News release Public Information Office  SLU 10880   Hammond, LA 70402   phone: 985-549-2341   fax: 985-549-2061 publicinfo@selu.edu Spring 2004 news releases Public Information home News archive Contact: Rene Abadie Date: 2/10/05   REFERENCE GUIDE BY SOUTHEASTERN LIBRARIAN EARNS NATIONAL RECOGNITION      HAMMOND --  A reference guide on state government information sources conceived and edited by a Southeastern Louisiana University librarian has been named an Outstanding Academic Title of 2004 by an American Library Association publication.      “Tapping State Government Information Sources,” a reference book developed by Lori L. Smith, head of government documents at Southeastern’s Sims Memorial Library, was one of 10 general reference works recognized by “Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries” as representing the most significant print and electronic works reviewed. “Choice” is considered the premier reviewing medium for college, university and research libraries, evaluating over 6,000 titles every year.       Smith’s book is a state-by-state review of state government publications, web sites and commercial sources. The book was published by Greenwood Publishing Group and written with four other co-authors selected by Smith: Daniel Barkley of the University of New Mexico, Daniel D. Cornwall of Alaska State Library; Southeastern library director Eric W. Johnson, and J. Louise Malcomb of Indiana University.      Smith, who joined the Southeastern library in 1991, is chair of the Louisiana Advisory Council for the State Documents Depository Program, which advises the Recorder of Documents Office at the state library. The office gathers publications produced by state agencies and distributes them to libraries around the state. Smith initiated work on the reference book in an attempt to aid the council in determining the best methods of cataloging, distributing and preserving Louisiana publications.