LIBR 210-04
Reference & Information Services
Spring 2008 Greensheet
Scott Walter
E-mail
Office Hours: Virtually via e-mail, or live via Elluminate (see schedule)
| Greensheet Links Textbooks and Readings Course Requirements About Your Instructor |
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Students must self-enroll for this course on Blackboard during these dates: January 18-25. You will be required to use a password access code which I will provide using the MYSJSU Messaging system.
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.
Full Description
This course is designed to present an overview of reference and information services in a variety of settings, including: methods and models of information service delivery, basic tools for reference and information services, and emergent trends in reference and information service.
The major topics are:
- the historical evolution of reference and information service in libraries;
- traditional and emergent models of reference and information service;
- evaluation, selection, and use of general reference sources;
- evaluation and management of reference collections and services; and
- issues in information technology and its impact on the provision of reference and information services.
Course Objectives
Student Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, students will:
- become familiar with the reference process and the characteristics of a successful reference interview;
- demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of a reference interview;
- become familiar with current standards for professional performance of face-to-face and digital reference service
- achieve a working knowledge of core reference tools in a variety of fields; and
- become familiar with current issues and trends in reference and information services.
LIBR 210 supports the following SLIS Core Competencies:
- use service concepts, principles and techniques that facilitate information access, relevance, and accuracy for individuals or groups of users.
In addition, this section supports the following SLIS Core Competencies:
- articulate the ethics, values and foundational principles of library and information professionals and their role in the promotion of intellectual freedom;
- compare the environments and organizational settings in which library and information professionals practice;
- demonstrate proficiency in the use of current information and communication technologies, and other related technologies, as they affect the resources and uses of libraries and other types of information providing entities; and
- evaluate programs and services on specified criteria.
Textbooks and Readings
Required Texts
- Cassell, K.A., and Hiremath, U. (2006). Reference and information services in the 21st century: An introduction. New York: Neal-Schuman.
- Janes, J. (2003). Introduction to reference work in the digital age. New York: Neal-Schuman.
Available through the SLIS eBookstore, as well as through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Neal-Schuman, and other online booksellers.
Supplemental Texts
The following texts are not required for this course, but they elaborate on some of the issues we will examine. Students have often asked for suggestions for additional material, and the texts listed below are meant to meet that need. Each is an excellent text that interested students may wish to review at some point:
- Bopp, R. E., & Smith, L. C. (2001). Reference and information services: An introduction (3rd ed.). Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited.
- Grassian, E. S., & Kaplowitz, J. R. (2001). Information literacy instruction: Theory and practice. New York: Neal-Schuman.
- Lanning, S., & Bryner, J. (2004). Essential reference services for today's school media specialists. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.
- Ronan, J. S. (2003). Chat reference: A guide to live virtual reference services. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.
Additional Readings
Additional course materials will be available through the Blackboard course site, or via the full-text electronic journal collection.
Core Journals
Finally, you should begin to become familiar with professional journals that address reference and information service issues appropriate to your career plans, e.g.:
- College & Research Libraries (Z671 .C6)
- Journal of Academic Librarianship (Z671 .J58)
- Knowledge Quest (Z675.S3 K56)
- 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)
The call numbers listed above are drawn from the SJSU library catalog, but they should also help you to locate materials, if available, at any academic library to which you may have access. Each of the titles above is also available through the SJSU Electronic Journals List.
A final title that will be of interest is Internet Reference Services Quarterly. IRSQ is currently unavailable through SJSU, but you may find it at other libraries to which you have access. For those at (or near) SJSU, you may find IRSQ monographs in the King Library, e.g., Libraries and Google (Z674.75.I58 L535 2005).
Discussion Lists
Electronic discussion lists are 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*
In addition to LIBREF-L, you will 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 delivering reference and information services. A sample of these additional lists can be found in the "External Links" section of the Blackboard course site. Students may be especially interested in DIG_REF, the discussion list dedicated to digital reference services.
Course Requirements
Expectations
As a graduate student, you are expected to:
- Read and carefully consider all readings.
- Fully participate in all class activities and discussions.
- Complete all assignments on time.
- Inform the instructor if you have an illness or emergency that requires you to be absent from our online learning environment for an extended period of time or to request an extension on an assignment.
Format
This is a Web-based course. All class activities will take place through Blackboard and Elluminate.
Blackboard
Blackboard will be used throughout this course. The Blackboard site for this class will open for self-enrollment on January 18, 2008. I will provide you with a password access code using the MySJSU messaging system. You should be enrolled by January 25, 2008. As this course includes no synchronous sessions, it is crucial that you log in to the Blackboard site regularly to take part in asynchronous discussions and receive announcements and updates regarding course requirements. The SLIS Blackboard site is located at http://tigris.sjsu.edu and tutorials are available at http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/blackboard.
Elluminate
While there are no synchronous sessions required for this course, I will use Elluminate to provide an option for office hours and to provide lectures that will supplement the PowerPoint presentations on course topics that will be available on Blackboard. If this is your first class using Elluminate, please complete an orientation session prior to first logging in. You may need to have a microphone attached to your computer in order to participate in Elluminate-supported activities. It is recommended that you log in at least 10 minutes before a class session to check the audio. A list of training times and other helpful information can be found in the SLIS Student Guide to Using Elluminate.
