Miller, 'Library and Information Technology Association Annual Report 1993--1994', LITA Newsletter v15n04 URL = ftp://dewey.lib.ncsu.edu/stacks/serials/lita/lita-v15n04-miller-library V15N4.ANNREP LITANEWS --------------------- Library and Information Technology Association Annual Report 1993--1994 Tamara J. Miller, President Founded in 1966, the Library and Information Technology Association is an international organization of more than 5,700 members. LITA is one of 11 divisions of the American Library Association. LITA strives to fulfill its mission by keeping a clear eye on its vision of the future, a vision that is focused on people and their potential. LITA Vision LITA envisions a world in which the complete spectrum of information technology is available to everyone. People in all their diversity will have access to a wealth of information technology in libraries, at work and at home. In this world everybody can realize their full potential with the help of information technology. The very boundaries of human relations will expand beyond the limitations of time and space we experience today. The outer limits are still unknown; what is known is that the exploration will be challenging. LITA Mission LITA provides its members, other ALA divisions and members, and the library and information science field as a whole with a forum for discussion, an environment for learning, and a program for action on the design, development, and implementation of automated and technological systems in the library and information science field. LITA Effectiveness In order to serve its members, LITA must be an effective organization. The 1993-94 year saw a series of developments that improve LITA and the way it functions. *LITA and LAMA will hold the first joint divisional national conference in Pittsburgh in the fall of 1996. This ground breaking cooperative venture is the outgrowth of LITA's firm conviction that to be effective it must seek productive partnerships and strengthen ties with other ALA divisions and units. *LITA is building both an operating and national conference reserve fund balances. Stipulated in the current LITA Financial Plan, these reserves will help secure a sound fiscal base for LITA activities. *LITA Program Planning Committee assumed a leadership role in coordinating and fostering joint program activities. The first Program Planning Fair, held at the ALA Midwinter meeting in Los Angeles in February 1994, was an important first step in cross divisional programming discussions. *Deputy Executive Director Rob Carlson, a full time professional, was added to the LITA staff. Rob's arrival brought the LITA staff back to full strength. *LITA continues to improve communication with members. LITANEWS, an electronic version of the highly successful LITA Newsletter, was launched this year. LITA BITS, an electronic update on information technology developments was conceived and planned. *The LITA Regional Institutes Task Force was created this year and began development of a program of regional LITA program offerings. Working with the LITA Deputy Executive Director and with advice from the membership, the group has developed the initial course offerings and policy structure required to mount a major new program initiative. *The LITA Research Committee was established. This is a notable event in the life of an organization with few standing committees. It signals the importance to LITA members of encouraging research in the technical arena. *LITA is concerned with extending LITA membership beyond its traditional audience to include paraprofessionals, technologists, information professionals not in libraries, librarians in all types and sizes of libraries, companies, government agencies, and commercial ventures. The 1994 annual conference will see a heightened level of activity by the Membership Committee in providing both formal and informal settings for professional interaction and involvement. *LITA devoted both time and energy to participation in the ALA Self Study process. LITA is as committed to improving ALA as it is to constantly improving LITA itself. During 1993-94, several LITA members were pleased to assist ALA with planning telecommunication improvements at the Chicago headquarters. *The Interest Group Leadership and Continuity Task Force completed its examination and made recommendations on improving the effectiveness of interest groups, the most vital of LITA's organizational units. *LITA placed an added emphasis on preparing LITA members to assume leadership roles. The Leadership Development Committee, working with the Vice President will unveil a revamped and more intensive orientation for new committee and interest group officers. *LITA continued its dynamic strategic planning process, building on the work of members during the LITA renewal process of 1992- 93. The LITA Strategic Plan continues to be refined and serves as a guide to developing LITA activities and budget allocations. *As a result of these activities, LITA will sponsor or cosponsor a record 22 programs at the ALA Annual Conference in June 1994 in Miami. 