Flynn held a bachelor's degree in mathematics from
Adelphi University, a master's degree in computer science from the
Illinois Institute of Technology, a master's degree in business administration from the University of Pittsburgh, and a Ph.D. degree in library and information science from the University of Pittsburgh. Flynn was the founder and director of the undergraduate program in information science (BSIS) at the University of Pittsburgh; in memory of her achievements, the Department of Informatics and Networked Systems at the University of Pittsburgh grants the annual Ida M. Flynn Memorial Award to an exemplary graduating student in the BSIS program. of which an early edition received the 2001 Textbook Excellence Award from the Textbook and Academic Authors Association. == Selected publications ==