Meet the Library Staff

Robert McInnes “Bob”

Bob McInnes
Head Librarian

It seems I have always enjoyed libraries and spending time in them.  In the small Ohio town where I grew up, I spent a great deal of time in our local public library.  I’ve also been passionate about history—Colonial American history in particular.  So it seemed obvious that I should major in history while in college (Ohio University).  After graduation, I wondered what I would do with my BA in history.  Fortunately, I had spent some time as a volunteer in the Special Collections Department at the O.U. Library.  That introduced me to the wonderful worlds of archives and manuscripts and rare books.  One of the librarians there recommended that I apply for admission to graduate school in a curriculum in public history at Wright State University located in Dayton, Ohio.  I investigated the program—it looked interesting—I applied for admission and was accepted.

After completing the program I was able to land my first position with the City of Tampa, Florida to start their municipal archives program, and was there from August (yes, I moved to Tampa in AUGUST!) of 1987 until the end of May of 1990.  From there, I got my next job as an archivist with the Virginia Historical Society and was there for two and a half years.  By late 1992 (during a recession), I found that I was among those on the staff who was being downsized.  Fortunately, I was able to find another  position fairly quickly—this time with the Kansas State Historical Society.  By the end of that decade, a time when the economy was soaring, I decided to look into other career options, and so I matriculated through an MBA program with the intention of moving into some line of work that offered greater compensation.  Unfortunately, by the time I finished this program, the economy had lapsed into another recession, so my intended career transition never happened.  Instead, I discovered an opportunity to move closer to the rest of my family in New England.  This time, I would be working for the New London County Historical Society in Connecticut, wearing many hats and taking care of just about everything that needed to be taken care of.  Unfortunately, the NLCHS was not in a position to compensate me enough to stay in the area.  Another job search brought me here to Charlotte, as the Curator of Manuscripts at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, beginning in November of 2004.

I later discovered that UNC Greensboro has an MLIS program and that state employees could work toward that degree with the benefit of tuition waivers.  Wanting to strengthen my credentials, I enrolled in this program in January of 2009 and am just about finished.  I anticipate finishing at the end of July.

Spiritually speaking, I was baptized and raised in the Presbyterian Church, and the nourishment of my spiritual health has always been of the utmost importance.  Since coming to Charlotte, I spent several Sundays exploring many of the churches around the area, and eventually settled on Back Creek Presbyterian Church, in the University City area.  I joined that congregation a few years ago, and am now a deacon.  Looking back it is easy to see that the Lord brought me here.  My being here at New Life Theological Seminary is one of the ways I will serve the Lord.

 Antoinette Johnson

Antoinette Johnson
Assistant Librarian

Antoinette Johnson has been promoted to the role of Assistant Librarian effective July 1, 2012.  Antoinette served as the student library assistant from the 2008 – 2009 school year through June 2012.  She came to New Life with an extensive background in office administration as well as practical ministry.  With a genuine love for people, thirst for knowledge and a creative bent,  Antoinette has served the Library well while pursuing her B.A. in Biblical Studies with a concentration in Old Testament.

Ms. Johnson is an avid reader of just about everything (no surprises there).  She enjoys Messianic praise and worship music, Israeli folk dance, liturgical worship dance, as well as supporting service-based ministries in the U.S. and foreign countries.  In her limited free time, Antoinette dotes on her three granddaughters and spends time with extended family, draws, paints, writes, watches theater and dance productions and movies, visits the beach and surfs the Internet for new interesting places to visit.  As one of the students on the 2011 Israel trip, she is anxious to return as a missionary after graduation. Always young at heart, Antoinette’s relaxation technique  is to color with crayons in her favorite coloring book (who knew?!), and  she collects yellow rubber duckies just because they make her smile.

Adrienne Butler

Adrienne Butler
Student Library Assistant

I have always cherished the value of a book, especially the Bible. The stories and letters within were powerful tools for my training, but the book of Songs of Solomon was for my mere entertainment. I learned how to protect books in the 7^th grade by covering them with cellophane. It was my first job and I will never forget the lesson that books contained knowledge and power.

I continued my love for books by publishing my first edition in 2008, entitled Fosterchild which is not yet in circulation, but I hope someday my very own book will be one of the those I will place on the shelf for inquisitive readers. I am also passionate about handling old books, it’s like holding history in my hands. Just to see how they have been preserved, puts me in awe.

I am currently pursing my Bachelor of Arts in Urban Christian Ministry with a concentration in Counseling. While attending New Life, I have been able to serve in the NLTS Library, which has allowed me to further cultivate my love for books.