LIS 512: Introduction to Knowledge Organization


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:

CW Post, Spring 2009, Monday 5-6:50

Manhattan, Spring 2009, Tuesdays 6:30-8:20

Westchester, Spring 2009, Wednesday 4:45-6:45 (21 Jan, 25 Feb, 25 Mar, 22 Apr)


Office Hours:

CW Post: Before and after class on Mondays or by appointment

Manhattan: Before and after class on Tuesdays

Westchester: Before and after class on Wednesdays (21 Jan, 25 Feb, 25 Mar, 22 Apr)

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


SYLLABUS


Bulletin description

Basic principles of knowledge organization. Emphasizes understanding the function of catalogs, indexes, bibliographies, and web-browsers and acquiring the ability to use and interpret these tools effectively. Introduction to bibliographic utilities, online catalogs and indexes and World Wide Web. Introduction to resource description, metadata, ontology, controlled vocabulary, social bookmarking. Familiarity with MARC formats, Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, Library of Congress Subject Headings, Dewey Decimal Classification, Library of Congress Classification.


Palmer School Curriculum Objectives

  1. To apply the principles of organization, selection, and evaluation of information resources. (Assignments)

  2. To demonstrate an understanding of the changing nature of the field. (Tagging Project and Class Discussions)

  3. Understand and apply digital information technologies in libraries and other information agencies. (Digital Library Project)


Course Objectives

  1. To understand the methods, tools and practices used to organise information and knowledge in information systems, especially descriptive cataloguing, indexing, classification, thesaurii and subject heading lists. (Assignment 2, 4, 6; Digital Library)

  2. To gain familiarity with the principles and issues underlying the organisation of information and knowledge. (Assignment 1, 3)

  3. To understand the role that information organisation and representation plays in designing, accessing and using information systems. (Assignment 5, 7; Tagging Project)


Recommended Text

Taylor, Arlene G. 2008. The Organization of Information. 3rd ed. Westport, Conn. Libraries Unlimited. (The 2nd edition is also acceptable.)


Web Sources

Website: http://wotan.liu.edu/~meik/512/

Mailing List: CW Post: https://lists-1.liu.edu/mailman/listinfo/cwp-lis-512

Manhattan: https://lists-1.liu.edu/mailman/listinfo/cwp-lis-512-2

Westchester: https://lists-1.liu.edu/mailman/listinfo/cwp-lis-512-3

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

Glossary: 512glossary.html


Summary of Topics

Classes

CW Post

Manhattan

Westchester

1

Introduction and History of KO


Jan 20

Jan 21 ***

Jan 26



2

Metadata Concepts and Information Retrieval


Jan 27


Feb 2



3

Standards and Principles for Descriptive Cataloguing


Feb 3


Feb 9



4

Tools and Applications for Descriptive Cataloguing


Feb 10 **


Feb 17 *



5

Subject Analysis and Categorisation

Feb 23

Feb 24

Feb 25

6

Indexing, Controlled Vocabularies and Thesaurii

March 2

March 3


7

No Class - Spring Recess (Mar 9-15)




8

Standards and Protocols in KO and IR

March 16

March 17


9

Categorisation and Classification

March 23

March 24

March 25

10

Classification Systems and Schemes

March 30

March 31


11

Information Organisation on the Web

April 6

April 7


12

Information Visualisation and Information Organisation

April 13

April 14


13

Conceptual Bibliographic Structures

April 20

April 21

April 22

14

Trends in Knowledge Organisation

April 27

April 28



* This class is on Tuesday night.

** Manhattan class does not meet February 17.

*** Westchester class meets face-to-face Wednesdays: 21 January (Introduction and Descriptive Cataloguing); 25 February (Subject Analysis and Authority Control); 25 March (Classification); 22 April (Trends in Information Organisation). Course progression will follow the other classes.


Assessments

Assessment

Percent of final mark

Associated Classes

Due

1

Basic Search (OPAC and Web)

5

Class 1

Class 3

2

Descriptive Cataloguing

5

Class 2-4

Class 6

3

Using OCLC and Library Thing

5

Class 4

Class 7

4

Authority Control and Subject Analysis

5

Class 5-6

Class 8

5

Advanced Searching (Pubmed)

5

Class 8

Class 9

6

Classification

5

Class 9-10

Class 13

7

Web Site Analysis

5

Class 11

Class 11

P1

Digital Library Project

30


Topic: Mid term

DL: End of Term

P2

Tagging Project

25


Part 1: Mid term; Part 2: End of Term


Participation

10




There are 7 short assignments and 2 projects. Assignments and projects may be submitted by email, or through Moodle.


Students may choose to substitute a term paper (2000 words) on a current issue in Knowledge Organisation for 4 of the short assignments or an 800 word issue paper responding to the weekly readings for 2 of the short assignments. For the term paper, students must submit a paragraph describing their proposed topic by week 7. Assignments 1, 2 and 7 cannot be replaced.


Participation

Students are expected to participate in discussion as a demonstration of their ability to articulate key concepts. Discussion may occur in class (or a chat session) or on the class mailing list. For online or hybrid courses, you are responsible for submitting four original responses to the mailing list or six comments on other responses. Responses may consist of responses to readings as well as articles and other items related to the course (relevant cartoons and youtube videos are always interesting). Include a citation (and URL if possible) and a brief explanation of how the item is relevant to the course. Students in face to face classes may participate this way to compensate for missed classes.


Due Dates

Assignments are generally due 1-2 weeks after the final associated class unless otherwise noted. Items marked End of Term are due May 5th at midnight. Final deadline is May 5th, no extensions.


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. This applies to all material including images, sounds or videos. (http://www.liunet.edu/cwis/cwp/library/exhibits/plagstudent.htm)


Course Outline

















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