Category: ALA Annual Conferences

LITA President Bohyun Kim welcomes Meredith Broussard presenting: Artificial Unintelligence Sunday, June 23, 2019, 3:00 – 4:00 pm Our collective enthusiasm for applying computer technology to every aspect of life has resulted in a vast number of poorly designed systems. We are so eager to do everything digitally—hiring, driving, paying bills, even choosing romantic partners—that we have stopped demanding that our technology actually work. In this talk, author and professor Meredith Broussard looks at the inner workings and outer limits of technology, and explains why we should never assume that computers always get things right. Making a case against technochauvinism—the belief that technology is always the solution—Broussard looks at why self-driving cars don’t really work and why social problems persist in every digital Utopia. If we understand the limits of what we *can* do with technology, Broussard tells us, we can make better choices about what we *should* do with…

Will this be your first ALA Annual Conference? Or maybe you haven’t been in a while and aren’t sure where to start your planning? Get some help and learn more about LITA in the process by signing up for the LITA Conference Buddy program. It’s a great way to navigate the largest library conference, expand your network, and make new friends. The program is designed to make conference attendance more approachable, foster inclusion, and build connections by pairing you with someone who shares your professional interests and is familiar with Annual Conference. Or Be a Conference Buddy! Want to help someone new to Annual and show them how great LITA is? Sign up to be a conference buddy. Share your experience and network while learning new things and meeting new people. Application deadline to sign up for either role is June 7, 2019. If you have any questions about the program,…

Register now for this unique and affordable LITA workshop at the upcoming ALA Annual Conference in Washington, DC. AvramCamp 2019 Friday June 21, 2019, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Walter E. Washington Convention Center Join other women and non-binary technology library workers in a safe and welcoming space to explore common challenges faced, learn strategies for dealing with them, and discuss specific tools to build your confidence at AvramCamp, LITA’s AdaCamp-inspired event. This one-day LITA preconference, built on the unconference model, will start with looking at Imposter Syndrome, the feeling that you aren’t actually qualified for the work you are doing and will be discovered as a fraud. Participants will then have the opportunity to choose the topics most relevant to them for discussion, such as salary negotiation, how to advocate for accomplishments/invisible work, and ways to promote diversity and equity in tech environments. Our goal is to create a support network and increase participation from underrepresented groups in open technology and…

If you’re attending the 2019 ALA Annual Conference, join us for one of our practical workshops and check out all the LITA programming at Annual including the thought-provoking LITA President’s Program. AvramCamp Friday June 21, 2019, 9:00 am – 4:00pm Facilitators: Sara Margaret Rizzo, Systems Librarian, Monmouth University Library Aisha Conner-Gaten. Instructional Design Librarian, Loyola Marymount University    This workshop for female-identifying individuals will start with looking at imposter syndrome and then allow participants to propose unconference topics such as salary negotiation, creating inclusive job postings, and becoming leaders in the technology field. Beginning GIt and GitHub Friday, June 21, 2019 12:00 – 4:00 pm Presenters: Kate Bronstad, Librarian Web Developer, University Library, Tufts University Heather Klish, Systems Librarian, University Library, Tufts University Ari Gofman, Social Science Data Librarian, Tisch Library, Tufts University      Work smarter, collaborate faster, and share code or other files with the library community using the popular version control system Git. Featuring a mix…

LITA is seeking proposals for panelists for our 2019 ALA Annual “Diversity, Equity, and Justice Talks: In and Beyond the Library” program in Washington, DC! The submission deadline is Sunday December 9, 2018. Submit your proposal The program will consist of presentations from three panelists interested in approaching the topic of Diversity, Equity, and Justice from their own personal and/or institutional perspective. We invite potential panelists to submit brief proposals around any topic that relates to diversity and equity work at large: employing anti-racist praxis in libraries/your library work, navigating microagressions, allyship, cultural competency–to name a few. However, any and all topics are welcome, and don’t necessarily need to speak directly to technology. LITA encourages participation from underrepresented groups, such as women, people of color, and LGBTQA+. We also value diverse perspectives from different types and sizes of libraries and individuals who can bring a fresh voice. Panelists will be selected based…

Submit your program ideas for the 2019 ALA Annual Conference Washington DC, June 20-25, 2019 LITA is encouraging the submission of innovative and creative proposals for the 2019 Annual American Library Association Conference. We’re looking for 60 minute conference presentations. The focus should be on technology in libraries, whether that’s use of, new ideas for, trends in, or interesting/innovative projects being explored. Submission Deadline: August 31, 2018 Final Decisions: November 9, 2018 Schedule of Sessions Announced: December 5, 2018 Proposals will be accepted via one submission site for all ALA Divisions, RoundTables, Committees and Offices. This link to the submission site will redirect to the ALA log-in page. All submitters are required to have an ALA profile, but are not required to be ALA members. Help and details on making a successful submission are on the LITA Forms web site. We welcome proposals from anyone who feels they have something to offer…

Attending the 2018 ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans? Please consider attending the 2018 edition of: Executive Perspectives: A Conversation on the Future of the Library Technology Industry Saturday, June 23, 2018, 10:30 – 11:30 am Morial Convention Center Room 293 The panelists include: Beth Jefferson, Co-founder and CEP, BiblioCommons Berit Nelson, Chief Product officer, SirsiDynix Jane Burke, VP Strategic Initiatives, Ex Libris Mary Sauer-Games, Vice President, Product Management and Product Marketing, OCLC              See more details at the Executive Perspectives web page. Marshall Breeding, author of the annual Library Systems Report published in American Libraries, will assemble and moderate this panel of senior executives representing organizations that produce software or services for libraries. Breeding will give a brief introduction and will then lead a lively discussion to probe at the technology and business trends. This year’s panel discussion will center on technologies which support the expanding…