Miriam Rigby is a subject specialist librarian at UO Libraries serving Anthropology, Sociology, and Indigenous, Race, and Ethnic Studies students and faculty members. From assisting in research topic selection to navigating available resources and citation methods, Miriam aids in the exploration and publication of knowledge. Her responsibilities range from sourcing relevant books, journals, and databases to curating assignments for classes that align with learning objectives and library resources. 

Tapping her undergraduate degree in cultural anthropology (Reed College) and a master's degree in social sciences (University of Chicago), Miriam journeyed into librarianship driven by a desire to merge her educational background with her career. Her transition from early jobs as a nanny and office assistant to a subject specialist librarian felt “magical,” particularly as she earned her master's in library and information science (University of Washington) and found her niche in academic librarianship.

Miriam's current career has not only helped her hone her public speaking skills but also broadened her exposure to diverse research topics and emerging trends in specialized subjects. She actively monitors academic conversations and research in her disciplines and course offerings to stay ahead of current trends, making her a valuable resource for faculty and students alike. 

Another aspect of a subject specialist's work is preparing research guides to help students learn more about topics related to their majors. Some examples of research guides Miriam has written are this one for Ethnic Studies and another for Native American and Indigenous Studies.

Miriam is available to help students with their research needs including identifying which resources to focus on, which method to use, and drafting their thesis statements. She can be reached through her email to schedule an appointment. 

She shared a quote from Waymond Wang, a character in the movie “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” that inspires her, “The only thing I do know is that we have to be kind… Especially when we don’t know what’s going on.” Miriam went on to say, “that line from the movie encapsulates how I approach research help”—with kindness.  

Visit the Subject and Area Librarians webpage to find other subject specialist librarians and follow #MeetYourLibrarian and @UOLibraries on social media to learn more about how subject specialist librarians serve the UO community.  

—By Mona El-Haddar (Class of ‘24, Journalism: Advertising and Business) communications assistant, UO Libraries