LIBR 244-01
ONLINE SEARCHING
Spring 2005

ROBERT WAGERS
E-mail
Office: E122
Telephone: 408- 924-2502
Office Hours:
Feb 7, Mar 7, Apr 11, May 9, 1430-1600 and virtual

GREENSHEET

| Textbooks | Course Requirements | Grading |

Course Description

Study of the use of machine-readable databases to satisfy information needs. Topics will include searching techniques, evaluation of services and databases, database structure, and introductions to search systems, including Internet-based information. Other topics may include economic issues and library and information center online services management. This is a survey course designed to introduce students to computer-based research in a wide variety of databases and search services. Systems involving online exercises include Dialog, Lexis-Nexis, WWW search engines, subscription-based databases, and other systems.

Prerequisites: LIBR 202 (LIBR 210 is recommended)

Course Objectives

The student will:

• gain an experience necessary to perform basic online searches
• learn the features and files of a variety of systems
• develop criteria for evaluating online sources of information
• evaluate current developments in database retrieval.

This course meets the School objective:

Teaching students the major theories, important principles, and current practice in: Information transfer; Information management, including the selection, organization, storage, retrieval, dissemination and utilization of information resources;

Textbooks

Walker, Geraldine. Online Retrieval. Littleton, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 2nd edition, 1999.

Hock, Randolph. The Extreme Searcher’s Internet Handbook. Medford, NJ: Information Today, 2004.

Available from the publisher, Amazon, other vendors, and the Spartan Bookstore

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Course Requirements

Students will satisfactorily complete:

• online exercises
• readings
• online discussions
• examinations

Blackboard
This class uses Blackboard. Go to http://tigris.sjsu.edu to self-enroll.

Reasonable Accommodation of Disabilities
Students who need accommodation due to a disability must register with SJSU's Disability Resource Center (DRC) during the first three weeks of the semester. The Center will work with the students to determine the disability, document it, and determine the services and accommodations necessary for student success. Then, the DRC will contact the faculty member to determine the types of consideration necessary.

Students attending the Fullerton campus should first contact the Disability Resource Center in San Jose since they are SJSU students. The DRC will then direct the students to supporting resources on the Fullerton campus.

The DRC Web site: http://www.drc.sjsu.edu/

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Grading (See description of assignments on the Blackboard site.)

Read the SJSU Academic Integrity Policy
http://www2.sjsu.edu/senate/S04-12.pdf

Grading Policy
Grading of the exercises is based on a combination of:

• Completing all of the assignments.
• Evidence that you are using search commands and syntax in more than a rudimentary manner.
• Demonstrating creativity, thought, thoroughness, and the application of what you have learned in class in your database selection and search strategies.
• Providing an analysis of your thoughts, strategies, and results for your searches.
• Following instructions. (No kidding. In other classes I have had students lose a substantial number of points because they did not follow the explicit instructions.)
• Submitting the exercises on time. Late exercises will not be excused except for illness or other emergencies. “I was too busy;” “I had to attend a wedding out of town;” “The dog ate my computer;” “I had to go on vacation;” (especially if it’s to a nice place the instructor would enjoy!) “Terrorists are holding my whole family hostage.” (Well, maybe the last one, but I would need a note from the terrorists!). I will usually grade late work, but the highest grade you can receive for unexcused late work is C.

Letter grade equivalents (SJSU recommended grading scale for graduate students.)

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