LIBR 220-12
Resources and Information Services in Professions and Disciplines (Medical Libraries)
summer 2005

Irene Lovas E-mail
Janet Hobbs E-mail
Fax: 310-423-0138

 

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Course Requirements | Textbooks | Assignments | Grading

Reminder: Students must self-enroll for this course on Blackboard during these dates: May 13-31. You will be required to use a password access code which I will provide using MYSJSU Messaging system.

Course Description

Resources and Information Services Focus: Medical Libraries is designed for library students interested in careers in or involving the health sciences in public, academic or special libraries where clients need health-related information. 

This class is taught online via Blackboard Technology. The class is taught in hybrid mode with a Northern California and a Southern California component. The students will meet with one of the instructors on July 23-24 EITHER in Northern California OR Southern California.

Course Objectives

At the completion of the course, students will be able to:

  • know methods of access and delivery of biomedical information
  • provide an overview of health care systems and structure and flow of medical libraries
  • identify types and services of medical libraries
  • identify reference materials and services of medical libraries
  • provide analysis of evidence-based health care whereby students learn to review critically the biomedical literature and determine reference and research accuracy and relevancy
     
  • be aware health consumerism, including information resources and services to the general public
     
  • become knowledgeable about current trends in e-health and the Internet

The SLIS Objectives are found at: http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/slis/mission.htm

Course Requirements

Please enroll with the class instructors for Blackboard access before the beginning of the first class. This will ensure that you receive the announcements and assignments for each class.

Students MUST be able to:

  1. Access the Internet/WWW, Microsoft Office (Word and PowerPoint), and Adobe Reader.
  2. Send/receive e-mails and know how to use the Internet effectively and search common Web search engines (e.g., Google).  
  3. Know how to use Blackboard. The tutorial is on the SLIS Web page.
    The tutorial can be found at http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/blackboard/
  4. Access Blackboard at http://tigris.sjsu.edu/

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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Textbooks

There is no required text for this class. Students will be required to locate and analyze articles from professional journals and reference resources.

The following are recommended reading only:

  • Boorkman, Jo Ann, Huber, Jeffery, Roper, Fred. (2004) Introduction to Reference Sources in the Health Sciences. New York: Neal-Schuman Publisher, Inc.
  • Holst, Ruth, Phillips, Sharon A. (2000). The Medical Library Association Guide to Managing Health Care Libraries. New York: Neal-Schuman Publisher, Inc. 

For other readings, both required and recommended, check the course outline. Many of the readings are available on the class Web site.

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Assignments

Introduction up to 3 pages
Issue Paper up to 10 pages on any topic relevant to health sciences librarianship
Reference Interview narrative of a reference interview including print and electronic sources used to answer a health-related question from a library user
Research Paper Final Paper, between 15-20 pages on a topic related to health sciences librarianship
Class Presentation day of in-service class July 23-24

1. Introduction
Prepare an introduction (2-3 pages ) of yourself and accomplishments (personal and professional). This introduction assignment is for both class members and instructors to acquaint themselves with you and your education, personality, interests, philosophies and plans for your professional future. Include why you have chosen to become a librarian, why are you taking this class, in what kind of health sciences library setting you want to work in, whether you have worked in health sciences libraries before graduate school, whether you have worked in other health professions. If you have worked in other health professions, what was your experience of the library? Also include what classes you have already taken in graduate school.

2. Issue Paper
This issue paper is to be no more than ten pages with bibliographies . There is a list of suggested topics in the Assignments section on Blackboard. (Contact the instructors with questions.)

3. Reference Interview
Prepare a written summation of a reference query. Summations are to be 3-5 pages . This summation includes explaining the library setting, the user asking the health-related question along with the question. Part of the paper is an annotated list of the print and electronic sources that you would use to answer the question.

4. Class Presentation
Prepare a 20-minute PowerPoint presentation either using the examples listed on Blackboard or on a topic approved by instructors. These presentations will take place during class on July 23-24.

5. Research Paper
Write a research paper between fifteen and twenty pages excluding notes and bibliography on a health sciences librarianship topic of your choice. (Contact the instructors for advice and/or questions).

6. Class Participation
Part of the grade for this graduate course will be based on your contributions in class (see below "Grading"). Be prepared to discuss and comment on the readings, the notes, and the analyses distributed by your colleagues. Most of the weekly assignments will involve group discussions to be shared with the other class members.

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Grading

Introduction 10%
Issue Paper 15%
Reference Interview 15%
Research Paper 30%
Class Presentation 20%
Class Participation 10%

Everyone starts LIBR 220 with a grade of B, the standard grade for graduate level work. Students who complete the assignments by submitting graduate level work, attend the in-class sessions, and participate adequately in the weekly discussions will receive a grade of B, provided that the quality of their work meets the standard for the University. Above-standard work ("A" level work) is defined as work that clearly displays the following:

  • Originality in approaching and completing course requirements and assignments.
  • Greater depth of analysis than required for assignments (for example, in comparing articles or viewpoints across the literature).
  • Critical evaluation of readings and comparisons of readings with other authors or sources.

Please note:
Most of your final grade will be based on written assignments. Therefore, it is important to remember the following points:

  • Late assignments will be subjected to grade penalties. If you have a compelling reason for being late with an assignment, please let the instructors know as soon as possible and before the assignment is due.
  • All written work should be computer-keyed and transferable as e-mail attachments, Discussion Board postings, etc. The word processing system of choice for this and other courses in the SJSU program is Microsoft Word.
  • Please be sure that your name and the name of the assignment appear at the top of the first page of the assignment.
  • All pages in each written assignment should be double-spaced in a conventional 12 pt. font and consecutively numbered.
  • All work cited should be in complete citation form; any citation format may be selected but must point your reader accurately toward your sources and should be consistent from one citation to another.
  • This class uses American Psychological Association (APA) style for the formatting of research papers. Please review citation guidelines carefully at:

    http://www.sjlibrary.org/services/literacy/info_comp/citing.htm
    http://www.engr.sjsu.edu/tanagnos/muse/resources/Referencing%20Styles.doc
  • Plagiarism
    See the University policy as linked from the SLIS Faculty Handbook page on plagiarism http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/de/problems/plagiarism.htm. 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.

    Read the SJSU Academic Integrity Policy
    http://www2.sjsu.edu/senate/S04-12.pdf

Grading Scale

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+
72-74 D

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