Kristina is the Research and Instruction Librarian at Sam Houston State University/Newton Gresham Library in Huntsville, TX (21,000+ FTE). She has been a member of ACL since 2017.
Librarian Career
I began my career as a librarian…as a student worker. Every university I physically attended after high school, I got a job as a student working in the library. I always loved books and libraries and found this to be very comfortable. However, I never expected to become a librarian. I worked at Evangel University while Woody Moore was Director and Murl Winters was working in Reference. Then I worked at Sam Houston State University after transferring schools. Finally, I was a grad student in Counseling Psychology at Southwestern Assemblies of God University (now Nelson University) and my supervisor John Palmer and our Library Director Eugene Holder, both began telling me that I would be a great librarian and that I should go to school for it. Well, I had no intention of quitting my current path of psychology. Little did I know that God had other ideas! I graduated and realized I wasn’t quite ready or desiring to take the next step in counseling, so I went back to school for Library Science (big surprise lol). I loved what I learned and was able to get a job, after graduation, at Delta State University in Mississippi and then 4 years later moved back to Texas to Sam Houston State University, my alma mater!
Between the Pages: Getting to Know Our Member of the Month
Describe yourself using a book title: Try, Try Again
What’s the best thing about being a librarian? Helping a student and seeing them get excited about finding a resource or watching “light dawn” on their face as they suddenly understand or knowing that you were there and helped in a moment that was crucial.
What are you currently reading? The Bible, The Fate of Ten by Pittacus Lore, The Greystone Secrets by Margaret Peterson Haddix, and The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Organizing Your Life.
How do you as a librarian contribute to your campus or community? I work with our History and Geography departments. I am also in charge of the Tabletop Games, Government Documents, and Military Science collections. I help with research and instruction as the liaison for these different areas. I also mentor two graduate students from Sri Lanka and appreciate prayers for them (Thilini and Nadeeja)! I work with the Delta Kappa Gamma (DKG) society that is all about women dedicated to helping educators and education. I also work with our Texas Digital Library consortium in the GIS Interest Group committee.
Do you have any specific interests in the library world? Creating and maintaining a useful tabletop game collection. GIS and how to implement using tools to help the library and our university.
What are your hobbies or interests outside of work? I love listening to audio books while taking long trips, watching kdramas and other asian dramas, painting and other crafts, walking my dog, having game nights with friends and family, working on puzzles while listening to the Bible, learning how to organize better, self-improvement, and eating at new places while looking for great atmosphere.
ACL Involvement
How were you introduced to ACL? John Palmer told me about ACL while I was still a student worker at SAGU (Nelson University).
Describe ACL in three words: Family, Informational, Christ-centered.
What do you value about ACL? I really appreciate the effort the members make in sharing their knowledge through email, presentations, meetings, etc. I also appreciate how we can lean on and support each other as Christians trying to navigate our jobs and lives in a fallen world.
How are you or have you been involved in ACL? I am currently the Volunteer Coordinator for ACL and I am on the Board as a Director-at-Large. I also work with CPI as an indexer (a very slow indexer). I have presented several posters and at least one speaking presentation at ACL Annual Conference. I am a part of several interest groups and try to help on the listserv when I can.