LIBR 234-01
Seminar on Intellectual Freedom
Fall 2006 Greensheet
Dr. C. James Schmidt
E-mail
Phone: (408)924-2465
Fax: (408)924-2476
Office Location: Clark Hall 420A
Office Hours: Tu-W-Th 11:00am-12:00pm or by appointment
| Course Links Greensheet Schedule |
Resources Blackboard Blackboard Tutorials |
Required Text | Course Requirements
Course Description
Focuses on current intellectual freedom issues and the centrality of intellectual freedom to librarianship.
Prerequisites: LIBR 200, 204
Course Objectives
- To understand the applicability of the First Amendment to libraries.
- To understand the centrality of intellectual freedom to librarianship.
- To be familiar with current intellectual freedom issues.
LIBR 234 supports the following SLIS Core Competencies:
- articulate the ethics, values and foundational principles of library and information professionals and their role in the promotion of intellectual freedom;
- recognize the social, cultural and economic dimensions of information use.
Required Text
Intellectual Freedom Handbook(Chicago: American Library Association, 6th edition)
Course Requirements
Schedule of Meetings
Tuesdays 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm.
- August 29
- September 5,12,19, 26
- October 10, 17, 24, 31 (NB> no class on October 3)
- November 7, 14, 28 (NB > no class on November 21)
- December 5
Assignments
1. Critique of a Statement of Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights (see details). Due: 5pm September 7. Post to the class reflector list. Read everyone's for discussion on September 12.
2. Banned Book Note
Find the list of Banned Books on the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom web site. Assume a library of size, type and location of your choosing. This library has a written collection development and materials selection policy. Choose a banned book, read it, and in no more than 1000 words describe why this book should or should not be in this library's collection. [Hint: the harder your recommendation is to make, the easier it will be to write about.]
Post your selection note to the class reflector list by not later than 5:00p, September 22.
3. Case analysis
This is an oral assignment. (See details)
4. Term Paper
You choose the topic. This is a graduate seminar paper and represents nearly one-third of your course grade. There is no length limitation; but longer isn't necessarily better. DUE: December 5 3:30pm.
Submit to me by email as an attachment in WORD and post to the class reflector list.
a) Post the topic you have chosen to the class reflector list by not later than 5:00p on October 1.
b) Make an appointment to meet with me regarding your topic, or arrange to communicate by email or phone during October, to discuss research strategies and resources.
c) You will make an oral presentation to the whole class based on your paper. The exact amount of time (length) for the presentation will be determined by the total enrollment in this class but should be expected to not exceed 15 minutes.
d) You will identify ONE item that you deem important or significant background reading for your topic and post it or a citation or link to it to the class reflector list at least one week before your presentation.
5. Class participation
Silence is not golden; inordinate fondness for one's own voice is not valuable either.
Summary of Milestone Dates
The assignments for this course must be submitted on the the following dates and times.
| 9/7 | Critique due (5 PM) |
| 9/15 | Select Case (5 PM) |
| 9/22 | Selection Note due (5 PM) |
| 10/1 | Select Term Project topic (5 PM) |
| 12/5 | Term Project due (3:30 PM) |
Grading
| Critique | 10% |
| Banned Book Note | 20% |
| Case Summary | 20% |
| Participation | 20% |
| Paper | 30% |
This is a graduate seminar. Graduate level work is expected. Take considerable care with your writing. Use the APA style manual B one you will later use in the Culminating Experience (e.g. LIBR 289). Get someone you trust to read and review your writing BEFORE you turn anything in. The way you say what you say does affect how your message gets through, or if it does.
Grading Scale
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+ |
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 are required to report all infractions to the Office of Judicial Affairs. The policy on academic integrity can be found at http://www.sjsu.edu/senate/F06-1.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
Contact the webmaster
