Cara Key has joined the LSU Libraries as the Metadata Librarian in the Resource Description & Metadata Services department. Key has a master’s degree in library and information science from Florida State University and a BA in anthropology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Her professional library career began at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, where she spent time in technical services, access services, and finally special collections. She further developed her archival knowledge as Librarian in the Naval Historical Collection at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, and has also worked at the Sasebo's naval base library in Japan and at South University in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Most recently, she was a Research Analyst for the United States Joint Staff in Suffolk, Virginia.

As Metadata Librarian, Key will develop standards, policies, and workflows for the implementation of metadata to support discovery and management of digital resources. She is looking forward to collaborating across departments, and in particular to contributing to the development of the Louisiana Digital Library. She is thrilled to join LSU's forward-thinking library community and hopes she can make a significant long-term impact.

Key lived in six states and overseas before arriving in Louisiana; she calls Greensboro, North Carolina home. She relocated with her husband and young daughter, and they are all excited to explore Baton Rouge’s rich culture and history.