LIBR 200-15
Information and Society
Fall 2008 Greensheet
Dr. Renate Chancellor
E-mail
Office Hours: Telephone advising by appointment
| Greensheet Links Textbooks and Readings Course Requirements Course Calendar |
Resources Blackboard Blackboard Tutorials SLIS eBookstore |
This course will be delivered entirely online through Blackboard. You must enroll in the Blackboard course before the first day of class to ensure that you receive the announcements on time. I will provide you with a password access code using the MySJSU messaging system.
Delivery Method
There will be weekly web-based lectures via PowerPoint and web-streamed video uploaded by Saturday of each week to view and assimilate at a time that's convenient for the student. These forms of online delivery collectively comprise the majority of the course delivery with online discussion forums. The class begins on Saturday, August 30, 2008. Weekly sessions run from Saturday through Friday of the following week.
Course Description
This course is designed to explore the complex social, economic, historical, and technological developments that influence the impact of information on society. The mission, values and ethics of information professionals are also analyzed.
Course Prerequisites: Demonstrated computer literacy.
LIBR 203: Online Social Networking: Technology and Tools. This is a required 1 unit (CR/NC) course required of all students entering SLIS Fall 2008. It introduces students to the various e-learning tools that will be used in the program, including blackboard, elluminate, and second life.
Course Objectives
At the completion of the course, students should be able to:
- Describe the role of information from historical, current, and future perspectives;
- Identify the various information sectors;
- Describe and evaluate issues involved in creating and disseminating information in society, with particular attention paid to information literacy;
- Understand the role of libraries and their relationship to other information providers;
- Identify and discuss the major values and codes of ethics associated with the information professions;
- Describe the impact of cultural diversity on the provision of user services by librarians and other information professionals;
- Describe and discuss important economic and policy issues related to the creation and dissemination of information;
- Understand and have experience with different forms and genres of professional writing.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Know the foundations and structure of the information profession;
- Locate, evaluate, and utilize scholarly and professional literature;
- Demonstrate in-depth understanding of major issues in library and information science.
LIBR 200 course supports the following SLIS Core Competencies:
- Articulate the ethics, values and foundational principles of library and information professionals and their role in the promotion of intellectual freedom;
- Compare the environments and organizational settings in which library and information professionals practice;
- Recognize the social, cultural and economic dimensions of information use;
- Understand the nature of research, research methods and research findings; retrieve, evaluate and synthesize scholarly and professional literature for informed decision-making by specific client groups;
- Demonstrate oral and written communication skills necessary for group work, collaborations and professional level presentations.
Textbooks and Readings
Required Text
- Rubin, R. E. (2004). Foundations of library and information science. New York: Neal-Schuman. (Available through the eBookstore: http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/courses/books/index.php)
- Eberhart, G. M. (2006). The whole library handbook 4: Current data, professional advice, and curiosa about libraries and library services. Chicago, IL: American Library Association.
Recommended Text
- American Psychological Association. (2001) Publication manual of the American Psychological Association. 5th ed. Washington, D.C.: APA. (Available through the eBookstore. Free electronic version is available at: http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/resources/apa_refguide.htm)
Additional Readings
For additional required course readings please check the Course Outline, available through our Blackboard course site.
Course Requirements
Complete LIBR 203: Online Social Networking: Technology and Tools
This is a mandatory 1 unit course that introduces students to the various e-learning tools used in the SLIS program, including Blackboard, Elluminate and Second Life. This course must be completed by all new SLIS students within the first 4 weeks of their first semester. If you have questions about this course, e-mail Debbie Faires or Dale David.
For more information, see http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/classes/coursedesc.htm
General Expectations for Students:
- Have the minimal home computing environment as described at http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/ecommunication/homecomputing.htm
- Enroll in Blackboard to receive communications from your instructor (http://tigris.sjsu.edu/)
- Submit assignments electronically using BB assignment manager.
