#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.

Kendall Caple is LSU Libraries’ Government Publications and Patent & Trademarks 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?  

What inspired me to become a librarian was my love for research, learning, and the fostering of knowledge by connecting people to the information they need or may not even have known existed.

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

What I enjoy most about being a government information specialist is that I’m not tied to just one specific academic discipline. Government agencies produce research and information for many subject areas ranging from engineering to the humanities. So, it’s rewarding to be able to connect patrons to these sometimes “hidden” resources that can lead to breakthroughs in their research.

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

A patron once reached out to me about their research project regarding the Pokémon Company International’s effect on U.S. social and economic interactions. Although the government isn’t usually the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about Pokémon, by working together, we found interesting government sources that connect the Pokémon Company to things like the digital economy and the tourism industry.

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

I enjoy playing with my dog, collecting Pokémon cards, and going to comic conventions.

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

In addition to staying up to date on current academic research trends, I believe that it is important to remain informed of social trends. An understanding of social trends helps to diversify knowledge sources and helps connect me to library users on a broader scale.

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.