"Gunter Library News" is the monthly e-newsletter highlighting current events and happenings at the Gunter Library at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, University of Southern Mississippi. | | |
Primo Research Assistant
This new feature is a generative AI-powered tool that enables users to perform natural language queries against Southern Miss Libraries’ wealth of online academic content. When you submit a query, Primo Research Assistant will identify the top five relevant sources (such as articles and books) and produce an overview response crafted from the abstracts or other descriptive data of those five sources including the citations used.
The Primo Research Assistant accommodates searches in languages other than English and will generate the overview response in the same language as the query regardless of the language used in the source materials.
| Links to Primo Research Assistant, feedback survey, and a 6-minute demonstration video are here: | | |
We Need Your Feedback
This link is for a short one-question survey regarding your preferences for print or e-book formats. Please take a few seconds to respond!
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So far, we have about 20 responses. Please help me provide feedback to the dean of University Libraries to ensure we at Gunter Library are providing our library users with the forms of information they prefer.
Thank you!
| | Dr. Kelly Darnell Chosen for Harvard Women’s Leadership Forum | | |
Our GCRL Director Dr. Kelly Darnell spent a week at Harvard University as part of the Harvard Business School Women’s Leadership Forum. Dr. Darnell and 42 women representing 15 different countries attended the one-week intensive program. This Executive Education program focuses on these Key topics:
- Improve your ability to drive change and help your organization achieve key goals
- Lead with confidence and influence
- Get inspiration and tools for creating the career of your dreams
- Explore new ideas in a supportive environment
- Enhance your organization's culture and leadership capacity
Congratulations, Dr. Darnell for leading the way as our first woman Director of GCRL.
| Graduate Student Spotlight | |
Hailee Nigro is our student in the spotlight for March. Hailee is from central Fl and completed her B.S. in Marine Biology at the University of West Florida. Hailee is in the fourth year of her PhD with Dr. Zachary Darnell of the Craboratory.
Her research focuses on the effects of temperature on growth, mature size, and reproduction in the blue crab, having implications for the blue crab fishery.
Hailee has shared her experience as a graduate student three times by being a speaker for our GCRL Science Café for Summer Field Program students. She is shown here with her best friend Roofus.
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Susan A. Siltanen
Graduate Student Research Symposium
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The Susan A. Siltanen Graduate Student Research Symposium will be held on Thursday, April 16, 2026 from 10:00am-11:30am in the Thad Cochran Center. Winners will be announced during the Awards Luncheon in the Thad Cochran Ballroom from 12:00pm-1:00pm.
The symposium provides graduate students with an opportunity to present their research to faculty, staff, and students in a friendly competitive environment through oral and poster presentations. The symposium aims to enhance the scholarly environment and highlight the creative and innovative research conducted by Southern Miss graduate students.
Symposium Registration Deadline: Friday, April 3, 2026
Presentation Deadline: Friday, April 10, 2026
For more information:
| | Oscar Sette (middle front) with NAFO co-workers | | |
The Oscar E. Sette Award for Outstanding Marine Fishery Biologist
The O.E. Sette award for general excellence is given annually by the Marine Fisheries Section of the American Fisheries Society. The award is named for Oscar Elton Sette, a pioneer in integrating fisheries, oceanography, and meteorology. The NOAA research ship Oscar Elton Sette stationed in Honolulu, is also named in his honor.
Nominations should be submitted by 31 May 2026. Please use the link below for information and submissions.
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Let's Welcome our newest hire to GCRL!
Olivia Proctor – Marine Educator – Marine Education Center
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SPRING BREAK
(FOR STUDENTS ONLY)
March 16th-20th
(Gunter Library will be open)
| | Happening at Gunter Library | | Did you know Gunter Library at GCRL is a stop for the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area Passport stamp? | | |
A visitor from New Orleans recently got his passport stamped at Gunter Library, and he received a bag with a GCRL cup and brochures about our Centers and GCRL.
| | For more information about the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area and their dedication to preserving historical sites, please see their web page. | | Beads for Special Needs Project | | Library Manager Chris Cahill, Library Assistant Brennan Collins, and Librarian Joyce Shaw. Photo by M. Le | | Gunter Library was one of six drop off point for the North Bay Civitan Club’s 2026 “Beads for Special Needs” project. This year over 1500 lbs. of beads were collected and distributed to local high school special education programs in Long Beach and St. Martin. The recycled beads have an environmental impact by keeping the plastic, glass, and metal out of our waterways. | | |
The Beachcomber’s Guide to Marine Debris. This richly illustrated book serves as the ideal guide to the items that litter the world’s beaches.
