Libr 210-11
Reference and Information Services
Summer 2005

Instructor: Todd Gilman
E-mail
Office location: Web
Phone: (203)-432-1761
Office hours: M-F 9-5 EST

GREENSHEET

Textbooks and Resources | Course Requirements | Grading
About Your Instructor

Blackboard course enrollment dates are 23 – 31 May 2005. Students must self-enroll for this course on Blackboard during these dates. You will be required to use a password access code that I will provide using MYSJSU Messaging system. For more information on access code enrollment, see the tutorial entitled Enrolling in a Blackboard course.

Course Description

Catalog Description
A process-oriented examination of how information professionals answer reference questions. The interpersonal skills required for effective question negotiation and the sources with which questions are answered are stressed.
Prerequisite: LIBR 202

Full Description
This course imparts core knowledge of reference and information services in a variety of environments, including: methods and models of information service delivery, basic tools for reference and information services, and emerging trends in reference and information delivery.

The major topics (in no particular order) are:

• reference sources
• the reference interview
• search strategies
• evaluation and management of reference collections (databases and Web sites)
• reference service models (face-to-face versus electronic)
• evaluation of reference services
• collection development and management
• serving special populations (international, minority, senior citizens, gay/lesbian, first-generation, etc.)
• the history of reference services
• management of reference services
• what is a reference librarian?
• the impact of technology
• ethics in reference
• reference standards

Intended for all interested students, though the focus will be mainly on academic library resources.

Course Objectives

By the conclusion of this course, students will:

• show familiarity with a number of basic reference sources in print and electronic format by providing answers to sample questions designed to utilize those sources
• develop the ability to evaluate reference sources in a given area by identifying core resources for a field of study
• develop the ability to evaluate reference and information services at the individual or programmatic level
• gain an introduction to a variety of approaches to providing reference and information service, both traditional and emerging
• become familiar with trends and issues in reference and information service
• begin to explore various areas of professional specialty common to reference librarians (e.g., by subject, by function).

This course supports the following School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) objectives:

• SLIS supports an environment and curriculum that prepares students to function effectively in libraries, information centers, schools, and other relevant institutions.
• 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.

By the conclusion of this course, students will:

• become familiar with the major theories and principles that form the foundation of reference and information services;
• be able to evaluate research related to the theory and practice of reference and information services;
• demonstrate knowledge of current practices in information service, transfer, and management, including the selection, organization, storage, retrieval, dissemination and utilization of information resources; and,
• understand the application of information technologies to information services.

SLIS goals and objectives can be found at http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/slis/mission.htm

Textbooks and Resources

Required Texts
William A. Katz, Introduction to Reference Work: Basic Information Services, Volume I, Eighth Edition. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2002. ISBN: 0-07-244107-0.

William A. Katz, Introduction to Reference Work: Reference Services and Reference Processes, Volume II, Eighth Edition. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2002. ISBN: 0-07-244143-7.

The textbooks may be ordered directly from the publishers or through Web-based vendors such as Amazon at www.amazon.com or Barnes & Noble at www.bn.com

NOTE: The Katz books are costly and not completely up to date; however, they are the best resource of their kind available, and should be taken seriously.

Additional Readings
Additional course materials will be available through the Blackboard course site.

Core Journals
You should be familiar with professional journals that explore reference and information service issues appropriate to this course, including

• College & Research Libraries (Z671 .C6)*
• Journal of Academic Librarianship (Z671 .J58)*
• Medical Reference Services Quarterly (R118.2 .M4)*
• Public Libraries (Z673.A5 .P88)*
• Reference & User Services Quarterly (Z671 .R7)*
• The Reference Librarian (Z711 .R43x)*
• Reference Services Review (Z1035.1 .R43)*

I have taken the call numbers above from the SJSU library catalog, but they should also help you locate materials, if available, at any academic library to which you have access. Titles marked with an asterisk (*) show electronic access through the SJSU Electronic Journals List.

Discussion Lists
Electronic discussion lists constitute an important part of professional dialogue and support for reference and information service librarians. All students in this class should subscribe to LIBREF-L, the largest electronic discussion list dedicated to issues in reference librarianship.

*Join LIBREF-L*

You will also find a variety of electronic discussion lists dedicated to specific subject areas (e.g., history librarianship), to specialized service areas often administered as part of reference and information service programs (e.g., instructional services), and to the use of information technology as a means of supporting reference and information services. You can see some of these lists in the "External Links" section of the Blackboard course site.

