MONROE, La. – Louisiana Delta Community College (LDCC) Library and Learning Resources has received the Best Outreach Award from LOUIS: The Louisiana Library Network in recognition of its Partnership in the Arts initiative with the Northeast Louisiana Arts Council. The award was presented during the LOUIS Users Conference on October 7, 2026, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The Best Outreach Award recognizes the dedication, planning, and execution of library outreach initiatives that increase awareness, appreciation, and engagement with library services. LRC Coordinator Nikita Shockey, and Library Systems and Technology Administrator Skyshun Smith, accepted the award on behalf of LRC Director Stephanie Clark Wilkes and the LDCC Library.
Through its collaboration with the Northeast Louisiana Arts Council, the LDCC Library has transformed campus spaces into accessible art galleries, bringing the work of local artists directly to students, faculty, staff, and visitors. The initiative expands access to the arts while celebrating the creativity and talent of artists throughout Northeast Louisiana.
Since its inception, the partnership has featured two exhibitions. The first showcased artwork at LDCC Monroe, while the second expanded to include photography displayed at both the Monroe and West Monroe campuses. The college and Arts Council plan to expand the program to all eight LDCC campuses in the coming years, creating additional opportunities for cultural engagement throughout the region.
Looking ahead, LDCC Library and Learning Resources also hopes to broaden its cultural outreach beyond visual art exhibitions by developing partnerships with local theatre organizations throughout the surrounding parishes. These potential collaborations would introduce performing arts opportunities to campus communities, further expanding students' access to the region's artistic and cultural offerings.
The response from students has been positive. Students have expressed appreciation for the artwork on display, attended exhibition receptions, and engaged directly with featured artists. By bringing the arts into spaces students already frequent, the initiative makes cultural experiences more accessible to those who may not otherwise have opportunities to attend traditional gallery exhibitions.
"Community college libraries have an important responsibility to create opportunities for learning and connection beyond the classroom," said Stephanie Clark Wilkes, Director of Library and Learning Resources at LDCC. "Our goal is to make the library a place where students feel welcome, discover something new, and engage with experiences they might not otherwise encounter. This recognition is particularly meaningful because it reflects the creativity and dedication of our team and the relationships we have built within our community. We're proud to see those efforts making a difference in the lives of our students."
The collaboration also provides local artists with opportunities to share their work with new audiences while strengthening connections between the college and Northeast Louisiana's creative community.
"Partnerships like this are exactly why the Arts Council exists. By bringing the work of Northeast Louisiana artists directly into LDCC's campus spaces, we're creating opportunities for students to engage with the arts as part of their everyday lives while giving regional artists greater visibility and new audiences for their work. It's a partnership that benefits everyone involved, and we're especially excited about the possibility of expanding that impact across all eight LDCC campuses. We're proud of what we've built together and look forward to what's ahead," said Abigail Handy-Garcia, Grants and Development Officer for the Northeast Louisiana Arts Council.
The recognition from LOUIS highlights the evolving role of academic libraries as centers for student engagement, community partnerships, and cultural enrichment. Through initiatives such as Partnership in the Arts, LDCC Library and Learning Resources continues to connect students with experiences that extend beyond the classroom while strengthening relationships with the communities it serves.