Office for Information Technology Policy

1615 New Hampshire Ave NW
First Floor
Washington, DC 20009-2520

Phone: 202-628-8410
Fax: 202-628-8419

Mission

The Office for Information Technology Policy (OITP) advocates for public policy that supports and encourages the efforts of libraries to ensure access to electronic information resources as a means of upholding the public’s right to a free and open information society.

Responsibilities

OITP works to ensure a library voice in information policy debates and to promote full and equitable intellectual participation by the public by:

Conducting research and analysis aimed at understanding the implications of information technology and information policy for libraries and library users,

Educating the ALA community about the implications of information policy, law, and regulation for libraries and library users,

Advancing ALA’s information policy interests in non-legislative government policy forums, and

Engaging in strategic outlook to anticipate technological change, particularly as it presents policy challenges to libraries and library users.

The fulfillment of this mission implies an array of activities, currently organized into four Programs: Public Access to Information, Networks, America’s Libraries in the 21st Century, and OITP Fellows.

Programs

People

News

Video posted of “D Is For Digitize” Google Book Settlement Conference at NYLS
The great folks over at New York Law School who put together the “D Is For Digitize” conference on the Google Book Settlement have uploaded video recordings of all the sessions (click on linked program titles to go to the video). OITP’s Carrie Russell spoke at Friday’s “P is for Public” session. In addition, Peter Hirtle has written up nice summaries of the proceedings (click through for day 2, 3). Thanks again to James and NYLS for hosting this thought-provoking and well-organized event. Also, check out Daniel Reetz’s public domain photos of the DIY portable book scanner he demoed at the conference.

Fiber to the Library
The ALA Office for Information Technology Policy (OITP) has released the official version of its policy brief, “Fiber to the Library: How Public Libraries Can Benefit.” The purpose of this paper is to assist libraries in understanding the benefits of fiber optic technology and to suggest strategies they can consider when exploring how to obtain fiber connectivity. This paper provides background information and arguments that may be useful in library community applications to the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

This policy brief (No. 1) represents the first publication in a newly structured OITP Policy Brief series of signed papers. Subsequent policy briefs are expected to be released in the coming months.

LITA National Forum
This month, OITP participated at the 2009 LITA National Forum in Salt Lake City. OITP talked about some of the policy considerations in libraries adopting mobile devices and services, such as digital copyright and content licensing, digital rights management, user privacy, and accessibility. Read more....