LIBR 220
Resources in Information Services
Topic: Native American Resources
Summer 2004

Mr. John D. Berry, MLIS, MA
E-mail
Office location 30 Stephens Hall, UCB
Other contact information Voice – Office: 510-642-0941
Office hours M-F 8am-4pm

GREENSHEET

Important Note: Students should contact the instructor via e-mail prior to the first class session.
JBerry@Library.Berkeley.Edu

Course Description:

A survey course of Native American focus; covering basic history, law and politics, languages, culture, geography, genealogy, other topics as relevant to class interests. Text and WWW resources, for reference services and collection development. 

Topics covered will be the development of Library Guides, Resources and Reference services concerning First Nations peoples. 

The focus will be primarily on Academic or Public Library collections – however with special arrangements, School or Special Libraries focus may be incorporated.

Course Objectives:

At the completion of the course, the student will be able to, or have:

• Gained knowledge about the characteristics of First Nations peoples in North America.

• Have developed skills for identifying appropriate resources to answer widely varied reference queries regarding the topical focus.

• Have developed skills to establish a collection and enhance it with appropriate and quality materials.

• Be able to evaluate and/or improve an existing collection.

This course supports the following SLIS objectives:

• Information transfer
• Management of a specialized information environment.
• Leadership and advocacy for access to relevant information and knowledge resources.

Required Text:

There is no required textbook. However, there are a few required readings for this course, as well as recommended or suggested readings. Please see the Reading List below for more information.

Readings: * denotes required.

READINGS:

Back to the Future: A Forum on the Education and Training Requirements of First Nations Record Keepers (First Nations Interest Group, B.C. Library Association and the UBC First Nations House of Learning) 2001

Final Report of the Minister's Advisory Committee on Library Services for Aboriginal People (Saskatchewan Libraries)

Digital Technologies and Indigenous Communities (Corporation for National Research Initiatives)

*Evaluating Native Web sites - http://www.u.arizona.edu/~ecubbins/webcrit.html

Course Requirements:

Presentation last day of class. OR Annotated Bibliography OR Research Paper
due 1 week after last class session. 25 page minimum, 50 page maximum with
bibliography.

Quizzes 1 (one), informational, not for credit.

Exams None.

Blackboard: not this time. Although students should contact the instructor prior to the first class session via e-mail AND are encouraged to communicate with the instructor via e-mail if they have questions.

Grading:

60% - Presentation/paper + 20% Attendance + 20% Participation = 100%