Career AchievementThe Career Achievement awards recognize distinguished librarians or staff members late in their career or retiring who demonstrate continuous commitment and dedication to the library profession through accomplishments and service to the profession.
2023: Natalie Palermo, LSU Law
2022: Connie Chemay, River Parishes Community College
2021: Dennis Pruden, University of Louisiana at Monroe
2020: Daisy Guidroz, Nicholls State University
2019: Cathy Sicard, LOUIS
2018: Jim Hobbs, Loyola University New Orleans
2017: Sara Zimmerman, LOUIS
2016: Lori Smith, William Armstrong, and Donald R. Smith
Leader in LibrarianshipThis award recognizes a library administrator, who has shown leadership skills, guidance, and innovative ideas within their library.
2023: Brian Sherman, Louisiana State University Shreveport
2022: Cynthia Knight, Northshore Technical Community College
2021: Dawn Kight, Ph.D., Southern University and A&M College
2020: Jodi Duet, Fletcher Technical Community College
2019: Wendy Johnson, River Parishes Community College
2018: Laurie Phillips, Loyola University New Orleans
2017: Brian Sherman, Louisiana State University Shreveport
Library of the YearThis award recognizes a LOUIS member library demonstrating excellence in at least one of these areas: service to community; innovation in developing community programs or a dramatic increase in library usage; leadership in creating programs that can be emulated by other libraries.
2023: Earl K. Long Library, University of New Orleans
2022: Noel Memorial Library at Louisiana State University Shreveport
2021: GATOR Library, Northshore Technical Community College
2020: Edith Garland Dupré Library at University of Louisiana at Lafayette
2019: GATOR Library, Northshore Technical Community College
2017: Fletcher Technical Community College
2016: Ellender Memorial Library, Nicholls State University
Best OutreachOutreach and social media programs require organization, planning, and time. If successful, these programs lead to an increase in appreciation for, understanding of, and use of the library. The Best Outreach award recognizes the time and work that a person or persons put into an event for their library.
2023: Brian Collins, LSU Veterinary Medicine
2022: Victoria Elmwood, Loyola University New Orleans
2021: Michelle Guidry, Cindy Knight, and Melissa Templeton, Northshore Technical Community College
2020: The LSU Libraries Programming Committee: Randa Morgan (Chair), Elizabeth Allen, Larissa Elliot, Narcissa Haskins, Allen LeBlanc, Ebony McDonald, and Sarah Simms
2019: Lisa Hollis, Lila Jefferson, Jessica Louque, Heather Pilcher, Dennis Pruden, John Swearingen, Maren Williams, and Rebecca Yantis at University of Louisiana at Monroe
2016: Rebecca Kelley, Louisiana State University
Outstanding Early Career LibrarianThis award recognizes a librarian who has worked for a LOUIS member library for three (3) years or less and has less than five (5) years total professional librarian experience.
2023: Theresa Corbin Southeastern Louisiana University
2022: KC Celestine, Fletcher Technical Community College
2021: Sarah Mazur, Louisiana State University Shreveport
2020: Sarah Hernandez, Xavier University of Louisiana
2019: Ebony McDonald, Louisiana State University
2016: Emily Frank, Louisiana State University
Excellence in Library SupportThe Excellence in Library Support Award recognizes a library support staff member who is a helpful leader within his or her library and within the LOUIS Consortium.
2023: Sara Rebstock, Northwestern State University
2022: Martha Dauzat, Louisiana State University Alexandria
2021: Elissa Plank, Louisiana State University
2020: Jacob Fontenot, Louisiana State University
2019: William Charron, Nicholls State University
2018: Nichole Shaw, Fletcher Technical Community College
The Timely Librarianship Award recognizes of a librarian or group of librarians over the past year who has completed a significant achievement, contribution, project, or goal related to a theme related to the circumstances of the year leading up to LUC.
2023 (Theme: Anti-Censorship Hero): Jessica Hawkes, Louisiana State University Shreveport
2022 (Theme: Promoting Wellness): Rena Darensbourg, Maya Banks, Charlotte Henderson, Vanissa Ely, Cheryl Taylor, Christopher Russell, Dawn Kight, and Maletta Payne, Southern University and A&M College
This award recognizes the efforts of a LOUIS member library in their use of social media to market library services and resources, and interact with their user community.
Social Media Mastery was awarded from 2016 to 2021. In 2022, this award was combined into a single award with Best Outreach.
2021: Debbie Huntington, Anna Tapia MacDonald, Sharon Wolff, Northwestern State University
2020: Rob Stephens, Brandy Burbante, and Elizabeth Batte, Nicholls State University
2019: Abby DeSoto, Louisiana Tech University
2018: Jessica Loque, University of Louisiana at Monroe
2017: Travis Williams, LSU Law
2016: Edith Garland Dupré Library at University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Discussion List Leader is awarded to a LOUIS member who is always available on any LOUIS-associated list with helpful suggestions and/or solutions to posted problems. They always responds in a timely and articulate fashion, contributing meaningfully to and/or fostering discussion and problem-solving.
2017: Kevin Hébert, Xavier University of New Orleans
2016: Jim Hobbs, Loyola University New Orleans and Jeanne Pavy, University of New Orleans
This award was for the “Learning with LOUIS” webinar/training session that voters deemed the best of the (academic) year.
2020: Jodi Duet from Fletcher Technical Community College for "Open and Affordable Spring Learning Series: Tracking and Celebrating Student Savings"
2019: Jeanne Pavy, University of New Orleans and Dave Comeaux, Louisiana State University for "Getting E-books into Courses: How Libraries Can Partner with Faculty to Ease the Textbook Affordability Crises"
2018: Laurie Phillips and Elizabeth Kelly, Loyola University New Orleans for "Simplifying Affordable Resources for Faculty"
2016: Deanna Cozat, University of Georgia, and Jeanne Pavy, University of New Orleans for "Faculty Support and Outreach in Textbook Transformations"
Best Customized System commended the LOUIS member library that provided users an excellent experience possible through the customization of a discovery interface. Criteria focused on the use of library branding, web design, or audience targeting to provide new, intuitive interfaces.
2018: Fletcher Technical Community College for LibGuides CMS
2017: Louisiana Digital Library by Michael Waugh, Garrett Armstrong, David Comeaux, William Conlin, Cara Key, Jason Peak, and Kyle Tanglao, Louisiana State University
2016: Technology Initiatives by David Comeaux, Louisiana State University
The Most Interesting Item Award celebrated fun, quirky, and/or strange acquisitions that make their way into library collections. Whether it comes in book, electronic, 3-D or another format, the Most Interesting Item provided a touchstone for displays, conversation and general amusement for its library community.
2016: Edith Garland Dupré Library, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
