A Rochester native, Kellie Barbato joined the faculty of SUNY Brockport in 2024 after living and working in 3 other states to advance her career in academic librarianship. As Head of Research & Instruction Services in the Drake Memorial Library, she supports the team of librarians who provide reference services and research consultations to students and information literacy instruction to classes. Kellie also provides these services to the SUNY Brockport community as a librarian. She is passionate about equipping students to be successful academically.
Kellie has 8 years of experience leading diverse teams of librarians, staff, and student employees in academic libraries at various institutions in Florida, South Carolina, and New York. She is a leader who truly loves the “people work” aspect of librarianship. Kellie seeks to create a happy and healthy workplace atmosphere in the Drake Memorial Library by being a leader who values courage, vulnerability, adaptability, and growth. Some of her favorite authors who write about leadership and adjacent subjects are Brené Brown, Kim Scott, and Adam Grant. She also enjoys reading about music, theology, vocation & calling, and a variety of non-work related fiction and nonfiction by David Sedaris, Anne Lamott, Emily Henry, B.K. Borison, Abby Jimenez, Sue Grafton (RIP), and whichever book she chose from the Book of the Month club this month.
In her free time, Kellie likes to travel, visit local bookstores, attend local concerts, performances, and sporting events, listen to music, read, play video games on Nintendo consoles, play board & card games, watch television shows & movies, and spend time with friends, family, her partner, Matt, and their two cats (Prince & Simba). An active vocalist, Kellie currently sings with the Eastman-Rochester Chorus and has sung with the Rochester Oratorio Society and the Finger Lakes Choral Festival. She also periodically sings the American and Canadian national anthems for the Rochester Americans (AHL) and the Rochester Knighthawks (NLL). She is a passionate Swiftie and loves all things related to pop culture. Kellie also enjoys being part of the faith community at Asbury First United Methodist church in the city of Rochester.
Go Golden Eagles!
Education
Master of Arts in Transformational Leadership, Northeastern Seminary, Rochester, NY
Master of Library Science, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY
Bachelor of Arts in Music (Voice), Minor in Women’s Studies, Commonwealth University - Mansfield, Mansfield, PA
Areas of Specialty
Academic Librarianship
Leadership
Information Literacy
Music
Theology
Women’s Studies
Research Interests
Academic Library as Workplace
Library Leadership & Management
Information Literacy
Theological Librarianship
Music Librarianship
James Patterson Librarian Bonus, American Library Association, 2024
Spirit of ACL Award, Association of Christian Librarians, 2019
“Tips for New Library Managers,” Core News Blog, April 26, 2022
“What You Did (Or Didn’t) Learn in Library School,” Core News Blog, March 9, 2022
“Once a Library Baby, Now a Librarian,” New York Library Association eBulletin, February 2017
“Yankee Moves to Memphis: A Second Chance at Music Librarianship,” Music Library Association NewsletterNo. 181, May/June 2015
Presentation with Jennifer Kegler, Dana Laird, Brigette Meskell, & Casey Spark (2024): “Cloudy No Longer: Establishing a Formal Onboarding Program for New Librarians,” SUNY Librarians Association Annual Conference, SUNY Buffalo State University, Buffalo, NY
Presentation with Amy Rice & Gail Heideman (2024): “The Great Friend Get Together: A Librarian Friend Group as a Community of Practice and Community of Care,” Association of Christian Librarians Annual Conference, University of Northwestern, St. Paul, MN
Webinar with Cynthia R. Schwartz (2023): “Servant Leadership Principles Applied Practically,” ALA eLearning – Core Webinars, Online
Presentation (2022): “A Millennial’s First Two Years as an Academic Library Director: A Case Study in Resilience and Reinvention,” Association of Christian Librarians Conference, Newman University, Wichita, KS and Online
Panelist (2022): “Navigating the Promotion and Tenure Process in Academic Libraries,” Association of Christian Librarians Conference, Newman University, Wichita, KS
Presentation with Nariné Bournoutian, Laura Haynes, and Ashley Hoffman (2021): “Tips for New Librarians,” Core Interest Group Week, Core New Members Interest Group
Presentation (2019): “Clear is Kind: Strategies for Daring Leadership in the Academic Library.” Florida Association of College & Research Libraries Annual Meeting, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Presentation (2019): “Rooted in Courage, Grounded in Candor: Strategies for Daring Leadership in the Library.” Association of Christian Librarians Conference, Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, IN
Presentation with Elizabeth Fairall and Michelle Keba (2018): “Developing New Leaders: An Exploration of the Transformative Shift from Follower to Leader.” International Leadership Association Global Meeting, Palm Beach County Convention Center, West Palm Beach, FL
Presentation with Elizabeth Fairall (2018): “All Aboard! Recruitment, Orientation, & Onboarding for New Hires.” Association of Christian Librarians Conference, Asbury University, Wilmore, KY
