Category: Publications

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…

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…

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…

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…

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….