LIBR 266-10 (Special)
Collection Management
Fall 2004

Instructor: Daniel F. Duran, Ph.D.
E-mail
Phone : 562.907.4931
Cell: 213.369.2368
Fax: 562.907.4956 or 562.698-1005
On-Line Office Hours: Optimum time to reach me via e-mail is from 10-5, Tu-Th

GREENSHEET

PLEASE NOTE THAT I RECEIVE A LARGE NUMBER OF E-MAILS DAILY SO I WILL RESPOND TO YOUR E-MAILS AS SOON AS I CAN BUT WILL MAKE A SPECIAL EFFORT TO DO SO BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 1PM-4PM ON MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, AND FRIDAY; ANY E-MAILS RECEIVED ON OTHER DAYS MAY NOT BE RESPONDED TO UNTIL THE NEXT SCHEDULED DAY. YOU ARE WELCOME TO CALL ME IF IT IS IMPORTANT AND AN E-MAIL WHEN NOT SUFFICE.

Course Description

The overarching goal of this course is to help you identify and develop the skills you will need to plan, implement, and evaluate a broad spectrum of services, programs, technologies, and infrastructures that will help address the collection management and information needs of diverse racial, ethnic, and linguistic communities. As part of this learning process we will explore some of the complex, social, economic, historical, and technological developments that must be understood and applied in order to effectively and efficiently develop and deliver library and information services to diverse communities.

In order to achieve our overarching goal you we will consider some of the driving forces that can either impede or facilitate the A) Development of relevant collections of materials for diverse populations and B) Issues and approaches associated with Information access. To this extent you will become familiar with the intersection and applications of some of the core MIS, IT, and Knowledge Management practices. MIS and IT refer to the collection of tools and management strategies that make it easier to use, create, manage, and exchange information. This course will explore the current trends in information technology and its implications on KM and the collection management and information service practices specific to diverse populations.

This course will start you on the path to master the art of being an information-empowered LIS leader who will develop and execute the new LIS models that will help transform our institutions se we can migrate our diverse and still largely unreached United States populations of Latino, Asian, Native American, and other ethnolinguistic "minority" groups to the highly competitive information age.   

Some of the topics which we will discuss in class include: 

• Traditional approaches to collection management for diverse populations
• Information Seeking Behavior of Ethnolinguistic People: Model, Myths, and Approaches
• The Internet and Ethnic/Diverse People: Hurdles, Access, and Opportunities
• Knowledge Management Issues and Approaches for Migrant/Emigrating Peoples
• New Program Development for Innovative Collection Management and Information Services Programs for Diverse Communities
• Killer Applications for Meeting Information Service Needs of Minority or Non-English Speaking Communities
• Strategic Planning Models for Meeting Information Needs of Underserved Communities
• The Role of ethnolinguistic Gatekeepers in Ethnic/Minority Communities
• Traditional Cultures and KM: Blending Old and Best Practices

The objectives of the course are to help you:

1. To introduce the student to diverse sources of approaches, research, and concepts related to the development and future of LIS services for ethnically diverse communities  

2. Understand the challenges of providing information services in a multicultural and multiracial society; and understand the societal factors which create those challenges;

3.   Understand the basic tenets of successful information systems and utilize MIS, IT, and other technological applications, infrastructures, and resources to develop, deliver, and evaluate value-added programs and services for diverse communities

4.   Utilize KM practices and MIS/IT resources to promote cultural diversity and preserve ethnic heritage;

5.   To present tools you will hopefully use and improve upon as you progress through your career as professional practitioners in LIS organizations and as KM Leaders and Advocates for diverse communities.

The course supports the following SLIS objectives:

Upon completion of the program the student will know and be able to identify the major theories and important principles as well as demonstrate current practice in:

• Information management, including the selection, organization, storage, retrieval, dissemination, and utilization of information resources
• Advocacy and leadership for citizen access to information, knowledge and resources

Be sure to see course requirements to understand the format of the course.

