LIBR 200-23
Information and Society
Fall 2008 Greensheet
Cherie Givens
E-mail
Office hours: By appointment during the hours of 2:00-4:00 PM (Pacific Time), Monday and Wednesday. Email me to set up an appointment. I will do my best to respond to you within 24 hours, often sooner. Appointments can be conducted during office hours via email, Elluminate, or telephone.
| Greensheet Links Textbooks and Readings Course Requirements Course Calendar |
Resources Blackboard Blackboard Tutorials SLIS eBookstore |
This course will be delivered entirely online through Blackboard with occasional Elluminate sessions. Students must self-enroll for this course on Blackboard between August 23 – August 25. You will be required to use a password access code which I will send via the MYSJSU Messaging system prior to August 23.
The class begins on Monday, August 25th. Weekly sessions begin on Monday and continue through Sunday.
Elluminate Information
Approximately 4-5 times this semester I will hold Elluminate sessions on course topics or assignment related material. The dates of these sessions will be announced at least a week in advance, but are tentatively scheduled to take place on Wednesdays between 6:00 – 8:00 PM (Pacific Times). All those who can attend are strongly encouraged to do so as it is an opportunity to ask questions and participate in real time. Recordings will be made of these sessions and a link posted in Announcements for those unable to attend.
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 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
- 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)
Recommended Text
- American Psychological Association. (2001) Publication manual of the American Psychological Association. 5th ed. Washington, D.C.: APA. (Available through the eBookstore. A free electronic version is available at: http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/resources/apa_refguide.htm)
Additional Readings
Journal articles and websites will be assigned for each unit. These will be available online.
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
Assignments
- Blackboard discussions. Biweekly blackboard discussions based on lectures, textbook readings, and/or other readings will be posted to the class discussion board. Each student is expected to respond to the discussion questions and to participate in the discussion with other students in the class. Participation is mandatory. There are a total of 7 discussions. Discussion 1, the Introduction, is worth 1 point. Discussions 2-7 are each worth 4 points for full participation.
- LIS resources survey. This assignment is intended to introduce you to the major print and online sources used in library and information science research. You will be asked to examine 5 reference sources pertinent to your term paper topic and evaluate their content, quality, and usefulness. A bibliography and instructions will be provided. 15 points.
- Literature Review and Annotated Bibliography. This assignment is designed to help you prepare to write your term paper. You are to locate and evaluate 10 - 12 items (articles, books, websites, etc.) pertinent to your paper topic. Instructions will be provided. 20 points.
- Librarians in Popular Culture Assignment. For this assignment, you will read a novel set in a library and watch a movie featuring a librarian as a main character and/or 10-15 non-instructional YouTube videos featuring a librarian as a main character and write an essay that analyzes how libraries and librarians are represented in popular culture. A bibliography, filmography, and introductory list of YouTube videos will be provided. 10 points.
- Term 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. The text of your paper must be 15 to 20 pages in length; the reference list should include at least 20 citations. A bibliography is not required, but you may include one if you’d like to list sources not cited but consulted for background information and context. 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 must adhere to the rules established in the APA Publication Manual. 30 points.
All assignments are due on Fridays and must be turned at 5:00PM. Late submissions will be reduced by 20% of the total points possible for that assignment.
Grading
| Assignment | Points | Due Date |
| Blackboard Discussions | 25 points | BiWeekly |
| LIS Resources Survey | 15 points | September 26 |
| Literature Review | 10 points | October 17 |
| Annotated Bibliography | 10 points | October 17 |
| Book and Movie/YouTube Videos Review | 10 points | October 31 |
| Term paper | 30 points | 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 | Due Dates |
| Week 1 August 25 - 31 |
Unit 1: Information Professionals and the Environments in Which They Work Provides an introduction to the information professions and environments. Examines the relationship between LIS education and professional competencies. |
Discussion 1 August 25 - 31 |
|
| Weeks 2-3 September 2 - 14 (No class September 1) |
Unit 2. History of Libraries and the Information Professions Examines the historic role of the library and its mission; the impact of technological change on the library and information professionals; and concept and evolution of information. | Discussion 2 September 8 -14 |
|
| Weeks 4-5 September 15 - 28 |
Unit 3. Information Organization; Professional Knowledge and Scholarly Research in Library and Information Science Examines how information is organized in libraries and professional information centers and the tools used to organize it. Also addressed is the creation and dissemination of professional and scholarly knowledge in LIS; professional sources of information about LIS; and APA citation format. |
LIS Resources Survey Due Friday, September 26th by 5 PM |
|
| Week 6 September 29 - October 5 |
Unit 4. The Information User Examines theories and methodologies for determining user information needs and expanding information literacy skills. |
Discussion 3 September 22-28 |
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| Week 7 October 6 - 12 |
Unit 5. Professional Ethics |
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| Week 8 October 13 - 19 |
Unit 6. Special Populations, Multiculturalism and Values Examines the multicultural mission of information professionals and information institutions to serve a variety of special populations. |
Discussion 4 October 6 -12 |
Lit Review/Annotated Bibliography Due Friday, October17 by 5 PM |
| Week 9 October 20 - 26 |
Unit 7. Status of Librarianship as a Profession Examines the socially constructed role of the library and information professions. |
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| Week 10 October 27 – November 2 |
Unit 8. Librarianship in popular culture: Views from Outside and Inside the Profession Considers how librarians and libraries are depicted in popular culture including fiction, film, YouTube videos and websites. |
Discussion 5 October 27-November 2 |
Book/Movie Review Due Friday, October 31 by 5 PM |
| Week 11 November 3 – 9 |
Unit 9. Censorship and Intellectual Freedom Explores issues relating to intellectual freedom including but not limited to Censorship in School libraries; the evolution of Intellectual Freedom in LIS; and current issues affecting Intellectual Freedom today. |
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| Weeks 12 - 13 November 10 – 23 (No class November 11) |
Unit 10. Information Policy |
Discussion 6 November 10-16 |
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| Week 14 November 24 – 30 (No Class November 27 - 28) |
Unit 11. Information and Library Access Futures Examines emerging issues relating to librarians in an information society, with an emphasis on copyright, fair use, libraries as public forums including the nature of library meeting rooms, and professional liability. |
Discussion 7 November 24-30 |
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| Week 15 December 1 - 7 |
Unit 12: Key Figures in LIS Introduces seminal theorists in library and information science. |
Term Papers Due Friday, December 5 by 5 PM |
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