1993-94 LITA Activities in Support of the American Library Association's Priority Areas Access to Information The Internet Room. The brain child of an innovative group of LITA members, and in continuing partnership with ALA Conference Services, the Internet Room has become an exciting addition to ALA conference. Although the room provides access to email for conference attendees, it serves a far more important educational function. The Internet Room is a place to learn about networked information. For many visitors to the room, it is their first experience with the power and potential of networked, electronic information. The room features 24 workstations, including several designated for short term use and some designed for beginners. Staffed by more than 20 knowledgeable and energetic volunteers, it provided more than 2,500 individual sessions at the 1994 Midwinter conference. An introductory gopher server has been developed for the 1994 annual conference Internet Room to help guide visitors through the wealth of information available on the Internet. Action for Access. The 1994 LITA President's Program, titled "Action for Access," will explore the capacity of information technology for delivering information to underserved, geographically remote, or special groups of readers. The program, designed by the LITA Technology and Access Committee, will highlight revolutionary services to rural areas, Native American communities, and central city neighborhoods. The use of adaptive technology to meet the special access needs of the blind will be presented. The LITA Adaptive Technology Interest Group, in a related effort, is encouraging adaptive technology vendors to participate more fully in ALA conferences as exhibitors, program participants and in an open house at the Miami conference titled "Adaptive Technology Devices." The group is compiling a bibliography of information on the Americans with Disabilities Act of interest to libraries Access to information may be limited both by format and location. As a joint effort, the Optical Information Systems Interest Group, the ALCTS/RLMS Electronic Imaging Technologies Committee; the ALCTS/PLMS Preservation Microfilming Committee; the PLA/Technology In Public Libraries Committee; the Emerging Technologies Interest Group will present "Access To Digital Images: Finding Your Way In The Labyrinth" at the 1994 annual conference. The International Relations Committee will look to overcoming international barriers to information access in its program on International Networking and Resource Sharing . Legislation and Funding LITA was pleased to offer support and participate in the national Telecommunications Forum held in the fall of 1993 in Washington, D.C. At the request of the ALA Washington Office and the ALA Legislative Committee, LITA assisted with project management and the publishing of the proceedings. The work of the Forum in articulating the Principles for the Development of the National Information Infrastructure has stimulated discussion of the national agenda for an information policy. Working with the LITA Legislation and Regulation Committee, the LITA Board endorsed those principles. LITA became a member of the Coalition for Networked Information during 1993-94. LITA will now join the Coalition, founded by ARL, EDUCOM and CAUSE, in their work to foster the use of the emerging network for scholarship and education. Nancy Roderer, LITA Vice President, working with the LITA Technology and Access Committee and the LITA Legislation and Regulation Committee, is proposing the creation of a network of librarians committed to addressing NII issues of critical concern to libraries. This initiative seeks to empower librarians and information professionals to take an active role in influencing legislation and policy development at all levels of government. Intellectual Freedom LITA cosponsored the Fourth Conference on Computers, Freedom and Privacy, March 23-26 in Chicago. LITA expanded its longtime involvement with the conference by presenting its first CFP program, "The Role of Libraries in the Information Infrastructure." The program was a showcase for the long tradition of support by libraries for intellectual freedom. Speakers Tamara Miller, Carl Kadie, Bernard Margolis and Elaine Albright explained how libraries are uniquely able to operate in the public interest on the emerging network. LITA is committed to cosponsoring CFP '95. Once again, LITA will seek program opportunities to give visibility to the role of libraries in fostering intellectual freedom and privacy in the electronic environment. The LITA Education Committee is reviewing the new ALA Intellectual Freedom Guidelines and is committed to the strongest possible protection of intellectual freedom. The LITA Imagineering Interest Group will present a thought provoking look at the implications, both personal and societal, of "The Information Future" at the 1994 annual conference. Public Awareness By building on the work of the Telecommunication Forum and the statement of NII principles, LITA aims to develop a legislative network to educate, inform and influence policy makers, legislators, government officials and voters on the broad issues critical to the development of a National Information Infrastructure. The Desktop Publishing Interest Group will assist libraries in improving their publications and public relations materials with a well timed program on "Using Desktop Publishing and Graphic Design to Improve Library Publications" at the 1994 annual conference. Personnel Resources One of the primary functions of LITA is to provide opportunities for professional development. The role of librarians and information professionals is changing rapidly. The skills, knowledge and expertise needed to deal with an increasingly complex information environment are expanding. In an effort to meet the needs of LITA and ALA members , the following programs, discussions, and activities have been developed by LITA. *Emerging Technologies Interest Group will explore the changing relationship between computer centers and libraries. *In a joint interest group effort, the Emerging Technologies Interest Group, the Optical Information Systems Interest Group, and