LIS 511: Information Sources and Services

Instructor:

Margaret Kipp

Palmer School of Information and Library Science

College of Information and Computer Science

Long Island University

margaret . kipp @ gmail . com

http://myweb.liu.edu/~mkipp/

Sessions:

September 2 - December 9, 2008

Tuesdays, 7:00 - 8:50

Office Hours:

CW Post: Before class or by appointment

Online: Via Instant Messaging (ICQ, Yahoo, MSN or Google Talk) or the Moodle chat client.

SYLLABUS

Bulletin description

Philosophy, processes, and techniques of information sources and services. Overview of information access and delivery, types of resources, formats of information, evaluation and measurement of sources and services and information-seeking behavior. Ability to access internet. 3 credits

Palmer School Objectives:

• Articulate the mission of the library and information professional in the context of the constituency served. (Reference Desk Observation)

• Understand the structure and utilization of information and the role of multicultural, multiethnic and multilingual global society. (Class discussions and Real Life Reference Questions)

• Identify information needs of society through the application of principles of organization, selection and evaluation of information resources. (Evaluations and Pathfinder)

• Demonstrate effective communication and public relations skills. (Case Studies and Reference Desk Observation)

• Address the needs of the 21st century libraries and information organizations (Class discussions)

Specific Course Objectives:

• how to select and use basic professional literature and information databases;

• how to evaluate information sources in different formats;

• the scope, nature and evaluation of information services;

• implications and use of technologies for access and delivery of information;

• the reference interview; information-seeking behavior of users in various contexts;

• information needs of society in general, past, present and future.

Course Requirements:

This course consists of lectures, assignments, small projects, a final exam, and active participation. You are expected to read assigned materials listed in the schedule before the class, attend lectures, and participate in the class discussions.

Evaluation

Textbook

Bopp, R.E., & Smith, L.C. (Eds.). (2001). Reference and Information Services: An Introduction (3rd ed.). Englewood, CO : Libraries Unlimited.

Web Resources

Course Website: http://wotan.liu.edu/~meik/511/

Mailing List: https://lists-1.liu.edu/mailman/listinfo/cwp-lis-511

Moodle: http://liu.mrooms.org/

Course Schedule

Assignments

1. Evaluations or annotations

   1. Evaluations of the reference sources discussed in classes (check the appropriate week for specific instructions)

   2. 4-5 evaluations for each of the 5 weeks you select (use form provided).

   3. At least one print source and one electronic source per set.

   4. Evaluations are due the week after the class in which we discuss the particular reference sources.

2. Case Studies or a Pathfinder

   1. Case studies as listed for weeks 8 and 11 (due the week after) or

   2. a pathfinder (3 page annotated bibliography) of reference sources for a specific subject (your choice, but subject must be submitted by week 4). Due December 2nd.

3. Reference desk observation

   1. Observe the operation of a reference desk at a library

   2. Report to the class (Due December 2nd)

4. Real Life Reference Questions

   1. The real life reference questions are the final exam. We will cover the tools or classes of tools necessary to answer these questions. You have a whole term to answer them. (Due December 9th)

5. Participation

   1. Select a reference source and bring it to class (or show us on the computer). Discuss your evaluation of the reference source.

   2. Contribute to class discussions of issues in reference service.

   3. Provide news or research relevant to reference and user services.

Assignments may be submitted in class or by email. Assignments are due on the date listed. All assignments must be submitted by the final class or the assignment will receive a zero.

Plagiarism:

Plagiarism is the unacknowledged borrowing of material. It is considered an academic offense and can be considered grounds for failure in a course. Cite all references. http://www.liunet.edu/cwis/cwp/library/exhibits/plagstudent.htm

Outline

Week 1: Introduction; Reference Techniques and the Reference Interview

September 2

• Notes:

  • Notes: 511week1.html

  • Slides: http://wotan.liu.edu/~meik/511/511week1.pdf

• Readings:

  • Bopp and Smith: Chapter 1 (Introduction); Chapter 3 (Reference Interview)

  • Optional: Chapter 8 (Bibliographic Instruction)

  • RUSA (Reference and User Services Association - ALA) http://www.ala.org/ala/rusa/rusa.cfm

  • Defining Reference: http://www.ala.org/ala/rusa/protools/referenceguide/definitionsreference.cfm

• Tools and Forms:

  • Reference Techniques http://wotan.liu.edu/~meik/511/referencetechniques.html

• Assignments:

  • Email me using an email address you will use for correspondence about this course.

