Contact: Mary Taylor
LITA
800/545-2433, ext. 4270
mtaylor@ala.org

NEWS
For Immediate Release
September 23, 2008

CHICAGO - The Library and Information Technology Association (LITA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), is offering an award for the best unpublished manuscript submitted by a student or students enrolled in an ALA-accredited graduate program.  Sponsored by LITA and Ex Libris, the award consists of $1,000, publication in LITA’s refereed journal, Information Technology and Libraries (ITAL), and a certificate.  The deadline for submission of the manuscript is Feb. 28, 2009.

The purpose of the award is to recognize superior student writing and to enhance the professional development of students.  The manuscript can be written on any aspect of libraries and information technology. Examples include digital libraries, metadata, authorization and authentication, electronic journals and electronic publishing, telecommunications, distributed systems and networks, computer security, intellectual property rights, technical standards, desktop applications, online catalogs and bibliographic systems, universal access to technology, library consortia and others.

At the time the unpublished manuscript is submitted, the applicant must be enrolled in an ALA-accredited program in library and information studies at the masters or Ph.D. level. 
To be eligible, applicants must follow the detailed guidelines and fill out the application form at http://lita.org/ala/mgrps/divs/lita/litamembership/litacommittees/exlibriscomm/writingaward.cfm

Send the signed, completed forms by Feb. 28, 2009 to Barbara L. Spivey, interim co-director, Albuquerque Academy Simms Library, 6400 Wyoming Blvd NE,  Albuquerque, NM 87109.  Submit the manuscript to Barbara electronically at spivey@aa.edu by February 28, 2009.

The award will be presented at the LITA President’s Program during the 2009 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago.