Office for Information Technology Policy

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

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

News

Vacancy for Program Director
The Program Director leads and manages OITP’s Program on Networks, serves as Associate Director of the Program on America’s Libraries for the 21st Century, and assists the OITP Director with overall management of the Office. This is a senior-level position that reports to the Director of OITP. More.... (pdf)

There’s an App for That! Libraries and Mobile Technology: An Introduction to Public Policy Considerations
OITP's latest policy brief takes a look at how the adoption of mobile technology alters the traditional relationships between libraries and their users.

The brief, authored by OITP consultant Timothy Vollmer, explores the challenges to reader privacy, issues of access to information in the digital age (including content ownership and licensing), digital rights management, and accessibility.

Despite these challenges, Vollmer said libraries are embracing the growing capabilities of mobile technology and providing new, innovative services that extend the way libraries serve their existing patrons. Read more.... (pdf)

American Library Association files comments on National Education Technology Plan
The American Library Association (ALA) says the Department of Education’s National Education Technology Plan (NETP) presents significant challenges that will take the coordinated effort of many stakeholders to overcome, and libraries are a resource that should be leveraged as the plan’s recommendations are carried out on the state and local level.

The ALA filed comments to the Department of Education in response to its call for public comment on the NETP to inform the agency of the ways school libraries integrate innovative technology into our nation’s schools and prepare students to thrive in the 21^st century. Read more....

The Best of Copyright and VideoLib
Carrie Russell, Copyright © 2010 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. This article first appeared in Library Trends, Volume 58, Number 3, Winter 2010, pp. 349-357.
The Best of Copyright and VideoLib (pdf) article provides responses to five copyright scenarios—institutional pricing, the face-to-face classroom, video copying and replacement, film clips and streaming video—that are frequently faced by librarians who manage and acquire media. Copyright is a particularly complex area for librarians who work with media. Frequently, librarians are confused about the legality of certain uses of media. This confusion is magnified when vendors sell licenses to librarians when they are not necessary. The Technology, Education and Copyright Harmonization Act of 2002 is a convoluted law that many view as a restriction of fair use rights. Fair use is a copyright exception that can be applied to all of the exclusive rights of copyright including public performances and digital transmissions. This article also suggests that behavior affects how we interpret the law.

future

Checking Out the Future: Perspectives from the Library Community on Information Technology and 21st-Century Libraries

This policy brief (pdf) explores how many library professionals are recognizing the need to evolve during the digital revolution and are driving adaptations designed to ensure that libraries remain an integral part of our society’s commitment to education, equity, and access to information.

Authored by Jennifer C. Hendrix, OITP Consultant, Checking Out the Future, is based on a literature review conducted in 2008-2009 on the future of libraries, primarily of publications from within the library community. The associated annotated bibliography (pdf) is available and will be updated periodically.

“This publication represents an important, but only first step of a major effort by OITP on the future of libraries,” said Alan Inouye, OITP Director. “We thought it was critical to develop this synthesis of library community views on the future of libraries as a baseline as OITP explores the larger technological, political, economic, and social context,” he said.

Making Connections: Lessons from Five Shared Library Networks
This publication profiles five library networks that have successfully upgraded their broadband connectivity. Providing users with no-fee public access to the Internet is increasingly vital to connecting people with ideas and information – a core mission of libraries. The case studies of these five networks reveal lessons learned that may be instructive for other libraries seeking to establish successful networks. This publication was developed as part of the Opportunity Online Broadband Grant Program, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to help libraries increase and sustain free, quality public access to computers for their patrons.

The publication, available at ala.org/casestudies(pdf), also includes a technical primer on broadband connectivity and networking strategies as well as a networking glossary.

ALA Washington Office News and Media Archives

Publications

OITP produces and disseminates publications to inform and engage national policy makers, the library community, and other relevant communities. These publications address the range of OITP issues that includes copyright, public and open access to information, library connectivity, telecommunications policy, privacy, and the future of libraries. OITP products are categorized as articles, books & studies, discussion papers, interviews & guest blogs, issue briefs, official filings, policy briefs, and presentations, speeches & lectures.

People

OITP depends on a variety of consultants and committees as well as the staff to accomplish OITP Mission and goals. OITP people index

Programs

OITP’s work focuses on three areas: public access to information, network and connectivity issues, and the role of America's libraries in the 21st century. In addition to these three areas of expertise, OITP maintains a Fellows Program in order to hear from experts in related fields and stay abreast of cutting edge issues facing libraries today.

General Information

Interested in learning more about OITP? Read our mission and history. Learn how our work is funded by a number of foundations. See how you can be involved and make a difference for libraries nationwide.