2025 Retirements at LBC
June 15, 1981, was Deborah Hunt’s (’78) first official day working as a library assistant at Lancaster Bible College. Deb discovered that she enjoyed library work after her LBC graduation from the Christian Education program. When her alma mater had an opening for a library assistant, she returned to LBC and now this spring is retiring after more than four decades of service.
Some of Deb’s first library tasks were supervising student workers, checking in periodicals and working at the circulation desk. At that time, the LBC library was located in the Student Center, which was originally a gym building. In August 2012, in a huge undertaking, the library moved to its current home in Teague Learning Commons. Considering the LBC Library, today named for Charles & Gloria Jones, was founded in 1952 with an initial gift of $36.75, the history Deb has witnessed is significant.
Deb Hunt, left, and Lisa (Dailey ’87) Swarr locate information in the library for a student.
“I used to look up books by subject, author and title in a card catalog,” Deb recalls. “I also used to use a date-due stamp to keep record of when books were due. Every book had a pocket in the back with a check-out card and a date-due slip.”
Deb, whose title at retirement was Collection Development Librarian, also remembers how the transition to a computerized library management system made the card catalog and the card and pocket circulation system obsolete. This change made library materials easier to locate and faster to check out.
“LBC is like my second home,” Deb says. “Working with students is my favorite part of my role at LBC. Our students are always so kind. They want to learn, and they teach me about God.
“What sets LBC apart from others is the time the faculty and staff take to pour into student lives,” she continues. “Time is spent with students in prayer, in caring and in fellowship. It’s rare.”
Deb recounts some special memories as a student on campus. A favorite part of the day was lunchtime with a close-knit group of friends. She goes on to say that she will never forget how Professor Earl Osborn started classes with a hymn; the lyrics included these words:
The Saviour has come in His mighty pow’r,
And spoken peace to my soul; …
It is marvelous and wonderful,
What Jesus has done for this soul of mine!
The half has never been told.
(“’Tis Marvelous and Wonderful,” Lelia N. Morris, 1919)
“The hymn was always sung with beautiful harmony and wonderful enthusiasm,” Deb says. “It gave me chills.”
Deb Hunt interacts with students during weekly discipleship meetings that helped students get to know their classmates on a more personal level.
When Deb enrolled at LBC as a student, she knew very little about the Bible. She remembers sitting in her Bible and theology classes saying “wow!” to herself as she learned about God and what He had done for her.
Now, 44 years after stepping foot in the LBC library as an employee, Deb is feeling bittersweet as she moves on in retirement, but she looks forward to God’s leading in a new season.
Grace Law is an Elementary Education graduate of LBC and is working toward her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. On campus, she serves as a Resident Director and staff member of the Charles & Gloria Jones Library.