Anne Clyde

Vale

Dr. L. Anne Clyde

(1946-2005)

People do not die for us immediately, but remain bathed in a sort of aura of life which bears no relation to true immortality but through which they continue to occupy our thoughts in the same way as when they were alive. It is as though they were traveling abroad. - Marcel Proust

 

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From Dr. Dianne Oberg (Canada) via IASL-LINK

I am in Argentina on holiday and have just been reading on IASL-LINK the many messages of condolence and sadness from Anne's friends and colleagues from around the world.

I feel very fortunate to have had Anne's friendship for many years. I first met her in 1987 in the bar of the Saga Hotel in Reykjavik at the beginning of that year's IASL conference. I was immediately intrigued with her incredible intelligence and her sharp sense of humour. My understanding of her great love for her family, her friends, and her colleagues and students came later. No matter how busy she was at an IASL or IFLA conference or at work at the University of Iceland or on one of her many trips around the world, she found time for family, friends, colleagues, and students -- in person, on email, or with one of her wonderful postcards!

Anne always had the interests of school librarianship foremost in her mind. She never hesitated to take on someone she thought was misguided (and that included her dearest friends!) She also had an amazing generosity of spirit -- she saw potentials and abilities in people, often long before they did, and she encouraged people to use their capabilities for the good of the profession and its future.

I will miss Anne terribly. Before I left Canada on Thursday, she and I were on email planning a course she was going to teach with us at University of Alberta. I was looking forward to having her stay with me again this summer, sharing many conversations and much laughter over many glasses of wine.

I will find it hard to go on with the plans for a new online School Libraries Worldwide without her wise counsel and support but, as many of you have noted, to do less than our best would not do honour to the Anne we know, the Anne that could be counted on to do her best and to spur us on to do our best. With much grief.

From James Henri (Hong Kong/Australia) via IASL-LINK

I've just received this news here in Bangkok at the IFLA/UNESCO Workshop on information literacy and school libraries. Again the news reinforces the fact that life is both precious and short.

I first worked with Anne back in 1981 when we both took up positions at Riverina College of Advanced Education in Wagga Wagga (later to become Charles Sturt University). Although Anne did not stay long at RCAE, or in fact in Australia, we have been in contact on a regular basis over the years and most recently formed a team to lead the IFLA Section of School Libraries and Resource Centres.

Anne was a tireless worker who often highlighted the essential core issues of a debate. She did not suffer fools and said it as she saw it. Most of us would have been in her sights at some time or other. There are few Anne Clyde's in this world and we in IASL and IFLA have been fortunate to have her in our team. She will be a hard act to follow and impossible to replace.

From Heather Hyland (New Zealand) via IASL-LINK

I feel tremendously sad about the loss of such a dynamic colleague in the school library world. I met Anne only briefly at conferences, but was always impressed by her cheery, positive, friendly manner and her huge wealth of knowledge. Her tireless work on the IASL website was for all of us. We have been so lucky to have known Anne as a person, and to benefit from her work. Condolences to all her close friends and family.

From Dr. Ross Todd (USA/Australia) via IASL-LINK

I too am so shocked and deeply saddened by the news of Anne's death. Anne more than anyone I know was truly a child of the universe: this was her greatest gift, touching each of us around the world in so many ways, through her wisdom, humour, intellect and wonderful human spirit, and in such a selfless and gracious way. I was in one of Anne's classes in 1981 at Riverina College of Advanced Education when I embarked on becoming a teacher-librarian, and Anne has been there in so many ways as my own journey in this field has unfolded. Anne wrote to me a week ago, thinking about submitting a paper to the forthcoming special issue of School Libraries Worldwide on Evidence Based Practice. She was concerned that after several papers in SLW, that there would be "too much of Anne". Anne's contributions to our scholarly and professional community have been enormous, and we will miss them and her so much.

From Sandy Zinn (South Africa) via IASL-LINK

I am shocked and deeply saddened by the sudden death of Anne. I met Anne Clyde for the first time in 1998 when she presented a paper at a symposium at the University of the Western Cape, South Africa. Anne was the epitome of selflessness always prepared to share her teachings, research and incredible intellect. I will personally miss her tremendously as she was a great mentor.

From Jennifer Branch (Canada) via IASL-LINK

Like the rest of you, I am terribly saddened by the news of Anne's death. About three weeks ago, I received from Anne an article from a UK newspaper highlighting the top 50 environmentally friendly products for babies. On the front was a brief hello message hoping that my baby would start off in the right way.

Postcards, Christmas cards, a letter supporting my tenure and promotion, an article about baby products, catching up at conferences, and a short-stay in our basement while visiting the University of Alberta - just a few of the many ways Anne supported my career and made a difference in my life. She will be missed.

From Maud Hell (Sweden) via IASL-LINK

It was a shock when I read of the message about Anne Clyde's sudden death. When I rode on my bike to school this morning I thought of the few moments I have met Anne. The first time was in Durban at the IASL conference, when I understood her great importance for IASL and for its website. The last time was just a couple of weeks ago at IFLA in Oslo, where one could see her traces in many of the events. There I had the joy of sharing a short pause in the proceedings with her. I have always read her emails on this list and admired her for her hard work in so many different fields. She leaves us with a great loss, but with vivid and impressing memories. I really support the thought of an award in the memory of her.

From Madhu Bhargava (India) via IASL-LINK

I respected and admired Anne for her dedication and devotion to the profession. A big blow and loss to school librarianship!!! I will miss her.

From Eleanor Howe (USA) to the IASLCOMM email distribution list

I was terribly shocked and saddened to hear about Anne Clyde's passing on this past Sunday. I have worked with her for at least ten years in IASL, and she always brought the highest professional standards to her contributions in scholarship, discussion, and school librarianship around the world. She was an active professional and a constant volunteer. Anne has done so much for IASL that I can hardly imagine the organization without her. It is a major loss for IASL as well as the entire field. Her development of the SLO website alone is a major tour-de-force.

I certainly support an IASL memorial to her, and it should be a permanent one. Since she was so interested in and devoted to scholarship and publication, perhaps SLW could devote an issue, a festschrift, to her memory. Since she did so much for the website, perhaps SLO could honor her in some way permanently on the home page. There should definitely be some event at the next conference, perhaps some sessions and papers on a topic of interest to her that could be published in the proceedings.

I will always carry in my heart the things Anne did to encourage me professionally.

From Mary Fasheh (West Bank/Palestine) via IASL-LINK

With great sadness I received the news of Anne's passing away. I have met her several times at IASL annual conferences. She will be greatly missed by all of us. May God rest her soul in peace. My deepest sympathy and condolences go to her family and all her friends.

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Last updated 26 September 2005 (OV)