State DOT library and information services staffs are modest in numbers. Sharing knowledge, ideas and concerns with peers from other states and organizations can be invaluable for maintaining needed competencies and improving services.
Below are information professional consortia and networks that provide a range of opportunities for staff at all levels and, ultimately, benefits for agency information services users.
Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP): Funded by FHWA, LTAP is a network of 51 local centers across the U.S. and in Puerto Rico that provide training, technical assistance and technology transfer services to local and rural transportation agencies.
National Transportation Knowledge Network (NTKN): NTKN is a voluntary alliance of transportation organizations supporting transportation information professionals across the country in organizing, sharing and preserving transportation information, data and knowledge. NTKN hosts communities of practice for 508 accessibility, cooperative digitization and library advocacy. A blog highlights NTKN members.
Rural Transit Assistance Program (RTAP): State RTAPs provide training and technical assistance to improve mobility in communities with populations less than 50,000.
Special Libraries Association (SLA): SLA offers opportunities to connect with other special information professionals from around the U.S. and the world; expand skills and knowledge; volunteer for the SLA board or committees; and engage in SLA communities, including solo librarians and transportation.
University Transportation Centers (UTCs): U.S. DOT provides grants to consortia of colleges and universities across the U.S. A variety of national, regional and project-level UTCs currently exist to support U.S. DOT’s priorities “to promote the safe, efficient and environmentally sound movement of good[s] and people. UTCs work with regional, state, local and tribal transportation agencies to help find solutions to challenges that directly impact their communities and affect the efficiency of the nation’s transportation system.”
TRANLIB-L: This email discussion list originated by the Special Libraries Association and now supported by NTL is used by transportation librarians and others providing information services “to exchange information related to transportation.” Participants use this list to discuss common challenges, request assistance locating specific resources and offer feedback to members posing questions.
Transportation Librarians Roundtable (TLR): The TLR is an NTL initiative that is co-sponsored by AASHTO, TRB and SLA. The TLR hosts a monthly web conference series on a variety of topics of interest.
WebJunction’s Topic Areas: This resource is self-described as an “ever-growing collection of resources [that] covers the spectrum of the most critical topics for those working in the library profession today. These resources were freely contributed by WebJunction members, libraries and library organizations, and other experts in the field. Documents, articles, handouts, webinar archives, links to other online services and information, plus the latest news are all gathered here, by topic.”
AASHTO Committee on Knowledge Management: This committee provides a forum for collaboration among member state DOTs for exchanging information, practices and experiences related to knowledge management.
AASHTO Special Committee on Research and Innovation and Research Advisory Committee (RAC): RAC members include the research program managers from each of the 50 states and District of Columbia. RAC supports the Special Committee on Research and Innovation, which is charged with supporting AASHTO and the transportation community “by delivering strategic, high-quality research results while addressing development, technology transfer and implementation.”
TRB Standing Committee on Information and Knowledge Management: This committee is “concerned with advancing and disseminating practices that improve knowledge and information creation, access, sharing, preservation and retention within and among transportation organizations. The committee identifies critical research needs in these areas, promotes understanding of these topics throughout the transportation community, and fosters the use of library and information science and knowledge management practices through education, training, collaboration, outreach and research.”