Complete LITA schedule of meetings and events with room assignments now available
LITA Midwinter Workshops: Friday, January 30, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm
Introduction to practical programming
Speaker: Elizabeth Wickes
This workshop will introduce foundational programming skills using the Python programming language. There will be three sections to this workshop: a brief historical review of computing and programming languages, hands on practice with installation and coding, followed by a review of information resources essential for computing education and reference. This workshop will prepare participants to write their own programs and provide essential experience and background for the evaluation of computing reference materials and workshop development.
From Lost to Found: How User Testing Can Improve the User Experience of Your Library Website
Speakers: Kate Lawrence, and Deirdre Costello
Please join two user researchers from EBSCO Information Services as they incorporate best practices from the legends of user research – Nielsen to Krug to Portigal – to teach attendees why they need to conduct user testing on their library site, and walk them through each step of the process. Attendees will leave the workshop informed about principles of usability and prepared to conduct their own testing to yield insights about their audience.
This workshop is being sponsored by 
Registration:
Rates
- LITA Member $235
- ALA Member $350
- Non-Member $380
Registration Information:
LITA members get one third off the cost of Mid-Winter workshops. Use the discount promotional code:
LITA2015
during online registration to automatically receive your member discount.
Start the process at the ALA web sites:
- Conference web site: http://alamw15.ala.org/
- Registration start page: http://alamw15.ala.org/rates
- LITA Workshops registration descriptions: http://alamw15.ala.org/ticketed-events#LITA
When you start the registration process and BEFORE you choose the workshop, you will encounter the Personal Information page. On that page there is a field to enter the discount promotional code:
LITA2015
As in the example below. If you do so, then when you get to the workshops choosing page the discount prices, of $235, are automatically displayed and entered. The discounted total will be reflected in the Balance Due line on the payment page.
Please contact the LITA Office if you have any registration questions.
You may also register onsite in Chicago
Top Technology Trends Discussion Session
Sunday, February 1, 10:30 am - 11:30 am
McCormick Place West, W183a
LITA's premier program on changes and advances in technology. Top Technology Trends features our ongoing roundtable discussion about trends and advances in library technology by a panel of LITA technology experts and thought leaders. The panelists will describe changes and advances in technology that they see having an impact on the library world, and suggest what libraries might do to take advantage of these trends. This conference panelists and their suggested trends include:
- Moderator: Karen Schneider
- Marshall Breeding, Independent Consultant
- Empowering underserved libraries through technology; discovery beyond the library.
- Todd Carpenter, Executive Director of NISO
- Infrastructure demands of a growing or majority OA ecosystem; balancing patron privacy and using data to improve services.
- Casey McCoy, Program Coordinator at Lincolnwood Public Library District
- Tech programming for youth, esp. girls; app-based home technology.
- Willie Miller, Librarian at Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
- Gamification; e-course packs.
- Carli Spina, Emerging Technologies and Research Librarian at Harvard Law School Library
- Universal design; beacons.
Interest Groups Discussion Sessions
Find days, times and locations of LITA Interest Groups discussions using this scheduler link.
Check out this page for fuller descriptions for some of the discussion sessions.
LITA Open House
Sunday, February 1, 4:30-5:30 pm
McCormick Place West, W470b
LITA Open House is an opportunity for current and prospective members to talk with Library and Information Technology Association (LITA) leaders, committee chairs, and interest group participants. The goal of Open House is to share information, encourage involvement in LITA activities, and help attendees build professional connections.
LITA Happy Hour
Sunday, February 1, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Lizzie McNeill's Irish Pub
For a city bus, the Number 3 route runs up and down Michigan Ave. Folks can pick it up right in front of McCormick Place West on Calumet Ave, then turns left on Cermak and right on Michigan all the way to where folks would get off at Illinois. It runs every 15 minutes on Sunday evenings. Here's a Google maps link that shows the process:
Bus fares in cash are $2.00 and they do take $1 bills.
Please join the LITA Membership Development Committee and members from around the country for networking, good cheer, and great fun! Expect lively conversation and excellent drinks. Cash Bar. Bring your ALAMW conference badge to receive a 25% discount.
LITA President-Elect Thomas Dowling hosts the LITA Town Meeting
Monday, February 2, 8:30 am - 10:00 am
McCormick Place West, W180
Join your fellow LITA members for breakfast and a discussion about LITA's strategic path. Building on LITA "kitchen table talks," held online in September and October, and in person at the 2014 LITA National Forum, we will focus on how LITA's goals--collaboration and networking; education and sharing of expertise; advocacy; and infrastructure--help our organization serve you and the broader library community. This Town Meeting will help us turn those goals into plans that will guide LITA going forward.