LIBR 200-01
Information and Society
Fall 2006 Greensheet
Dr. Debra Hansen
E-mail
Phone: (714) 278-7288
Office Location: PLS 57 (Fullerton)
Office Hours:
Wednesdays, 2:00-4:00
| Course Links Greensheet Online Lectures Schedule |
Resources Blackboard Blackboard Tutorials |
Required Texts | Course Requirements
Students must self-enroll for this course on Blackboard before August 25. You will be required to use a password access code, which I will provide on the LIBR 200-01 MySJSU messaging system after August 15.
Course Description
This is a class 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
LIBR 200 introduces LIS students to the foundations and structure of the information profession; teaches them how locate, evaluate, and utilize scholarly and professional literature; and gives them an in-depth understanding of major issues in library and information science.
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.
LIBR 200 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.
In addition, this section supports the following SLIS core competencies:
- demonstrate oral and written communication skills necessary for group work, collaborations and professional level presentations.
Required Texts
Available at the Spartan Bookstore or through Amazon.com
- Rubin, R. E. (2004). Foundations of library and information science. New York: Neal-Schuman. (Be sure to get the 2d edition)
- American Psychological Association. (2001) Publication manual of the American Psychological Association. 5th ed. Washington, D.C.: APA
Course Requirements
Complete the New Student Technology Course
This is a mandatory short, self-paced online course on Blackboard that must be completed by all new SLIS students before orientation. The access code for this course will be sent to new students via MySJSU by July 1st. If you have questions about this course, e-mail Debbie Faires or Dale David.
For more information, see http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/slis/blackboardintro.htm
Assignments
The assignments for this course are:
- Blackboard discussions and assignments. Several of the class sessions will involve online submissions of assignments and discussions. Participation is mandatory.
- Reaction Paper. This is an informal paper that responds to issues raised in the online lecture and accompanying readings on the history of information and libraries. Instructions will be provided.
- LIS Resource Review. This assignment is intended to introduce you to the major print and online research tools used in library and information science. Each student is asked to write a critical review of an LIS source that will be distributed to the class. A bibliography and instructions will be provided.
- Literature Review and Annotated Bibliography. This assignment gets you started on your research paper by asking you to locate and evaluate 12 - 15 sources pertinent to your paper topic. 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. The text of your paper should 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 should adhere to the rules established in the APA Publication Manual.
- Class Participation. Students are expected to attend all regular class meetings, not only because they are responsible for the material covered, but also because active their participation contributes to the learning of the entire class. If you miss a class session, your total score will be reduced by 5 points.
Course Calendar and Grading
The course assignments have been allotted the following point values and due dates:
| Assignment | Worth | Due Date |
| Reaction Paper | 15 points | Sept. 15 |
| LIS Resource Review | 10 points | Sept. 29 |
| Online Discussion of SLIS Research and Sources | 5 points | Oct. 6 |
| Literature Review | 10 points | Oct. 13 |
| Annotated Bibliography | 15 points | Oct. 13 |
| Book and Movie Review | 10 points | Nov. 3 |
| Online Discussion of Librarians in Popular Culture | 5 points | Nov. 10 |
| Research Paper | 30 points | Dec. 2 |
Note that all due dates fall on Fridays. Points earned for late assignments will be reduced by 10 percent.
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+ |
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 are required to report all infractions to the Office of Judicial Affairs. The policy on academic integrity can be found at http://www.sjsu.edu/senate/F06-1.pdf
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/
School of Library & Information Science
One Washington Square - San José, California USA, 95192-0029
Phone: 408-924-2490
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