Lynne M. Thomas

Lynne M. Thomas serves as the Head of the Rare Books and Manuscript Library and Juanita J. and Robert E. Simpson Rare Book and Manuscript Professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she also holds the position of Adjunct Associate Professor. Previously, she was Head of Distinctive Collections and Curator of Rare Books and Special Collections at Northern Illinois University.

Professor Thomas's scholarly work centers on Rare Books and Special Collections Librarianship, Rare Books and Special Collections Administration, popular culture, and digital preservation. Her research examines the evolving role of special collections in the digital age and the intersection of rare materials with contemporary cultural practices, particularly within science fiction and fantasy communities.

Her publication record demonstrates consistent contributions to library science, with a focus on innovative approaches to special collections management and digital preservation strategies. She has been instrumental in developing frameworks for special collections in academic libraries through her co-authored and co-edited scholarly works.

• Eleven-time Hugo Award winner for contributions to science fiction and fantasy
• Co-founder and former editor/publisher of Uncanny Magazine
• Co-host of the Verity! podcast (Hugo Award-winning)
• Founding member of the Digital POWRR project

As an educator, she mentors library science students and early-career professionals. Her leadership extends to significant grant-funded initiatives focused on digital preservation. She oversees the Rare Book & Manuscript Library, one of the largest public university rare book collections in the United States, managing extensive holdings across multiple centuries and subject areas.