LONG BEACH -- The Katrina Research Center and an archivist with the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast are recipients of a Mississippi Humanities Council"s 2012 Humanities Award.

Librarian Shugana Williams and the 4-year-old center at the Gulf Park campus in Long Beach will share the"Preserver of Mississippi Culture" award with Edie Greene and Mississippi Public Broadcasting in Jackson.

The awards recognize contributions by Mississippians in the study and understanding of the humanities.

Other recipients:

Humanities Scholar Award: Dr. Elizabeth Anne Payne of Oxford

Humanities Educator Award: Rachel Jarman of Jackson

Humanities Partner Award: Beverly Norris and the Columbus Arts Council

Special Recognition Award: Forrest W. Galey of Jackson

The 2011 Humanities Teacher Awards also will be presented at the Feb. 24 event.

Williams, of Gulfport, has worked at USM for 10 years. This is her first award from the Humanities Council.

The Katrina Research Center, on the third floor of USM Gulf Coast"s Library, is a public clearinghouse for historical and current information and knowledge, such as the natural, physical, social, political, economic and spiritual aspects of recovery from Hurricane Katrina and other disasters.

Since it opened, Williams has created exhibits and worked with other institutions to bring national and state exhibits to the Coast.

She also arranges tours for school groups and conducts workshops on preserving family memories and library collections.

Williams said she wants it to be a cultural center"where people can come view our exhibits and take part in our programs and be a place for artists to display work."