Regent University Library Dean Esther Gillie Recognized by Association of Christian Librarians

February 21, 2022

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA (February 21, 2022) — Dr. Esther Gillie, dean of the University Library at Regent, was recently recognized as Member of the Month by the Association of Christian Librarians (ACL). The association chooses just six females annually to inspire future librarians and strengthen awareness of their profession.

“Dean Gillie leads our University Library with remarkable vision and a forward-thinking approach to take us into the future,” said William Hathaway, executive vice president for Academic Affairs at Regent. “We are delighted the ACL has chosen to highlight her. She is a tenacious innovator and team builder and a gift to many.”

Gillie has served as dean of Regent University Library since 2016. She currently serves as the Chair for the CCCU international Library Leadership Council. She has published numerous journal articles, books, and book chapters, and serves as a mentor for ACRL’s College Library Directors Mentor Program, the ACL mentor program, and the Mentor Program at UIUC. She has an active ministry with cancer patients and has authored Breath Prayers for Cancer Patients and Breath Prayers for Anxiety. Her most recent book, A Prayer Vocabulary, was released in March 2021. She teaches Spiritual Formation classes for the School of Divinity at Regent University, having earned her M.Div. and D.Min. at Northeastern Seminary. She also holds a Master of Church Music (MCM), an M.S. in Library and Information Science and a B.A. in Music.

Gillie was previously the director of the B. Thomas Golisano Library at Roberts Wesleyan College and Northeastern Seminary in Rochester, NY, and has held library positions at the University of Connecticut, the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, and Sibley Music Library at the University of Rochester, NY. She has been a member of the Association of Christian Librarians since 2013.

As part of her ACL feature, Gillie provided these and other insights about herself and her work:

Describe yourself using a book title: Pilgrim’s Progress – goes along with my blog Sojourner Pilgrim’s Diary: the extraordinary life of an ordinary person

What’s the best thing about being a librarian? Access to and privilege of helping to preserve and share such rich resources about God and the Christian life

What are you currently reading? The Integration of Psychology and Christianity: A Domain Based Approach by William Hathaway and Mark Yarhouse

Describe ACL in three words: Amazing, Supportive, Connecting

How do you (or How have you), as an academic librarian, contribute to your campus? I seek to stay well informed about campus initiatives, events, and programs so that the library can offer the right resources and services to undergird and make more visible the topics, trending interests, and cultural concerns the campus is exploring.

I began my career as a librarian… accidentally. As a freshman in college, I was fortunate to get a job in the library at Houghton College. I loved the atmosphere and the perks. I continued to work as a staff person in various libraries until I finally realized I would benefit from making librarianship my profession.

Do you have any specific interests in the library world? Theological librarianship

“I am honored to be featured as member of the month by ACL and to fellowship with so many librarians in service to Christian institutions,” said Gillie. “It is a joy to connect with librarians worldwide through organizations such as ACL and CCCU. I am grateful for all that the Lord is doing in the library environment and for the privilege of being able to serve here at Regent University.”

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About Regent University

Founded in 1977, Regent University is America’s premier Christian university with more than 11,000 students studying on its 70-acre campus in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and online around the world. The university offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in more than 150 areas of study including business, communication and the arts, counseling, cybersecurity, divinity, education, government, law, leadership, nursing, healthcare, and psychology. Regent University is ranked the #1 Best Accredited Online College in the United States (Study.com, 2020), the #1 Safest College Campus in Virginia (YourLocalSecurity, 2021), and the #1 Best Online Bachelor’s Program in Virginia for 10 years in a row (U.S. News & World Report, 2022).

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