Paul C. Campbell is a social science and assessment librarian at Kent State University in Kent, OH. Paul has been a member of ACRL for 16 years and is your ACRL Member of the Week for September 8, 2026.
Describe yourself in three words: Curious, determined, passionate.
What are you reading (or listening to on your mobile device)? I am a political podcast junky. I regularly listen to podcasts from the Bulwark and the Lincoln Project. For fun reading, I really enjoy science fiction. I recently enjoyed the Old Man’s War series by John Scalzi. I’m excited to start the Dungeon Crawler Carl series by Matt Dinniman. I am grateful for my local public library’s access to audiobooks as well.
Describe ACRL in three words: Transformative, connecting, empowering.
What do you value about ACRL? So many things! ACRL has made it possible for me to connect with colleagues from across the globe to help me grow, share experiences, and (I hope) define librarianship for the next generation.
What do you as an academic librarian contribute to your campus? I am a social science and assessment librarian at Kent State University. Being a social science librarian is an identity I am passionate about. I LOVE teaching information literacy concepts within courses of my liaison areas. It brings me a lot of joy, getting the sense that students are more confident in searching for information at the end of my sessions. My instruction is very active and really want students to start diving into their research topic/question by pulling apart their topic, building keywords, identifying what type of information they need, and where to find it.
I am still trying to figure out what it means to be an assessment librarian, and I think I am finally starting to find my voice in this area. My approach to this functional role is shaped by my unwavering belief that librarians are central to the work and mission of any university.
In your own words: I deeply value being both an academic librarian and a researcher in our field. ACRL and my state chapter have had a transformative impact on my career by connecting me with colleagues across the country and throughout my state. These professional connections have inspired me to grow in my practice, helping me become a stronger instructor, researcher, and academic librarian.
Engaging with colleagues beyond my own institution has broadened my understanding of academic librarianship and challenged me to think more deeply about my work. In fact, many of my publications have been the direct result of collaborations that began through ACRL and my state chapter.
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