Assignments  

Outline/Calendar  

Online Resource

Blackboard  

Readings  
 

Handout #1
(Word File)  

Handout #2
(PDF files)
     Part 1  
     Part 2  
     Part 3  
     Part 4  
     Part 5  
     Part 6  

Handout #3
(PDF files) 
     Part 1  
     Part 2  
     Part 3  
     Part 4  
     Part 5  
 

Inmagic Download  

Inmagic Tutorial  

Adobe Acrobat Reader Download  
 

Course Description:  

This course is a survey of the principles of information retrieval and their application to information systems and services. The course emphasizes models of user information seeking behavior and human information processing, and their relationships to retrieval models in information systems. It explores the fundamental processes of description, classification, information structures, database models, and human-computer interaction as reflected in information systems of all types, including libraries. Various information systems will be examined, and students will gain experience designing, creating, and evaluating functioning information retrieval systems. 
 

Course Goals and Objectives: 

To introduce the student to: 

• Basic concepts of information systems; 
• User information seeking processes; 
• Those user characteristics that affect information seeking and use. 

• Describe the salient characteristics of an information retrieval system, using the model introduced and developed in the course 
• Describe appropriate models of information seeking processes and factors influencing them 
• Describe how the characteristics of information systems and users interact in the effective use of information. 

• To teach students the major theories, important principles, and current practice in: 
• Information management, including the selection, organization, storage, retrieval, dissemination, and utilization of information resources 
• The application of diverse technologies to information management.
• To foster research by: 
• Requiring students to evaluate and utilize relevant research studies from a variety of disciplines in their course work.

• Meadow, Charles T., Boyce, Bert R,. and Kraft, Donald H. (2000). Text Information Retrieval Systems. 2nd ed. San Diego: Academic Press. 
  
  
• Marchionini, Gary (1995). Information Seeking in Electronic Environments. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  

  The paperback version of the Marchionini book, published in 1997, is also acceptable.  However, please note that both editions of this book have been difficult to obtain lately.  If you are unable to acquire a copy, a scanned version is available online through the "Supplemental Readings" page (see below).



• "Supplemental Readings" on reserve in the library (15 are required, more are recommended).  The bibliography and some electronic copies are available at http://witloof.sjsu.edu/courses/202/welcome202.html .  

To be successful in this course, you need to be able to send and receive e-mail, access the School's web site for course handouts and readings, download software from a web site and install it on your computer, use common web search engines, and learn a new database management system. You should be comfortable with using FTP and mailing attachments. 

Assignments:
 

* The class participation category is intended to encourage further class learning.  Questions and comments posted to the Blackboard discussion forums, as well as offered in class, will earn credit here.  Class attendance and the use of office hours do not count toward class participation.

Students are expected to monitor the Blackboard site regularly for announcements and discussion postings.

Grading: 

The grade of B reflects high quality work commensurate with expectations for graduate students. Please note that the class GPA for LIBR 202 is generally a B+.   The following grading scale will be used: 

Approximate Schedule, Spring 2003