LIBR 266-01
Collection Management and Organization
Spring 2004

Instructor:
Wayne Disher
wayne.disher@sjlibrary.org
(408) 808-2190

GREENSHEET

Instructor: Wayne Disher. I can be contacted by phone at (408) 808-2190. You may e-mail me at the following address: wayne.disher@sjlibrary.org

Course description: This 3 unit course supports the SLIS objective of information management, including the selection, storage and utilization of information resources and will examine the field of collection management in all types of libraries and information centers. It will also introduce you to Collection Development principles and practices that can be generalized to the work of academic, public, school, and special libraries. The course is designed to help you understand and apply collection management theory in a variety of areas, including: material selection; development of collection management policies; collection marketing and merchandising; and, collection evaluation. The course deals with collections in a general sense rather than those limited to a particular subject, format or agency. However, while examples will be taken from a variety of settings, I will place emphasis on collection management theory as it is applied to the public library setting, as this is the area in which your instructor has more experience.

Course requirement: In addition to the course assignments, all students must self-enroll on the Blackboard set up for this course.

Class meeting schedule: Class meets "in person" on the following dates: 2/14, 3/20, 4/17. Meeting times are from 10-3pm. While there will be short breaks, do not expect a lunch on the dates that our class meets in person. We will have a good deal to cover in that time frame.

Class meets in Modular D403.

In addition, students must be enrolled on the course Blackboard, and will be expected to do Web work and group work on their own. We will discuss more of this in class.

Course objectives:

1. To familiarize the student with the theoretical and practical issues associated with collection management and the various selection resources for libraries.

2. To identify, evaluate, and utilize the literature pertinent to both the management of collections and the selection of resource materials.

3. To describe and analyze the historical and current theoretical and practical issues associated with the management of library collections.

4. To aid the student in understanding the centrality of collection development to other functions of the library.

5. Become aware of methodologies for determining user needs regardless of information environment.

6. Acquire an understanding of resource selection, evaluation and the complexities that this work brings to the professional role.

This course supports the second objective of the School's teaching goal by teaching students the major theories, important principles, and current practice in Information management, including the selection, organization, storage, retrieval, dissemination and utilization of information resources—specifically as related to the management of the collection. Additionally the course supports the second objective of the School’s teaching goal by demonstrating for students the means by which advocacy and leadership in collection development in order to improve citizen access to information and knowledge.

Course material: I require that you obtain the text Developing Library and Information Center Collections by G. Edward Evans for this class. The publisher is Libraries Unlimited. (ISBN: 1563088320-Paperback edition; or, ISBN: 1563087065-Hardback edition). The text should be available via your favorite online bookstore (such as: www.amazon.com). Additional reading assignments are seen on the course Blackboard.

Due dates: Due dates are firm. Papers and assignments are due on the dates listed on the assignments page. I do not accept late papers and students may not negotiate extensions!

Grading policy: Everyone starts the course with a "B" grade-the standard grade for graduate level work. If you do the assignments as outlined on the assignment sheet and explained in class, you will maintain that "B" grade. If you submit sub-standard work, you will receive a sub-standard grade (B- or below). If, however, you submit above-standard work, you will receive an above standard grade (B+ or better). I define above standard work as that which clearly displays one or more of the following criteria:
a) originality in the approach to the assignment;
b) greater depth of analysis than the written assignment calls for;
c) overall treatment of the assignment above & beyond what the written assignment calls for; or
d) superior organizational and/or written skills in the presentation of the material.

REMEMBER-a "B" grade is not a bad grade. A "B" grade shows that you have satisfactorily demonstrated potential for professional achievement in this area.

The bottom line: I recognize that students are enrolled in several other classes, and that you have a significant workload separate from this class. Therefore, to avoid unpleasant surprises I want to be as honest as possible about the demands of this class. First, you will be doing an average of ninety to a hundred pages of required reading between class meetings. For the most part, you will find this reading to be entertaining and thought provoking, but I know that you will find some readings long, dry, and challenging. Second, you will be required to complete a total of four papers and several pass/no pass assignments.

Attendance: Students must attend each lecture and participate in the assigned Blackboard duties. Failure to do so may impact your overall grade. Additionally, required postings (as assigned) on the Blackboard discussion page will be mandatory.

Assignments: Generally, there are 4 papers you will be required to submit: One on a community analysis (20%); one on a collection Assessment (20%); one on a selection assignment (20%); and, one final paper (40%). See the Blackboard link to Assignments for more specific information about your required assignments.

In addition to these assignments, you will be required to complete homework assignments posted in the Blackboard link under Assignments/Homework. While these are not GRADED, you are required to complete them. If you do not complete homework assignments, your overall grade will suffer.

See Blackboard link to Assignments for more information.

Class norms:

1. I will treat you and your fellow students with respect at all times. Similarly, I expect you to treat your classmates and staff with respect at all times. In particular, you should not talk or whisper while others are speaking.
2. If you cheat or plagiarize you will be punished to the full extent of university regulations.
3. I will keep my office hours zealously. To ensure that you get the full benefit of my attention and time, please make an appointment to see me—even during scheduled office hours. If you make an appointment to meet me during office hours, you will keep your meeting commitment.
4. To avoid disrupting and wasting the time of your classmates and your instructor, please make every effort to arrive at class meetings on time.
5. You will not be allowed to negotiate extensions to due dates for assignments, except under exceptional circumstances (e.g. family tragedy).
6. Classes are very long. While you will be given suitable breaks for lunch and to get out and stretch, if you must eat and/or drink during class lectures please make sure you do not disrupt or distract your classmates in any way.

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