Clifford Lynch: “Conducting” the Infrastructure of Scholarship

Abstract

This article celebrates Clifford Lynch’s transformative leadership at the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI) and his impact on the evolution of digital scholarship. It highlights his ability to foster collaboration among librarians, technologists, and publishers to address challenges and opportunities in the digital age. The authors emphasize Clifford’s role in enabling key infrastructure from their perspective as leaders of ITHAKA, JSTOR, Portico, and Ithaka S+R, all of which have benefited from his advice and support. Clifford’s foresight in areas such as authentication, digital preservation, and international cooperation is highlighted, alongside his commitment to understanding the evolving needs of the academic community and his vision of the infrastructure necessary to foster future impact. Ultimately, Clifford is a mentor and a catalyst, whose influence extends beyond specific projects to shape the broader landscape of scholarly communication.