I am a lurker on the LITA mailing list. I find it very helpful and interesting. It is amazing what other libraries are doing with technology. Today I got an email from the LITA list asking me to become a member of LITA. I would love to be a member, but what I object to is the price. Currently, I am already a member of MLA ($150), MLANO, OHSLA, and I am getting ready to mail the check and copious amounts of paperwork to get AHIP ($175). Where does it end?!!? Because I am not a member of ALA my membership dues to LITA would be $110 (for a first time member, $60 for LITA and half-price rate of $50 for ALA). If I was a renewing member it would be $160 ($60 for LITA and $100 for ALA).
I am active in my area of librarianship and to be a member of LITA and keep up with technology, I must be penalized for not being a member in that specific area of librarianship.

According to LITA's web site, "members come from all types of libraries and institutions focusing on information technology in libraries. " HOWEVER, ALA membership is a prerequisite to LITA personal and organizational membership and brings its own benefits. Well darn it this really isolates those of us in the Medical Library profession who focus on information and technology in libraries. I think it is frustrating to become a member to an organization, that doesn't serve my needs as a medical librarian, just so that I can be a member of an organization that would serve my needs as librarian focused on information technology.

It is frustrating.