#SubjectLibrarianSaturday is a social media and blog series highlighting LSU Libraries’ subject librarians, whose job is to help students and faculty with their research at any stage. 

Randa Lopez Morgan is LSU Libraries’ Agriculture Librarian. The responses below have been edited for length and clarity. 

How do you stay current with developments and trends in your field to better assist patrons with their research needs? 

I am President-Elect of the United States Agricultural Information Network (USAIN). This is THE organization for information professionals in agriculture, and I have been a member since 2015.  

What inspired you to become a librarian, and how did you become involved in your current field of expertise?   

Ms. Taylor, my middle school librarian, always made me feel important, welcomed, and seen. She was incredible and the reason I became a librarian today. I eventually became the agriculture (ag) librarian after seeing an opening and taking a chance. The previous ag librarian told me that knowing how to build relationships, talk to people, and do research was just as important as having a background in agriculture. After meeting the ag faculty, staff, and students, I haven't looked back. They truly are the best people on campus! 

What do you enjoy most about helping patrons with their research and information needs?   

I love seeing the variety of research my students, faculty, and even extension agents are doing. They are researching such a cool variety of topics across the state, from industrial hemp production to the management of invasive species. 

Can you share a memorable experience or success story from assisting a patron with their research project? 

One example is when I helped a news reporter with a reference question an hour before they went live on air! He was asking about the weight of a barrel of oil. I was able to confirm the weight, and he was able to do his news report successfully.  

Outside of your work as a librarian, what are some of your interests or hobbies?     

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, doing yoga, chasing around my almost-four-year-old, gardening, and dancing with a Mardi Gras dance group, the Baton Rouge BeignYAYs. I've been an active member of the BeignYAYs since 2017 and serve on the board. Dancing with my friends brings me so much joy, and I've recruited several other LSU Librarians to join me! 

Contact a subject librarian to book a research consultation and become familiar with the most frequently used library databases and information sources in your specific area of study.