LIBR 204-05
Information Organizations and Management
Spring 2006 Greensheet (Regular Session)
Benjamin F. Speller, Jr., Ph.D.Office Location: New School of Education, Building , Room 2104
Phone: 919-530-7342
Fax: 919-530-5220
Online Office Hours: Best time to reach me via e-mail is 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. EST, Th-F
| Greensheet Links Textbooks and Resources Course Requirements |
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Resources Blackboard Blackboard Tutorials |
Course Description
Theory and practice for the management of library and information centers are presented and discussed. Emphasis is placed on examining the distinguishing characteristics, cultures, and relationships in libraries and information organizations.
Course Objectives
The objectives of this course are:
- To introduce students to basic management principles, concepts, and theories;
- To introduce students to management literature in library and information science, business, and related fields;
- To acquaint students with the roles of managers and the basic management functions of planning, organizing, staffing, directing, controlling and evaluating;
- To provide students with knowledge of the creative activities and innovation in an organizational context;
- To provide students with an opportunity to develop skills in analytical thinking and strategic planning;
- To provide students with an opportunity to research and present positions on leadership, ethics, standards, and intellectual property issues related to both information staffs and services in a diverse society.
This course supports the following SLIS objectives:
- Acquiring knowledge of the principles and practices of management as specifically applied to information environments.
- Learning to evaluate and utilize relevant research studies from a variety of disciplines.
Core Knowledge and Abilities
To meet the minimum expected outcomes of this course, students must demonstrate:
- Understanding of the basic management functions in library and information organizations.
- Analytical thinking skills.
- Writing competency.
Course Units
Course units and activities/assignments that support course objectives are posted on Blackboard.
The following themes are integrated throughout the course units, activities, and assignments:
- the planning process,
- organization,
- accountability,
- supervision,
- communication,
- leadership vs. management.
Textbooks and Resources
Required Text
Evans, G. E., Ward, P.L. (2003). Beyond the Basics: The Management Guide for Library and Information Professionals. New York: Neal-Schuman. The required text may be purchased online at (www.neal-schuman.com).
Assigned Readings
Readings are assigned throughout the class. They are in either the required text Evans or from online sources.
Other Resources
Other resources for this course are:
- Library Journals: Administration/Management from the Internet Library for Librarians lists key journals in the areas of library administration and management, and gives a brief description of each.
- The ALA’s Library Organization and Management section investigates issues pertaining to efficient library operations in all types of libraries and disseminates information on management issues to all its members, the Library Administration and Management Association (LAMA) membership, and all librarians. Issues of ongoing interest are specified in the section's standing committees and discussion groups.
- You are encouraged to subscribe to LEADS from LAMA, an electronic newsletter which includes news relevant to librarians interested in management and administration. Send an email message to: Listproc@ala.org. Leave the subject line blank or type "subscribe" if your system requires a subject. Put as the only line in the body of the message: subscribe LAMALEADS YourFirstName YourLastName.
Course Requirements
Course Format
This course is Web-based with two class sessions in San José:
- February 18 in Mod403
- April 29 in Mod402
Primary Requirements
The primary requirements for this course are:
- All students must attend two-day class sessions for course overview that are scheduled from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at San Jose on February 18 and April 29.
- All students must have the minimal home computing environment as described at http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/ecommunication/homecomputing.htm
- All students must enroll in the course in Blackboard to receive communications from the instructor by the first day of the term.
- Submit all assignments electronically. The following scheme is required for the files: [Course Number]_[Student’s Last Name]_[Assignment Number]. Example: 204_Speller_Essay1.doc
- The student will use a current virus protection program to scan all assignments before they are submitted electronically to Blackboard and to the instructor.
- Assignments will be submitted by the midnight of the due date. All assignments submitted after the due date may be subjected to a grade penalty.
- All papers will use The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Fifth edition, as the official style manual for formats, citations, and bibliography.
- All work will be typed or keyed using Microsoft Word, double-spaced and in 12 point font.
- All pages will be consecutively numbered with the student’s name and the name of the assignment in the footer of each page.
- Errors in spelling, grammar and syntax will be subject to a grade penalty.
- Evidence of plagiarism will result in a grade of F for the course.
Assignments [All assignment will are posted on Blackboard]
These are the general assignments for the course. Please see course information tab and the assignments tab on the Blackboard Web page for specific assignment details, including due dates.
- Your story (5%)
On two pages or less introduce yourself to the class. It is to be posted online to the discussion board on Blackboard. The inclusion of your picture is optional. Everyone should check out your fellow students.
The three major course assignments below focus on the following cognitive
expectations:
- Relating and organizing information learned previously.
- Applying information according to a rule or principle in a specific situation.
- Critical thinking in the following contexts:
- Analysis of parts and their functionality in the whole
- Synthesis or putting parts together to form new and original whole
- Evaluation or valuing and making judgment based on information
- Two Essays (30%)
Completed as per the assignment schedule.
- Biography as Case Study (20%)
Completed as per the assigned schedule. - Team Strategic Plan (45%)
A team document posted to Blackboard. Post the synopsis of strategic plan (four page public version) on Blackboard and send the full background strategic plan to the instructor.
Grading
Everyone begins the class with a grade of “B”, the standard grade for graduate level work. Students who complete the assignments, attend the on-site sessions and participate in the online team discussions will receive the B provided the quality of written work meets the standard of rigorous scholarly work for the University. Above standard work is defined as clearly displays one of more of the following criteria:
- Originality in the approach to the assignment
- Greater depth of analysis than the written assignment expects
- Critical evaluation of readings by comparing them to other authors or sources
- Ability to organize information for themselves and others plus create tools for life long learning and knowledge retrieval
Grading Scale
The following grading scale shall be implemented:
| A | 95-100 (Excellent) |
| A- | 92-94 (Above standard work) |
| B+ | 89-91 (Above standard work) |
| B | 86-88 (Standard work) |
| B- | 83-85 (Standard work) |
| C+ | 79-82 (Barely standard work) |
| C | 75-78 (Barely passing) |
| C- | 71-74 Not acceptable graduate work = 70 and below |
Plagiarism
See the University policy as linked from the SLIS Faculty Handbook page on plagiarism http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/de/problems/plagiarism.htm. All assignments submitted must be your own work. Sources must be properly cited in papers as specified in class. The San Jose State University regulations governing plagiarism will be enforced.
Academic Integrity
Read the SJSU Academic Integrity Policy
http://www2.sjsu.edu/senate/S04-12.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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