Dr. Connie Van Fleet died in 2013.
Dr. Connie Van Fleet began her library career as a Library Associate for the New Orleans Public Library, where she became Branch Head for the Napoleon Branch. She earned a BA in psychology from the University of Oklahoma, an MLIS from Louisiana State University, and a PhD from Indiana University. Her career as an educator and scholar at Louisiana State University, Kent State University, and the University of Oklahoma was dedicated to public library services, adult services in libraries, and intellectual freedom.
Dr. Van Fleet held leadership positions in the American Library Association, Reference and User Services Association (RUSA):
- cochair of the RQ Editorial Advisory Board (1991–1997),
- cochair of the Reference & User Services Association Quarterly Editorial Board (2000–2006), being an
- ex-officio member of RUSA's Board of Directors (1991-1997 and 2000-2006)
- RUSA CODES Readers' Advisory Research and Trends Forum.
She was President of the Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE) - 2007-2008.
She was a member of the Oklahoma Library Association Intellectual Freedom Committee from 2001 to 2013, including serving as Chair.
Selected Publications
As co-editor of RUSQ for RUSA, Dr. Van Fleet wrote many editorials including: "FROM THE EDITORS: Defining the Domain: The Nature of Reference and User Services." Reference & User Services Quarterly 40 (1): 9–12.
2012. Wallace, Danny P., and Connie Van Fleet. Knowledge into Action : Research and Evaluation in Library and Information Science. Santa Barbara, California: Libraries Unlimited.
2009. Martinez, Sara E., and Connie Van Fleet. Latino Literature : A Guide to Reading Interests. Libraries Unlimited.
2008. Van Fleet, Connie. "Education for Readers' Advisory Service in Library and Information Science Programs: Challenges and Opportunities." Reference & User Services Quarterly 47 (3): 224–29.
2004. Dawson, Alma, and Connie Van Fleet, eds. African American Literature : A Guide to Reading Interests. Westport, Conn.: Libraries Unlimited.
2000. Van Fleet, Connie, and Danny P. Wallace. "Reference & User Services Quarterly" and the Public Service Paradigm." Reference & User Services Quarterly 40 (2): 111–13.
2001. Van Fleet, Connie, and Danny P. Wallace. "Virtual Libraries - Real Stress: Change at the Reference Desk." In Advances in Library Administration and Organization, 1–44.
2001. Wallace, Danny P., and Connie Van Fleet. Library Evaluation : A Casebook and Can-Do Guide. Englewood, Colo.: Libraries Unlimited.
1998. Wallace, Danny P., and Connie Van Fleet. "Qualitative Research and the Editorial Tradition: A Mixed Metaphor." Library Trends 46 (4): 752–68.
1998. Van Fleet, Connie, Ohio Library Council, and State Library of Ohio. Measuring Library Services, 1998 : A Joint Project of the State Library of Ohio, Ohio Library Council. [Columbus, OH]: [State Library of Ohio] [Ohio Library Council].
1997. Van Fleet, Connie, and Courtney Deines-Jones. Libraries, Information Services and Serving People with Disabilities. Englewood, Colo.: Libraries Unlimited.
1995. Van Fleet, Connie. "A Matter of Focus: Reference Services for Older Adults." Reference Librarian, 49-50: 147–64.
1995. Public Libraries, Lifelong Learning, and Older Adults: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement.
1993. Van Fleet, Connie. "Evidence of Communication among Public Librarians and Library and Information Science Educators in Public Library Journal Literature." Library and Information Science Research 15 (3): 257–74.
1993. Van Fleet, Connie, and Joan C. Durrance. "Public Library Leaders and Research: Mechanisms, Perceptions, and Strategies." Journal of Education for Library and Information Science 34 (2): 137–52.
1992. Connie Van Fleet, and Danny P. Wallace. 1992. A Service Profession, a Service Commitment : A Festschrift in Honor of Charles D. Patterson. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press.
1990. Ptacek, William H., and Connie Van Fleet. "Public Library Research: The State Agency Connection." Public Libraries 29 (5): 277–81.
1990. Van Fleet, Connie. Libraries, Louisiana's Information Infrastructure : A Background Report Prepared for the State Library of Louisiana in Preparation for the Louisiana Preconferences, 1991 White House Conference on Library and Information Services. Baton Rouge, LA
1990. "Communicating with the public: The public library as information center" in McCook & Wallace (Eds.), Adult Services: An Enduring Focus for Public Libraries (pp. 179–224). Chicago: American Library Association.
Honors:
- Margaret E. Monroe Adult Services Award (ALA RUSA)
- Association for Library and Information Science Education: ALISE Award for Teaching Excellence in Library and Information Science, ALISE Service Award.
- Louisiana State University, School of Library and Information Studies , Outstanding Alumna in 2001;
Legacy:
- Connie Van Fleet Award for Research Excellence in Public Library Services to Adults. Association for Library and Information Science Education.
- The Oklahoma Library Association awards the Connie Van Fleet Memorial Scholarship, for a student working in an Oklahoma library returning to school to obtain a graduate degree leading to librarianship as a profession.
Sources:
- "Remembering Connie Van Fleet," by Susan Burke, The Library Quarterly: Information, Community, Policy 84, No. 1 (January 2014).