News & Noteworthy

LITA Updates

This update includes information about the following:

  • Election is open
  • April Online Learning Opportunities
  • Annual Conference Highlights
  • LITA members named LJ Movers & Shakers
  • Two new guides now available
  • Staff change

2014 Election is open

If you were a LITA member in good standing as of January 31, 2014, you have been or will be notified by email with a unique passcode and information about how to vote. The election remains open through April 25, 2014, 11:59 pm Central time.

On May 2nd, the Election Committee will meet at the ALA offices to certify the election. The results will be released following that meeting.

April Online Learning Opportunities

  • All Aboard – the Party’s Starting! Setting a Course for Social Media Success.
    This two hour webinar on April 2nd provides a template for creating a comprehensive plan for social media usage and assessment, with an emphasis on creating a meaningful voice and a compelling personality. For registration and additional information, visit the course page.
  • Getting Started with GIS.
    This is a three week course where participants will gain knowledge of popular online mapping resources, the ability to create an online map, an introduction to GIS, GIS software and GIS data, and, an awareness of how other libraries are incorporating GIS technology into their library services and projects. For registration and additional information, visit the course page

Annual Conference Highlights

The 2014 Annual Conference in Las Vegas begins with three f2f learning opportunities offered to everyone who wants to attend. In other words, you can register for these workshops only or you can add them to your conference registration. Register online through June 20 for

  • Managing Data: Tools for Plans and Data Scrubbing,
  • Practical Linked Data with Open Source,
  • Web Therapy.

If you are attending Annual Conference, please do plan to attend the LITA Open House on Friday, June 27 at 3:00, the “Sunday Afternoon with LITA” which includes the Top Technology Trends program at 1:00, the LITA Awards Ceremony at 3:00 immediately followed by the President’s Program featuring Kimberly Bryant, founder of Black Girls Code. The programming is followed by the LITA Happy Hour at 5:30. For additional information, visit the LITA conference page.


LJ Movers & Shakers

The following LITA members were selected by Library Journal for their annual recognition as Movers & Shakers:

Rachel Vacek was identified as an innovator.

Laura Damon-Moore was identified as a change agent.

Sarah Sagmoen and Susan Lyon were identified as marketers.

Kyle Denlinger was identified as a tech leader.

Please join me in congratulating these members on being recognized by LJ.


Two New Guides Now Available

“Makerspaces Top Trainblazing Projects” by Caitlin A Bagley, and, “Responsive Web Design for Libraries” by Matthew Reidsma have been recently published. More details and order capability is provided through the ALA Store.


Staff Change

Melissa Prentice is now the Manager of Public Services at the Mead Public Library in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Melissa has served the LITA membership for more than seven years. Please join us in wishing Melissa all the best in her new job


I encourage you to connect with LITA by:

  1. Exploring our web site.
  2. Subscribing to the LITA-L email discussion list.
  3. Visiting the LITA blog and LITA Division page on ALA Connect.
  4. Connecting with us on Facebook and Twitter.
  5. Reaching out to the LITA leadership at any time.

Please note:  the Information Technology and Libraries (ITAL) journal is available to you and to the entire profession.  ITAL features high-quality articles that undergo rigorous peer-review as well as case studies, commentary, and information about topics and trends of interest to the LITA community and beyond.
If you have any questions or wish to discuss any of these items, please do let me know.
All the best,

Mary
Mary Taylor, Executive Director

Library and Information Technology Association (LITA)
50 E. Huron, Chicago, IL 60611
800-545-2433  x4267
312-280-4267 (direct line)
312-280-3257 (fax)
mtaylor@ala.org

www.lita.org


Join us in Albuquerque, November 5-8, 2014 for the LITA Forum. The theme is “Transformation: From Node to Network”