Meet Michael Holt, LSU Libraries' new head of research & instruction services. Holt supervises the research & instruction services (RIS) department in LSU Library, which delivers library instruction, research consultations, and supports both student and faculty research across the University.

It was in the early 2000s when Holt got his start in librarianship while attending Valdosta State University. He became a graduate assistant working in the archives department while obtaining his master’s in history. Upon completion of his first master’s degree, he was offered a full-time position in the archives department while simultaneously completing his master’s in library and information science (MLIS). He later transferred to a position in the reference department. Now that he is at LSU Libraries, his goals include providing structure to the reference department, guiding reference librarians toward their goals, and continuing to uphold LSU Libraries' mission, which is to support the academic mission of the University by fostering teaching, learning, and research.

Born and raised in Cairo, Georgia, Holt is a self-proclaimed "South Georgia boy." He attended Cairo High School and obtained his bachelor's, two master's degrees, and a doctorate from Valdosta State University. In his spare time, he enjoys gaming in any form, reading tropey sci-fi & fantasy fiction, collecting typewriters, and, much to his family's dismay, expressing his creative side as an amateur musician.

His department consists of twelve faculty librarians who support a wide range of LSU's academic programs and research and learning initiatives, from landscape architecture to open and affordable educational resources (OER/AER). RIS also is responsible for planning and implementing many of the events and programming within the LSU Library such as Frankenfaire, the annual open house, and Media Literacy Week as well as hosting various graduate and faculty workshops. LSU Libraries is excited to welcome Holt and expects that the impact of his role on the University, global scholarship, and librarianship will be significant.