Ann Johnston

Ann Johnston serves as the Informatics and eResources Librarian at Benner Library, where she leads a team responsible for supporting a wide range of library technologies and services. She supervises several faculty and staff members as well as an average of 10–15 student employees each academic year. Her areas of responsibility include electronic resources, off-campus proxy access, library tutorials, integrated library systems, library-specific software development and library statistics. Along with her team, she maintains the library’s website and develops innovative technology solutions that improve efficiency and enhance library services.

Before joining Benner Library in 2006, Professor Johnston enjoyed a successful career in education. She began teaching at Limestone Grade School in the Herscher Community School District in Illinois. She later joined the Reed-Custer School District, where she taught science to first through fifth grade students for eight years. During that time, she also served as the district’s technology mentor and presented numerous workshops focused on integrating technology into classroom instruction. She then spent four years teaching fifth grade before transitioning to academic librarianship.

Outside of her professional responsibilities, Professor Johnston enjoys spending time outdoors, particularly kayaking. Photography is among her favorite hobbies, and she also enjoys gardening and preserving the harvest through freeze-drying. She volunteers as a water aerobics instructor at the Kankakee YMCA and appreciates opportunities to encourage healthy living and community engagement. Most importantly, she and her husband, Scott, are grateful for the grace God has provided throughout their lives and enjoy sharing that journey together.