Kenneth Karmiole
Kenneth Karmiole | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1946 |
| Alma mater | University of California, Santa Barbara (BA); University of California, Los Angeles (MLS) |
| Occupation(s) | Antiquarian bookseller, benefactor |
| Known for | President of Kenneth Karmiole, Bookseller, Inc.; philanthropy in libraries and education |
Kenneth Karmiole is a prominent American antiquarian bookseller and benefactor, serving as President of Kenneth Karmiole, Bookseller, Inc., an antiquarian book enterprise based in Santa Monica that was established in 1976 and focuses on early printed works and manuscripts.
Early life and education
In 1968, Karmiole earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in American studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He subsequently obtained a Master of Library Science degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Career and philanthropy
Karmiole actively contributes to libraries and educational initiatives throughout Southern California via various endowed funds. At UCSB, he provides financial support for acquiring rare books as well as sponsoring an annual research fellowship within the university library. UCLA benefits from multiple endowed programs funded by him, including a yearly History of the Book Trade lecture series at the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, initiated in 2005; a research fellowship also at the Clark Library; and an endowment dedicated to purchasing rare books and manuscripts overseen by the UCLA University Librarian. Additionally, he offers scholarships for students enrolled in UCLA’s Graduate School of Education and Information Studies (GSE&IS) and created an endowment focused on Archival Studies there in 2013. Established in 2015, the Kenneth Karmiole Endowed Research Fellowship at the UCLA Library supports scholars who deliver public presentations related to their research. In 2016, he launched the Kenneth Karmiole Endowed Lecture on the History of the Book Trade in California and the West through The Book Club of California, featuring annual lectures held both in San Francisco and Southern California.
Professional associations and honors
Karmiole participates on advisory boards for several institutions, including the California Rare Book School, UCLA Research Library Board of Visitors, and UCSB’s Library Council. He is also part of the Director’s Advisory Council at the William Andrews Clark Library as well as a member of the Board of Visitors for UCLA’s Graduate School of Education & Information Studies. Since the 1970s, he has completed three terms on the National Board of the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America (ABAA) and served as president of its Southern California Chapter during 2012 and 2013. In 2015, he was appointed Director of The Book Club of California where he co-leads its Membership and Development Committee. In 2018, he joined the Board of Directors for the Rare Book School at the University of Virginia.
Karmiole has presented lectures publicly at the Rare Book School, including topics such as "The Abbey Press" in 2015 and "Shakespeare in Virginia" in 2019. The Rare Book School inaugurated the "Kenneth Karmiole Endowed Annual Lecture on the Book Trades" in 2021.
In recognition of his contributions, he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the UCLA Library and Information Studies Alumni Association in 2011. His writing on book collecting in the digital era appeared in The Journal of the Book Club of Washington.