LIBR 245
Advanced Online Searching
Spring 2003

Prerequisite: LIBR 244

Dr. Nancy Burns
nancybur@swbell.net
nburns@wahoo.sjsu.edu

GREENSHEET

DESCRIPTION: Techniques of searching and managing on-line search services. Online techniques for developing current awareness services are emphasized.

GOALS: To support the mission of the School in information management, including the selection, organization, storage, retrieval, dissemination and utilization of information resources.

• Approaching complex research queries using appropriate online database services and web-based resources.
• Examining contemporary issues in electronic information retrieval and delivery such as quality of information, formats, copyright, and cost.

TEXT: No required text.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

COMPUTING REQUIREMENTS:

Please note that Real Player will be required to view the class lectures and presentations. You can download a free copy of the RealOne Player by selecting the following link:

Free RealOne Player (look in the upper right portion of the screen and select the small link for "Free RealOne Player)"

You must also be able to save web pages and files and have basic communication and word processing software.

ASSIGNMENTS:

A series of 12 search questions will be posted on Blackboard. You will use any type of online resource or service to try to find the answers to these questions. I will be your client, if you need to talk to your client before doing the search, just ask me what you need to know. I will do my best to be no more confounding than most real clients. Be sure to save your searches to disk. After you are finished with your search, bring it into your word processing program and critique it. Your grade will primarily be based on your critique and your method of searching, but you will get part of the grade by finding a good answer. You need to comment on what you think you did well and what mistakes you think you made and suggest any improvements you would make in your search if you could do it over-there is no need to do it again.

Group Project & Report:
During the first week of the semester I will give you an opportunity to choose a group to join that reflects your interests, however, I will ask some of you to accept reassignment if the groups are too uneven. You will work individually and together (via email mostly) to locate and research 3 services/libraries/websites/places which provide information using some sort of online mode within the category you choose from my list below. Each category equals one group. Some of these services are not free, you do not have to subscribe, just find out as much as you can without actually paying for the service. You can divide up the work in any way you like but everyone must participate and I must be able to see that participation in some way. As a group you will then create a report on your 3 providers and make it available to the class as a whole. You can be as creative as you like (e.g. a website, a PowerPoint presentation, a written report, etc.) and I will help you make it available on Blackboard. Once the groups have formed, I will set you up for group communication via Blackboard. You may complete this project as quickly as your group wants to but it must be complete and submitted no later than APRIL 14.

Categories: (I know there is a certain amount of cross-over potential here but look at who the owner of a service is and try to classify that owner in a category-please ask me if you have any uncertainty.)

Academic resources/libraries (Like UCBerkeley libraries and websites)
Government sources (Like Library of Congress)
Private sources (Like Questia)
Commercial databanks (Like Factiva)
Web sources (Like Yahoo)

Class Discussion Board:
I expect you to be a participant on the class Discussion Board on Blackboard. I will post new discussion topics every other week on Sunday and you must post a reply of any sort-comment, question, observation, gripe, anything that you want to share with your classmates-during the two week period. You may also begin new discussion threads whenever you like and suggest topics for discussion here. There will be a total of 5 discussion questions.

Group email:
Please use the Blackboard email function to ask questions or make comments that you think might benefit the whole group. I will answer these there so that everyone can share in the information.

Use either of my personal email addresses for any topic that you want to discuss only with me. Please submit all assignments to: nancybur@swbell.net