Grading Policy

Everyone starts the class with a grade of "B", the standard grade for graduate level work. Students who complete the assignments , monitor and respond to the Announcements and communications posted in Blackboard and actively participate in the discussions will receive the B provided that the quality of written work meets the standard for the University. Above standard work is defined as work that clearly displays one or more of the following criteria:

• Originality in the approach to the assignment
• Greater depth of analysis than the written assignment calls for (particularly in comparing articles or viewpoints across the literature)
• Critical evaluation of readings by comparing them to other authors or sources
• The ability to develop and implement your own knowledge management structure by creating tools for lifelong learning and knowledge retrieval

Assignments will be posted in Blackboard and typically must include an Abstract, Thesis Statement/Paragraph, and Bibliography or Resource Listing.

I will score and respond to all Assignments. At the end of the semester I will compile the scores and assign grades based on the following scale:

94% or above = A
86-93%= B
80-85%= C
75-79%= D
74% or below = F

Late assignments will not be accepted without prior notification and approval of the instructor and with the understanding that there may be a decrease in the number of points earned for the assignment.

Incompletes will be assigned ONLY in cases of medical or family emergency. Medical or other proof will be required.

EXPECTATIONS

It is expected that:

--You MUST keep your virus software up-to-date or otherwise run the risk of taking us ALL down; you are required to submit ALL assignments before the Due Date in PDF format via the Assignment link in Blackboard (BB)

--All students must enroll in the course in Blackboard (BB) to receive communications from the instructor by the FIRST DATE OF THE TERM

--Assignments are due by the midnight of the due date; all assignments submitted after the due date will be subjected to a grade penalty unless arrangements are made with me beforehand

-- All assignments will be submitted electronically to me via BB and some of the submitted assignments may be shared (with the students permission) with fellow students via BB; Students will be allowed to use the Digital Drop Box to submit Assignments only if there are problems submitting the Assignment via the Assignment link at the bottom of each Assignment

--All pages will be consecutively numbered in each assignment with the student's name and the name of the assignment in the footer of each page

--All of the analytical essay assignments and the final team assignment should be in 12 point font and double spaced; single spaced format is reserved for the first two assignments

--Spelling, grammatical, and syntactical errors do not reflect graduate level work and will have a negative impact on your grade

--All work cited should be in full complete citation format and conform to The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Fifth edition

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING TO MAKE THIS COURSE FLOW FOR YOU AND ME

--All assignments MUST have your name (last, first), course information, assignment # or name, in the subject line of the email and the first line on attachments; Example:
Duran, Daniel SLIS 204-11 Assignment #1: My Story

--As I receive scores of e-mails each day from students and others please NOTE THAT I WILL TRY TO RESPOND TO YOUR E-MAILED QUESTIONS OR NON-ASSIGNMENT SPECIFIC CONCERNS WITHIN 48 HOURS OF RECEIPT

--To keep the volume of student e-mail manageable, I will post commonly asked questions on Blackboard

--I will post a weekly “Announcement” in BB that will provide an overview of the readings, assignment(s), and any other pertinent information

--All students will be assigned to a Discussion Group after submission of the first Assignment “My Story”; check the Blackboard Assignment Section and/or Group Discussion section(s) to determine your study group.

--All assignments submitted must be your own work

--Sources must be properly cited in papers as specified in class

The San Jose State University regulations governing plagiarism will be enforced. Those regulations may be found at http://www2.sjsu.edu/senate/S04-12.pdf and at http://info.sjsu.edu search option: Academic Dishonesty. Evidence of plagiarism will result in a grade of F for the course.

If you need any special consideration due to a disability, you need to register with the SJSU Disability Resource Center and notify the instructor by the second week of classes.

Contribution Areas and Assignments

The maximum number of points you can earn in this class is 250 with220 of these points associated with six Individual Assignments and 40 points maximum for your Discussion Group (DG) Team Assignment and group participation (Assignment 7).

This is a brief summary of your assignments and contribution areas; please check the Assignments tab in Blackboard for more detailed information on specific assignments.

Each assignment has a rubric and is found at the Assignments tab. Each Assignment must be transmitted to me via the link at the bottom of the specific assignment. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE DUE DATES FOR THESE ASSIGNMENTS MAY CHANGE SO PLEASE CONFIRM BOTH THE SPECIFICS OF THE ASSIGNMENT AND THE DUE DATE ON BLACKBOARD.

