Emily Moxley is the Head of Library Access Services at the Central Oregon Community College Bend campus Barber Library. She oversees the Circulation and Interlibrary Loan departments. She has been working within Library Services for 4 years, and began working at COCC in the Barber Library in Feb. 2021.
Moxley agreed to sit down with The Broadside for an interview.
The Broadside: What led you to have a career in library services?
Emily Moxley: My path to Library Services took a few turns. I grew up surrounded by books and was raised by avid readers and library patrons. My mom was the librarian at my sister’s and my elementary school, so libraries are in my blood.
However, I originally was going to be an art historian, and art history still remains my first love. From eighth grade until I was 25, that was my path. I attended my local community college, then transferred for my undergraduate degree at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona, and then went to the University of Hawai’i at Manoa for my graduate program in Art History. It was during this time that I realized that I needed a field of study that allowed me to pursue and explore all my research interests and passions, which is when I discovered the field of Library Sciences. This field allowed me to expand on my Humanities background, while also intersecting with my Social Sciences interests. I decided to switch gears from Art History, and moved back to Arizona, where I began my graduate program at the University of Arizona.
I love reading, but for me, what inspired me to pursue a career in library services was my curiosity and the constant pursuit of information to better understand the world. Even when I was young, I was always reading or researching something. Then, as I evaluated my future pursuits, I realized that the world of librarianship could offer me the opportunity to put all my passions to use.
TB: What is your favorite thing about working in your position?
EM: My favorite aspect of working in my position is meeting and connecting with people. I love helping patrons find the answers they are seeking and the materials that they need. I love when I know the name of a patron who comes in every day and they wave on their way into the building or stop by the Circulation Desk to chat about their days.
Human connection is such an integral part of Access Services, and I and my staff strive to make sure that the front line of the Library, the Circulation Desk, is always a warm welcoming place. I love supporting patrons and students in whatever way that I can. If they can feel that I am someone in their corner, I know I have done a good job. Being a part of their educational journey, even in a small way, is a role that I take seriously.
People come to the library for answers, even if it is not their final answer destination, and I love that. Answering questions is so much fun, and it is even better when I learn something new, too!
TB: As a librarian, what are some of your goals that you would like to bring to the library community?
EM: I came to COCC and Barber Library from another community college, Cochise Community College, where I worked on the Douglas Campus. Douglas, Arizona is a border town, meaning that it sits right on the US-Mexican border, and is a port of entry. Many of my students and patrons crossed the border every day.
I loved working on the Douglas campus and that is where my passion for equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives took root, as well as my dedication to access services. I have carried this passion and dedication into my current role as Head of Library Access Services in making sure to cultivate a space that is welcoming, inclusive and respectful, that is focused on connection-based interactions while being a reliable resource for all staff and patrons.
The library is full of resources that never cease to amaze me. We have hotspots, laptops, cameras, desktop computers, lots of study spaces, fantastic reading collections, especially a growing, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion center, young adult section, printing, puzzles, games & coloring pages to help decompress and changing art exhibits in our Rotunda gallery space. Not only that, the library is a welcoming place full of people who are always eager and happy to help.
In addition to being a librarian, Moxley is also the advisor for the Anime+ Club, that meets every Tuesday at 12:15 p.m. in the Barber Library and actively enjoys anime, manga and webcomics.
“I am always excited to nerd out about something, so don’t be shy to stop by the library and say hi! We are always happy to help,” said Moxley.
Serena Zohbe Garcia
Reporter
