Knutson, 'FAQS About LITA, Version 1.0', LITA Newsletter v15n03 URL = http://hegel.lib.ncsu.edu/stacks/serials/lita/lita-v15n03-knutson-faqs V15N3.FAQS LITANEWS -------------------- FAQS About LITA, Version 1.0 Linda J. Knutson, Executive Director Answers to some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about LITA follow. We hope to receive more questions from members and continue this column from time to time. How do I get on a LITA committee? The LITA Vice President makes committee appointments, usually in the spring. A committee volunteer form appears in the LITA Newsletter and is also available from the LITA Office and through the LITA section of the ALA gopher. One effective way to get on a committee is to attend meetings of the group and make your wishes known to the Chair of the committee. Under current ALA rules, you do need to attend both ALA Midwinter and Annual if you are on a committee. (Perhaps the information age will challenge this rule in the future!) How do I get involved in an Interest Group? Attend the Interest Group's meetings at ALA Annual and Midwinter. Ask the LITA Office for the phone number and Internet address of the Chair of the Interest Group and ask him or her to add you to the group's roster. You may also retrieve this information through the ALA gopher. Most Interest Groups maintain membership lists independent of the LITA Office. How can I speak or present a paper at a program? If your topic fits within the subject area of a LITA Interest Group, you might go directly to that group to see whether a program is being planned that might include you. Or you might contact the Chair of the LITA Program Planning Committee to see what possibilities that group sees. (The current PPC chair is Barbra Higgenbotham, Brooklyn College Library; (718) 951-5342; bxhbc@cunyvm. cuny.edu, or contact Rob Carlson, LITA Deputy Executive Director, rob.carlson@ala.org.) Most programs are planned a year in advance, so make your contacts accordingly. Can I publish a book through LITA? The LITA Publications Committee is always looking for publication ideas. Contact the Chair of the Publications Committee--currently Charles W. Bailey, Jr., University of Houston Libraries; (713) 743-9804; lib3@ uhupvm1.uh.edu (Internet preferred). After June, contact the LITA Office for the name and address of the next Publications Committee chair. How can I get involved in the next LITA National Conference? LITA and LAMA (the Library Administration and Management Association) are cosponsoring the 1996 National Conference in Pittsburgh, October 13-16. A call for volunteers for committees and other roles will go out next fall. Watch for it in the LITA Newsletter. As always, volunteer forms will be available from the LITA (and LAMA) offices and through the ALA gopher. Does LITA have chapters? No. LITA has reviewed the possibility of having, for example, state chapters, but so far has decided that maintaining chapters would be too costly. LITA is trying other means of creating a LITA presence such as the growing program of LITA Regional Institutes. The issue of chapters is likely to be reviewed regularly by the LITA Board. Miami Beach is my first ALA conference. How can I get the most out of it as a LITA member? Plan your time at the conference! Attend Interest Group meetings that interest you. LITA has enough programs to keep you busy through the entire conference. Attend the LITA President's Program Monday afternoon and the LITA Members' Reception that follows. Visit the LITA booth often, and talk with members staffing the booth. Get the list of IG chairs from the LITA Office or ALA gopher and make contacts ahead of time. See "Dine with LITA" in this issue of the Newsletter. Let people know you're a newcomer and someone's sure to adopt you! Where can I find a full description of LITA and its activities? The ALA Handbook of Organization and the LITA section of the ALA gopher. Any ALA member can request a copy of the Handbook from ALA Membership Services, 1-800-545-2433. Don't forget to contact the LITA Office with any questions you have. We look forward to serving you and enjoy hearing directly from our members. Please send me questions for future "FAQs About LITA": linda.knutson@ala.org. Thank you. LITA Staff: telephone 1-800-245-2433 plus the extension below; fax (312) 280-3257. Linda J. Knutson, Executive Director, ext. 4267, Internet inda.knutson@ala.org Rob Carlson, Deputy Executive Director, ext. 4268, Internet rob.carlson@ala.org Tel Aviv Barbee, Administrative Secretary, ext. 4270, Internet tel.aviv.barbee@ala.org Valerie Edmonds, Administrative Secretary, ext. 4269, Internet valerie.edmonds@ala.org.