Assignment 1: Introduction to Search Techniques (20 points) due September 1, 2004 11:59 pm

Include as the last line of your Assignment your preference for assignment to a Discussion Group (DG): (1) Latino/Spanish Speaking; (2) Asian; (3) African American; (4) Oceania; (5) Eastern European; (6) Western European; (7) African; (8) Middle Eastern; Note your top three preferences in descending order. You will be assigned to a DG in advance of Assignment 2. This Assignment can be single spaced.

Assignment 2: My Story: Today and Tomorrow (20 points) due September 8, 2004 11:59 pm

You will share your story with me and members of your Discussion Group (DG). It should be approximately 1 page, single-spaced. This assignment will allow me to know you a little and also help you appreciate your virtual class mates in your designated DG. Everyone has a story and your goal is to share it succinctly and honestly -- where you come from, where you have been, who you are, and where are you going. You should also include in your story how and where you perceive yourself to be 5 years out past completion of your SLIS studies. This assignment will scored on three criteria: Did you share information that provides some insights about your background, motivations, and experience, was is at least one full page, and was it grammatically and structurally sound? You are allowed to use singe line spacing on this one page assignment.

Assignment 3: History of Library Services to Ethnic/Cultural/Language Group (30 points) due September 26, 2004 at 11:59 pm

Check the assignments page for details and this and all other assignments.

Assignments 4-6: Analytical Essays (Total of 140 Points)

There will be three analytical essays due for this class. They should demonstrate what you have learned in the class to the point of submittal and they should be cumulative. The last one should summarize the key concepts and applications covered during the semester.

Each essay should cover the sources you have located, analysis of the writings, comparison of the materials, and application of your own knowledge and experiences. It should reflect your synthesis of what you have learned in a clear, cogent report to the instructor. I expect you to connect the dots. Each essay will have an Abstract, Thesis Statement/Paragraph, and Summary. The main body of each essay, excluding Abstract and Bibliography/Resources must be 8 pages or less.

The essays must be submitted via the Assignment link and MUST be in PDF format. Full descriptions of the Assignments will be found in BB; their due dates and point values are provided below.

Assignment 4 will be due October 14, 2004 at 11:59 pm (40 points)

Assignment 5 will be due October 28 at 11:59 pm (50 points)

Assignment 6 will be due November 20 at 11:59 pm (50 points)

Assignment 7 (your Team Assignment) will be due December 3 at 11:59 pm (40 points)

You are expected to share resources, pose questions and raise issues for each of the three analytical essays as well as the DG team paper that focuses on a community analysis/change management plan. Please share your thoughts during the few weeks that each topic is posted.

As noted earlier you will be assigned to a DG where you will be able to make contributions. Your DG participation will be evaluated in relation to the frequency (quantitative) of communication and participation and, more importantly, the value (quality) of your input. For example, frequent postings of "Yeah" and "Way to Go" will not earn many, if any, points. Conversely, a few substantiating contributions regarding bibliographic and other resources or help resolving a problem or other Knowledge Manager (KM) contributions will be well received by all and credited accordingly. DO NOT WAIT until the semester is winding down to make your mark in your DG. Get into the swing now.

Course Requirements

1. You MUST have the minimal home computing environment as described at http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/ecommunication/homecomputing.htm
and have Internet Access, including the ability to:

--Send and receive email: When attachments are used, please send in PDF format using MS Word.

--View the WWW with a graphical browser

--Create and view PDF files: Check Blackboard instructions for how to download and create PDF files.

2. Enroll in SLISWEB Blackboard to receive assignments and communications from the instructor by the first day of class: DO SO NOW!!!

3. Send homework to the instructor via BB using the Assignment links at the bottom of every Assignment. You should identify every assignment to me by including your last name, first name, course number, and assignment number/title. When sending PDF or other attachments, remember to provide your last name, first name, course number and the assignment #/title on the first line on the attached document (in case the attachments becomes separated from its associated email).

4. Other communications via e-mail to me must follow this format in the subject line:

--FOR QUESTIONS: Your last name, first name, course number, "Question"

--FOR COMMENTS: Your last name, first name, course number, "Comment"

By following the aforementioned procedures I can easily identify Assignment submission and sort and respond to your e-mail.

5. Finally, a note on Adobe Acrobat Reader, for PDF files

PDF stands for Portable Document Format. Any document created by any software can be converted to a PDF file, preserving its original content, layout, and color. These files are viewable with the Adobe Acrobat Reader. You will need version 3.0 or higher to view some of the files on this site.

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