#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.

Larissa Elliott is LSU Libraries’ Agricultural Support 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?  

When I was a freshman in college, I was assigned a work-study position in LSU’s main library, and that is where my love for working in libraries began. I was inspired to become a librarian by my fellow LSU librarians, Randa Lopez Morgan and Sarah Simms, who very clearly love their jobs and talk about them with passion. 

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

I love that I get to work with such a wide range of subjects under the College of Agriculture. You never know what brilliant research topic a patron is going to bring to you. It’s always fun to challenge myself to find the information that will best suit their needs!

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

Last semester I was helping a graduate student who had just returned to college after completing their bachelor's 25 years ago, and they felt like they were starting over completely. We met several times during the semester, and it was always such a joy to see their eyes light up when I would explain a new research technique or search strategy that they had never considered before.

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

My husband and I are avid hikers and love to spend as much time as we can in the woods with our dog! We welcomed a baby girl this past year, and we are eager to take her on her first camping trip this summer!

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

Talking with my colleagues at LSU and others in the field always inspires me to try new approaches for my instruction sessions.

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.