2006 Legislative Staff Achievement Award Winners: The David R. Poynter Legislative Research Library, Louisiana Senate Law Library, Louisiana Front row, L to R: Frances Thomas, Carmen Geologo (student intern), Jessica Foley (student intern), Robyn Cockerham Back row, L to R: Laura Edmonston, Suzie Johnston, Pat Stewart, Arthur McEnany, Marilyn Kitchell, Berlene Morgan Not pictured: Kate Lemon

It is a great pleasure to announce this year's winners of the LRL Legislative Staff Achievement Award—all of the library staff members of the Louisiana legislature:  The David R. Poynter Legislative Research Library and the Senate Law Library. We chose to honor and recognize all of the staff members, rather than an individual, for their special efforts and successes following the disasters of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita last fall.  Their team work included researching legislation from other states such as disaster recovery contracts, small business assistance, housing assistance, emergency elections, debris removal, loan programs and federal funds relief.  They helped with research for the Law Library of Louisiana, located in the historic French Quarter of New Orleans, while its staff was evacuated and services suspended. After regular library work schedules they also assisted with a special, temporary Legislative Resource Center that was open 14 hours a day fielding calls from survivors who needed help and information and from others offering resources and assistance.  They again worked long hours through two special sessions in November and February and their regular session which ended June 19, 2006. All this in addition to opening their homes to friends and family members evacuated from the disaster areas. Please join me in extending our congratulations and esteem to our dedicated—and tired--colleagues. Tracey Kimball Legislative Council Service LRL Chair, 2005-06