LIBR 228-02
Advanced Information Resources and Services
Fall 2007 Greensheet
Lili Luo
E-mail
Office Location: Clark Hall 418 G
Office Hours:Email and IM (The instructor’s IM screen names and the virtual office hours will be provided on the Blackboard course site)
| Greensheet Links Textbooks and Readings Course Requirements |
Resources Blackboard Blackboard Tutorials SLIS eBookstore |
The Blackboard site for this class will open for self-enrollment on August 21. In order to enroll in the Blackboard course site, you will need a password access code. The instructor will provide the access code to registered students via the MySJSU messaging system. You should be enrolled by August 26, 2007 (the end of the first week of classes).
Course Description
Survey of information sources, information transfer processes, and research patterns in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences, including use characteristics, interpersonal communication, and query analysis. Topics covered will include library instruction, library guides, virtual reference systems, management, and evaluation of reference services. In addition, the course will emphasize specific skills deemed essential for effective reference work: oral and written communication, functioning effectively with other people, analysis, creative problem solving, and assessment.
Intended for students who wish to work in academic libraries or major public libraries.
Course Prerequisites: LIBR 202, 210
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, students will:
- Understand relevant library and information science theories (e.g. information seeking behavior theories and models) and their applications in the provision of reference and information services.
- Be able to conduct an effective reference interview to interpret users’ information needs in digital reference venues.
- Be able to quickly and effectively identify, select and search subject-specific information resources.
- Comprehend the skills to critically and thoroughly evaluate information and reference services.
- Develop an understanding of information literacy standards and the capability to deliver instruction to library users at different levels and of different statuses.
- Develop a strong sense of the broader context of reference and information service, in particular the customer service mentality, professional concerns of ethics, and equal representation and service
- Be aware of the emerging issues concerning reference and information services, such as the impact of Web 2.0 and the 3D world Second Life.
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 competency:
- evaluate programs and services on specified criteria.
Textbooks and Readings
Required Text
- Janes, J. (2003). Introduction to Reference Work in the Digital Age. New York: Neal-Schuman. Available through the SLIS eBookstore, as well as amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, neal-schuman.com, etc.
Note: 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).
Additional Readings
Additional required readings will be made available online through the course Blackboard site. Methods to access these readings will be provided as well.
Other sources of information to help you broaden your horizon on reference research and practice
- Academic Journals (you may access these journals electronically via King Library) to browse regularly, including:
- Reference Services Review
- Reference and User Services Quarterly
- Internet Reference Services Quarterly
- Journal of Academic Librarianship
- Information Technology and Libraries
- Listservs for reference librarians:
- Blogs maintained by reference librarians:
- Library Garden, an ongoing conversation among librarians with differing perspectives (public, academic, school, consortia, youth) but one shared goal: ensuring the health and relevance of libraries
- Resource Shelf, a place where dedicated librarians and researchers share the results of their directed (and occasionally quirky) web searches for resources and information
- Digital Reference, news and views on chat reference, IM reference, email reference, VoIP reference, video reference, SMS reference, phone reference, roving reference, and face-to-face reference.
- Info Island, a blog about Second Life Library 2.0, reporting news and events that take place in the library community in Second Life.
Course Requirements
Course Format
This class is conducted online through Blackboard and Elluminate. No onsite meetings are required.
Students are expected to participate two Elluminate sessions on October 24 and October 31, from 18:00 to 20:45.
Blackboard
The Blackboard site for this class will open for self-enrollment on August 20, 2007. In order to enroll in the Blackboard course site, you will need a password access code. The instructor will provide the access code to registered students via the MySJSU messaging system. You should be enrolled by August 23, 2007 (the first day of classes).
Student Responsibilities
- As a student, you are expected to read and carefully consider all the readings, participate fully in all activities and discussions during the class duration, as well as turning in assignments by the designated time.
- Due dates are not negotiable. If the instructor needs to change a due date, you will be notified as soon as possible. Because due dates are not negotiable, procrastination should be avoided. If you employ procrastination as a time management tool, this can limit your time in dealing with unexpected problems. The instructor has the right not to accept late assignments or to add significant grade penalties. If you foresee any difficulty in completing your assignment on time, you need to contact the instructor at least 36 hours before the due date to request extension. In addition, as the instructor schedules grading time for assignments, students turning in late assignments may receive their assessment much later than the rest of the class.
- If you do not understand assignments, readings, etc., it is your responsibility to inform the instructor. If you are having difficulty, please contact me early so that we can resolve problems before your final grade is unchangeable. You may also ask for help from your classmates through the various discussion methods in Blackboard. You must complete all assignments to pass the course.
Assignments
- Reference evaluation assignment
Evaluating reference services and resources is crucial in reference work. You are expected to master the evaluative skills in assessing reference sources and transactions. For this assignment, you will participate as a user in a digital reference transaction of your choice (email or chat), and submit a report evaluating the transaction and the sources involved in this transaction. - Digital reference process exercises
Mastery of the basic elements of the digital reference process comes from constant practice and reflection. To that end, you will complete exercises that allow you to gain experiences of answering digital reference questions. - Library Instruction assignment
Library user instruction is an important component of this course. You will independently develop and deliver an instruction session in response to a specific group of users’ needs, and collaborate with your colleagues to create an online tutorial for remote users. - Engagement and participation
You will participate in a number of class activities and discussions on topics that could further your understanding of reference work, such as users’ information seeking behavior, the emerging technologies that impact reference services, and all the other valuable topics. Engagement and participation in class will reflect: 1) your individual responses to course content and questions posted by the instructor; 2) your responses to your colleagues’ postings; and 3) your involvement in discussion threads throughout the semester. Part of the graduate education experience is to help you learn how to present information with support, and not simply say “Well, I think that….” This also applies to agreeing with someone; the statement “I agree” should be presented with support.
Grading
Summary of assignments and their worth:
| Assignment | % of final grade |
| Reference evaluation assignment | 20% |
| Digital reference process exercises | 20% |
| Library instruction – live session presentation | 15% |
| Library instruction – online tutorial | 20% |
| Engagement and participation | 25% |
More details on the assignments, including the specifications, evaluation criteria and the due dates, will be provided in Blackboard.
In accordance with the SJSU Graduate School guidelines, the following grading scale will be used:
| 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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