Forget seashells and other fauna and flora. Here, you will find what a beachcomber is most likely to encounter these days: glass, plastic, wood, metal, paper, oil, and other sources of marine pollution!
This book has 700 photos of debris and includes sources, decomposition states, and the threats each poses.
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The Evolution of Cetacean Societies : Uncovering the Social Complexity of Whales and Dolphins.
Cetaceans—whales, dolphins, and porpoises—represent an evolutionary peak with respect to their advanced cognitive capacities; flexible communication systems; and structured, multilevel societies. Indeed, the social lives of whales and dolphins have long fascinated scientists and the public alike. The Evolution of Cetacean Societies provides a comprehensive overview of the significant advancements made in studying cetacean behavior and ecology over the last twenty-five years, focusing on our growing understanding of these animals’ complex social lives.
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BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
All faculty, students, and staff--now is the time to submit your recommendations for books to be purchased to support your teaching, research, and learning. Please include as much information as possible--author, title, date, publisher, etc. and indicate your preference for print or e-books. Please note there are some publisher restrictions with e-books including the number of pages you can download (usually 60 pages or less). If this will impede your use of the book, then be sure to indicate you are requesting print.
We need your recommendations asap. (Print books ordered for COA are housed at Gunter Library at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory.)
Please email your submission to:
guntergcrl@usm.edu
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| | Please note that per University Libraries policies, only e-books may be ordered after March 16th. If you prefer print, then the order can be placed, but will not be fulfilled until the 2026 Fall semester. | | University Libraries has a Copyright Task Force | | |
To contact University Libraries Copyright Task Force, email: copyright@usm.edu.
The taskforce members are:
Josh Cromwell
Chair Scholarly Communications Manager, Cook Library
Jessica Clark
Assistant Curator of Historical Manuscripts, McCain Library
Tracy Englert
Science, Nursing, and Health Librarian, Cook Library
Elizabeth La Beaud
Head of Library Technology, Cook Library
Neal Lawson
Business Librarian, Gulf Coast Library
Grace Schmitt
Access Services Librarian, Gulf Coast Library
PURPOSE & CHARGE
In this information age, it is extremely important to use and manage information effectively and efficiently, especially copyrighted information. USM university libraries should be a leader in policy development and best practices on campus, advocating for a balanced approach to how intellectual property is used. This group will develop recommendations for the libraries to consider in promoting policies and best practices for the legal and ethical use of information.
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St. Paddy's Day Celebration
Ocean Springs, Saturday, March 14th starting at 10 am (free event)
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Civitan Special Needs
Family Egg Hunt & Lunch
D'Iberville, March 21st, begins at 10am, D'Iberville City Hall on Automall Pkwy
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Spring Arts Festival
Ocean Springs, Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th of March, 9am-5pm (free event)
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GCRL Science Café Presenter
Dr. Kim de Mutser
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Dr. de Mutsert is an Associate Professor at USM's Division of Coastal Sciences
School of Ocean Science and Engineering.
Join us on Monday, March 30th for our next Science Cafe.
| | "Like" the GCRL Science Cafe Facebook page for more information about upcoming Science Cafe events. | | If you missed any of our virtual GCRL Science Cafes visit our Marine Education Center’s (MEC) Facebook page at the link below. | | |
Earth Day Event
Ocean Springs, Saturday, April 18th, 10am-2:30pm
at Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Arts Center (free event)
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Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
703 East Beach Drive
Ocean Springs, MS 39564
Joyce Shaw, Librarian & Professor
Chris Cahill, Library Manager
Brennan Collins, Library Assistant
Marjie Williams, Library Assistant
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