Library and Information Technology Association: Difference between revisions

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<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:LITA logo.gif|right|framed|LITA Logo]] -->

The '''Library and Information Technology Association''' (LITA) is a division of the '''[[American Library Association|American Library Association (ALA)]]''', which is the oldest and largest library association in the world<ref>American Library Association, [http://www.ala.org], "American Library Association", 2014</ref>.

LITA became a division of ALA in 1966 in response to the changing technological environment in libraries. LITA advocates for equitable access to information and technology, placing a focus on providing an environment that fosters investigation and enables the implementation of new technology within libraries. LITA is headquartered in the Chicago ALA offices <ref>American Library Association, [http://www.ala.org/lita/about], "About LITA", 2014</ref>. Mary Taylor has held the position of LITA Executive Director (CEO) since 2006. Rachel Vacek was elected Vice-President/President-Elect of the LITA Board of Directors in May 2013 and serves as the Association's president in 2014/2015<ref>Melissa Prentice, [http://litablog.org/2013/05/2013-lita-election-results/], "2013 LITA Election Results", 2013</ref>.

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In the early 1960s, the idea of libraries utilizing computers came into existence at the [[United States National Library of Medicine|National Library of Medicine]] with the [[MEDLINE|MEDLARS]] project, which was a pioneer project that came about in 1961 for serials control. From this point, library technology began to trend within the library community and the ALA started to participate in the technology world, bringing about innovation in library technology by the year 1964.

On January 27, 1966, it was proposed by the ALA Committee on Organization that a new division of the ALA be created to grow with and endorse these new developments in library technology. A formal recommendation of the division’s creation was constructed by the Committee on Organization and was then taken to the ALA Council, who approved the division’s establishment, birthing the Information Science and Automation Division, which would later be renamed the Library and Information Technology Association. The division was officially established in New York at the 1966 '''ALA Annual Conference'''. The first elections for the Board of Directors occurred on July 1, 1967, where Stephen R. Salmon was elected as the first president of the division.

During the first two to three decades of the division’s life, it experienced a complex organizational shift as it was rapidly evolving and expanding, resulting in its change of name to the Library and Information Technology Association (LITA). The expansion of LITA during this time also brought about the growth of interest groups and the inclusion of new programs like '''The“The Distinguished Lecture Series'''Series” and '''LITA“LITA Scholarships'''Scholarships”. Following the initial strain of the division's developing years, LITA began to see financial light by the 1990s, and by 1993, the roster had grown to 5,802 members and was considered a reputable, well organized, and efficiently run division of the ALA.  

== Board of Directors<ref>American Library Association, [http://www.ala.org/lita/about/board], "Board of Directors", 2014</ref> ==