- Submit assignments by midnight of the due date. Any assignment submitted after the due date will be reduced by 20% of the total points possible for that assignment
- All assignments should be, double-spaced in Times New Roman, 12-point font and created using Microsoft Word
- Consistently follow the Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.) for formats, citations and references
- Assignments should be proofread and submitted without grammatical and syntactical errors
Assignments
- Blackboard discussion: This course is a seminar which means you are expected to fully engage in discussions on the readings and topics that are brought up in the class. Weekly discussions allow you to reflect on issues that are raised in the readings. Participation in discussions is an important part of your grade and you will be evaluated each week on your performance. You are required to make at least 10 substantive posts to the discussion board. Each post is worth 2 points. You will be divided into groups of 3-4 and will be responsible for leading one weekly discussion.
- Definition of Information: This assignment will allow you to examine the various ways information is defined by scholars in the field. You will choose a definition, find examples of how it used in society and defend you choice. Instructions will be provided.
- Literature Review and Annotated Bibliography: This assignment gets you started on your term paper by asking you to locate and evaluate 12 - 15 items (articles, books, websites, etc.) pertinent to your paper topic. Instructions will be provided on BB.
- Review/Analysis of a Professional Association: This assignment involves a written report about a library and information science association. You can select any of the associations from Rubin's book (Appendix B) or one that is related to library and information science. This review/analysis should be no longer than three double-spaced pages.
Fieldwork: Visit an Information Center: This assignment requires you to visit an information center and interview an information professional, (i.e. library, museum, archive) and write a 3-5 page report. Instructions will be provided. - Research Paper: Write a formal research paper in which you analyze a significant issue confronting the information professional today. Paper topics may be selected from the areas covered in class or you may choose an issue of more personal interest that is relevant to the goals and objectives of this course. You must submit a brief (no more than two paragraphs) topic proposal to the instructor for approval by October 10, 2008. The text of your paper should be 15 to 20 pages in length; the reference list should include at least 20 citations. You will be graded on the extent of your research, your description and critical analysis of the topic, the evidence you provide in support of your argument, and the clarity and quality of your writing. Your references and formatting should adhere to the rules established in the Publications manual of the APA.
Each assignment should be paginated, typed in Times New Roman 12-point font and conformed to the APA format. Moreover, papers that exceed the page requirement will be penalized. Assignments should be uploaded to the “Assignments” feature in Blackboard by 5pm on the due date. Late submissions will be reduced by 20 percent.
Incompletes
Students should avail themselves of the policy for uncompleted coursework on the School’s website under “Registration.”
Grading
| Assignment | % | Due Date |
| Blackboard Discussions | 20 | Weekly |
| Definition of Information | 5 | September 19 |
| Fieldwork/Institution Visit/Interview | 15 | October 17 |
| Literature Review/Bib. | 15 | October 31 |
| Professional Associations | 15 | November 14 |
| Research Paper | 30 | December 5 |
Grading Scale
The standard SJSU SLIS Grading Scale is utilized for all SLIS courses:
| 97-100 | A |
| 94-96 | A- |
| 91-93 | B+ |
| 88-90 | B |
| 85-87 | B- |
| 82-84 | C+ |
| 79-81 | C |
| 76-78 | C- |
| 73-75 | D+ |
| 70-72 | D |
| 67-69 | D- |
| Below 67 | F |
In order to provide consistent guidelines for assessment for graduate level work in the School, these terms are applied to letter grades:
- C represents Adequate work; a grade of "C" counts for credit for the course;
- B represents Good work; a grade of "B" clearly meets the standards for graduate level work;
- A represents Exceptional work; a grade of "A" will be assigned for outstanding work only.
Students are advised that it is their responsibility to maintain a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0.
Academic Integrity
Your own commitment to learning, as evidenced by your enrollment at San José State University, and the University's Academic Integrity Policy requires you to be honest in all your academic course work. Faculty members are required to report all infractions to the Office of Student Conduct and Ethical Development. The policy on academic integrity can be found at http://sa.sjsu.edu/student_conduct.