Technical Requirements
You must have access to the following: Internet/World Wide Web access, Java-enabled Web browser, Microsoft Office (particularly Word and PowerPoint), and Adobe Acrobat Reader 5+. In addition, you may find that some chat-based digital reference services are more likely to work if you are using a PC and Internet Explorer. Finally, you may find that some resources and services will be easier to manage if you have access to a broad-band connection to the Internet, but all resources should be accessible even with a 56K dial-up service.
You must 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. You are also responsible for assuring that your contact information in Blackboard is current and that messages sent to you through the Blackboard server are not being caught by your SPAM filter.
For more detailed information, consult the SLIS home computing environment page, and the Student Guide to Using Elluminate.
Course Calendar
The assignments for this course are:
- Class Participation (20%)
All students are expected to participate fully in the course. Active participation in all synchronous and asynchronous discussions is expected of all students, and each student is expected to maintain individual contact with the instructor regarding course requirements, concerns, etc. Participation in threaded discussions will be crucial to success in this course and will be evaluated using the "Guidelines for Critical Engagement" described in the individual course presentations and assignments available on the Blackboard course site. Finally, you will have the opportunity to participate through a course Weblog.
In addition to active participation, each student will be required to complete a number of assignments based on our study of reference and information sources and services. These assignments and their weight in determining your final grade for this course are as follows:
- Reference Interview Analyses (20%)
You will pose reference questions in different information environments and observe different approaches to reference and information service. This assignment is designed to help you begin turning a critical eye on reference services provided in person and in the Web-based environment through a combination of observation, interaction, and reflection. Analysis I (Face-to-Face) will be due on February 12th. Analysis II (digital reference) will be due on February 26th. - Article Reviews (20%)
You will provide concise, critical reviews of 2-3 articles on topics of current professional relevance and personal interest (e.g., social networking sites as a venue for reference service) to be shared with your classmates. Review I (Foundations of Reference Service) will be due on February 19th. Review II (Current Concerns in Reference Service) will be due on May 7th. - Reference Source Exercises (20%)
You will answer a number of sample reference questions using different tools. These short exercises are designed to help acquaint you with different types of reference tools (e.g., encyclopedias, indexes) and their use. You will also provide brief evaluations of the tool(s) used to answer each question. Assignments will be due on March 4th, March 18th, April 9th, and April 23rd. - Pathfinder (20%)
You will develop a guide to core reference materials (print and electronic) for a specific area of study. This assignment is designed to help you become familiar with a variety of information resources in an area of interest to you and to prepare you for typical professional responsibilities for reference collection development and instruction. This assignment will be due on April 30th.
All assignments are due by 11:59 p.m. (Pacific Time) on the dates noted above.
Assignments may be submitted either through the Digital Drop Box in Blackboard, or by e-mail attachment to your instructor.
Detailed instructions for each assignment will be posted in the "Assignments" section of the Blackboard course site.
Submitting Assignments
Assignments must be submitted on their specified due dates. Any assignment turned in after the due date, without the permission of the instructor, will have its total score reduced by one point per day from the date due. Any assignment turned in more than one week after the deadline will not be accepted for grading, and a failing grade will be recorded (unless a student has received an extension from the instructor).
Correct usage of academic English, spelling, grammar, and composition are expected, and all sources should be cited according to the most recent (5th) edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. For further information, see the SLIS APA Style Resources page (http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/resources/apa.htm).
Incompletes
A course grade of "Incomplete" will be assigned only in cases of medical or family emergency.
Grading Scale
The standard SJSU SLIS Grading Scale is utilized for all SLIS courses:
| 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+ |
| 70-72 | D |
| 67-69 | D- |
| Below 67 | F |
In order to provide consistent guidelines for assessment for graduate level work in the School, these terms are applied to letter grades:
- C represents Adequate work; a grade of "C" counts for credit for the course;
- B represents Good work; a grade of "B" clearly meets the standards for graduate level work;
- A represents Exceptional work; a grade of "A" will be assigned for outstanding work only.
Students are advised that it is their responsibility to maintain a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0.
Office Hours
E-mail will be the primary mode for communicating with your instructor, either through the Blackboard course site, or through SLIS e-mail. Please note that I am on Central 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. In addition, I will schedule 2-3 office hours sessions through Elluminate that will allow for synchronous discussion (see schedule available on the Blackboard course site).
Academic Integrity
Your own commitment to learning, as evidenced by your enrollment at San José State University, and the University's Academic Integrity Policy requires you to be honest in all your academic course work. Faculty members are required to report all infractions to the Office of Student Conduct and Ethical Development. The policy on academic integrity can be found at http://sa.sjsu.edu/student_conduct.
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
Scott Walter is currently Associate University Librarian for Services and Associate Dean of Libraries at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he also holds faculty appointments in the Graduate School of Library & Information Science and the College of Education. Prior to this, he served as Assistant Dean of Libraries for Information & Instructional Services at the University of Kansas, and as Interim Assistant Director of Libraries for Public Services & Outreach at Washington State University.
Scott is an active member of the American Library Association and the Association of College & Research Libraries (among others). He completed his M.L.S. at Indiana University, where he also completed an M.S. in History and Philosophy of Education. He also holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Washington State University. He has taught undergraduate and graduate-level courses at Indiana University, Indiana State University, Washington State University, the University of Kansas, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
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