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>.

LITA celebrated its 40^thanniversary in 2006.

LITA celebrated its 40^thanniversary in 2006.

== Name<ref>Salmon, Stephen R., [http://www.ala.org/lita/about/history/1st25years], "LITA's First Twenty-Five Years: A Brief History", 2014</ref> ==

During the division’s initial stages of development in 1966, it was pressed by the ALA’s [[Reference and User Services Association]] that the name should include the words “Information Science”, and as a result of this and a report made by a Committee of Organization, the '''Information Science and Automation Division (ISAD)''' of the ALA came into existence. The name was later changed by the bylaws committee to the Library and Information Technology Association (or LITA, as it is more commonly known) in 1978 due to the expansion of the division’s scope in the twelve years that it had been operational.  

== History<ref>Salmon, Stephen R., [http://www.ala.org/lita/about/history/1st25years], "LITA's First Twenty-Five Years: A Brief History", 2014</ref> ==

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 Distinguished Lecture Series” and “LITA 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> ==

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* Starr, Karen 2010-2011

* Frisque, Michelle 2009-2010

* [[Andrew K. Pace | Pace, Andrew]] 2008-2009

* Beatty, Mark 2007-2008

* Postlethwaite, Bonnie 2006-2007

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* Wilson, Flo 2001-2002

* Randall, Sara L. 2000-2001

* [[Michael Gorman (librarian) | Gorman, Michael]] 1999-2000

* Higginbotham, Barbra B. 1998-1999

* Miller, Linda D. 1997-1998

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* Rosenthal, Joseph A. 1976-1977

* Avram, Henriette B. 1975-1976

* [[Fred Kilgour | Kilgour, Frederick G.]] 1974-1975

* Kilgour, Frederick G. 1973-1974

* Shoffner, Ralph M. 1972-1973

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=== Bylaws<ref>American Library Association, [http://www.ala.org/lita/about/bylaws], "Bylaws", 2014</ref> ===

The bylaws of LITA were adopted in 1966 by the Board of Directors and have had sixteen revisions since their implementation, the latest in 2013. They include bylaw information for LITA’s name, object, membership, officers, terms of office, duties, board of directors, meetings, committees and representatives, interest groups, nominations and elections, amendments of bylaws, publications, notice by mail, and parliamentary authority.

In March of 2014, LITA’s Board of Directors began a new analysis of its bylaws, and plan to do a comprehensive review of each of the bylaws, starting with those that are deemed to need the most immediate attention and gradually assessing each from that point onward.   

== Conferences ==

Since LITA’s birth, participating in both ALA and independent annual conferences has played a major part in promoting LITA’s mission, which is to provide forums for individuals in the library community to converge and collaborate on subjects related to technological change in libraries. Typically with sponsored participation, LITA has been involved in several conferences since the 1960s such as '''COLA''', the '''LITA Forum''', the annual '''ALA Midwinter Meeting''', and the '''ALA Annual Conference''', and has previously participated in conferences like the '''"Airlie Conference"''' in 1970 as well as a conference titled '''"Directions in Education for Information Science: A Symposium for Educators"''' in 1971.  

=== COLA<ref>Salmon, Stephen R., [http://www.ala.org/lita/about/history/1st25years], "LITA's First Twenty-Five Years: A Brief History", 2014</ref> ===

In April of 1964, representatives from libraries gathered in Illinois for the ALA’s '''Clinic on Library Applications of Data Processing (COLA)''', a conference where like-minded individuals had the opportunity to connect on this emerging field of library technology and express their enthusiasm for its possibilities for libraries globally when there was no way for them to converge otherwise during these formative years. The enthusiasm of those who participated in COLA and the positive results derived from this hub of eagerness for technological change within libraries is the enthusiasm that is encouraged and fostered within LITA’s present-day conference participation so as to produce new and innovative results in the field of library technology.

=== LITA Forum<ref>American Library Association, [http://www.ala.org/lita/conferences/forum/2014], "LITA Forum 2014", 2014</ref> ===

First held in 1998, the '''LITA National Forum''' has become a highly regarded annual event for those whose work involves new and leading technologies in the library and information technology field. The conference places value in opportunities for attendees to expand their knowledge base in the technological field by seeing presentations and participating in workshops. The 2014 LITA Forum is to be held from November 5-85–8 in Albuquerque, New Mexico and is titled “From Node to Network”.

=== ALA Conferences ===

LITA also participates in the '''ALA Midwinter Meeting'''<ref>American Library Association, [http://alamw15.ala.org/resources-for-first-timers], "Resources for First-Timers", 2014</ref> by offering workshops that contain more specified information about library technology as well as a LITA Open House, a chance for attendees of the conference to learn about LITA’s yearly operations and developments and their strategic plans for the future.

In addition to the ALA Midwinter Meeting, LITA is also involved with the '''ALA Annual Conference''',<ref>American Library Association, [http://ala14.ala.org/why-youll-be-more-valuable], "Why You'll Be More Valuable", 2014</ref>, which provides a place for individuals in the library community to bring innovative ideas, strategies, and techniques back to their workplace. LITA contributes to the ALA National Conference by providing pre-conference workshops, a LITA Open House, and other special presentations involving library technology.    

== Committees<ref>American Library Association, [http://www.ala.org/lita/about/committees], "Committees", 2014</ref> ==

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== Members<ref>American Library Association, [http://www.ala.org/lita/membership], "Membership", 2014</ref> ==

The members of LITA are described as “information technology professionals dedicated to educating, serving, and reach out to the entire library and information community.” LITA intends to provide its members with “a forum for discussion, an environment for learning, and a program for actions on the design, development, and implementation of automated and technological systems in the library and information science field”.

=== Interest Groups<ref>American Library Association, [http://www.ala.org/lita/about/igs], "Interest Groups", 2014</ref> ===

Open to all members, LITA currently has nineteen interest groups. They are a way for members to become involved in LITA’s regular operations and learn about emerging trends or issues in library technology. It helps to shape future LITA programs, education initiative and publications.

Active Interest Groups:

* [[Accessibility]]

* [[Authority Control]] (LITA/[[Association for Library Collections and Technical Services|ALCTS]])

* [[Distance Education | Distance Learning]]

* Drupal4Lib

* Electronic Resources Management (LITA/[[Association for Library Collections and Technical Services|ALCTS]])

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* Mobile Computing

* Next Generation Catalog

* [[Open-source software | Open Source Systems]]

* [[Public Library]] Technology

* [[Search Engine Optimization]]

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== Publications ==

Publications by LITA include numerous books and a journal.

=== Books<ref>American Library Association, [http://www.alastore.ala.org/SearchResult.aspx?KeyWords=lita], "ALA Store Search results: LITA", 2012</ref> ===

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ITAL is abstracted in Computer & Information Systems, Computing Reviews, Information Science Abstracts and Library & Information Science Abstracts. It is indexed by a number resources including Computer Literature Index and Social Sciences Citation Index.

=== LITA Blog<ref>WordPress, [http://litablog.org], "LITA Blog", 2014</ref> ===

LITA keeps and regularly updates the LITA Blog, powered by [[WordPress]], where individuals are able to become informed on selected current operations and events through LITA or the ALA online.

==References==

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*[http://connect.ala.org/node/140498/ Guiding Principles]

*[http://ala14.ala.org/why-youll-be-more-valuable/ ALA Annual Conference]

[[Category:Library associations]]