LIBR 210-02
Reference and Information Services
spring 2005

Instructor: Amy Kautzman
E-mail
Phone: 510 643-0398

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Catalog Description

LIBR 210. Reference and Information Services 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

Course Overview

This course deals with three themes: the examination and evaluation of core sources of information including various types (such as dictionaries, encyclopedias, etc.) as well as formats (print, digital, etc.); methods and models of information service delivery, and the discussion of issues central to Reference and Information Services Librarians.

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
• 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

Course Objectives

By the conclusion of this course, students will:

1. demonstrate familiarity with a number of basic reference sources in print and electronic format by providing answers to sample questions designed to utilize those sources;
2. demonstrate the ability to evaluate reference sources in a given area by identifying core resources for a field of study;
3. demonstrate the ability to evaluate reference and information services at the individual or programmatic level;
4. be introduced to a variety of approaches to providing reference and information service, both traditional and emergent;
5. become familiar with current trends and issues in reference and information service; and,
6. begin to explore various areas of professional specialty common to reference librarians (e.g., by subject, by function).

Program Objectives

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, the student 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.

Readings and Other Course Materials

Required Text
Bopp, R. E., & Smith, L. C. (2001). Reference and information services: An introduction (3rd ed.). Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited.

Recommended Reading
Balay, Robert, ed. Guide to Reference Books. 11th ed. Chicago: ALA, 1996. [and supplements]
DREF Z1035.1.G89 1996

Balay is recommended for use and consultation in the course, but use a library copy (too expensive and not something you want to own). It provides annotations of reference books and may be useful in getting the "big picture" for various titles. It does not take the place of individually examining the resources.

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Course Requirements

Reading assignments must be completed each week. Readings not in the Bopp/Smith text will be provided through Blackboard.

All written Blackboard responses will be evaluated 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

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 Jose 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/

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Grading Rationale

Possible points (out of a total of 100 points) are distributed as follows:

Note: Any assignment submitted after the due date, without the permission of the instructor prior to the due date, will have its total score reduced by 10%. Any assignment submitted more than one week after the deadline will not be accepted for grading and a zero will be recorded for that assignment in the digital grade book.

Also, incompletes will be assigned only in cases of medical or family emergency. Depending on the situation, proof of excuse may be required.

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

A Statement on 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. See the University policy as linked from the SLIS Faculty Handbook page on plagiarism http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/de/problems/plagiarism.htm, noting especially the SJSU Academic Integrity Policy: http://www2.sjsu.edu/senate/S04-12.pdf

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Core Journals

You should be familiar with professional journals that explore reference and information services 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. Most of the marked titles are available 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 *

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About your instructor

Amy Kautzman holds an MA in Literature from Northeastern University and an MLS from Simmons College. I have 15 years of reference and collection development experience in the social sciences and humanities from a number of research libraries. My current position is Head of Research, Reference and Collections for the Doe & Moffitt Libraries, UC Berkeley http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/doemoff/.

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