In Memorial
Judith Caruthers
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In
Memorial
Judith Ann Caruthers, 1943-2001
Judith Caruthers, former Director of
Libraries at LSU Health Sciences Center, died June 27th after fighting a
long and courageous battle with cancer. Her career at LSU spanned more
than 20 years. She began her Medical Center career in 1971 as a Library
Associate. She earned her Masters in Library Science at LSU in Baton
Rouge and then worked as a reference librarian, interlibrary loan
librarian, and head of reference. She left to pursue doctoral studies at
the University of Wisconsin in Madison returning to New Orleans in 1986
as Director of Libraries where she remained until illness forced her to
retire in September 1997. She became a tenured Associate Professor in
1990.
She served as a consultant in the
establishment of the Southeastern and Southwestern Area Health Education
Centers and was a visiting professor at the LSU School of Library and
Information Science in Baton Rouge. She was a member of the Medical
Library Association, the Association of Health Information Professionals
at the Distinguished Member level, the South Central Chapter of the
Medical Library Association, and the Health Sciences Library Association
of Louisiana.
The Library made many strides under
Judith's directorship; it moved into the world of automation by bringing
up, with the Shreveport Library, the online catalog in NOTIS and MEDLINE
online. The move from the old library at 1542 Tulane Avenue to the Isché
Library occurred in May 1989. Probably her greatest contribution to
librarianship was as a teacher. She influenced many young library school
students to become medical librarians, and many of them have said she
changed their lives; they all remember her with great affection.
Her interests were vast. She played the
flute with the LSU Medical Center Band in the 1970's, and she was
instrumental in saving an Enrique Alferez frieze when renovations
occurred at the Medical School. Mayor Marc Morial honored Judith for her
contribution in saving the frieze by declaring November 8, 1996 as
Judith Caruthers Day. She lived in the French Quarter for 30 years; she
purchased a home there and was in the process of renovating it when she
became ill. She loved living in New Orleans and the French Quarter, but
Alabama was always home and Auburn was her university. She was buried on
July 14th in Hugley, Alabama alongside her parents.
Farewell friend and colleague, rest in
peace.
Contributions to the
Judith Caruthers History of Medicine Fund may be sent to the LSU Health
Sciences Center Library, 433 Bolivar Street, New Orleans, LA 70112.
-- Wilba Swearingen
reprinted from the LSUHSC
Library Bulletin, Summer 2001
LSU
School of Dentistry Library, 1100 Florida Ave., Box 229, New Orleans, LA.
70119
504-619-8550, fax: 504-619-8783
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