Reba A. Best
Professor and Head of Cataloging
B.S., 1975, East Carolina University
M.L.S., 1979, Florida State University
Reba Best
About
Professor Best came to UT in 1979 and established the Law Library's Cataloging Department. During her tenure, the library's extensive collection has become more accessible through the use of consistent cataloging practices and standards and the transition to a web-based online catalog. In addition to providing description and access to the library's physical holdings, she is now moving the online catalog towards being a "portal" to information sources (fee-based and free) available on the web. Professor Best has served the Library, College and the University through her service on numerous committees, as a Law School representative to the Faculty Senate, and as a mentor to untenured faculty. She was a recipient in 1997 of the College of Law's Carden Award for Outstanding Service and in 1999 of the UTK Employee Team Excellence Award for Promoting the Spirit of Teamwork. Professor Best is a board member of the Knoxville Branch of the American Association of University Women, serves as the organization's webmaster, and is the State AAUW Treasurer. Professor Best has co-authored with UT colleague Cheryn Picquet several research bibliographies including The Insanity Defense: A Bibliographic Research Guide [2002]. She is the author of Identity Theft: A Legal Research Guide published by Hein in 2004. An updated and revised version of the Identity Theft book was published as a chapter in the 10-volume legislative history, Federal Identity Theft Law: Major Enactments of the 108th Congress in 2005.