Date: July 17, 2023
Readers of the Commentary will hear this week from members of the Bishop Payne Library team. Let me introduce them: User Services Librarian Vincent Williams will tell you about his work with students to identify library resources for their papers and sermons. Jim Fitch, Discovery and Technology Services Librarian, ably administers the library’s discovery catalog, e-books, journals, and digital databases. Our new Cataloger/Rare Book Curator, David Buresh, has immersed himself in the rare book holdings, especially the many editions of the Book of Common Prayer.
Beth Lewis is our book conservator, bringing broken books back to life for more generations of reading. A professionally trained musician as well as Technical Services Technician, Julie Keim is ideally suited for organizing the library’s music scores. Kathy Graham is often a first point of contact at the circulation desk, along with a dedicated crew of student workers. Contractor Pat Burke manages the seminary’s online bookstore.
You will hear from Archivist Joshua Waits about his creation of a database of our archival holdings. He has also initiated an oral history project, Called and Holy, to document the experiences of LGBTQIA+ people at Virginia Seminary over the years. Riley Temple, Collection Growth Specialist for the African American Episcopal Historical Collection, will tell you about the upcoming 20th anniversary of the AAEHC.
I am grateful for the privilege of working with each of these exceptionally qualified, capable, and committed colleagues.
Mitzi J. Budde, D.Min.
Head Librarian & Professor
Bishop Payne Library