Emily Mross
Northampton Community College Monroe Campus, Tannersville, PA
Monroe Campus Library Manager
A little bit about Emily’s job:
I oversee day-to-day operation of a newly-opened library, including management of staff and space. I also schedule and teach information literacy instruction for library-integrated classes as well as one-shot sessions, conduct reference work, and serve on various campus committees.
1) What are some things you like about your job or about working in libraries in general?
I love working with students. Many of my students are not very confident in their skills, either graduating recently from high school without much support, or returning to school after a long time. These students often have not had a great relationship with libraries/librarians, so I really look forward to making them feel comfortable in our space and confident in using our services to support their education.
2) What’s a project or committee you’re working on right now that you’re excited about?
I’ve recently taken responsibility for planning events on our campus related to an endowed college grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities that supports year-long humanities programs at my school. This year’s theme is “Agriculture and the American Identity”. My campus is a branch of the main campus and had not previously had much programming for NEH due to space constraints. Now we are on a beautiful new campus with plenty of room for gathering. Presently, I’m scheduling a film screening and discussion of the documentary Fed Up at a local non-profit theater and a farming presentation from a local living historical farm.
3) What got you interested in libraries?
I have always been deeply interested in connecting people with information, and originally set out to be a journalist. After some time in the field, I realized that while I still deeply believed in my mission of connecting people and information, journalism was not the best way for me personally to do it. After some soul searching, librarianship seemed like the perfect fit for my skills and interests. I get to work directly with my community and help connect them with the information they need, every day.
4) What is one of your favorite things about NMRT?
NMRT has been a great introduction to ALA as a whole. I’ve had a wonderful experience meeting new people at conferences and learning about the many things that librarians do without feeling like a lost newbie.
5) Do you have any advice for other new librarians?
I think librarianship, especially for new librarians, can be a lot like improv. So the important thing to remember is to say YES. Obviously, you need to temper things and not get overwhelmed, but to really grow as a professional, it’s really important to greet new opportunities and challenges with a “yes” attitude.
Valentines Day is around the corner–share the love with your fellow NMRT members by nominating another librarian or yourself to be our next Member of the Week here!