LIBR 244-02 & 244-11
Online Searching
Spring 2005

Professor Judy Weedman
San Jose State University - SLIS
800 No. State College
P.O.Box 4150
Fullerton, California 92834-4150
E-mail
(714) 278-2295
fax: (714) 278-5841

office hours:
chatroom, telephone, f2f
W 1:00-2:30
Th 1:00-2:30
& by appointment

class will begin February 3rd

GREENSHEET

Please note that this is a preliminary syllabus provided for your convenience. Some things may change. A full syllabus will be provided shortly before classes begin in January.

| Textbooks | Course Organization | Accommodation of Disabilities | Grading |

Course Description

Techniques of searching and managing online search services. Includes search strategies, evaluation of database structures, implementation and management of search services, and online experience. Prerequisite: LIBR 202.

Goals and Objectives

1. The student applies the understanding of techniques of information storage and retrieval gained in LIBR 202 to develop an understanding of the relationship between database structure and search strategies, and to evaluate databases and systems.
2. The student gains experience with commands and strategies using the Dialog databases, and transfers this knowledge to other systems such as Lexis-Nexis and subscription databases.
3. The student becomes familiar with aspects of the online information industry and the related professional literature.

This course supports the following SLIS goals:

To teach students the major theories, important principles, and current practice in:

• Information management, including the selection, organization, storage, retrieval, dissemination, and utilization of information resources
• The application of diverse technologies to information management.

To foster research by:

• Requiring students to evaluate and utilize relevant research studies from a variety of disciplines in their coursework.

Textbooks

• Walker, Geraldine and Janes, Joseph. Online Retrieval: A Dialogue of Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. Libraries Unlimited, 1999.

  Please purchase through any online bookstore in time for the beginning of classes on January 26th.

• Other readings assigned by instructor.

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Course Organization

This class meets online (via Blackboard) for the full spring semester, February 3rd through May 17th. It is useful to think of having a "meeting day" each week - a day in which you can assume new material will be provided and on which assignments will be due. I expect that our class meeting day will be Thursday (this could change when I plan the syllabus in more detail). While you are free to do the readings, contribute to discussions, and work on assignments in any way that fits into your schedule during the week, you should check for new postings from the instructor on Thursdays, and assignments will be due on Thursdays unless other dates are provided.

Please note that the Blackboard class site will be available Feburary 3rd.

The class will also meet twice in a face-to-face format with video between Fullerton and San Jose, February 12 and April 16. I anticipate that I will be in Fullerton on one of the two dates and in San Jose on the other.

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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

The San Jose State University regulations governing plagiarism will be enforced. Read the SJSU Academic Integrity Policy
http://www2.sjsu.edu/senate/S04-12.pdf

Grading Scale

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