#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.

Sarah Simms is LSU Libraries’ Undergraduate and Student Success Librarian. The responses below have been edited for length and clarity.

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

I have a love of learning and helping others! I hadn't planned on becoming an instruction librarian in academia, but when I took a position at another university over a decade ago, I fell in love with teaching.

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

My favorite part of my job is teaching and exploring how we can advocate for creativity in the research process.

How do you approach research consultations to ensure patrons feel comfortable and supported? 

To me, every consultation is just a conversation about someone's research. I look forward to hearing about what someone is interested in and how I can help them fill in any gaps in their research. To me, it's like a scavenger hunt, and the best course of action to make patrons feel comfortable and supported is to first listen and then let them know how excited I am to be able to help them in their process.

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

I love to travel! Recently, I have focused my travel adventures around visiting national parks.

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

I'm always learning from my colleagues through various mediums. Reading professional literature, following colleagues on social media who are doing incredible work, attending and presenting at professional conferences, and attending webinars and training sessions help me stay up to date. 

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.