KAY WALL NAMED UNIVERSITY LIBRARIAN AT SOUTHERN MISS
By David Tisdale

HATTIESBURG - A veteran member of The University of Southern Mississippi's library staff has been appointed to oversee the university's library operations.

Kay Wall, who joined the University Libraries more than 20 years ago as a reference librarian, has served University Libraries in a variety of capacities, including director of public services and associate dean. She assumes her new duties as university librarian July 1.

As university librarian, Wall will have administrative authority for Southern Miss library services and operations on the Hattiesburg campus, including at Joseph Cook Library and the Special Collections Department in McCain Library and Archives.

Wall said she wants to continue the University Libraries' tradition of providing quality service to Southern Miss students, faculty and staff and to help educate people about the variety of services and opportunities that the university's libraries offer.

"We have valuable information and human resources at University Libraries," Wall said. "I think people don't always understand everything that our libraries have to offer, and I consider it an opportunity to convey that to the university community."

Wall, a native of Marks, said the biggest changes in the libraries at Southern Miss have been the expansion of the operations at Cook Library-which she participated in as a member of the library's building program team in 1997-and the advances in technology.

"She's a hard worker, and certainly knows her field well," said Dr. John Rachal, a professor of adult education at Southern Miss. "I have a lot of respect for her and I think she'll do a great job."

A lifelong affinity for libraries and helping library patrons give Wall her inspiration. "I've always loved libraries and have been intrigued by the opportunities for discovery that libraries offer," she said.

Wall has a bachelor's degree from the University of Mississippi and a master's degree in library science from Louisiana State University. She is married to Lebo Wall and they have three children, Ginny, Mary Darby and Leavell.

-30-