Randy A. DeSoto, the director of The St. John the Baptist parish Library system for over 25 years was the recipient of this year’s Essae M. Culver Distinguished Service Award at the annual Louisiana Library Association convention.

The Culver award is the association’s highest ranking service award and is presented to those “whose professional service and achievements, whose leadership in Louisiana association work and whose lifetime accomplishments in a field of librarianship within the state merit recognition of particular value to Louisiana librarianship.” The award is named in memory of Essae Culver, who was Louisiana’s first State Librarian.