Marilyn Moody
Dean, University Library
Marilyn Moody has more than three decades of experience in academic library administration. She stepped into the Library at a time of both building and technology evolution. It has been less than a year since the innovative technology space, the Learning Ground, was completed and PDXScholar, the Library’s digital repository, was up and running.
“I am excited to be assuming the position of University Library Dean at Portland State,” Moody said. “I have been impressed with the vibrancy of the University and the dedication of the Library faculty and staff. I am looking forward to working with the campus community on Library initiatives to enhance student success, support teaching and learning, and provide increased access to scholarly and research materials.”
Before joining Boise State in 2006, Moody served in administrative positions in the libraries at the University of California, Santa Barbara; the University of Buffalo; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York; and Iowa State University. She is the co-author with Jean L. Sears of three editions of the reference work “Using Government Information Sources.” She has a master’s degree in library science and a bachelor’s degree in teaching social studies, both from the University of Illinois.
Q&A with Marilyn Moody
What are some of your goals for your first year at PSU?
Most immediately, I’d like to meet as many people as possible, with the goal of listening carefully to everyone’s ideas about how the University Library can best serve our community. The University Library already has a strategic plan and a number of ongoing initiatives, and I plan to work closely with the library staff and faculty to prioritize and support those initiatives. An additional goal is to look for ways to increase the library acquisitions and information resources needed for our faculty and students.
When you read for pleasure, what genre do you prefer and why?
I read many different genres and also listen to audiobooks. I belong to a book club that reads different genres each time we meet, and I like the challenge of reading something I might not normally read. I tend to prefer fiction—a couple of books I’ve enjoyed recently are Richard Ford’s Canada and Mudwoman by Joyce Carol Oates.
What will you miss most about Boise and Boise State?
I will certainly miss the great people I worked with at Boise State. I’ll also miss walking on the greenbelt by the Boise River, the Trey McIntyre Project dance company, and the “Readings and Conversations” author lecture series. I’ll also miss the Blue Turf and Bronco football! I’m looking forward to finding new favorite activities in Portland.
What do you feel are the biggest challenges and opportunities facing libraries today?
One of the biggest challenges is being agile enough to keep pace with all of the changes going on in both libraries and higher education. Things change so quickly, particularly in technological areas, that libraries have to be ready for constant change. What is needed today may no longer be relevant six months from now. That same constant change also provides a wealth of opportunities for libraries that can move quickly in providing innovative responses.
What’s on your iPad?
A lot of different apps! I read newspapers and eBooks on my iPad, so have many apps for reading. I travel with my iPad, where I find it particularly useful to track flight arrivals and departures on “Airport Remote.” Appropriately enough, my favorite word game app is “Bookworm.” Since I’ve been in Portland, I’ve been using the “PDX Bus, MAX, Streetcar and WES” app to plan my MAX and streetcar trips.
