LIBR 266-10
Collection Management
Spring 2005

Instructor: Wayne Disher
E-mail

GREENSHEET

| Course Material | Grading | Course Requirements | Class Norms |

Blackboard: Students should self-enroll on the Blackboard page for this course before the first day of class.

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.

Class Meeting Schedule

Class meets "in person" on the following dates from 10am-3:00pm:   2/20, 3/13, 3/27, 4/10, 4/24, and 5/8. Classes meet in Fullerton room PLS49 with the one exception of 3/27 when we will meet in room PLS69. Because of the infrequency of our face to face meetings, students are NOT, I repeat, NOT permitted to miss all or any part of "In Class" meetings.  Missing classes may jeopardize your overall grade.  Students are notified that online assignments and Blackboard discussion board participation should also be expected. . Because of the infrequency of our face to face meetings, students are NOT permitted to miss all or any part of the two "In Class" meetings.

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.

Top of Page

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:

1. originality in the approach to the assignment;
2. greater depth of analysis than the written assignment calls for;
3. overall treatment of the assignment above & beyond what the written assignment calls for; or
4. 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 three papers and several pass/no pass assignments.

Top of Page

Course Requirements

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

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 3 papers you will be required to submit: One paper is a community analysis (20% of your grade); one is a collection Assessment (25% of your grade); and, one final paper (40% of your grade). There is also a "Selection assignment" (15% of your grade). 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 given out in class. These assignments usually involve online work, and are intended to hone your skills and prepare you for your papers. Additionally, these assignments are intended to give you practical, hands-on experience in the world of collection management. These assignments are "pass/no pass". If your instructor feels you have not completed the assignment satisfactorily, you will be directed on how to improve to make it satisfactory. While these assignments are not GRADED, you are required to complete them. If you do not complete homework assignments, your overall grade will suffer.

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!

Plagiarism
All assignments submitted must be your own work. Sources must be properly cited in papers. Those found plagiarizing will automatically fail the course and may be subject to other administrative penalties. The San Jose State University regulations governing plagiarism will be enforced. Those regulations may be found at: http://info.sjsu.edu search option: Academic Dishonesty.

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

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/

Top of Page

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.

Sometimes, despite my best efforts, papers may get lost in the shuffle. To avoid problems please photocopy your work and save your computer files as protection against misplaced papers.

Top of Page