Karen Oye to retire after 30 years of exceptional service to Kelvin Smith Library
On Wednesday, June 3, research and engagement services librarian Karen Oye will retire from Case Western Reserve University. She has been an essential fixture at the library over the last 30 years, and she will be missed by many at Kelvin Smith Library and across the campus and community.
Oye got her start in librarianship at the NASA Lewis Research Center (now NASA Glenn) as a reference services librarian and manager of interlibrary loan services. Joining Kelvin Smith Library staff in March 1996 as head of customer services, she played a pivotal role in establishing the patron experience in the brand-new library building. Oye was instrumental in Case Western Reserve's adoption of several major library services—most notably ILLiad, the resource-sharing software used to power the interlibrary loan service. She secured ILLiad’s 14th license for Kelvin Smith Library, and now it powers over 1,000 libraries worldwide. Oye also served on the Intercampus Services Policy team at Ohio Library and Information Network (OhioLINK), Ohio’s statewide academic library consortium, for 15 years, chairing the committee for several of those years.
Oye has been in her current role as research and engagement services librarian since 2011, providing research, collections, outreach and instruction support for the Weatherhead School of Management and Department of Art History and Art. As a liaison, she supports countless students and faculty at every stage of the academic journey.
An established presence at Weatherhead School, Oye is recognized in the Peter B. Lewis building and across campus because of the deep relationships she built with faculty and students. She often hears from students, faculty and alumni when they use the skills she taught them. She also developed an embedded library curriculum for the Doctor of Business Administration program, working closely with well-seasoned professionals as they re-enter academia. It's common to see students from all walks of life sitting in Oye's office late into the day as she guides them through modern resources and new search skills.
In addition to being an excellent librarian, Oye is a dedicated and supportive colleague. She is endlessly generous with her time and knowledge—whether she's providing vendor negotiating tips, sharing building lore (like standing on the roof of the library) or discussing the most recent exhibit at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Her wealth of experience and professionalism are incredible assets. Her curious nature and drive for learning kept her engaged at a high level in both the librarian profession and her liaison areas.
She will be greatly missed by everyone she collaborated with at Case Western Reserve, and her impact will be felt long after she retires in the systems she built and the example she set.
