LIBR 221-01
Government Information Sources
Spring 2005

Instructor: George Carlson
E-mail
Hours: 6-7 PM, Wed. (before class) or by appointment
Phone: 408-554-5436

GREENSHEET

| Texts & Readings | Accommodation of Disabilities | Assignments/Class Participation | Grading |

Course Description

Study in government information, publications and databases, their bibliographic organization, use in all types of libraries and information centers, methods of acquiring information from federal, state, and local sources; problems of depository and non-depository collections.

Objectives

Upon completion of the course the student will be able to

1. Recognize, understand, and use the major resources, both traditional and electronic, primarily for federal and secondarily for state, local, and international information.
2. Identify, describe and evaluate political forces, policy issues, current trends, and ongoing developments in the field of government information.
3. Understand and apply the methods of acquisition, bibliographic organization, access, and use for federal, state, local, and international government information in both depository and non-depository collections.

The course supports the following objectives from the School’s goals and objectives:

1. Teaching: Information management, including the selection, organization, storage, retrieval, dissemination and utilization of information resources.
2. Teaching: Advocacy and leadership for citizen access to information.

Texts & Readings

REQUIRED:
Robinson, Judith S. Tapping the Government Grapevine: The User Friendly Guide to U.S. Government Information Sources. 3rd ed. Phoenix: Oryx Press, 1998.

OPTIONAL:
Sears, Jean & Marilyn Moody. Using Government Information Sources, Electronic and Print. 3 rd ed. Phoenix: Oryx Press, 2001.

OPTIONAL:
Morehead, Joe. Introduction to United States Government Information Sources.6th ed. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 1999.

Other selected readings from the following list or announced in class.

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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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Assignments

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

All assignments are due on the dates indicated unless there are extraordinary circumstances which you have discussed with and have approval from the instructor before the due date. Late assignments incur a 5% penalty.

1. Resources Assignments:
   
   

   Web Links – February 16	Census – March 23
   Index – February 23	Business – April 6
   Legislative – March 9	State & Local – May 4
   Regulatory – March 16	International – May 11

   
   
2. Search Engine Evaluation – March 2
3. GOVDOC – L – April 6
4. Database Demonstrations – April 13
5. Research Project – Outline, March 23; Final paper, May 4

Class Participation

Criteria include participation in class discussions and activities, with emphasis on how your own unique background and perspective contributes to the group process. Thus, having the 'right answer' is not as important as willingness to participate in the general brain storm.

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Grading

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