  • Think about pathfinder topics. http://wotan.liu.edu/~meik/511/pathfinderonpathfinders.html

  • Plan to visit a reference desk at a local library for a reference desk observation http://wotan.liu.edu/~meik/511/referenceserviceevaluation.html

Week 2: Selection and Evaluation of Reference Sources (Bibliographies); Information Ethics and Information Access

September 9

• Notes:

  • http://wotan.liu.edu/~meik/511/511week2.html

• Readings:

  • Bopp and Smith, Chapter 2 (Ethics); Chapter 13 (Evaluation); Chapter 20 (Bibliographies)

  • Optional:

    • Chapter 7 (Access)

    • Lancaster, ed. Ethics and the Librarian. 1989. http://www.archive.org/details/ethicslibrarianalalle

• Tools and Forms:

  • Evaluative Criteria of Information Sources and Services http://wotan.liu.edu/~meik/511/evaluatingreferencesources.html

  • Evaluation Form http://wotan.liu.edu/~meik/511/evaluationform.doc

• Assignments:

  • Bring an encyclopedia or dictionary to class to evaluate. (print or electronic) [Note: if it is not possible to bring the actual item, copy the title page/verso and a representative page or two to bring to class]

Week 3: Ready Reference: Encyclopedias and Dictionaries

September 16

• Notes:

  • http://wotan.liu.edu/~meik/511/511week3.html

• Readings:

  • Bopp and Smith, Chapter 17 (Dictionaries); Chapter 18 (Encyclopedias)

• Assignments:

  • Bring a directory or catalogue to class to evaluate.

  • Submit topic idea for pathfinder this week.

  • Evaluations (Dictionaries):

    • An unabridged dictionary or an abridged dictionary or a picture dictionary

    • A dictionary of idiom, slang or jargon of your choice or a reverse dictionary or a subject specific dictionary

    • A thesaurus or Bescherelle

    • A multilingual or bilingual dictionary or a phrase book

    • Wiktionary or the Urban Dictionary

  • Evaluations (Encyclopedias):

    • A general encyclopedia

    • A one volume encyclopedia or subject specific encyclopedia of your choice

    • A natural science encyclopedia for children

    • A current foreign language encyclopedia

    • Wikipedia

Week 4: Bibliographic Control and Library Tour

September 23

• Library Tour

  • Meet outside the Library Instruction room at 7:15 PM (Library RM 220)

• Notes:

  • http://wotan.liu.edu/~meik/511/511week4.html

• Readings:

  • Bopp and Smith, Chapter 4 (Bibliographic Control)

  • Optional:

    • Buckland, Michael. Naming in the Library: Marks, Meaning, and Machines. http://people.ischool.berkeley.edu/~buckland/naminglib.pdf

    • Mann, T. (2003). Why LC Subject Headings Are More Important Than Ever. American Libraries34(9), 52-54. http://www.bibliographicindex.com/reviews/LC_Subject_Headings.htm

• Assignments:

  • Bring an almanac, yearbook, handbook, manual or directory to class to evaluate. (for October 7th class)

Week 5: No Class - Rosh Hashanah

September 30

Week 6: Ready Reference: Almanacs, Yearbooks, Handbooks, Manuals and Directories

October 7

• Notes:

  • http://wotan.liu.edu/~meik/511/511week6.html

• Readings:

  • Bopp and Smith, Chapter 14 (Directories); Chapter 15 (Almanacs, Yearbooks and Handbooks)

• Assignments:

  • Bring an index or book of abstracts to class to evaluate.

  • Evaluations (Bibliographies and Directories):

    • 3 Bibliographies

    • 2 Directories

  • Evaluations (Ready Reference):

    • Statistical Abstracts of the United States

    • United States Government Manual or UN Demographic Yearbook

    • An almanac for adults or for children

    • 2 handbooks or manuals

Week 7: Bibliographic Control; Indexes and Abstracts; Search Strategies

October 14

• Notes:

  • Bibliographic Control: http://wotan.liu.edu/~meik/511/511week4.html

  • Indexes and Abstracts: http://wotan.liu.edu/~meik/511/511week7.html

• Readings:

  • Bopp and Smith, Chapter 5 (Searching); Chapter 6 (Electronic Systems); Chapter 21 (Indexes and Abstracts)

• Assignments:

  • Bring a health or medical related source to class to evaluate.

  • Evaluations:

    • 2 guides to periodical indexes from the list

    • New York Online Virtual Electronic Library http://novel.nysed.gov/

    • Something of interest to you from the LIU periodicals department

Week 8: Health and Medical Sources; Information Literacy

October 21

• Notes:

  • http://wotan.liu.edu/~meik/511/511week8.html

• In Class Exercise

  • Searching Pubmed http://wotan.liu.edu/~meik/511/pubmedexercise.pdf

• Readings:

  • Examine both websites and read at least one of the articles.

  • 1. Websites

    • Medical Library Association http://www.mlanet.org/resources/userguide.html Read through the Top Ten (and more if you wish)

    • Healthy People Library Project: Health Resources http://www.healthlit.org/health_resources/index.htm

  • 2. Journal Articles

    • Chobot, Mary C. The Challenge of Providing Consumer Health Information Services in Public Libraries. http://ehrweb.aaas.org/PDF/ChallengePubLibraries.pdf (This booklet is a product of the Healthy People 2010 Library Initiative funded by the National Institutes of Health Grant # 5R25RR15601).

