GOALS:

To support the mission of the School in fostering a broad understanding of the theories, issues, technologies, and values required to provide information services to diverse populations.

Goal A: Students will develop critical thinking and analysis skills needed by the librarian to help patrons with database searches.

Goal B: The student becomes familiar with aspects of the online industry and its role in making information available to society in multiple formats.

Goal C: The student gains experience with basic commands of many systems.

Goal D: The student gains familiarity with basic commands and features for an understanding of the relationship between database structure, search techniques, and evaluation of database systems.

Goal E: The student considers issues in the implementation and management of online services.

TEXT:

Walker, G. & Janes, J. (1999) Online Retrieval: A Dialogue of Theory and Practice. 2nd Ed. Libraries Unlimited (Please order this text via Amazon.com or similar online bookstore as soon as you decide to take the course)

Using Westlaw.com will be distributed in class, but you may download it from Westlaw.com. Other materials from Westlaw will be given out.

You may download the following guides from Dialog ( http://training.dialog.com/sem_info/courses/)  or wait until class when I will distribute the paper copies.

Fast Start to DialogWeb: Guided and Command Search

Introduction to Dialog; Featuring DialogWeb

Other materials from Dialog, Nexis and Westlaw will be distributed in class. If you have a special subject interest you may want to download or order a paper copy of other publications from Dialog or Westlaw.

BLACKBOARD:

This class is conducted mainly online. You must sign on to Blackboard before May 18. There are assignments that must be completed before the class meets on June 1-2. Go to http://tigris.sjsu.edu to login. For Blackboard help and tutorials, go to http://witloof.sjsu.edu/blackboard/

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

In class assignment and participation 20 (10 points each day)
Exercises: 45 points (5 points for each of 9 assignments
Final Essay: 15 points
Participation in online discussion: 20 points (two points per discussion)

COMPUTING REQUIREMENTS:

Please note that Real Player will be required to view the class lectures and presentations. You can download this application by selecting the following link: RealOne Player Download -- To find the correct link, look in the upper right portion of the page and locate the small link labeled "Free RealOne Player."

The home computing environment is found in http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/ecommunication/homecomputing.htm.

ASSIGNMENTS:

Homework assignments will be sent via e-mail and posted. Searches and group effort will be part of each exercise. Each assignment will contain several problems and require a confluence of multiple areas of knowledge. Complete all questions in the exercise.

Each in-class exercise and daily participation is worth 10 points

Exercise 1: In class exercise    due June 1
Exercise 2: In class exercise   due June 2

Each exercise is worth 5 points and is due on the following Wednesdays.

Exercise 3: Thirty years of Electronic Information Due June 9
Exercise 4: Business Searching   Due June 16
Exercise 5: Searching Demographics on Dialog   Due June 23
Exercise 6: Searching using Nexis/Lexis   Due June 30
Exercise 7: Searching for people    Due July 7
Exercise 8: Searching geographic locations   Due July 14
Exercise 9: Compare search engines    Due July 28
Exercise 10: Searching for municipal codes    Due August 4

Last day of instruction August 14

Much of the learning will require working with a study partner and the rest of the class. Homework exercises may have a group component. The in class exercises will include group projects and presentations in front of the class.

Final Essay

Prepare a formal essay following APA style and all the rules of good spelling, grammar, and syntax. Make sure that you use single spacing. A title is required, but it should be on the same page as the main document. Pick a theme that relates to one of the goals of the course or explores an issue, author, or technique mentioned in the course. The choosing of the subject is an important part of the assignment. Since this essay is the equivalent of a final exam it should demonstrate mastery of one of the areas studied in this course. Use and read at least five items. Items may be articles, books, non-print items, or on-line materials. Topics should be related to your area of librarianship interest. Link in your own idea to critique or analyze what you read. The length should be between 2500 and 5000 words.

It is not required to get approval for your topic, but I will welcome questions and discussion of your proposed ideas and you may discuss the paper with classmates.

Worth 15 points     Due: August 16,2004

Since the school now requires that paper conform to APA style sheet you may want more information. http://www.psywww.com/resource/apacrib.htm has a list of resources. A crib sheet can be found at http://www.docstyles.com/apacrib.htm.

Weekly Class Discussions

The class Discussions on Blackboard are vital parts of the class. I will post discussion topics every week and you must post a reply for each topic. The requirement for full credit is to post one substantial answer to the question or topic and later in the week respond to other classmates or add new comments. The discussions are not closed after the week is over. You may continue the discussion throughout the semester. You may also suggest topics for discussion.

Optional Blackboard chat sessions will be scheduled as needed.

Email

Please use the Blackboard to ask questions or make comments that you think might benefit the whole group. It is very important to put Libr 244 as part of your subject for all class related e-mail. I will answer general questions so that everyone can have the information.

Use my personal e-mail address, for sending assignments and any topic that you want to discuss only with me.

Points to remember:
This document as well as the web pages with readings and assignments will change during the semester. Please check them often.

I live in Chicago, which is two hours later than Pacific Time. Any times posted will be for Pacific Time. I will try to respond to e-mail on a timely basis.

Daniel Stuhlman
Chicago, IL 60645

http://home.earthlink.net/~ddstuhlman/liblob.htm