Miller, 'From the LITA President', LITA Newsletter v14n04 URL = http://hegel.lib.ncsu.edu/stacks/serials/lita/lita-v14n04-miller-from [v14n4.presid litanews] -------------- >From the LITA President Tamara Miller Where will the latest surge of information technology lead us? Indeed, is it important to look beyond immediate benefits as we create a new world of networked information? For me, the future is usually a murky image in an imperfect crystal ball, revealing itself reluctantly. How- ever, I have the sense that the current revolution in networked infor- mation is important beyond its immediate use. In his keynote speech at the 1992 LITA National Conference in Den- ver, Michael Schrage urged us to take a closer look at the effects of network communication. Schrage contends that we are busy creating new communities without realizing it, that the network provides a new place for people to meet. Indeed, people are beginning to gather on the network without much regard for their respective locations, ages, dialects or a host of other attributes that seem important in face-to-face interactions. These groups are most easily observed within the newsgroups and bulle- tin boards that form around every conceivable hobby, interest and pub- lic issue. We have seen these groups develop leaders and sets of man- ners to define acceptable behavior. In some cases they may tolerate amusing characters or castigate those who won't abide by the group con- census. Whether the analogy to communities is completely appropriate or not, we need to recognize the profound changes that are likely to face us. Libraries, particularly public libraries, play a vital role in our democracatic communities. Citizens must be informed and educated if they are to participate fully in the democratic process. Public librar- ies and public education, open to all, have been the foundations of our political life. As we witness a shift from traditional media to electronic information, access to the network is critical. Will it be the role of the librarians to understand and articulate the relationship between networked information and a strong democracy? With the legislative process primarily focused on global commercial competitiveness, assuring national equity of access will not be an easy task. We need to avoid creating new communities with all the in- equities of the old ones. Libraries have already gone a long way toward opening the existing network to a wide spectrum of students, scholars and citizens. Librari- ans have been quick to embrace new network tools and create networked information services. The prominence of librarians and library informa- tion on the networks has given the profession a new visibility. This seems only appropriate, since librarians have worked long and hard to- ward a goal of ubiquitous information access. What should LITA's role be in this age of rapid change? Should more LITA programs be out at the cutting edge? Should LITA devote more en- ergy to library applications that use established technologies? In re- cent years, LITA has become more inclusive, with broader participation by librarians from more kinds, sizes and types of libraries. LITA has been successful in undertaking joint programs with other ALA divi- sions. LITA made a commitment to programs aimed at a whole range of ex- pertise, from novice to experienced net-surfer. This effort has made LITA one of the fastest growing divisions of ALA and should continue unabated. At the same time, we need to heed the observation offered by Bar- bara Evans Markuson during the LITA's 25th Anniversary President's Pro- gram in New Orleans. Markuson urged us not to forget the benefit of venturing into the unknown. She remembered the exhilaration of attend- ing LITA meetings in the late 1960's at which she could understand about half the discussion. Those were heady, pioneering days. The chal- lenge then, as now, is to learn more, understand the technology better and move forward.