Remembering David Oberhelman

Tuesday, February 6, 2018

The staff and faculty of the OSU Library acknowledge with profound sadness the death of Dr. David Oberhelman. Oberhelman served the Oklahoma State University Libraries from 1999 to 2018 and held the position of W.P. Wood Professor of Library Service. He died at the age of 52 on January 25, 2018.

Oberhelman received a bachelor’s degree from Rice University in Houston, Texas, and a Ph.D. in English with emphasis in critical theory from the University of California at Irvine in 1993, as well as a master’s degree in library and information science from the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania in 1997.

During his 19 years of service at Oklahoma State University, Oberhelman stood out in his duties as a library liaison. He forged strong relationships with his academic departments, and his passion for both libraries and the humanities resulted in numerous successful programs and partnerships such as the Noon Concert Series—the longest-running library public program—and the recent Great War Lecture Series. Oberhelman also served the University as the Library representative to Faculty Council and member of the Allied Arts and Campus Entertainment Committee.

His work for libraries and the humanities did not end at OSU. Oberhelman held leadership roles in national and regional organizations such as the American Library Association, the Association of College and Research Libraries, the Modern Language Association, the Mythopoeic Society, and the Southwest Popular/American Culture Association. In 2015, his colleagues honored him with the Library Faculty Award for Notable Achievement, acknowledging his contributions to OSU and the field of librarianship.

Oberhelman was the author of over 100 scholarly publications and numerous professional presentations and was elected and served for four years as the Secretary of the Mythopoeic Press. He authored, coauthored and contributed to seven books. He was particularly fond of the work of J.R.R. Tolkien and used it as the basis for a number of his academic projects.

Stillwater Newspress Coverage: "Colleagues remember late OSU librarian, professor"

O'Colly Coverage: "Colleagues, family remember David Oberhelman, beloved librarian, friend"