ITAL

September 2018 ITAL Issue Now Available

LITA ITAL logo

In the September 2018 issue of Information Technology and Libraries (ITAL), we continue our celebration of ITAL’s 50th year with a summary of articles from the 1980s by former Editorial Board member Mark Dehmlow. In Mark’s words, “The 1980s were an exciting time for technology development and a decade that is rife with technical evolution.” As personal computers became commonplace through the decade, the Internet age was just around the corner. In this issue: Enhancing Visibility of Vendor Accessibility Documentation Samuel Kent Willis and Faye O’Reilly As accessibility of online resources becomes an increasingly visible priority for libraries, ensuring that our licensed content vendors meet the same standards is more important. This article describes a method of increasing the visibility of vendor accessibility documentation for the benefit of our users. Efficiently Processing and Storing Library Linked Data using Apache Spark and Parquet Kumar Sharma, Ujjal Marjit, and Utpal Biswas Many library…

Publications

New Technology Planning LITA Guide is Out Now

Library Technology Planning graphic

Technology is a crucial part of libraries today. But when it comes to figuring out the most effective technologies for their library or to planning for future technology needs, many librarians don’t know where to begin. Library Technology Planning for Today and Tomorrow, by Diana Silveira, is the place to start. This practical new LITA guide will be of special value to those in small- and medium-size libraries, especially those new to the planning process who have not previously implemented technology or who have had difficulty implementing strategic plans. This step-by-step guide takes the reader through the process of successfully creating and implementing a library technology plan. Each chapter addresses an aspect of planning and implementation—from conducting a technology audit and selecting appropriate devices to deploying new technologies and training staff and users. Further, this LITA guide will help librarians evaluate the success of their work in developing and implementing…

Publications

Save on the Four Newest LITA Guides

Get discounted pricing on 4 brand new exciting titles on library technology. The LITA Guide Series books from Rowman and Littlefield publishers, contain practical, up to date, how-to information, and are usually under 100 pages. Proposals for new titles can be submitted to the Acquisitions editor using this link. LITA members receive a 20% discount on all the titles. To get that discount, use promotion code RLLITA20 when ordering from the Rowman and Littlefield LITA Guide Series web site. Here are the newest LITA Guide Series titles:        Big Data Shocks: An Introduction to Big Data for Librarians and Information Professionals Andrew Weiss Augmented and Virtual Reality in Libraries Edited by Christine Elliott, Marie Rose, and Jolanda-Pieta von Arnhem The Savvy Academic Librarian’s Guide to Technological Innovation: Moving Beyond the Wow Factor Cinthya Ippoliti Digital Curation Projects Made Easy: A Step-by-Step Guide for Libraries, Archives, and Museums Carmen Cowick LITA publications help to fulfill its mission…

ITAL

June 2018 ITAL Issue Published

ITAL logo

The June 2018 issue (volume 37, number 2) of Information Technology and Libraries (ITAL) has been published. With this issue, we introduce a new look for the journal — thanks to the work of LITA’s Web Coordinating Committee, and in particular Kelly Sattler (also a member of the Editorial Board), Jingjing Wu, and Guy Cicinelli. The new design is much easier on the eyes and more legible, and sports a new graphic identity for ITAL. In this June 2018 issue, we continue our celebration of ITAL’s 50th year with a summary by Editorial Board member Sandra Shores of the articles published in the 1970s, the journal’s first full decade of publication. The 1970s are particularly pivotal in library technology, as it marks the introduction of the personal computer, as a hobbyist’s tool, to society. The web is still more than a decade away, but the seeds are being planted. The…

ITAL

Join the ITAL Editorial Board

lita: empowering libraries through technology

Information Technology and Libraries [ITAL] is LITA’s quarterly, open-access, peer-reviewed journal. If you are a LITA member who is interested in furthering the scholarly record for library technology and have a background in information technology in academic, public, or other libraries, apply for this opportunity to serve on the ITAL Editorial Board. As ITAL marks its 50th anniversary, the ITAL Editorial Board has a critical role to play in building the foundation for the journal’s next 50 years. Find details on the application. Duties. In addition to reviewing 1-2 submissions a month, members are expected to participate in monthly online ITAL Board meetings. Attendance at ALA Annual and Midwinter is not required. A term of service is two years (July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2020); an individual may serve up to two consecutive terms. More Information. See the Information Technologies and Libraries website or the ITAL Editorial Board committee…