Reasonable Accommodation of Disabilities
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability,
please e-mail me as soon as possible. Presidential Directive 97-03 requires
that students with disabilities register with the Disability Resource Center
(DRC) to establish record of their disability.
No matter where students reside, they should contact the SJSU DRC to register. The DRC Web site: http://www.drc.sjsu.edu/
Course Calendar
| Dates | Topic | Discussions | Assignments |
| Week 1 Aug.30-Sep. 5 |
Unit One: Libraries & Society Explore the history of libraries, information services and information technology. Examine the role of libraries and their relationship to other information providers. Look at the provision of library and information services in the information society. Get acquainted with the class web site, each other, and acquire necessary materials. |
Introductions/Introduction to the course | |
| Week 2 Sep. 6-12 |
Unit Two: Characteristics of Information Introduction to the concepts of information in a free society and a historical perspective on the need to provide equal access to information in order to maintain a democratic society; Explore the various definitions of information. |
What is Information? | |
| Week 3 Sep. 13-19 |
Unit Three: Information and Society Introduces the concept of an “Information Society” and its place in political, sociological, and historical perspective. Considers the role of information in a free society and traces its evolution. Also explores the history of libraries, librarianship, and information science in response to social and technological change. |
The Information Society | Definition of Information Due Friday, Sep 19th @ 5pm |
| Week 4 Sep. 20-26 |
Unit Four: Libraries, Information and Technology Reviews the social, political, and technical changes caused by technology in the information workplace. |
Librarians in the digital age | |
| Week 5 Sep. 27-Oct. 3 |
Unit Five: Professional Ethics Explores the ethical basis for professional activities. |
Library Code of Ethics | |
| Week 6 Oct. 4-10 |
Unit Six: The Information Professional Assesses the economic and social value added by the work of information professionals. |
Valuing the Information Professions | Term Paper Topic Proposals Due @ 5pm |
| Week 7 Oct. 11-17 |
Unit Seven: The Information User Examines theories and methods for determining user information needs and helping expand information literacy skills. |
Information Seeking & Information Literacy | Fieldwork: Interview with an Information Professional Due Friday, Oct. 17th @ 5pm |
| Week 8 Oct. 18-24 |
Unit Eight: Status of Librarianship as a Profession Examines the socially constructed role of the library and information professions. |
The Role of the Library as an information profession | |
| Week 9 Oct. 25-31 |
Unit Nine: Special Populations, Multiculturalism and Values Examines the multicultural mission of information workers and information institutions to serve a variety of special populations. |
Ethics, Diversity & Change in the Information Professions | Lit Review & Annotated Bibliography Due Friday, Oct. 31st @ 5 pm |
| Week 10 Nov. 1-7 |
Unit Ten: Professional Associations Explores the mission and activities of professional organizations. |
Library Organizations | |
| Week 11 Nov. 8-14 |
Unit Eleven: Intellectual Property and Freedom Traces the evolution of access policies in libraries and reviews constitutional, legislative, judicial, and professional foundations of intellectual freedom. |
Intellectual Freedom | Professional Association Report Due Friday, Nov. 14th @ 5 pm |
| Week 12 Nov. 15-21 |
Unit Twelve: Information Policy Reviews major policy issues related to information with special emphasis on information policy in a democratic society. |
Information Policy | |
| Week 13 Nov. 22-28 |
No Class Thanksgiving Break |
||
| Week 14 Nov. 29-Dec. 5 |
Unit Thirteen: LIS Pioneers. Introduces seminal theorists in library and information science. |
Great Thinkers in Library and Information Science | |
| Week 15 Dec. 6-10 |
Unit Fourteen: The Future of Information Examines emerging issues relating to librarians in an information society. |
Librarianship: Past and Future | Term Paper Due Friday, December 5th @ 5 pm |
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