LIBR 228-01
Advanced Information Resources and Services
Fall 2007 Greensheet
Charlotte Ford
E-mail
Phone: 205-978-3301
Office Hours: Immediately following class meetings, or by appointment
| Greensheet Links Textbooks and Readings Course Requirements |
Video Welcome Captioned Uncaptioned |
Resources Blackboard Blackboard Tutorials SLIS eBookstore |
Students will be able to self-enroll in the Blackboard course site between August 20-23. You will need an access code which will be sent to all registered students by August 20, 2007 via MySJSU.
Course Description
(From the SLIS catalog): Survey of information sources, information transfer processes and research patterns in the humanities, social sciences and science; use characteristics, interpersonal communication and query analysis will be discussed.
In this section of LIBR228 we will look more in depth at the needs and information seeking habits of different types of users; virtual reference services; library instruction and the creation of library guides; the role of evaluation in reference; and the potential of Web 2.0 applications and Second Life for providing reference services. In addition, our course will emphasize specific skills judged essential for effective reference practice, including oral and written communication, collaboration, analysis and assessment, and the willingness to explore new technologies.
Prerequisites: LIBR 202, 210
Course Objectives
Student Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students should have:
- an understanding of the process of information seeking in the sciences, social sciences, and the humanities
- an appreciation of the strengths and weaknesses of virtual reference systems, and the skills needed to provide reference service online
- the ability to produce a library guide and present, as a team member, an effective instruction session
- an awareness of recent technological trends affecting reference service
LIBR 228 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;
- demonstrate oral and written communication skills necessary for group work, collaborations and professional level presentations;
- design training programs based on appropriate learning principles and theories.
In addition, this section supports the following SLIS Core Competencies:
- describe the fundamental concepts of information-seeking behaviors;
- compare the environments and organizational settings in which library and information professionals practice;
- evaluate programs and services on specified criteria;
- 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
Textbooks and Readings
Required Text
One textbook is required for this course:
- Janes, J.W. (2003). Introduction to reference work in the digital age. New York: Neal Schuman. This text is available through the SLIS eBookstore, as well as amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, neal-schuman.com, etc.
Additional required readings will be made available through Blackboard or via the King Library’s electronic reserve system.
Students are expected to be familiar with basic reference techniques and sources as described in one of the standard introductory reference textbooks (Katz’s Introduction to reference work, Bopp & Smith’s Reference & information services: An introduction, or Cassell & Hiremath’s Reference & information services in the 21st century: An introduction). If you did not use one of these standard texts in your LIBR210 course, I heartily recommend you invest in one of them!
Course Requirements
Course Format
This class will be conducted online through Blackboard and Elluminate.
Blackboard
Blackboard will be used extensively in this course. The Blackboard site for this class will open for self-enrollment on August 20. I will provide you with a password access code using the MySJSU messaging system, and you should be enrolled by August 23, 2007 (the day of our first meeting!). A number of class discussions and activities will take place via Blackboard, so please log in every few days between meetings. The SLIS Blackboard site is located at http://tigris.sjsu.edu.
Elluminate
There are 6 required Elluminate meetings: 8/23, 9/13, 10/4, 11/1, 11/8, 11/29. Meetings will run Thursday evenings from 6:00-8:30 pm (except for the first meeting, which will run from 6-7 pm). You will need to have a microphone attached to your computer to participate; it is recommended that you log in at least 10 minutes before class to check the audio. If this is your first course in Elluminate, please complete an orientation session prior to the start of the semester. A list of training times and other helpful information can be found in the SLIS Student guide to using Elluminate at http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/software/elluminate/students/index.htm
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 which requires you to miss class or to request an extension on an assignment. If a legitimate emergency should arise, we will negotiate future action; otherwise, there will be a penalty for work turned in after the assigned date.
Assignments
Very brief descriptions of the major assignments for LIBR228 follow. More details on the assignments, and a list of due dates, will be provided in Blackboard.
- User needs and information seeking habits: articles annotation and application
You will locate and read 2 peer-reviewed articles on the information needs and/or information seeking behaviors of a particular user group of interest to you, evaluate these articles, and analyze the implications of the authors’ findings for the provision of reference services. - Chat and email reference exercises
You will have the opportunity to practice providing email and chat reference service, responding to reference questions posed by your classmates and others in each medium. - Reference evaluation exercises
After completing a set of readings on evaluation in reference, you will apply your skills by evaluating reference services and/or sources in a structured manner. - Library guide and instruction presentation
Working with a partner, you will select a specific discipline and user age group, and will develop an annotated resource guide for this group. In November, you will present your guide to the class via Elluminate… thinking in terms of engaging your audience and providing them with the means to explore key resources in greater depth! - Reflective essay on reference work in new environments
As a class we will explore the potential of Web 2.0 and Second Life as venues for providing reference services. As the semester draws to a close, you will write an essay referencing the literature, in which you reflect on your experiences and analyze the possibilities for providing reference service in the Second Life environment. - Participation
For the purposes of this class, participation includes attendance at required meetings, thoughtful contribution to class discussions and other activities, and demonstration that you are making an effort to master the material covered in the course.
Summary of assignments and their worth:
| Assignment | % of final grade |
| Information seeking articles annotation / analysis | 10 |
| Chat and email reference exercises | 10 |
| Reference evaluation assignments | 20 |
| Library guide and instruction session | 30 |
| Essay on reference work in new environments | 15 |
| Participation | 15 |
Grading
Your work will be evaluated according to four criteria; it should:
- be clearly written or presented
- display familiarity with the appropriate literature and/or bibliographic tools
- show insight into the concepts and/or issues in question
- demonstrate a degree of originality
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.
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://www.sjsu.edu/senate/S07-2.htm.
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/
One Washington Square - San José, California USA, 95192-0029
Phone: 408-924-2490
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