LIBR 221-11
Government Information Sources
Summer 2006 Greensheet
Kevin Bontenbal
E-mail
Phone: (805) 546-3117
| Greensheet Links Required Text and Readings Course Requirements |
Resources Blackboard Blackboard Tutorials |
This class uses Blackboard. Students must self-enroll in the Blackboard course site with the access code which will be sent to all registered students via MySJSU prior to the beginning of class, June 1st.
Course Description
This course is an introduction to the variety of government information sources produced by the United States government, both in print, and online. This goal of this course is to provide students with a broad understanding of the significance and use of government information sources. The course will examine government information resources and consider issues of access, availability, dissemination, and archival issues. Although the main focus of the course will be on United States government sources, state and local sources will also be investigated.
Course and School Objectives
Upon completion of the course the student should be able to:
- Understand the significance of government information sources.
- Promote the purpose and role of government sources.
- Articulate the issues and trends that affect access, availability, dissemination, and use of government sources.
- Demonstrate knowledge of how government information sources are organized and used.
- Recognize, understand, and use government sources, both traditional, and electronic.
- Understand the value of government sources to users in both public and academic libraries.
- Identify the kinds of questions for which government information sources can answer.
This course supports the following objectives from the School’s goals and objectives:
- Teaching: Information management, including the selection, organization, storage, retrieval, dissemination and utilization of information resources.
- Teaching: Advocacy and leadership for citizen access to information.
Required Text and Readings
Required Textbooks
Morehead, Joe. Introduction to United States Government Information Sources. 6th ed. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 1999.
Other Required Readings
Other required readings will be provided in the Blackboard course documents area.
Course Requirements
Web-based Instruction
This course will be a completely Web based class. In addition to textbook readings, the class Web site will include readings from various sources as well as written lectures.
All interaction with the professor will be through e-mail and the class discussion board.
This class uses Blackboard. Students will be able to self-enroll in the Blackboard course site between January 10-24. You will need an access code which will be sent to all registered students on January 10, 2006 via MySJSU.
Assignments
Students are required to complete the following assignments:
- Government Information Scavenger Hunt
Students will be given a list of questions that they must find the answers to using government information sources and the Web. The scavenger hunt will be due July 20. - Reflective Essay Addressing Topics Covered in Class or Readings
This essay will require students to formalize their understanding and exhibit critical thinking about course topics and readings. The essay should be no more than 5 pages. Students will have the option of selecting any course topic that has been covered prior to the due date of the essay. The essay will be due June 29. The essay should contain a bibliography that includes at least two sources in proper APA format. Sources can be from personal readings, the textbook, online articles or online subscriptions. The essay is worth 20 points. - Discussion Topic Responses
Throughout the course, approximately every other week there will be a discussion topic posted to the class discussion board on a topic related to the course readings. Students will be expected to provide a thoughtful and reflective response to these topics. In addition to responding to each of the eight topics, students are also encouraged to engage in dialog with each other by responding to other student's responses to the topics. - Research Paper
Students will write a research paper on some aspect related to government publications. This paper can be based on issues or resources discussed in class, or another topic with instructor approval. The research paper should be no more than 12 pages in length and double-spaced. An abstract should be included at the beginning of the paper and a bibliography in proper APA format. This paper will be graded on the content and how well you analyze and support your argument. Proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation are also very important. The paper is due by the end of class August 14. The research paper is worth a total of 50 points.
Course Outline
The course outline is as follows:
| Week One (Jun. 1) | Introduction and Overview |
| Week Two (Jun. 8) | Access to Government Information |
| Week Three (Jun. 15) | Government Printing Office (GPO) Depository Libraries |
| Week Four (Jun. 22) | Finding Aids and References Sources Statistical Sources |
| Week Five (Jun. 29) | Geographic Information Sources |
| Week Six (Jul. 6) | Legislative Branch Information Sources The Presidency |
| Week Seven (Jul. 13) | Department and Agencies |
| Week Eight (Jul. 20) | Administrative Law |
| Week Nine (Jul. 27) | Legal Information Sources Intellectual Property |
| Week Ten (Aug. 3) | Foreign and International Documents State and Local Information |
Grading Scale
Students will be graded on a determined by the total number of points they receive. Grades are not based on a curve. The following grading scale will be used:
| Total Points | Grade |
| 147 – 150 | A |
| 143 – 146 | A - |
| 139 – 142 | B + |
| 135 – 138 | B |
| 131 – 134 | B - |
| 127 – 130 | C + |
| 123 – 126 | C |
| 119 – 122 | C - |
| 115 – 118 | D+ |
Academic Integrity
Read the SJSU Academic Integrity Policy
http://www2.sjsu.edu/senate/S04-12.pdf
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/
School of Library & Information Science
One Washington Square - San José, California USA, 95192-0029
Phone: 408-924-2490
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