    • Kouame, Margo Harris, Susan Murray. Consumer Health Information from Both Sides of the Reference Desk Library Trends. Urbana: Winter 2005. Vol. 53, Iss. 3; pg. 464, 16 pgs http://hdl.handle.net/2142/1740

    • Smith, Candice, Kara Logsden, Maeve Clark. Consumer Health Information Services at Iowa City Public Library Library Trends. Urbana: Winter 2005. Vol. 53, Iss. 3; pg. 496, 16 pgs http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1387/is_3_53/ai_n13612730

    • Erica Burnham, Eileen Beany Peterson. Health Information Literacy: A Library Case Study Library Trends. Urbana: Winter 2005. Vol. 53, Iss. 3; pg. 422, 12 pgs http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1387/is_3_53/ai_n13612717

• Assignments:

  • Case Study:

    • Read one of the articles from this week's readings on the provision of health information services and write no more than one page (500 words) of analysis and commentary on what insight you gained from this article.

  • Evaluations:

    • a health resource for librarians from the list

    • 2 consumer health resources from the list

    • a health related resource of your choice (pamphlets from a doctor or dentist or hospital websites are acceptable if they contain health information for patients or families)

Week 9: No Class Session - Geographical Sources

October 28

• Notes:

  • http://wotan.liu.edu/~meik/511/511week9.html

• Readings:

  • Bopp and Smith, Chapter 19 (Geographical Sources)

• Assignments:

  • Evaluations:

    • A general atlas (atlas of the world)

    • A historical or topical atlas

    • An online map collection

    • A driving map, driving guide, road map, travel guide or tour guide

    • Another reference resource of your choice which contains maps, your evaluation should focus on the maps

Week 10: No Class - Election Day

November 4

Week 11: Business Resources (Guest Speaker)

November 11

• Readings:

  • The CW Post Library Centre for Business Research website http://www.liu.edu/cwis/cwp/library/cbr/cbrhome.htm

  • The Library of Congress Business Reference Services site http://www.loc.gov/rr/business/

  • The New York Public Library's Small Business Resource Center http://www.nypl.org/research/sibl/smallbiz/sbrc/Pages/index.cfm

• Assignments:

  • Case Study:

    • Evaluate the Library of Congress' Business Resources website or the New York Public Library's Small Business Resource Center. Write a brief analysis and commentary on the usability of the website and how it would be useful for business reference based on the material covered in class or your own experiences. Write no more than one page (500 words).

  • Evaluations:

    • 4 business reference tools of your choice from the CW Post Business Resources Page

Week 12: Government Resources (Guest Speaker)

November 18

• Readings:

  • Bopp and Smith, Chapter 22 (Government and Statistical Sources)

  • Schwartz Memorial Library Government Information Department http://www.liu.edu/cwis/cwp/library/gov/docs.htm

• Assignments:

  • Bring a biographical or genealogical source to class to evaluate.

  • Evaluations:

    • 4 government sources

Week 13: Genealogy and Biographical Sources

November 25

• Notes:

  • http://wotan.liu.edu/~meik/511/511week13.html

• Readings:

  • Bopp and Smith, Chapter 16 (Biographical Sources)

• Assignments:

  • Evaluations:

    • Who’s Who in America or Who Was Who in America

    • The New York Times Annual Obituaries

    • An index to biographical or genealogical information

    • A biographical dictionary on a subject of interest to you

    • A resource for genealogists

Week 14: Reference Service for Specific Populations; Reference Desk Observations

December 2

• Notes:

  • http://wotan.liu.edu/~meik/511/511week14.html

• Readings:

  • Bopp and Smith, Chapter 10 (Evaluation of Reference Services); Chapter 12 (Reference Service for Specific Populations)

  • Optional:

    Durrance, Joan C. and Fisher, Karen E. (2003). Determining how libraries and librarians help. Library Trends (Spring 2003) http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1387/is_4_51/ai_105046540/pg_1?tag=artBody;col1

    • Shenton, Andrew K., and Dixon, Pat. (2005). Information needs: Learning more about what kids want, need, and expect from research. Children and Libraries 3(2): 20 - 28.

    • Shenton, Andrew K. (2007). The Paradoxical World of Young People’s Information Behavior. School Libraries Worldwide 13 (2). http://www.iasl-online.org/pubs/slw/july07-shenton.htm

    • More references: http://www.gseis.ucla.edu/faculty/bates/bibliography.html#22

• Assignments:

  • Reference Desk Observation Due

  • Pathfinder Due

Week 15: Virtual Reference and Reference 2.0

December 9

• Notes:

  • http://wotan.liu.edu/~meik/511/511week15.html

• Readings:

  • Bopp and Smith, Chapter 11 (Organizing Reference Services)

  • Michael E. Casey and Laura C. Savastinuk. 2006. Library 2.0: Service for the next-generation library. Library Journal http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6365200.html

  • Paul Anderson. What is Web 2.0. http://www.jisc.ac.uk/media/documents/techwatch/tsw0701b.pdf

• Assignments:

  • Real Life Reference Questions Due Dec. 16