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Course Requirements

Successfully completing assignments related to objectives listed above. Participation during each unit in the form of asynchronous Threaded Discussion.

Reading assignment must be completed each week. Readings not in the Katz books are provided through Blackboard.

Course Communication
I shall have no specific online office hours, but shall be available to answer questions submitted either through the Blackboard course site, or directly to my e-mail address. Please note that I am on Eastern Standard Time, and that you should expect to receive a reply to any questions within 48 hours of receipt. Any extended absences that might affect response time will be announced through the Blackboard course site.

Evaluation Criteria
I shall evaluate ALL written work according to the following criteria in addition to the specific requirements for each assignment:

• Quality of the presentation--neat and error-free
• Quality of the writing--clear, direct, and correct
• Quality of the organization--smooth, logical flow and content
• Quality and amount of reflection, analysis, and evaluation

All papers must be typed, double spaced, with a font size of at least 12 points. They must also conform to APA style. You should own a copy of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association , 5th edition (2001). For further information, see the SLIS APA Style Resources page.

Late Assignments
Let the instructor know in advance if you will be unable to participate during a given week. Late assignments will be accepted up to five days past the deadline, with a penalty of 1 point (1% of course grade) per day. With an appropriate reason stated BEFORE the due date, students may be allowed additional time without penalty. I shall not accept any paper that is more than five days late.

Technical Requirements
You must:

• have access to the following: Internet/World Wide Web access, Java-enabled Web browser, Microsoft Office (particularly Word), and Adobe Acrobat Reader 5+.
• be able to send and receive e-mail, including attachments. You should plan to check your e-mail and the Blackboard course site regularly for announcements.

For more detailed information, consult the SLIS home computing environment page.

Blackboard
This course is run via Blackboard. Dale David, the SLIS Blackboard Administrator, has created a "Blackboard Tutorials for SLIS Instructors and Students" site. It is located at http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/blackboard/. Use the tutorial to learn how to set up your Blackboard account.

Additional Information
Each student will :

• assume responsibility for his/her learning
• use the provided learning guides and resources; conduct data searches when necessary
• manage his/her time effectively (plan a schedule and practice time management)
• ask for assistance when needed; avoid unnecessary frustration and confusion
• remain active in the Discussions and e-mail
• prepare all work at graduate performance levels
• enter each Unit beginning the date that Unit starts. He/she is then free to access that Unit as many times as he/she likes through the end of the course
• follow good online etiquette

Please note:

• You must have access to a “bricks and mortar” (i.e., physical, not just virtual) library that houses a standard collection of academic reference works.
• I prefer not to use the Chat function for this course, though you are welcome to; formal interaction of the class as a whole will take the form of Discussions.
• So that I am not inundated with e-mail, please limit the number of e-mails you send me to two per week if possible. That means saving up questions, perhaps, for several days.
• Plagiarism will result in a failing grade for the assignment in question (see more on plagiarism below). 

The instructor will

• provide assistance/knowledge in facilitating understanding of the course content
• guide students through the course
• facilitate discussion through questioning, probing, examples, etc.
• provide feedback
• maintain records
• mark exams/assignments and maintain records within 15 working days
• respond to messages on Tuesdays and Thursdays

Reasonable Accommodation of Disabilities
Students who need accommodation due to a disability must register with SJSU's Disability Resource Center (DRC) during the first three weeks of the semester. The Center will work with the students to determine the disability, document it, and determine the services and accommodations necessary for student success. Then, the DRC will contact the faculty member to determine the types of consideration necessary.

Students attending the Fullerton campus should first contact the Disability Resource Center in San José since they are SJSU students. The DRC will then direct the students to supporting resources on the Fullerton campus.

The DRC Web site: http://www.drc.sjsu.edu/

Plagiarism
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

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Grading

There are 100 possible points for this course, divided as follows:

Specific requirements for each assignment, including due dates, will be posted in the course site via Blackboard.

The breakdown for your course grade, based on the University Recommended Grading Scale for Graduate Students, is as follows:

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About Your Instructor

Professor Gilman holds a Ph.D. in English from the University of Toronto and an M.S. in Library and Information Science from Simmons College in Boston. He is Librarian for Literature in English at Yale University Library (www.library.yale.edu). He also teaches part-time for the Library and Information Science Program at Wayne State University.

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