LIBR 200-03
Information and Society
Fall 2006 Greensheet
Dr. C. James Schmidt
E-mail
Phone: (408)924-2465
Fax: (408)924-2476
Office Location: Clark Hall 420A
Office Hours: Tu-W-Th 11:00am-12:00pm or by appointment
| Course Links Greensheet Schedule Worthies List |
Resources Blackboard Blackboard Tutorials |
Required Text and Readings | Course Requirements
Course Description
Explores 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.
Prerequisites: Demonstrated computer literacy
Schedule of Meetings
THURSDAYS, 9:00 – 11:30 AM
- August 31;
- September 7, 14, 21, 28;
- October 12, 19, 26 (No class on October 5);
- November 2, 9, 16 (NB> No class on November 23), 30;
- December 7.
Course Objectives
An overview of library and information science; an introduction to basic issues; opportunities to do group and individual assignments both oral and written; an initial experience with technology enriched learning.
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.
Required Text and Readings
Required Text
Rubin, Richard Foundations of Library and Information Science (NEAL-SCHUMAN) 2nd Edition
Recommended Additional Text
The Whole Library Handbook 4, compiled by George Eberhart (ALA, 2006)
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
1. Worthy Introduction
Prepare an introduction for one of the persons listed (see Worthies List), as though he/she were a guest speaker. Send a note to the class reflector list with the name of the person you chose [Deadline 5pm September 5]. You will be called upon to present your introduction to the class, as though we were the professional meeting which the guest speaker was addressing. First presentations will be September 14!
[Hint: it will help you present your introduction if you role play, that is, pretend that the class really is the audience at a professional meeting and that the person you are introducing really is present.] The goal is to use your presentation and speaking skills and to engage the audience for the speaker. Be brief and entertaining! 15%
2. Journal/Association Analysis
Working in a team, prepare TWO analyses: one of a professional journal and one of a significant professional association. These analyses shall be submitted to the class reflector list by 5:00pm, September 15 for a class discussion September 21.
For the journal: identify the publisher, editor, editorial board (if any), frequency, price, typical contents – articles, reviews, etc., whether articles are refereed and if so who the referees are. Answer the following question: why is this journal important for the working professional.
For the association: identify the association’s location, size, membership criteria, dues, finances, conferences (frequency and locations), current officers, web site. Interview a member or officer of this association. Explain the importance or lack thereof of this association to the working professional. 15%
3. Critical Note
Write a “critical note” on an – article or chapter – relevant to one of the modules of the course. The item must be in addition to the required reading for that module. Submit your critical note to the class reflector list not later than 5:00 pm on the Thursday before the class for which the module is scheduled. The “note” should be no longer than 1000 words. This is writing for a graduate course and is going to be read by everyone in the class. 20%
4. Research Paper (Due: November 30)
Write a research paper of no more than 15 pages, excluding notes and bibliography,on a topic of your choice – from one of the course modules or some other topic. Use American Psychological Association (aka APA) style manual. Submit it to me as an attachment in WORD.
Imagine that you will be submitting this paper to a professional or scholarly journal for review and possible publication. This paper accounts for nearly a third of your grade in this graduate class. It must be your best writing; the quality of your writing has a very significant impact on whether your message gets through.
Two outstanding papers may be selected for presentation at the final meeting of the class – December 7. Choose a classmate to introduce you in case your paper is chosen. 30%
5. Class Participation
Part of the grade for this graduate course will be based on your contributions in class (see below “Grading”). Be prepared to discuss and comment on the readings and on the critical notes distributed by your colleagues via the class reflector. Silence isn’t golden, nor is undue fondness for one’s own voice. 20%
Grading
| 15% | Journal/Association Analysis |
| 15% | Worthy Introduction |
| 20% | Class Participation |
| 20% | Critical Note |
| 30% | Research Paper |
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
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Phone: 408-924-2490
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