Beisswenger to Retire, Reception Set for March 31

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Drew Beisswenger

Drew Beisswenger, performing arts librarian, is set to retire March 31 after seven years of service to the University of Arkansas Libraries. A reception will be held from 10-11:30 a.m. Friday, March 31, in the administrative suite on Level 4 of Mullins Library (MULN 469). 

Beisswenger joined the libraries in 2016 as the music and media cataloger. Prior to that, he held positions at Independence Community College in Kansas, Lyon College in Batesville and for many years, Missouri State University. He holds an M.A. in folk studies from Western Kentucky University, an M.L.S. from the University of Alabama and a Ph.D. in musicology, regional studies from the University of Memphis.

During his time at the U of A, Beisswenger published the book Appalachian Fiddle Music, served as assistant editor of A Basic Music Library: Essential Scores and Sound Recordings, Fourth Edition, and secured two grants from the National Endowment for the Arts that founded the Libraries' Arkansas Folk and Traditional Arts program. He is active in the Music Library Association and the All University Conduct Board and served a term on the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Discipline Peer Review Panel for Music. He currently serves on the curatorial team for the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, to be held June 28-July 4 and July 6-9 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Beisswenger says his favorite parts of the job are the new skills he's been able to learn and the colleagues with whom he works. 

"I just think the people here in Content Services are a phenomenal bunch of people who want to do their best and make the library good and successful," he said.

He also gives credit to his supervisor, Deb Kulczak. 

"She's very supportive, and that's something I've really appreciated about being here," Beisswenger said. "Her enthusiasm and support help everybody's energy level." 

"Drew has been a great colleague in the Content Services Department," Kulczak said. "While he brought his considerable expertise with music cataloging to the position originally, he has since volunteered to expand that to describing other media formats, maps, websites and the libraries' digitized resources. He is always willing to pitch in and help with projects, and we can count on his steadfast good humor and geniality. He will be greatly missed!"

In his spare time, Beisswenger plays piano, guitar and fiddle. His post-retirement goals include practicing more and writing more songs, in addition to traveling with his wife. He also plans to check out even more music books from the library.

"I've really appreciated the opportunity to work here," he said. "They trusted me to come here and do a good job. Most of the staff I've worked with have been just amazing. It's a big group of people, and Dean Battles is a good leader. It's a good work environment."