LIBR 284-11
Seminar in Archives and Records Management
Summer 2006 Greensheet
Kory L. Meyerink, MLS
E-mail
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
| Greensheet Links Textbooks and Resources Course Requirements |
Resources Blackboard Blackboard Tutorials |
Students will self-enroll in Blackboard between about May 16th and May 31st. You'll need an access enrollment code, which I'll send you via MySJSU Messaging system.
Note: This is a preliminary Greensheet and the instructor reserves the right to make revisions prior to or during the semester.
Course Description
In-depth study of current issues and practices in providing library reference services to genealogists. The course addresses reference tools, collection development, community and referral sources, Internet usage and information seeking behavior of patrons conducting genealogical and biographical research.
Value of Course
Genealogy, also called family history, is a popular and growing leisure pursuit, encouraged by increased access to information on the Internet. However, the local library and its collection remains a core resource for most genealogists, amateur and professional. As such, genealogists are among the most dependable, loyal and consistent of a library's patrons. They provide volunteers, and have saved library collections and budgets all across America. Fostering that relationship is a significant task in most highly successful libraries.
Prerequisites: LIBR 200, 202, 204
Student Learning Objectives
This course should prepare librarians to serve their genealogical patrons with expertise and accuracy. At the completion of this course, students should be able to do the following in concert with SLIS objectives:
- Explain the nature and methods of the genealogical research process.
- Identify and use the major reference tools needed for United States research.
- Understand the major kinds of genealogical sources researchers use.
- Conduct an effective genealogical reference interview, by understanding the information needs of family historians.
- Develop a genealogical collection that meets the needs of their library patrons, through the evaluation, selection and acquisition of appropriate source records.
- Select appropriate reference tools and genealogical sources to acquire for their library's collection.
- Refer patrons to the most appropriate genealogical collection for their needs.
- Identify the most useful Internet sites for their patrons, and determine if one or more subscription sites are appropriate for their library, in order to facilitate appropriate information access.
- Enhance their library's own Web site to reflect their genealogical services and collections.
- Conduct and report on foundational genealogical research, which will demonstrate their proficiency in using print, electronic and original genealogical sources.
- Understand and apply the "Genealogical Proof Standard" as the standard system of creating modern genealogical accounts (i.e.: information structures)
- Learn how to continue their education in genealogical sources and techniques.
Textbooks and Resources
Required Resources
The required textbooks and/or resources for this course are:
- Meyerink, K. (1998) Printed Sources: A Guide to Published Genealogical Records (Salt Lake City: Ancestry). ISBN: 0916489701. Purchase through Amazon, etc.
- The United States Research Outline and the accompanying state research outlines available online at <www.familysearch.org> Select "Search" then "Research Helps" then "Sorted by Document Type" and choose "Research Outline"
- An introductory "how to" book about genealogical research, chosen from bibliography provided by the instructor.
A variety of other readings from books, Internet sites, and journals (on-line and off) will be required during the term.
Recommended Texts
At least one of the following three books:
- Helm, M. and A.L. Helm. (2004) Genealogy Online for Dummies 4th ed. ( : For Dummies). ISBN:0764559648
- Hendrickson, N. (2003) Finding Your Roots Online (Cincinnati: Betterway Books). ISBN: 1558706356
- Porter, P.B. (2001) Online Roots: How to Discover Your Family's History and Heritage with the Power of the Internet. (Nashville: Rutledge Hill Press, 2001). ISBN: 1401600212
- Students will likely want to access the following reference books at a local library or Family History Center:
- Szucs L.D. and S.H. Luebking (1997) The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy, 2nd ed. (Salt Lake City: Ancestry) [Note: third edition being released Summer 2006.]
- Eichholz, A. (2004?) Ancestry's Red Book: American State, County & Town Sources, 3rd ed. (Salt Lake City: Ancestry)
- Hansen, H. (2006) The Handybook for Genealogists, 11th ed. (Logan, Ut: Everton Pub.) [Or, the 2002 10th edition.]
