D2L - Collaborate/Elluminate - King Library - MySJSU - CASA - SJSU -

• Home
• Admissions
• Programs
• Our Faculty
• About SLIS

Home - Course Web Pages - Fall 2008 - LIBR 200-08 Greensheet

LIBR 200-08
Information and Society
Fall 2008 Greensheet

Dr. Mark Stover
E-mail
Phone: (619) 594-2131
Office Hours: Email, phone appointments

---

Greensheet Links Textbooks and Readings Course Requirements Course Calendar

Resources Blackboard Blackboard Tutorials SLIS eBookstore

---

We will be using Blackboard in this course. You must enroll in the Blackboard course before August 25 to ensure that you receive the announcements on time. I will provide you with a password access code using the MySJSU messaging system.

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.

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.

An overview of the core competencies for SJSU SLIS graduates can be found at http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/slis/competencies.htm

Textbooks and Readings

Required Text

• Rubin, R. E. (2004). Foundations of library and information science. New York: Neal-Schuman.

Go to SLIS eBookstore.

Additional Readings
For other required readings, please check the Course Outline. Almost all of these readings can be found online by searching SJSU databases. Use Citation Linker at http://sfx.calstate.edu:9003/sanjose/cgi/core/citation-linker.cgi or see the short tutorial at http://www.sjlibrary.org/services/literacy/info_comp/articles.htm

[Top of Page]

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
The assignments for this course are:

• Review/Analysis of a Professional Journal
  Please review a professional journal related to library and information science. You can select any of the journals from Rubin's book (Appendix A) for review. You can also select a journal that is not on the list but related to library and information science. This review/analysis should be at least two pages, double-spaced. Due date: October 10, 2008
• 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 at least two pages, double-spaced. Due date: October 28, 2008
• Reflective Essays
  Students will be asked to write TWO reflective essays on any topic covered in the syllabus. Each essay should be a minimum of two pages, double-spaced. Due date: November 17, 2008
• 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 required of the sources both cited and 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. Due date: December 10, 2008
• Readings
  Each week there will be an online "lecture" provided by the instructor via Blackboard, readings from the textbook, and journal article readings regarding information and society.
• Participation in Class and Discussion
  As this class is completely online and asynchronous, participation in the weekly Blackboard discussions is essential for success in the course. Each week several discussion questions based on the lectures, the textbook reading, and the other readings will be posted to the class discussion board. Each student will be expected to respond to at least three of these discussion questions and to participate in the discussion with other students in class.

More details on the assignments and due dates will be provided on Blackboard.

Assignment Grading
The assignments will contribute to your final grade as follows:

Reflective Essays	20%
Review of a Professional Journal	10%
Report of a Professional Association	10%
Research Paper	40%
Participation in class and discussion	20%

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.

Late Assignments
Late assignments will be penalized 10 percent of the grade for that assignment. Incompletes for the class will only be given for extreme medical or family emergencies.

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/

[Top of Page]

Course Calendar

Week One	Libraries and Society History of libraries, information services and information technology. Examines the provision of library and information services in the information society, and gives a historical perspective on the need to provide equal access to information in order to maintain a free and democratic society. Get acquainted with the class website, each other, and acquire necessary materials.
Week Two	Characteristics of Information Introduction to the concept of the information infrastructure and the role of the library within that infrastructure. Also addresses nature of scholarly communication, peer review, and journal evaluation.
Week Three	Information and Society Discusses the concept of the "Information Society" and places it in a political, historical, and sociological perspective, with special attention to the evolving mission and function of libraries. Considers the role of technology in society and how it relates to social change.
Week Four	Libraries, Information, and Technology Reviews the social, political, and technical changes caused by technology in the information workplace.
Week Five	The Profession of Librarianship Explores the socially constructed role of the library and information professions.
Week Six	Ethics of the Profession Examines the ethical basis for professional activities.
Week Seven	The Information Professional Assesses the economic and social value added by the work of information professionals.
Week Eight	Professionalism, Values, and Professional Associations Explores the mission and activities of professional organizations.
Week Nine	Understanding the Information User Examines theories and methodologies for determining user information needs and helping expand information literacy skills.
Week Ten	Special Populations, Multiculturalism and Values Examines the multicultural mission of information workers and information institutions to serve a variety of special populations.
Week Eleven	Information Economics Examines the economic issues related to information access and ownership.
Week Twelve	Information Policy Reviews major policy issues related to information with special emphasis on information policy in a democratic society.
Week Thirteen	Intellectual Property and Intellectual Freedom Explores issues relating to information ownership and intellectual freedom.
Week Fourteen	Thanksgiving No Class
Week Fifteen	The Future of Information Examines critical issues and predictions for the future of the information society.

[Top of Page]