Not pictured: Madeline Angel, Addison Lucchi.
Library Ninjas Program Recognized
MNU’s Mabee Library has been selected as the recipient of the Association of Christian Librarians’ 2025 Excellence in Innovation Award for its Library Ninjas program. The program initiated by Dr. Mark Hayse, library director, employs talented students in Mabee Library in multiple paraprofessional functions to increase student engagement and supplement library staffing needs.
This undergraduate student training model is unique because its advanced training includes experiential learning, vocational mentorship from library staff, and hands-on training in paraprofessional library work. Library Ninjas are trained in several branches of academic library work including:
- Instruction,
- Programming,
- Cataloging,
- Marketing,
- Technology Support.
Instructional & Research Librarian Addison Lucchi, PhD, says offering a variety of developmental tracks, has provided students the opportunity to focus on an area of interest to them, as they gain practical workforce experience based on their own professional goals and interests.
“We also mentor and train student participants directly,” Lucchi says. “In this way, MNU’s Library Ninjas program allows participants to consider librarianship as a possible career while also developing library advocates.”
In 2024, Library Ninjas taught over 100 one-on-one research consultations, developed and implemented program events such as artist and book talks, and assisted in technology support. They also cataloged hundreds of physical resources and developed marketing plans for the library.
Congratulations to Dr. Hayse, the library staff and the Ninjas: Maddie Angel, Makenna Andrews, Claire Debok, Cambry Fox, Anna Houk, Deborah Iverson, Dani Julca, Sam Powell and Abbey Prichard.
