June Lester is a Professor in the University of Oklahoma School of Library and Information Studies, where she has been on faculty since 1993, serving from 1993 to 2000 as Director of the School. Prior to joining the OU faculty Lester was Associate Dean, School of Library and Information Sciences, University of North Texas, 1991-1993, and Director, Office for Accreditation, American Library Association, 1987-1991. Before that she was Associate Professor, Division of Library and Information Management, Emory University. She holds the B.A. and the M.Ln. from Emory University and the C.A.L. and D.L.S. from Columbia University. She teaches graduate courses in the foundations of information studies and user information behavior and the introduction to the information environment for the Bachelor of Arts in Information Studies degree. Special areas of interest include education for library and information studies, distance education, and information policy.

Lester served as Treasurer of the American Society for Information Science and Technology in 2004-2007 and as President of the Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE) in 1995-1996. Other professional activities have included two terms on the ALISE Board of Directors, a term on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Education for Library and Information Science, membership on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Academic Librarianship, various positions in the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation (1987-1991), membership on the ALA Committee on Accreditation (1985-1987), service as an external review panel chair for the Committee on Accreditation, chair of the ALA Office for Library Personnel Resources Advisory Committee (1996-1998), and a term on the ALA Council (1986-1987). In the American Society for Information Science and Technology she served three terms as chair of the Information Science Education Committee (2000-2003) and also served on the Technical Program Committee and chaired several award juries.