About

Point Loma Nazarene University, established in 1902, is a Christian liberal arts institution. The university was founded by Phineas Bresee, primary founder of the Church of the Nazarene.

The PLNU Mission: PLNU exists to provide higher education in a vital Christian community where minds are engaged and challenged, character is modeled and formed, and service is an expression of faith. Being of Wesleyan heritage, we strive to be a learning community where grace is foundational, truth is pursued, and holiness is a way of life.

Ryan Library serves as the PLNU institutional library, providing print and digital resources, a welcoming facility with a variety of study seating options, and an expert library faculty with a heart for supporting students and scholars.

Visit http://pointloma.edu/library for resources, research help, and other information.

Our Staff

Denise Nelson, PhD

Associate Dean for Ryan Library

Dr. Nelson serves as the Associate Dean leading Ryan Library and has been a member of PLNU's Ryan Library faculty since 2004. She collaborates with course faculty and with her library colleagues to provide classroom-based information literacy and point-of-need research help. In her role as the library's liaison to several departments, she provides targeted research support to students in Biology, Kinesiology, and Psychology.

Dr. Nelson's scholarly interests include information literacy, student satisfaction with college, and student success in higher education. She is co-author/editor, with Laurie A. Schreiner and Michelle C. Louis, of Thriving in Transitions: A Research-Based Approach to College Student Success (National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience, 2012 and 2020).

Robin Lang, MLIS

Instructional Services Librarian, Associate Professor

Professor Lang has been a full-time tenure track librarian at PLNU since 2016. She has served as a librarian at Westmont College, taught as an adjunct at Santa Barbara City College, and worked as a librarian in San Diego at both Cuyamaca College and Coronado High School.

She provides information literacy instruction, point-of-need research help, and other research support. Her academic liaison areas include Art + Design, History & Political Science, Mathematical, Information & Computer Sciences, and the School of Theology and Christian Ministry. Her scholarly interests include diversity, equity, and inclusion in library practices and collections in additional to critical information literacy.

Mary Logue, MLIS

Resource Discovery Librarian, Associate Professor

Professor Logue holds the MLIS from San Jose State University and is an alumna of Westmont College. She serves as the academic liaison librarian to Chemistry, MICS, and Physics and Engineering.

Mary has presented on library data and reporting, the future of librarianship, and disaster preparedness and response. She joined the Ryan Library faculty in 2022 from the San Diego Public Library, where she served as a Branch Manager for three years. Her areas of expertise include cataloging, electronic resources and systems, disaster preparedness/response, and library administration.

Julie Sweeney, MLIS

Instructional Services Librarian, Assistant Professor

Professor Sweeney joined the Library faculty as an Instructional Services Librarian in 2019 after serving on staff in Ryan Library since 2004. Her primary area of focus is Information Literacy taught through research skills in classroom sessions and individual guidance at the Research Help Desk.

She serves as the academic liaison librarian to Chemistry, the Department of Literature, Journalism, Writing, & Language, Music, and Women's Studies. Her scholarship includes publications and presentations on virtual reference modalities as well as service to unaffiliated (community) patrons.

Erinn Mullaney, M.Ed.

Manager of Library Access Services

Erinn hires, trains, and supervises a wonderful team of library student assistants. She manages all aspects of circulation and library public services in addition to overseeing interlibrary loan and the Reserve collection housed at the Circulation Desk.

Joy Metcalfe

Cataloging and Serials Associate

Joy is responsible for cataloging and processing new materials, withdrawing deselected items, processing and claiming serials, and facilitating the library's annual bindery project. She is a PLNU alumna and is pursuing her graduate degree in Library & Information Science.

Merrie Monteagudo, MLIS

University Archivist

Merrie serves as PLNU's University Archivist, bringing her expertise in investigative research, journalism, and archives management to the stewardship of Point Loma's legacy. She deeply enjoys introducing researchers to the university's story and ongoing influence through its rich history.

Lorena Pangilinan

Department Assistant

Lorena's kind, hospitable demeanor makes her an excellent fit as Ryan Library's department assistant. She has wonderful administrative, organizational, and accounting skills that help the library function well day by day.