LSU Libraries Special Collections

06/01/2026

Congratulations to our very own Danielle Stoulig, and great work to Kelsey Gresham & Sarah Simms! We appreciate all three of you!

Each year, LSU Libraries honors employees who exemplify the Libraries’ commitment to service, innovation, and excellence.

1. Sarah Simms, Carolyn H. Hargrave Faculty Leadership Award

Sarah’s leadership in instruction has built lasting communities of practice that strengthen teaching across LSU Libraries and beyond. She launched (and facilitates) the Instruction Community of Practice, creating a practical, collaborative forum where librarians share strategies, test innovations, and refine classroom methods. Her colleagues credit her with cross-unit collaboration, professional growth, and follow-through on projects that improve instruction. Her commitment to peer learning has had a measurable, positive impact on LSU and the research library community nationwide.

2. Danielle Stoulig, Early Career Librarian Award

Since joining LSU Libraries in 2021, Danielle has become indispensable in Special Collections. As Head of Archival Processing, she has mastered the scale and complexity of the archival holdings, improved accessioning workflow (including born-digital records), created finding aids and MARC records, managed space and processing metrics, and supported acquisitions and donor relations. Danielle supervises staff, provides public service in Hill Memorial Library’s Reading Room, and regularly volunteers to assist colleagues with projects. Her technical expertise, problem-solving, and collaborative spirit have greatly strengthened collections care and researcher access.

3. Kelsey Gresham, Library Staff Award

Kelsey joined the Libraries a few short years ago and quickly became the dependable engine behind many LSU Libraries operations. As Executive Assistant to the Dean, she coordinates complex schedules, organizes events, manages meetings and hospitality, and supports donors and visitors with professionalism and discretion. Her many nominators praised her efficiency, attention to detail, and positivity as she often stepped in, unseen, to solve problems and keep workflows running smoothly. Her ability to juggle competing priorities, make others feel welcome, and take care of logistical heavy lifting has significantly improved daily life across the Libraries.

More: https://lib.lsu.edu/260528/awards

05/29/2026

Happy Friday! Today’s favorite is brought to you by Meredith Contreras, our Outreach & Events Coordinator and the person behind our social media accounts. She chose How to Know the Wildflowers as one of her favorites; this 1908 botanical field guide from the McIlhenny collection highlights the flora of the northeastern U.S. where Meredith spent much of her childhood. She said, “as an amateur gardener and floral enthusiast, I find the personification in the title so charming, as if to learn about the flowers contained within, you must become acquainted with them as friends. The flowers are arranged by color, and the descriptions twine together common and botanical names, poetic quotations, and thoughtful observations from the author. The field guide was written by Frances Theodora Parsons, also known as Mrs. William Starr Dana, a prolific nature writer from the turn of the century as well as an outspoken advocate for women's suffrage, and it was illustrated by Marion Satterlee and Elsie Louise Shaw.”

To learn more about this book and our other staff favorites, visit Hill to see our current exhibition, “Unlocking Special Collections,” now through July 31st!

05/21/2026

Last month, LSU Libraries Special Collections celebrated Audubon Day, our annual showing of John James Audubon's Birds of America. 🦩

This year marked the debut of The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America, one of our newest and most exciting acquisitions. Visitors viewed the incredible double elephant folios and also had the opportunity to talk with ornithological experts from the LSU Museum of Natural Science and LSU College of Art + Design students about the process of printmaking. Louisiana Master Naturalists of Greater Baton Rouge shared some of their resources and provided fun temporary tattoos to guests of all ages, and the Raptor Co-Chairs from the Wildlife Hospital of Louisiana were once again a crowd favorite! 🦅

Guests also had the opportunity to see our current exhibition "Unlocking Special Collections: A Selection of Staff Favorites."

Our annual Bird Day was a hoot! Did you miss out on the fun? Stay tuned for future announcements of next year's date! 🦉

05/19/2026

Congratulations, Ben! Best of luck as you take on your next steps!

05/19/2026

Congratulations, Cadence! Thank you for all of your hard work over the last three years!

05/14/2026

Calling all LSU faculty! The deadline to apply for the 2026-2027 LSU Libraries Special Collections Faculty Fellowship has been extended. Applications are now due Friday, May 22.

To learn more about last year's program, you can read our blog post here: https://lib.lsu.edu/260423/2025facultyfellows

To apply, visit: https://lib.lsu.edu/special

04/30/2026

TODAY in Free Speech Alley! Come visit us from 12pm-4pm for snacks, goodies, and Gumbo history! We can't wait to see you! 💛🍛

04/24/2026

Audubon Day is tomorrow! There are still a few spots available-- don't miss out! Register today: https://lib.lsu.edu/special/audubon 🦩

Save the date! Registrations for our annual Audubon Day event will open this Friday, February 20th at 9am. Mark your calendars and reserve your spot for this year's celebration of all things birds and art. 🦩

04/22/2026

Thank you to The Reveille reporter Savannah Boynes for highlighting our new exhibition "Unlocking Special Collections"! We are so excited to share our staff's favorite items from the collection, and we hope our visitors to Hill find favorites of their own. The exhibition is free and open to the public now through July 31st.

's Hill Memorial Library's latest exhibition showcases materials curated by library staff, and works to remove the imaginary locks that frame the university archives.

https://lsureveille.com/282391/entertainment/hill-memorial-library-lsu-special-collections-unlocking-special-collections-a-selection-of-staff-favorites-exhibition/

04/15/2026

Something new & exciting is coming to this year’s Audubon Day! 🐻🐿️

Here is a sneak peek of our newly acquired first edition of The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America by John James Audubon. This three-volume set will be on display alongside Audubon’s Birds of America on Saturday, April 25.

While our annual showing of Audubon’s work is nearly full, there are a few spots left at 12pm and 1pm.
Register today: https://lib.lsu.edu/special/audubon

For more information on the acquisition of the Quadrupeds, visit https://lib.lsu.edu/260326/quadrupeds