Author: mprentice

LITA is pleased to announce the results of the 2009 Election. Karen J. Starr has been elected as 2009 LITA President-Elect; Aaron Dobbs and Maurice York have been elected to serve 3 year terms as LITA Directors-at-large. Visit the LITA web site for more information.

LITACamp is a place to discuss and explore the latest in library technology topics and speculate on what might be to come. Our theme, “The Everywhere Library: Creating, Communicating, Integrating” and our award winning keynote speakers, John Blyberg and Joan Frye Williams are perfect for the wide range of unconference possible presentations and discussions about the new and ever changing landscape we work in. For example OCLC just announced WorldCat Local Quickstart. Marshall Breeding has said of the announcement: “I see this move stirring up the mix of options and opportunities for libraries. Anything that provides new alternatives to libraries is welcome relative to the state of affairs of recent times where libraries feel frustrated by too few options. So we’ve seen open source come in to challenge proprietary systems; we’re seeing initiatives to fundamentally rebuild library automation systems. Now OCLC adds Web-scale, WorldCat-based library automation to the mix. The…

ALA Connect is a single virtual location in which members can collaborate and work on LITA committee and interest group projects. ALA Connect (connect.ala.org) has launched its first phase of operation, in which every ALA group will have the ability to utilize the following tools: • Posts (like blog posts) • Online docs (collaborative, wiki-like pages or Google Docs) • Group calendar • Surveys • Polls • Chat room • Discussion forums Members who log in to Connect using their regular ALA Web site username and password will find that their records are automatically synchronized with ALA’s membership database, so their affiliations with committees, divisions, events, round tables and sections are displayed. In addition to the formal working groups, members can also create their own communities. If you encounter any problems or have any questions, please contact the LITA office lita@ala.org

Polls are open for ALA and LITA elections. Visit http://www.alavote.org/2009 to cast your ballot. Visit the LITA web site for more info on candidates running for LITA office. Polls close April 29.

Have you ever been “speed-geeking?” Been struck by “lightning-talks”? Join your colleagues and keynoters Joan Frye Williams and John Blyberg at the first-ever, LITACamp, “The Everywhere Library: Creating, Communicating, Integrating,” May 7-8 in Dublin, Ohio. Participants determine the topic and format of the sessions on-site, sign up for time slots and pitch session ideas to all. This format encourages collaboration, interaction, discussion and real-time innovation. You get to be both a participant and a presenter, discussing and learning about topics you really care about. Visit the LITA web site for registration and housing information and the LITACamp wiki and LITACamp blog for the most up-to-date information on the Camp. Registration includes Thursday lunch, continental breakfasts, parking and wifi at the conference center. Registration will be accepted online and onsite; deadline to receive LITA housing rate is April 10. LITACamp will be ideal for anyone interested in using technology to improve…