Home LITA Interest Group Chairs Orientation Tip Sheet

LITA Interest Group Chairs Orientation Tip Sheet
January 2006

1. The LITA homepage (www.lita.org) and the LITA online manual http://www.lita.org/ala/lita/aboutlita/org/litamanual/Default1330.htm), both of which have recently been revised, contain a lot of information that is helpful for interest group chairs. Of particular interest:
   
   
   1. The Interest Groups page (http://www.lita.org/ala/lita/litamembership/litaigs/litainterest.htm). This has links to many of the other relevant areas including the individual pages for each committee.
      
      
   2. The page for your individual committee (linked from above).
      
      
   3. LITA Manual Section 6. http://www.lita.org/ala/lita/aboutlita/org/litamanual/litamanualsection6.htm. Lots of useful information here. Depending on the nature of your interest group, some parts may not apply to you.
      
      
   4. The LITA Committee and Interest Group Chairs Calendar (section 5 of the LITA Manual) http://www.lita.org/LITATemplate.cfm?Section=litamanual&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=23413 is an important guide to the steps in planning for programs and meetings at Midwinter and Annual. Note that this calendar is somewhat out of date in references to mailings (since everything is sent via email at this point). The timings in the calendar are also not always exact since the dates vary depending on the dates of the conferences. The most important thing is to watch for the emails (which come from the LITA staff). These contain information about deadlines, and some of them also contain links to the ALA meeting planning documents for the current conference. Finally, note that the calendar is misnamed. It could better be called the "LITA Committee and Interest Group Chairs Program and Meeting Planning Calendar" since it does not contain the many dates relevant for other activities that Chairs may be responsible for.
   
   
   
2. Other good sources of information:
   
   
   1. One of the best sources of information is the past chair of your interest group. Don’t hesitate to contact her/him and ask questions.
      
      
   2. The LITA staff is very knowledgeable and happy to answer questions: http://www.ala.org/ala/lita/aboutlita/contactlita/contactlita.htm
      
      
   3. The LITA Interest Group Chair Coordinator (listed and linked on the Committees page) is available to help answer your questions or else direct you to someone who can.
      
      
   4. Last, but not least, the LITA Officers and Board Members are also available to answer your questions. You can find a current list at: http://www.lita.org/ala/lita/aboutlita/org/litagov/board.htm
   
   
   
3. There is a LITA Interest Group Chairs Meeting starting at 8:00 a.m. on the Saturday of every ALA conference (Midwinter and Annual). Watch for announcements and/or check the meeting schedule.
   
   
4. You will be subscribed to the COMCHAIR discussion group automatically after you are appointed as a Chair. If you don’t get an email saying that you have been subscribed, ask the Interest Group Chair Coordinator or LITA staff to make sure that your subscription to the list is active.
   
   
5. Interest Group Activities
   
   
   1. Each Interest Group has a Program Planning Committee liaison. If you are unsure who you’re liaison is, contact the Program Planning Committee chair.
      
      
   2. Submit your meeting reports promptly after you return home. A report should be submitted for each activity (business meeting, program, pre-conference) ( http://www.lita.org/ala/lita/aboutlita/org/litamanual/litaforms/meetingreport.htm)
   
   
   
6. Each Interest Group has a folder at the LITA table during ALA conferences. You should check the folder at least once during the conference. The LITA table also has folders for the Board, LITA Staff and Committees. In addition, you will find LITA pamphlets, ribbons and other goodies that you can distribute at your IG meeting.
   
   
7. Interest Group Chairs are urged to attend LITA functions, such as the LITA Open House, the LITA Town Meeting, and the LITA President’s Program. These are important venues for discussion and information exchange that help to shape the organization. Watch for announcements, or check the meeting schedule.