NATCHITOCHES – Megan Lowe has been named director of University Libraries at Northwestern State University. Her appointment has been approved by the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System. Lowe will manage Watson Library and Prince Library on NSU’s Natchitoches campus and libraries on the university’s Shreveport and Leesville-Fort Polk campuses.

Lowe has been a member of the library faculty at the University of Louisiana at Monroe since 2003. She has been director of the library since 2018, serving as academic and administrative head of the library. Lowe joined ULM’s faculty as a reference librarian in 2003 and was coordinator of public services from 2012 – 2016. From 2016 to 2018, she was interim assistant dean of the library and coordinator of public services.

“The University Libraries of Northwestern contain a lot of potential. I want to tap into and realize that potential,” said Lowe. “There’s a lot of great talent, energy, and enthusiasm among the faculty and staff of the University Libraries, and they are raring to go. I’m here to help them do all the wonderful things they want to do to make the University Libraries the very best they can be.”

Lowe wants to emphasize the important role the University Libraries can play in supporting Northwestern State’s academic programs. She will be looking for ways the libraries can better serve students, faculty, staff and the community at large.

“We want to move forward and try new things, make changes that are meaningful and responsive to the needs of our campus communities, and – above else – be a space where students feel like they can find support for academic and personal growth, achievement and success,” said Lowe.

Lowe has been active in statewide organizations including LOUIS: The Louisiana Library Network where she has chaired the LOUIS Executive Board. She is founder and editor of Codex, the Journal of the Louisiana Chapter of the Association of College and Research Libraries.

Lowe has co-authored articles in professional publications on library research and emotions in the library workplace. An upcoming publication will cover burnout among library deans and directors.

For more information of Northwestern State University Libraries, go to library.nsula.edu.