Clifford A Lynch
Also known as Cliff Lynch, Clifford Alan Lynch
A computer scientist by training, Clifford Lynch helped develop MELVYL, the UC system's first online library catalog, and was named an ACM Fellow in 2017 for contributions to library automation, information retrieval, scholarly communication, and information policy. He completed a Berkeley PhD in 1987 and co-chaired the Information Access seminars at Berkeley's I School for sixty-nine consecutive semesters. From July 1997 he served as executive director of the Coalition for Networked Information. In October 2024 he spoke at a Berkeley seminar on AI and digital preservation. He died in April 2025, shortly before his planned retirement.
Timeline
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1954–1974
Early library computing
He is born in 1954 and grows up in New York City, where he attends Columbia University. In 1974 he starts in the library field as a systems programmer.
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1977–1997
Library automation at UC
After a critical state audit in 1977, the UC Office of the President creates a Division of Library Automation. There he plays a pivotal role in developing MELVYL, the UC system's first online library catalog.
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1987
A Berkeley computer science PhD
He completes a computer-science PhD at Berkeley in 1987, with a dissertation drawing on his administrative work.
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1991–2025
The Information Access seminar
He co-chairs the Information Access seminars at Berkeley's I School for sixty-nine consecutive semesters, from Spring 1991 through Spring 2025.
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July 1997–April 2025
Executive director of CNI
In July 1997 he leaves the UC Office of the President to become executive director of the Coalition for Networked Information.
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2008–2017
An ASIS&T award and ACM fellowship
In 2008 he receives the Award of Merit of the American Society for Information Science and Technology. In 2017 he is named an ACM Fellow for contributions to library automation, information retrieval, scholarly communication, and information policy.
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October 2024
A seminar on AI and preservation
In October 2024 he speaks at a Berkeley seminar on AI and digital preservation.
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April 2025
A death before retirement
He dies in April 2025, shortly before his planned retirement.
Sources and credits
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- Clifford Alan Lynch
- Clifford Lynch - Wikipedia
- In Memory of Clifford Lynch | UC Berkeley School of Information
- Professor Clifford Lynch Named 2017 ACM Fellow | UC Berkeley School of Information
- In Memoriam: Clifford Lynch
- Cliff Lynch | NISO website
- Stewardship and Developments in AI | UC Berkeley School of Information
- Information Access Seminar | UC Berkeley School of Information