Kenneth J. Oberembt Collection

Collection

Identifier: MsC1262

Staff Only
No requestable containers

Scope and Contents

This collection contains materials from former librarian and professor Kenneth J. Oberembt. Included are publications relating to Oberembt's work at the National and University Library of Kosovo (known as The National Library of Kosovo as of 2014), as well as personal and professional correspondence. In this correspondence, Oberembt discusses daily life and politics in the Middle East and often includes notable news clippings.

Dates

Creation: 1988 - 2005

Conditions Governing Access

This colleciton is open for research

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright status for collection materials may be unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owner. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility and potential liability based on copyright infringement for any use rests exclusively and solely with the user. Users must properly acknowledge University of Iowa Libraries Special Collections & Archives as the source of the material. For further information, visit https://www.lib.uiowa.edu/sc/services/rights/.

Extent

1.89 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Albanian

Additional Description

Abstract

Materials from librarian who worked in Saudi Arabia and Kosovo.

Bibliography

Kenneth J. Oberembt (1940-2024) was a distinguished educator and librarian, known for his international work and contributions to the field of library science. Born on December 16, 1940, in Redwood Falls, Minnesota, to Olga and Leo Oberembt, he was a graduate of St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota. Oberembt went on to earn a Master's in English Literature from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, followed by a PhD from the University of Iowa.

Oberembt's academic career spanned several institutions, including Mount Marty College in Yankton, SD, St. Bernard College in Cullman, AL, Washington University in St. Louis, MO, the University of Scranton in Scranton, PA, and Syracuse University in NY. Later, he transitioned to a career in library science, obtaining a Master's Degree in Library Science from Columbia University in New York.

After completing his studies, Oberembt pursued an international career as a librarian, serving as a Library Curator at the American University of Cairo, Egypt, and at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Saudi Arabia. He also worked with the U.S. State Department as a librarian at the University of Pristina in Kosovo and contributed to library efforts in Ethiopia.

Oberembt retired to the Seattle, Washington metropolitan area, where he lived until his passing on August 7, 2024