SLU Libraries continues to evolve as a hub for innovative research and teaching as we strive to meet the changing needs of our SLU community. We work closely with colleagues in various colleges, departments, and programs to foster a culture of creative inquiry, critical thinking, and lifelong learning. In particular, our subject-liaison librarians in the Research and Teaching department serve as dedicated partners for faculty, staff, and students at every stage of their academic journey, and we have been working to expand our team to strengthen the support we provide for our university community. We are excited to announce that two new librarians have joined the Medical Center Library, and over the next few months, four new subject-liaison librarians will be starting at Pius XII Memorial Library.
Subject-liaison librarians, equipped with disciplinary expertise in diverse research strategies and platforms, serve as the bridge between the library’s robust resources and the evolving needs of each academic community. In classrooms across campus, librarians collaborate with instructors to integrate information and digital literacy into curricula, preparing students to navigate and analyze scholarly information with confidence. For example, this fall the History Matters course taught by Dr. Claire Gilbert worked closely with history liaison and rare books librarian, Stephanie Geller, to introduce students to finding, examining, and understanding using primary sources. Students attended several class sessions with Geller, including a visit to rare books to examine primary sources in person.
Our instructional partnerships are shaped by the unique context and requirements of each discipline, whether supporting first-year students in their first forays into academic research or guiding advanced scholars through the use of complex databases and research methodologies. Librarians can teach your students how to use discipline-specific databases, tailored to your unique course curriculum, or collaborate with you to design course assignments and projects that integrate information literacy or digital literacy in new ways.
Outside the classroom, our librarians offer expert research support tailored to both faculty and student projects. Through services like one-on-one consultations, our librarians support researchers in navigating the research process more effectively so they can achieve greater impact in their scholarship. We would love the opportunity to meet with you or your students to connect you with valuable resources and help further your academic research.
Looking ahead, we are exploring expanded service models and collections, investing in technology and resources that reflect the university’s dynamic ambitions. Our growing team of librarians reflects the diverse, ever-evolving needs of our university community, which we are proud to support. We invite all faculty and staff to connect with your subject-liaison librarians to collaborate on new initiatives, explore scholarly resources, or simply discover how the library can support your teaching, research, and creative projects.
– Holly Reiter, Head of Research and Teaching
SLU Libraries can help you cover open access publishing fees! In 2025, SLU Libraries negotiated several Read & Publish agreements with publishers that include coverage for Open Access Article Processing Charges (APCs) alongside our subscription. In less than a year of these agreements, we have helped SLU authors avoid over $30,000 in publishing costs. You can learn more about our active agreements in this Research Guide. We have new agreements coming in 2026 with publishers, including Springer and the Royal Society of Chemistry. If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Pugachev (sarah.pugachev@slu.edu).
Santa Claus greets children in the Samuel Cupples House during Christmas on the Quad on December 7, 2024. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
SLU will celebrate Christmas on the Quad on December 6, starting at 4:30 p.m. Be sure to visit the Samuel Cupples House to hear “The Night Before Christmas” and take pictures with Santa Claus. The blessing and tree-lighting ceremony will be held at 6:30 p.m. on the lawn between Pius Library and DuBourg Hall.
SLU’s libraries will be adjusting their hours around the upcoming holidays.
The most up-to-date SLU library hours are also listed on our website.
SLU’s museums will also be closed for the holidays:
Breck Turner started November 3 as a health science librarian at the Medical Center Library. He was previously a biomedical librarian at the National Institutes of Health Library, and he will serve as subject librarian for the School of Medicine Research programs and the College for Public Health and Social Justice. Contact Breck at 314-977-8812 or breck.turner@slu.edu.
Eli Gress joined SLU from the University of Arizona Libraries November 10. Eli is now the research librarian for science and engineering. Contact Eli at 314-977-3098 or at elizabeth.gress@slu.edu.
Denise Chappell joined SLU as a social sciences research librarian on November 18. Denise previously served as branch manager at Scenic Regional Library in Union, Missouri. Contact Denise at 314-977-3595 or denise.chappell@slu.edu.