, he aims to provide services that are useful and enlightening to students. He is often seen as the face of the library. During his time at CCU Ratzell has 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 Ratzell's tutelage.
As he meets with the student Shane Ratzell tries to inspire them with what he has 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 Ratzell's Christian duty to cultivate an environment of research and learning that encourages rather than overwhelms. The Lord’s guidance has helped Ratzell develop Book A Librarian into something that inspires students 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 his mission that they see the library as the first and best place for their research needs.
In addition to Book A librarian, Ratzell supervises the web and reference services at CCU. He oversees the Interlibrary Loan department and leads the outreach efforts at CCU’s library with successful programs like Late Night Study Hall. He also tries to see every student that attends CCU, virtually and in person, CAGS and CUS, as he teaches all of the Information Literacy sessions throughout the university.