Clifford Lynch, a leader in information and digital libraries, beloved teacher and mentor, and longtime adjunct professor at the UC Berkeley School of Information, died on April 10, 2025. At the School of Information, Lynch is best known for co-leading the Friday afternoon Information Access Seminar for almost 35 years.
“Clifford was a natural teacher. He had an encyclopedic understanding of the digital environment, a remarkable memory, and an exceptional ability to explain complex matters clearly in simple terms.”
Professor Lynch spent eighteen years at the University of California (UC) Office of the President, the last ten as director of library automation. There, he played a pivotal role in developing MELVYL, the UC system's first online library catalog and the intercampus telecommunications network necessary to support it. During this time, he began teaching, along with Professor Michael Buckland, the celebrated weekly “Friday Seminar” at the UC Berkeley School of Information. The pair started the seminar in 1991, teaching at South Hall for 69 consecutive semesters, even after he moved east to be Executive Director of the Coalition for Networked Information in Washington, DC, in 1997. He was also a UC Berkeley alum, completing a Ph.D. in computer science at UC Berkeley in 1987.
“Clifford was a natural teacher,” said Professor Buckland. “He was kindly, caring, and very approachable. He had an encyclopedic understanding of the digital environment, a remarkable memory, and an exceptional ability to explain complex matters clearly in simple terms.”
Lynch led the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI) since 1997. The following is adapted from their tribute:
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Clifford Lynch, a visionary leader in the field of networked information and libraries, and the esteemed executive director of the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI), an organization dedicated to advancing scholarship and education through the strategic use of information technology. Lynch…has left an indelible mark on the information technology, higher education, and library communities. He was due to retire in June 2025.
Lynch was a renowned figure, lauded for his broad impact across many areas, including scholarly communication, information policy, the research enterprise, intellectual property, digital preservation, data stewardship, and countless others.
Known for his kindness, warmth, and humble disposition, Lynch was highly skilled at fostering connections across organizations, sectors, and professions.
Lynch’s contributions were recognized with numerous awards, including the American Library Association’s Joseph W. Lippincott Award, the American Society for Information Science and Technology's Award of Merit, and the EDUCAUSE Leadership Award in Public Policy and Practice. He was a past president of the American Society for Information Science, and a fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the National Information Standards Organization.
Lynch’s tireless commitment and visionary leadership will have an enduring impact and will continue to inspire future generations. Our thoughts are with his wife, Cecilia Preston, and his loved ones; he will be greatly missed.
The I School will pay tribute to the life and work of Clifford Lynch on Friday, May 2, 2025. All are welcome.