ITAL

March 2018 ITAL Issue Published

lita: empowering libraries through technology

The March 2018 issue (volume 37, number 1) of Information Technology and Libraries (ITAL) has been published and may be read at: https://ejournals.bc.edu/ojs/index.php/ital/index This issue marks the journal’s 50th anniversary. The table of contents and brief abstracts of reviewed articles are below. Ken Varnum Editor “Academic Libraries on Social Media: Finding the Students and the Information They Want” Heather Howard, Sarah Huber, Lisa Carter, and Elizabeth Moore https://doi.org/10.6017/ital.v37i1.10160 Although most libraries today participate in some form of social media, few take the time to learn how they might use this medium more effectively to meet the needs and interests of their users. This study by Purdue University Libraries offers an instructive example of how to apply user research to the development of an effective social media strategy. This article will be of interest to librarians looking to gain a better understanding of the social media habits of college students or…

Publications

New Title in the LITA Guide Series Available Now

The LITA Guide to No or Low Cost Technology Tools for Libraries book cover

The LITA Guide to No- or Low-Cost Technology Tools for Libraries, by Breanne A. Kirsch This exciting new title provides a practical guide on how to find and use technology tools for a variety of purposes in libraries and, more broadly, in education. Each topic showcases two technology tools in detail, discusses additional tools and provides examples of how librarians or educators are using them in libraries and schools. Tools covered include: Video creation tools: PowToon and Animaker. Screencasts tools: Jing and Screencast-O-Matic. Collaboration tools: Padlet and Lino It. Assessment tools: Quizizz and Kahoot. Breanne’s writing purpose: “I hope that this book will help novice and tech-savvy librarians in all types of libraries learn about technology tools that will help them improve library services and resources. The tools highlighted throughout the book are user friendly and usually have a free version. I explain each tool in enough detail to help…

ITAL

Looking for Something to Read?

LITA publishes a quarterly, open-access and peer-reviewed journal called Information Technology and Libraries (ITAL). As a regular blogger for LITA, I was embarrassed to admit that I was not familiar with this publication when I recently met with Ken Varnum, the new editor. LITA and ITAL are both devoted to exploring the intersection between technology and libraries, everything from digital preservation to vendor relations. The journal is written by and for library technologists and will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2018. Not only is it available online, but several archival issues dating back to the 1960s are also available. Back in those days, the journal was known as the Journal of Library Automation (from 1968-1981), until 1982 when the name changed. In 2012, it switched from a print-only subscription publication to an online, open-access journal. Articles such as the 1972 “Regional Numerical Union Catalog on Computer Output Microfiche” provide a fascinating…

Publications

New and Upcoming 2018 LITA Guides

2018 LITA guides cover art

Here are 5 recent and upcoming exciting titles on library technology. The LITA Guide Series books from Rowman and Littlefield publishers, contain practical, up to date, how-to information, and are usually under 100 pages. Proposals for new titles can be submitted to the Acquisitions editor using this link. LITA members receive a 20% discount on all the titles. To get that discount, use promotion code RLLITA20 when ordering from the Rowman and Littlefield LITA Guide Series web site. Here are the current new LITA Guide Series titles:      The LITA Guide to No- or Low-Cost Technology Tools for Libraries Breanne A. Kirsch (February 2018) Big Data Shocks: An Introduction to Big Data for Librarians and Information Professionals Andrew Weiss (March 2018) The Savvy Academic Librarian’s Guide to Technological Innovation: Moving Beyond the Wow Factor Cinthya Ippoliti (June 2018) The LITA Guide to Augmented Reality in Libraries Edited by Christine Elliott, Marie…

ITAL

December 2017 ITAL Issue Published

lita: empowering libraries through technology

The December issue (volume 36, number 4) of Information Technology and Libraries (ITAL) is now available at: https://ejournals.bc.edu/ojs/index.php/ital/index. The December 2017 issue Reviewed Articles and Communications “Mobile Website Use and Advanced Researchers: Understanding Library Users at a University Marine Sciences Branch Campus” Mary J. Markland, Hannah Gascho Rempel, and Laurie Bridges https://doi.org/10.6017/ital.v36i4.9953 This exploratory study examined the use of the Oregon State University Library’s  website via mobile devices by advanced researchers at an off-campus branch location. Branch campus affiliated faculty, staff, and graduate students were invited to participate in a survey to determine what their research behaviors are via mobile devices including frequency of mobile library website use and the tasks they were attempting to complete. Findings showed that while these advanced researchers do periodically use the library’s website via mobile devices, mobile devices are not the primary mode of searching for articles and books or for reading scholarly sources….