Office for Information Technology Policy

The Office for Information Technology Policy advances ALA’s public policy activities by helping secure information technology policies that support and encourage 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. It works to ensure a library voice in information policy debates and to promote full and equitable intellectual participation by the public.

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’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.