Online Resources
Students will need, at some points during the term, on-line access to at least two major genealogy subscription Web sites: HeritageQuest Online (a ProQuest product) and Ancestry.com. Either or both may be available through a local public library. Many LDS Family History Centers have access to Ancestry.com. Neither of these appear to be currently available through either San Jose State University library, or the San Jose City Public Library. Other subscription databases, available through the university library, will also be used.
Course Requirements
As a first time course, students will have some influence on how the course proceeds in terms of content and presentation. After all, it's your needs we're tying to meet!
Course Duration
The course will conducted using Blackboard from June 1 - August 14.
Class Format & Meeting Schedule
This class is totally online.
Although conducted on-line, the class will meet in Blackboard's "Virtual Classroom" or "Chat" for one hour each Thursday evening (specific time to be determined by a survey of the students). Attendance is expected for at least 75% of these sessions.
In addition to the weekly chat, I encourage the use of the course discussion board and e-mail. Post general questions to the discussion board. Send specific questions to me via e-mail. I will check e-mail each morning and night, and will reply as soon as possible, usually within the day. When sending e-mail, begin the subject line with: SLIS, and then your topic (this will limit lost e-mail).
Other Requirements and Comments
Additional information for this course:
- Genealogical knowledge or experience is NOT a prerequisite for this course. Such experience would be helpful but some course content is oriented in this direction. The best way to serve genealogical patrons is to have experienced proper genealogical research yourself.
- Students should plan to spend about 140 to 180 total hours during the term involved in this course. This includes reading texts, researching, writing assignments, and class interaction. This means about 14 to 18 hours per week.
- Most assignments will be written papers, submitted in Word or WordPerfect (or Rich Text if necessary) vial e-mail to the instructor.
- Each week will have assigned readings in preparation for the Thursday evening meeting and for various assignments.
- This is an intensive course that requires consistent and regular attention to all discussion on Blackboard and continuous preparation and effort - no exceptions.
- Students taking more than one or two courses and having other responsibilities may find this course too time-consuming to adequately meet all requirements for an A and some have problems earning a B grade.
- All students are graded on the same basis regardless of workload, personal, medical, or technical problems, which are each student's responsibility.
- Since this is a full semester course compressed into a summer session, the due dates for assignments will be tight and this cannot be avoided.
Anticipated Deliverable Products
The scheduled assignments for this course, and their corresponding point values, are:
| Report of visit to at least one local genealogical resource center |
60 points |
| Book report of an introductory genealogy instruction (how-to) book |
80 points |
| Survey of local referral resources | 90 points |
| Pathfinder for Bibliographies or Indexes | 80 points |
| Internet-oriented Pathfinder | 80 points |
| Proposal for library Internet data site | 80 points |
| Research report on own ancestor | 150 points |
| Genealogical collection development policy | 100 points |
| Patron needs survey | 80 points |
| Attendance | 50 points |
| Final exam | 150 points |
Grading
The assignments are worth a total of 1000 points and will be graded as objectively as possible based on content and quality of writing and presentation. The total points will be converted to a percentage for calculation of the final grade.
Grading is based on a combination of:
- Following instructions provided with exercises. Points are deducted for not following instructions.
- Completing all assignments and submitting them on time.
- Quality, professional-caliber writing that, as appropriate to the assignment, includes thought process, strategies, and/or findings.
- You must also integrate what you have learned from readings and class discussion.
Overall grading for this course incorporates consideration of creativity, thoroughness, thoughtfulness, and originality. Successful course participants will:
- Post a brief bio and statement of purpose to the Blackboard Discussion Board prior to our first Thursday evening session.
- Read the required textbooks cited above and other reading assignments as posted to Blackboard.
- Initiate and contribute to discussion on Blackboard weekly with substantive and thoughtful comments.
Grading Scale
The standard SJSU SLIS Grading Scale is utilized for all SLIS courses:
| 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
Your own commitment to learning, as evidenced by your enrollment at San José State University, and the University's Academic Integrity Policy requires you to be honest in all your academic course work. Faculty are required to report all infractions to the Office of Judicial Affairs. The policy on academic integrity can be found at 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/
One Washington Square - San José, California USA, 95192-0029
Phone: 408-924-2490
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