LIBR 231
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Sue Brewsaugh |
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GREENSHEETCOURSE OBJECTIVES: 1. To introduce the student to the concept of special libraries/information centers and the variety of environments in which they are situated. 2. To introduce the student to the organizational/operational issues associated with special libraries/information centers and other related types of information services. 3. To introduce the student to the specific operation of one type of special library/information center through the fieldwork experience. This course supports the second SLIS teaching objective by teaching CLASS FORMAT: We will meet in-person twice, once at the beginning of class and once at the end. At the first session, we will reach a common understanding of how a special library differs from other kinds of libraries and what constitutes a special library. Assignments will be reviewed and understood. At the final session, students will give their final presentations. Time permitting, a panel of special librarians will address students’ questions. Recommended texts: Matarazzo, James M. and Suzanne D. Connolly. Knowledge and Special Libraries (Resources for the Knowledge-Based Economy). Butterworth-Heinemann, 1999. Mount, Ellis and Renee Massoud. Special Libraries and Information Centers: An Introductory Text. 4th ed. Washington DC: Special Libraries Association, 1999. Outsell Briefing: The Value of Libraries: Justifying Outsell Briefing in the Year of Accountablility, 2001. (posted to blackboard) Outsell Briefing: Outlook 2004: Issues in the Information Marketplace, 2003 . (posted to blackboard) Outsell Briefing: Lessons from Library Closings, 2002. (posted to blackboard) Outsell Briefing: TrendAlert: Globalization and Distributed Corporate Information Centers, 2003. (posted to blackboard) Portugal, Frank. Valuating Information Intangibles. Washington DC: Special Libraries Association, 2000. GRADING: You will choose your grade, based on the amount and quality of your work. A/A- grade:
ORAL REPORT Prepare a 10 minute oral presentation based upon your observations during your fieldwork experience or your research for your paper. If you did fieldwork, you should be prepared to discuss your project in detail, the library/information center where you did your fieldwork, its organizational structure, its management style/structure, its clientele, and any other interesting features. If you did a research paper, be prepared to summarize its content. This assignment will be evaluated according to the following criteria: * Completeness of the analysis PROJECT REVIEW (for Fieldwork) Each student will be expected to complete a project at the fieldwork site. The student will negotiate the project content with the supervisor they are working with at the site as well as your instructor. Upon completion of the project, the student will prepare a written project review, including the following: * Purpose and scope of the project This assignment will be evaluated according to the following criteria: ISSUE PAPERS Interview a special librarian. Discuss the major issues of our field. Write a 1-2 page double spaced paper describing the interview. Other related topics may be substituted. If another topic is selected, you must cite at least three sources per paper. Post them to Blackboard. These papers may be submitted to the local SLA newsletter for publication. RESEARCH PAPER Choose a topic that pertains to Special Libraries. You must get your instructor’s approval of this topic. Your paper must be double-spaced. Include your bibliography of sources. Suggested topics may be valuing an information center, use of xml, taxonomies, content management, the role of the special librarian in the future. PROFESSIONAL EVENT Attend one professional event during the course of the semester. Your
assignment is to introduce yourself to at least one stranger. Write a
one page, double-spaced summary of the event. Post it to Blackboard.
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