Necia Parker-Gibson, agriculture librarian and professor for the U of A Libraries, will retire Dec. 31 after 32 years of service.
“Necia is incredibly knowledgeable in her primary field and goes above and beyond to use that knowledge to help as many in the U of A community as possible,” said Jason Battles, dean of University Libraries. “Her high level of involvement in so many aspects of the University Libraries’ operations, from volunteering for committee work to tabling sessions and numerous other tasks, has made her an invaluable part of what we do. She embodies what it means to be an academic librarian. Necia has spent her career helping thousands of students and faculty be successful in their courses and research. She is the consummate colleague and just an outstanding representative of what the University of Arkansas Libraries are and aspire to always be. We will sorely miss her, even as we wish her all the best in a well-deserved retirement.”
Parker-Gibson began as a library instruction coordinator for the Reference Department in 1991. She was promoted to associate librarian and tenured in 1997, when she began to serve as the subject specialist for communication, psychology, sociology, criminal justice and the School of Social Work. She went on to serve as the librarian for agriculture, environmental sciences, plant sciences and the School of Human Environmental Sciences.
Parker-Gibson said she knew from a young age that she wanted to have a career in agriculture.
“I was a farm kid, and I studied agriculture as an undergraduate,” she said. “Once I knew that such a position existed, I always wanted to be an agriculture librarian.”
A chance encounter at a barber shop in Baton Rouge served as the impetus for her to pursue a degree in library science. She took her son in for a haircut, and another patron struck up a conversation with her about library school, ultimately offering her an assistantship. Parker-Gibson said she hadn’t intended to begin school while her children were still so young, but she couldn’t pass up the opportunity.
“When something like that is dropped in your lap, you take it,” she said.
She started the program at Louisiana State University that semester, taking night classes.
Because her family had sold their farm in upstate New York and moved to Northwest Arkansas, Parker-Gibson sought a position with the U of A. Her favorite aspect of the job has been working with students.
“It pleases me right down to the ground when I can get somebody on a good path with what they’re trying to do,” she said, noting that her background in agriculture has been a big help in answering questions and assisting researchers.
In addition to serving students and faculty, Parker-Gibson has conducted her own research, contributing to a national report alongside then-doctoral student Marei Houpert and writing an award-winning book with associate librarian Patricia Kirkwood. She worked with Martha Anderson, head of Digital Services, to digitize seven collections of materials from the Arkansas Agricultural Extension Station, creating a substantial digital collection that can be used worldwide; Anderson reports that much use comes from the developing world. The effort was funded by Project CERES and the University Libraries.
She is grateful to the many people who have collaborated with her and encouraged her along the way. They are too numerous to list, but one she keeps in mind particularly is Kinne Colpitts.
“Kinne Colpitts was serving as the engineering librarian when I began here,” she said. “I used to refer to her as my library godmother because she really did gently look over my shoulder and push me in certain directions, and I admired her a lot. After she retired, I got to make the presentation for her to receive the Distinguished Service Award from the Arkansas Library Association, and that was very satisfying.”
Parker-Gibson has also enjoyed writing LibGuides, which will remain available to researchers after her retirement. She said her “greatest hits” are Getting Better Results with Google Scholar and Getting Better Results with Web of Science, both of which have been heavily used.
“Necia is a consummate professional, always thoughtful, conscientious and welcoming,” said Adriana Gonzalez, associate dean for Research and Learning. “I have learned a great deal from her, and she’s been a wonderful sounding board for me. She will certainly be missed not just by me, but by so many!”
In her retirement, Parker-Gibson looks forward to spending more time with family, cycling, and writing articles and children’s books.
“Beyond that, who knows?” she said.