Emily Moore’s days in Special Collections and University Archives (SCUA) at the University of Oregon are never quite the same, and that’s exactly how she likes it.

As an instruction and outreach archivist, Emily works closely with the library faculty to make archives more accessible, fostering learning and curiosity for all students. Whether she's guiding the analysis of art pigments in collection materials or helping a student navigate their first encounter with rare books, Emily is focused on building connections between people and the library’s collections.

Collaboration is at the heart of her work. She regularly partners with faculty members across disciplines, from journalism to the sciences, to design sessions that help students work directly with primary sources.

"We work as a good team,” Moore says. “I’ll do research on the topic beforehand so I can best assist and teach the students in my classes. Subject librarians bring the content, I bring materials expertise, and together we can onboard people to doing their own research.”

The goal is to make archival materials as accessible as possible for students. This work includes experimenting with how to incorporate digitized materials into instruction and finding new ways to meet students where they are. Moore also collaborates with subject librarians on cross-disciplinary sessions, like one that combined science and art to explore pigment chemistry in manuscripts.

Moore’s own academic path wasn’t linear. She studied art history and cinema as an undergraduate, unsure of her next steps. A conversation with a librarian opened the door to library collections. After earning her Master of Library and Information Science degree on the East Coast, she worked at the Smithsonian and the Library of Congress, further developing her love for archival materials before joining UO Libraries.

Now, she’s passionate about helping students feel confident and curious when working with special collections, even with some of the initial intimidation.

“While there are a lot of guidelines when working with these materials, we are here to help. This is a teaching collection, not a museum. These belong to the students, and we want them to feel empowered, not alienated,” Moore explains.

One of her favorite initiatives is SCUA’s undergraduate fellowship in partnership with the Oregon Humanities Center. Student fellows work with a collection over winter and spring terms and participate in a public exhibit based on their research. This experience allows the students to get a behind-the-scenes look at the curation process. “I just love it because it's a really practical fellowship, especially if folks are interested in going into library work,” Moore says.

For Moore, one of the most rewarding parts of her job is seeing the students’ enthusiasm and curiosity when working with archives. Her advice for students interested in working with archives is simple: dig into your interests and seek out experiences that will help you build your skills in public service and research.

At the core of Moore’s work is a deep appreciation for the energy students bring into the archives. “Being in a scenario where you are actively seeking knowledge is inspiring, and it gives me hope for the future,” she says.

Visit Emily’s faculty profile page to schedule an appointment or contact her with any questions.

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