Kathy Abromeit named Head of the Conservatory Library

Kathy Abromeit named Head of the Conservatory Library

Oberlin College & Conservatory is pleased to announce that Kathy Abromeit has been appointed the Head of the Conservatory Library.  Kathy is a library leader and scholar known for her positive, engaging, and user-centered approach to helping students and faculty.

The consummate music librarian, Kathy partnerswith faculty and students, sharpening their research skills and encouraging the use of new information sources. She moves into this position from her role as music reference and instruction librarian which she has held for over two decades. Locally, nationally, and internationally, Kathy Abromeit is active as a scholar and a librarian. She recently completed her term as the editor for the Basic Manual Series and oversees the “Music Received” column in Notes: The Quarterly Journal of the Music Library Association for the Music Library Association (MLA).Beginning this year, she also serves as chair of the Music Library Association’s Publication Committee chair.

“Her deep involvement in the profession and her strong advocacy for music research make her a great leader and a wonderful resource for students and faculty,” says College Librarian Valerie Hotchkiss. Dean William Quillen noted “her devotion to student success and her unfailing and unerring research assistance for everyone in the Conservatory—from first years to full professors.”

Kathy holds a degree in music history and theory from Lawrence University, as well as Master’s degrees in musicology and library and information science. Her areas of scholarly interest include music information literacy, faculty/librarian collaboration, African American spirituals, library inclusion and advocacy, and outreach. Her publications include the monographs An Index to African-American Spirituals for the Solo Voice (Greenwood Press, 1999), Spirituals: A Multidisciplinary Bibliography for Research and Performance (Music Library Association and A-R Editions, Inc., 2015), Ideas, Strategies, and Scenarios in Music Information Literacy (Music Library Association and A-R Editions, Inc., 2018), An Index to Negro Spirituals (SUNY Press, forthcoming), and Music Information Literacy: Inclusion and Advocacy (Library Juice Press, forthcoming), a co-authored volume.

Welcome, Kathy!  We’re glad you’re here