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Home | Course Web Pages | Summer 2006 | LIBR 275-11 Greensheet

LIBR 275-11
Library Services for Racially and Ethnically Diverse Communities
Summer 2006 Greensheet

Elizabeth Martinez
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Required Text & Readings | Course Requirements

Students must self-enroll for this course on Blackboard by June 5, 2006. You will be required to use a password access code which I will provide using the MySJSU Messaging system.

Course Description

This class is designed to explore the complex, social, economic, historical, and technological developments that impact library and information services to diverse communities. Students will assess current programs and services, and develop skills for planning, implementing and evaluating programs that address the information needs of diverse racial, ethnic, and linguistic communities.

Course and School Objectives

At the completion of the course, the students will be able to:

1. Understand the challenges of providing information services in a multicultural and multiracial society; and understand the ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and racial factors and perspectives involved;
2. Identify resources for the development of library services for diverse communities;
3. Determine the cultural diversity and information needs of user communities; and develop strategies for providing appropriate services;
4. Chart the role of information institutions in promoting cultural diversity and preserving ethnic heritage;
5. Advocate and provide leadership for library services for diverse communities.

This course supports the following SLIS objectives:

• The foundation of information services.
• Advocacy and leadership for access to information and knowledge resources;
• Evaluating and utilizing relevant research studies from a variety of disciplines.

Required Text & Readings

1. Guerena, Sal (ed.). Latino Librarianship: A Handbook for Professionals. (2nd ed.) Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 2000.
2. Metoyer-Duran, Cheryl. Gatekeepers in Ethnolinguistic Communities. Norwood, NJ: Ablex Pub., 1993.
3. Stoffle. Carla & Tarin, Patricia (1994). “No place for neutrality: the case for multiculturalism,” Library Journal, 113, 31-4.
4. See ALA “Diversity Articles and Publications” at www.ala.org/ala/diversity

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Course Requirements

Course Meetings
Saturdays 6/17, 7/15, 8/5

Assignments
the assignments for this course are:

1. Group Assignment (3 students): Research Internet Resources
   Select a culturally diverse community from the following: (1) African American; (2) Armenian; (3) Korean; (4) Latino – Chicano/Mexican American, Central American; (5) Hmong; (6) Native American (specific nation); (7) Persian; (8) Russian; (9) Vietnamese or other as approved.
   
   Find 5 Web sites that reflect the community from their own perspectives, their own voice.
   • Use the Internet to demonstrate the usefulness of the 5 sites; include one local site, one official government site, and historical, cultural, artistic, or other sites about the culture. No power-point presentations.
   • Provide copies of the homepage of each of the 5 Web sites, or a list of the URL’s for each student in the class.
   • Discuss how these Web sites are useful to librarians.
   • No formal written commentary or analysis is required to be submitted.
   • Due July 15 with a 15 minute presentation to class.
2. Advocacy Paper: Library Services to a Specific Group at a Specific Library
   Select a library to research and assess for their effectiveness in providing services and programs to a specific diverse community. Visit the library and look for evidence such as the following:
   • Physical items such as signage in a non-English language, posters and décor, collections, brochures, program announcements, services;
   • Staff who are culturally and language related;
   • People in the library and how they are using resources.
   Interview a librarian at the library and request information on the following:
   • Inclusion in the Strategic Plans of services to this diverse community;
   • Budget allocations for collections, programs, and services;
   • Other information about the diverse community and the library.
   
   Write an Advocacy Action Paper in support of library services to this group, and include your findings, evidence demonstrated, your observations about the process, any problems or barriers encountered, and recommendations for specific programs and services for the library to provide. Remember that you are advocating for library services for a particular community at a particular library, and may have to convince library staff to support you.
   • Length: a minimum of 12 double-spaced pages including a bibliography.
   • Confirm the topic of the paper with the instructor by July 15.
   • Due August 5 with a 10 minute presentation to the class.

Grading
The following items will contribute to your final grade:

Research Internet Assignment	40 points
Advocacy Paper	50 points
Attendance & Participation	10 points

Grading Scale
The standard SJSU SLIS Grading Scale will be utilized for this course:

97-100	A
94-96	A-
91-93	B+
88-90	B
85-87	B-
82-84	C+
79-81	C
76-78	C-
73-75	D+

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

Reasonable Accommodation of Disabilities
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, please e-mail me as soon as possible. Presidential Directive 97-03 requires that students with disabilities register with the Disability Resource Center (DRC) to establish record of their disability.

No matter where students reside, they should contact the SJSU DRC to register. The DRC Web site: http://www.drc.sjsu.edu/

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