Southern Library Support Staff Conference 2026

Whose Catalog?: Homosaurus as a Pathway to LGBTQ+ Belonging - Jude Romines (PowerPoint uploaded, link below speakers)
Since 2021, Emory University Libraries (EUL) has been adding Homosaurus, a linked data vocabulary of LGBTQ+ terms, to bibliographic records in the catalog. The goal of this project is to increase the discoverability of LGBTQ+ resources, which are often under-described due to various factors, including representational gaps in Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) and the challenge of retroactively enhancing older records. While correcting outdated and harmful language and increasing access have been at the forefront of EUL's Homosaurus project, positive feedback from faculty, staff, and students has demonstrated another benefit: fostering a sense of belonging and affirmation in catalog users. This presentation will explore Homosaurus as a cataloging tool at EUL, share lessons learned from our outreach efforts, and discuss how this work creates pathways for education while nurturing the library community's sense of representation and ownership in catalog systems.

It takes a village: Collaborating with a family resource center to improve access to consumer health information - Kayce Gill (PowerPoint uploaded, link below speakers)
The Family Resource Center (FRC) staff at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center faced significant challenges impacting their ability to provide health information to patients and their families. Some of the challenges included inadequate staff access to Alma, missing items, catalog records with incomplete and/or wrong metadata, and a paper-based checkout process. To address these issues, the Eskind Biomedical Library staff collaborated with the FRC staff to implement a multi-faceted plan: establish Alma accounts and staff training, conduct a systematic print inventory using Alma's print inventory tool, reconcile discrepancies between physical holdings and Alma records, and withdraw obsolete materials. Eskind staff also created shelf categories to make browsing easier for patrons and developed an Alma Analytics dashboard with key data to assist the FRC staff with loan statistics. Future projects include developing a plan for lost items as well as finding a way to combine print books and ebooks into one catalog. 

Meeting Students Where They Are: Promoting Electronic Resources at University of Florida's Annual Fall Fest - Sheri L. Edwards
Each Fall semester, the University of Florida (UF) Libraries engages in a self-created outreach program known as "Fall Fest."  The program is designed to draw students of all levels to information booths that promote various services and resources the UF Libraries offer.  Fall Fests in 2024 and 2025 revealed a gap in the promotion of electronic resources specifically, resulting in the electronic resources unit (ERU) creating various pocket-sized cards to denote databases of electronic resources geared toward for various majors.  This lightning round describes the processes and work that went into the ERU making connections with students outside our typical behind-the-scenes work of setting up and troubleshooting access to electronic resources.  This lightning round also discusses learning objectives for our audience and recommended electronic resources-based outreach for future Fall Fests.