Eric Bradley named as new head librarian of the MHL
The Mennonite Historical Library (MHL) has announced Eric Bradley as its next head librarian.
On Sept. 30, 2024, Bradley transitioned into the role, which Joe Springer had held as curator for 38 years. The MHL, located on the third floor of the Good Library at Goshen College, is the world’s most comprehensive collection of resources on Anabaptists, Mennonites and related groups. Founded in 1906, it holds over 90,000 volumes.
Bradley steps into the role with 15 years of experience in academic libraries, 11 of which have been at Goshen College. He holds a master’s in library science from Indiana University and a BA in Biblical studies from Grace College. In his previous role as a research and instruction librarian at Goshen College, he greatly expanded student services and library instruction.
“There’s a passion in Eric for thinking about how more students can become connected to the MHL,” said Elizabeth Miller, director of the MHL and the Institute for the Study of Global Anabaptism (ISGA), which work hand-in-hand on the Goshen College campus.
The library is a unique opportunity for students to do direct, hands-on research with unusually high-quality sources. In the past year, students have worked with materials for senior thesis projects, internships, summer research and much more.
In his previous role, Bradley saw how much of GC students’ work could relate to the MHL collection. “I’m excited to continue that good work,” he said.
Karl Stutzman, director of library services at the Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana, said, “I’ve known and admired both Joe and Eric over many years, and I trust that this transition in staffing will serve Anabaptist research well for many years to come.”
The MHL is also used by a variety of researchers, both locally and internationally. Recently, the library hosted Julián Guamán, an Ecuadorian researcher, as a Schafer-Freisen Research Fellow.
“This is an active, living, growing collection,” Bradley said. “It’s called the Mennonite Historical Library, but it’s not just historical — it really is a historical and contemporary library of materials.”
Stutzman added, “The MHL collection is the richest in the world when it comes to displaying the diversity of Anabaptism, and … it needs ongoing resources as Anabaptism continues to change and grow.”
One of the goals of the MHL and the ISGA is to connect individuals and communities across the world and provide accessible sources for research and publication. Bradley brings a new perspective on broadening the accessibility of the MHL’s resources.
The MHL is always working on digitization, but the MHL’s digitization priorities grow out of real relationships with scholars, libraries and churches across the world.
Springer has been building those relationships for decades, and now, Bradley is looking forward to continuing that trajectory. He has already collaborated with libraries across Indiana in a variety of ways, including working with the Private Academic Library Network of Indiana as a reference, instruction, and outreach coordinator, where he was named to the organization’s Hall of Fame.
“Eric has some valuable skills and experience,” Springer said, “in working with helping manage digital assets and collaboration with other institutions. He enhances the ability for MHL to continue to evolve to serve the needs of future patrons.”
Bradley said, “It’s exciting to think through ways that we can move this collection into this next stage of the world of information that we live in — and the world of our faith communities as well.”