LIBR 210-04
Reference & Information Services
Spring 2006 Greensheet
Robert D. Aaron
E-mail
Office Hours: Appointments and contacts
via Blackboard
| Greensheet Links Textbooks and Resources Course Requirements About Your Instructor |
Resources Blackboard Blackboard Tutorials |
Students will self-enroll in the course using Blackboard. Course enrollment dates are January 23-25, 2006. All students must self-enroll during those dates. I will provide you with the necessary password access code using the MySJSU messaging system.
Course Description
This course presents an overview of reference contexts, processes and resources. The main thrust of the class is on learning how to answer reference questions appropriately and effectively. The class will address three major components of reference work: (1) the intellectual, communication and personal skills required; (2) managing the reference interview; and (3) identifying and knowing how to use information resources.
Prerequisite: LIBR 202
The class will consider:
- The history, development and philosophy of reference services in various library and non-library settings
- The nature of questions and answers
- The way to think about reference questions
- The broad spectrum of reference tools and how to use them
- The use, misuse and limits of resources and technologies
- The methods for evaluating reference tools
- The many audiences for reference services
- The various ways reference services can be delivered
- The ethical aspects of reference services
- The role of reference skills and services in the information professions
- The nature and role of virtual/digital reference
- The likely development of reference services in the future
Specific skills and knowledge that will be covered include:
- Conducting good reference interviews
- Properly understanding questions (and managing user expectations)
- Knowing the core reference resources in multiple disciplines: what they are, how to use them, search strategies, and how to combine resources for complete results
- Evaluating the quality and appropriateness of reference resources and services
- Management of reference services and delivery of results
Course Objectives
At the end of this course, students will:
- Understand the reference process in various contexts
- Be comfortable working with people who are seeking information
- Demonstrate the ability to satisfy requests through the appropriate use of information resources
- Have a working knowledge of the core reference tools used in various disciplines
- Know how to identify resources in new topical areas quickly
- Be able to evaluate the quality, accuracy, comprehensiveness, timeliness, and utility of reference sources and services
- Be acquainted with reference practice in library, virtual and digital settings
- Be familiar with theory, issues and trends in reference services
This course supports the following SLIS objectives: (http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/slis/mission.htm)
- SLIS supports an environment and curriculum that prepares students to function effectively in libraries, information centers, schools, and other relevant institutions.
- SLIS prepares students for professional practice in information management through selection, organization, storage, retrieval, dissemination and utilization of information resources
- SLIS contributes to the knowledge base of the information community by engaging in basic and applied research and communicating its results through faculty and student presentations, activities, and publications.
Textbooks and Resources
Required
This class does not have any required texts. All assigned readings will be available via Blackboard, university-provided databases, or the Web. All of the readings materials assigned for this class will be equally available regardless of student location.
Recommended
Students are encouraged to be familiar with the professional literature of reference, especially journals such as Reference and User Services Quarterly, The Reference Librarian, and Reference Services Review. Publications such as Information Today, ONLINE, Searcher and other research/database trade press journals are also recommended.
LIBREF-L
I also recommend that you join LIBREF-L, the largest e-mail discussion list devoted to reference issues. Discussions among peers is a very important part of professional practice, and LIBREF-L will provide a good introduction. There is no charge to join LIBREF-L. To join, simply go to the following address and follow the instructions.
http://listserv.kent.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=libref-l&A=1
Course Requirements
Communicating with the Instructor
You may contact me via e-mail, and I will make every effort to respond promptly (within 48 hours at the latest). Please remember that I live in the Eastern time zone. Please check your Blackboard e-mail on a regular basis.
Blackboard
This course will be delivered entirely via Blackboard. There is a "Blackboard Tutorials and Resources for SLIS Instructors and Students" site located at http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/blackboard/. Familiarity with Blackboard will be necessary for this class.
Assignments
As this is an all-Web course, all assignments for this class will be distributed via Blackboard.
All assignments will be evaluated for thoroughness, analysis, creativity, and thoughtfulness. Clarity and accuracy in writing is a basic professional requirement – incorrect grammar will not be tolerated. All assignments are to have a professional appearance, using consistent formatting and citing techniques. Consult the SLIS APA Style Resources page for further specifics.
In addition to grades received on the assignments, active participation in online discussions throughout the semester is expected. Discussion questions and issues will be posted in the discussion area throughout the semester. Students are expected to engage in these online discussions and to make regular contributions.
Grading
This class will follow the University Recommended Grading Scale for Graduate Students:
| 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+ |
| 69-72 | D |
| 66-68 | D- |
| Below 66 | F |
Plagiarism
Your work must be your own. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. It’s as simple as that.
For more information, refer to the SJSU regulations on plagiarism and the SJSU Academic Integrity Policy.
- http://info.sjsu.edu
(search option: Academic Dishonesty) - 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/
About Your Instructor
Robert D. Aaron has been active in reference and secondary research for almost thirty years. He is president of Aaron/Smith Associates, Inc., an information consultancy in Atlanta, Georgia. Prior to founding Aaron/Smith, he was the chief researcher for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper and a reference librarian at Georgia State University and the Atlanta Public Library. At Aaron/Smith he has been responsible for managing literally thousands of secondary research projects for clients such as IBM, BellSouth, UPS, Bank of America, Coca-Cola, and AT&T. For CNN Headline News he developed and oversaw the production of small, interesting statistical items called Factoids that appeared every half-hour on that network for many years. He has spoken at professional meetings such as SLA, ALISE, the Society for Competitive Intelligence Professionals (SCIP), the National Online Meeting, and others. He was one of four researchers featured in an article about competitive intelligence research in Forbes magazine (May 17, 1999). From 1996 until 2004 he was a member of the faculty of the School of Library and Information Studies at Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, Georgia, teaching classes on online searching and library technologies.
He received both his undergraduate and M.L.S. degrees from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.
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Phone: 408-924-2490
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