Susie McClure Library of American Baptist College
Location Description
The Susie McClure Library (SMC) at American Baptist College in Nashville, TN, is a distinguished repository with a rich history dating back to its establishment in 1953, originally named after T.L. Holcomb. Serving a close-knit community of students united in faith and pursuing degrees in the Liberal Arts, the library stands as a vital academic and historical resource.
Housed within a historic three-story building, the SMC Library features a dedicated Special Collections and Archives area. This collection includes photographs, audio recordings, and visual materials, many of which have undergone partial inventorying and re-housing over the past two years.
The SMC Library provides practicum opportunities in Special Collections and Archives, offering hands-on experience in preserving and organizing invaluable historical materials.
Practicum Work Mode
On site
Semesters or Time Period Available
Ongoing, not limited to a specific semester
Location
1800 Baptist World Center Dr
Nashville, TN 37207
https://library.abcnash.edu/home
Contact
Dr. Angel Pridgen
Director of Library Services
apridgen@abcnash.edu
615-687-6946
Student Tasks
Organizing and sorting materials chronologically, thematically or by relevant system proposed by the Director of Library Services.
Rehousing materials into archival-quality containers.
Boxing materials by preparing them for storage and preservation.
Creating a list of materials within a collection (inventorying).
Developing tools that help researchers locate and access materials-finding aids.
Writing descriptive metadata that describe the contents of the archived materials.
Scanning and recording materials in digital formats (digitization).
Updating and revising existing collection descriptions ensuring accuracy and completeness of archival records.
Checking temperature, humidity, and other factors that affect preservation.
Organizing and maintaining the physical storage area.
Assigning unique identifiers to materials for tracking and retrieval when necessary.
Answer inquiries about archival materials.
Make written materials accessible to researchers.
Creating resources for users of archival materials.
Identify materials that could be used in virtual or physical displays.
Type of Mentoring Provided to the Student
The SMC Library employs an action-learning approach to mentoring practicum students. This hands-on experience allows students to develop their skills through practical archival tasks, active engagement, and reflective learning. To ensure confidence and competence, practicum students will receive comprehensive, side-by-side training until they are prepared to work independently. At the SMC Library, we embrace a "fail forward" philosophy—mistakes, whether minor or significant, are seen as learning opportunities. We provide guidance on how to address errors effectively and progress successfully in a professional setting.
Student Interaction With Others at the Location
Practicum students will have limited interaction with students and faculty who use the library for coursework and study. However, they may frequently engage with the Dean of Chapel, whose office is located within the library, as well as the IT Specialist responsible for maintaining library technology. The overall campus community consists of fewer than 100 faculty, staff, and students, with typical library occupancy averaging no more than 10 individuals at any given time.