the Online Catalogs Interest Group will present a preconference to the 1994 Annual conference, "Wrestling with the Future: Decision-Making for Electronic Information Resources." This program is designed to assist library administrator, managers, and selectors make the best technology choices for their libraries. *The Joint ALCTS/LITA Microcomputers in Technical Services Interest Group will hold a discussion of improved tools for technical services titled "The Cataloger's Desktop." *How we educate the librarians of the future will shape the profession. The LITA Education Committee has completed an innovative three week online discussion of needed technical competencies for librarians. The discussion will form the basis of an active discussion at the Miami conference. In a further commitment to library education, Tamara Miller, LITA President, serves on the Accreditation Teleconference Advisory Board. Nancy Roderer, LITA Vice President, will participate in the teleconference. Library Services, Development and Technology LITA has made a concerted effort to build and maintain a superior publication program of the highest quality. LITA's refereed journal, Information Technology and Libraries, has been redesigned to make use of new publishing techniques. ITAL appeared in its larger, bolder format with the first 1994 issue. LITA is embarking on its, and ALA's, first journal to be published only in electronic form. The Telecommunications Electronic Reviews (TER) will be free to subscribers. In addition, two notable titles were published in the LITA Monographic series. Both are "best sellers" in the library market. Internet Connections: A librarians guide to dial-up access and use/ Mary E. Engle, Marilyn Lutz, William W. Jones, Jr., and Genevieve Engel. Chicago: LITA, 1993. (LITA Monographs; 3) Telecommunications, networking, and Internet glossary/ George Machovec. Chicago: LITA, 1993. (LITA Monographs; 4) LITA's mission includes the presentation of programs for the whole spectrum of types of libraries, levels of experience from novice to expert, and range of subject interests. Among LITA's fine offering of programs, these few examples provide an idea of the breadth and depth of LITA's efforts. *"Shared Systems for Small Libraries: How to Automate Together" (Small Integrated Library Systems Interest Group) *"Starting Down the Information Superhighway: Cadillac Not Required" (Joint with PLA, LITA Education Committee and Telecommunication Interest Group) *"Applications of Digital and Supercomputing Technology in the Arts and Literature" (ACRL/LITA Technology In The Arts Interest Group) *"Geographic Information Systems: A New Service Opportunity for Libraries" (Geographic Information System Interest Group) *"Z39.50 Implementation and Impact" (Joint effort: TESLA and Online Catalog Interest Group) *"Taking the Network Plunge: Remote Library Users and Electronic Networks" (Joint ACRL ECLLS and Telecommunication Interest Group) *"Artificial Intelligence and Authority Control: Together At Last?" (Authority Control And Artificial Intelligence/Expert Systems Interest Groups) These seven programs alone will touch on small libraries, public libraries, special libraries, the arts and humanities, geography, imaging technology, artificial intelligence, national technical standards, advice to beginners and cooperative automation planning. In this small sample, you will find joint efforts between LITA and two other divisions and among a variety of LITA interest groups. LITA Staff and Leadership for 1993-94 LITA Staff Linda J. Knutson, Executive Director Rob Carlson, Deputy Executive Director Tel Aviv Barbee, Administrative Secretary Valerie A. Edmonds, Secretary LITA Board of Directors * Tamara J. Miller, President * Nancy K. Roderer, Vice President * Walt Crawford, Past President Betty G. Bengtson, Director at Large Michele I. Dalehite, Director at Large Katharina E. Klemperer, Director at Large * Linda D. Miller, Director at Large Jean Armour Polly, Director at Large Nolan F. Pope, Director at Large Craig A. Summerhill, Director at Large * Carol A. Parkhurst, Councilor David R. McDonald, Chair, Bylaws and Organization (ex-officio) * Linda J. Knutson, Executive Director (ex-officio) * Members of the Executive Committee Conclusion The 1993-94 year has been a productive one for LITA. With the publication of the National Information Infrastructure: Agenda for Action by the White House in November 1993, information technology has been given an increased visibility in the mass media and assumed a new importance with the public. It has spurred new LITA initiatives and programs at breakneck speed. LITA's solid publishing program has become even more effective, providing critical information in a remarkably short time on topics of immediate interest. The current year saw a remarkable growth in LITA's interaction with the other units of the ALA, as well as with other organizations with similar interests and concerns. LITA will continue to actively pursue partnerships and cooperative arrangements wherever common interests can be found. The LITA-LAMA joint national conference holds the potential to become a model for cross divisional cooperation. As always, it is the effort of LITA members themselves that makes a successful year possible. The LITA membership is served by a dedicated staff and over 260 volunteers. These volunteers, who emerge from the ranks of the membership, conduct LITA business, plan and present LITA programs, develop LITA publications and participate in the long range planning and financial stability of the association. I have developed a deep and abiding respect for their vision, passion and enthusiasm.