Story originally ran in Perspectives Fall 2002

Guyla Houston has devoted her entire professional librar y career to Oklahoma State University. She received her Masters of Library Science degree from Louisiana State University in June of 1963. The next month, she started work as an Assistant Acquisitions Librarian in Serials at the OSU Library. Edmon Low, the man for which the building is named, hired Houston. Twelve years later in 1975, she accepted her current position as Head of the Acquisitions Department.

A lot has changed since Houston started at OSU. She has been most impressed by the benefits of automation. According to Houston, "It has enabled us to be more productive and provide more information for our
patrons. Things are more precise and easier to access. It alleviates some of the patrons' angst. Not all, of course, they still have to read it."

July 5 was Houston's last day at the Library. She has plenty planned to keep her busy during retirement. "First
we’re going to visit our son and his family in Augusta, Georgia. He is stationed at Fort Gordon." When she returns, Houston has multiple research projects planned. She'll be working on four topics: nuclear submarines,
Lawrence of Arabia, World War II, and the Flynn Collection Bibliography. In addition, she and her husband are
planning to go back to Europe to visit friends. Houston says the greatest job satisfaction has come from working with such wonderful people: students, staff and other faculty.

Her employees, obviously, feel the same way about her. Houston’s entire department nominated her for this year’s Outstanding Librar y Employee Award. The Award was presented to Houston at the Spring Edmon Low
Library Staff Association meeting.

During her career, Houston has supervised over 200 student assistants and several dozen support staff. She
said, “They are scattered all over the world now. I’m hoping that any former support staff or student worker still living in the area can come to the reception.” The Library is hosted a retirement reception on June 27 in the Peggy V. Helmerich Browsing Room.

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Some Local Resources:

Coming Soon--View the items in the Guyla B. Houston Science Fiction Collection

Coming Soon--View items held in the OSU Libraries about science fiction