Becky Frank began her role as Director of the Library and Associate Professor in June 2025. Haven’t had a chance to meet her yet? You’ll see her around campus at various events and meetings, as well as at the library reference desk. Be sure to say hi! Read on to learn about Becky!
Where did you grow up?
I spent most of my youth in the Chicagoland area, moving around between cities such as DeKalb, Elgin, and Rockford. My family moved to the Quad Cities area while I was in high school, and I graduated from a small town called Galva (about an hour from Peoria or Moline, IL). I enjoyed DeKalb the most – corn capital of the world!
What did you study in school?
I started out pre-med, but ended my undergrad time with a Bachelor’s in Secondary Education – Chemistry, with a middle school endorsement from Judson University in Elgin, IL. Who thinks teaching middle schoolers about chemical reactions sounds like fun? This girl!
However, after working in the library during my undergrad, I realized that my real passion was for libraries. I returned to school and received my Masters in Library and Information Science from Dominican University in River Forest.
After working in libraries for a time, I realized that college administrations were working to create online degree paths for students, but never really looking at how libraries or other academic support units could best serve the online population. So, I returned a final time for an additional Masters, this time in Education with an emphasis on online learning in higher education from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.
Someday, I plan to return and get a Ph.D., but right now, I’m content exactly where I am – starting a new adventure at Lawrence and raising my family in Packer territory!
What is your favorite thing about working in a library?
I like when students realize we’re not scary, and then suddenly I’m their go-to person for everything from research to where the nearest vending machine is (there’s one in the library entrance, btw!).
But also, I love working with students, faculty, or staff to help them find whatever it is they need; whether that’s a piece of information, a resource for their research, or ideas on what to read next.
What do you like to do in your free time?
The obvious answer, of course, is read. I set a goal a while back to read at least ten minutes every day, and I’m proud to admit that as of this interview, I’ve read every day for the last 1,032 days*!
I also enjoy quilting and crocheting, jigsaw puzzles, Dungeons & Dragons, playing Minecraft or other videogames with my son, football, and Disney!
*Listening to books totally counts as reading! I read a lot of audiobooks, and somedays my ten minutes are only audiobooks!
Favorite book or book series?
I cannot answer this question! My favorite book is usually the one I’m currently reading (Divine Rivals, by Rebecca Ross) or the one I just finished (Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone, by Benjamin Stevenson).
Favorite Genre?
I love to read fiction – historical, sci-fi, young adult – you name it and I’ll read it! I’m not a huge non-fiction fan, but I’ve set a goal to read more biographies and memoirs, and that’s been a different experience altogether!
Fun Fact
On my bucket list is the goal of traveling to every continent. I’ve been to three continents already (traveled to Europe and Asia, born here in North America) and I have firm ideas on how to accomplish the remainders!