Syllabus

Introduction to Information Science & Information Agencies

INFS 1100 Section 01

 Mondays 5:00 - 7:45 p.m.

 

Course web page: http://www.minneapolis.edu/library/courses/infs1100/infs1100.htm

 

 

Instructor: Kathleen Daniels, Library and Information Studies

Office: L 114

Office Hours: Mondays, 4:15-4:45 p.m.

Phone & Email: (612) 659-6285, kathleen.daniels@minneapolis.edu

 

 

Course Description: This course surveys the history, organization, services, personnel and functions of libraries and information agencies in the United States. Introduces students to the major theories and ideas in the field of information science and identifies job opportunities in information agencies. This course is intended to give the student a broad understanding of libraries and library personnel and their role in society. The course provides a foundation to all the other courses in the Library Information Technology program.

 

Learner Outcomes/Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, a student will be able to...

  • Articulate an understanding of the history and impact of libraries and information agencies on American society
  • Describe the different types of libraries and information agencies and the role they play in American society
  • Describe the roles and functions of various library personnel
  • Discuss in an informed manner the major ethical issues facing libraries and information agencies in the United States
  • Articulate in a general manner the roles and functions of:
    • library public services
    • library technical services

Course Activities:

  • Lectures
  • Discussions
    • Students will participate in class discussions on the course texts and other readings.
  • Critical Reflection Journal
    • Students will keep a reflection journal on course readings that will aid them in understanding the readings and help them participate in class discussions.
  • Library Portfolio:
    • Students will complete various assignments that they will put together into a portfolio. Assignments include library visits and analysis of a specific type of library.
  • Mid-term examination
    • A multiple choice, true/false, short answer, and short essay exam on material covered in the textbook during the first half of the semester.
  • Final examination
    • A multiple choice, true/false, short answer, and short essay exam on material covered in the textbook during the second half of the semester.

 

 

Course Expectations:

I expect students to make the greatest effort possible to show up on time.  If you cannot make it to class please notify me. Assignments must be handed in on the day that they are due if you do not wish to be docked points.  Late critical reflection pages will be docked ½ point the first week, and late presentations will automatically lose one grade the first week.  Assignments and presentations more than one week late will not be accepted without prior approval from me.

 

 

Assessment and Evaluation:

Critical Reflection Journal, Discussion                15 points

Library Portfolio, Presentations                         35 points

Mid-Term Examination                                     25 points         

Final Examination                                                          25 points

TOTAL                                                                        100 points

 

 

Grade Distribution:

A         90-100%

B          89-80%

C         79-70%

D         69-60%

F          59% and below

 

 

Required Reading:

Books:

Fourie, Denise K. and David R. Dowell. Libraries in the Information Age: An

Introduction and Career Exploration. Greenwood Village, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 2002.

 

Articles:

Articles are all available in full-text format on either InfoTrac Expanded Academic ASAP or Wilson Web Education Index databases, or on library reserve under INFS 1100 (Daniels).

 

Albanese, Andrew Richard. “The Top Seven Academic Library Issues.” Library Journal.

128.5 (2003): 43. InfoTrac: Expanded Academic ASAP.

 

Berry John N. “Arizona's New Model: An Academic Library for the Present and Future.”

Library Journal. 127.18 (2002): 40(3). InfoTrac: Expanded Academic ASAP.

 

Billington, James H. “The Library of Congress Turns 200.” American History Apr. 2000: 44-50. . InfoTrac: Expanded Academic ASAP.

 

Campbell, Brian. “Media Concentration and the Role of Libraries in Promoting a

Diversity of Voices.” Feliciter. 48.6 (2002): 275-77. Wilson Web Education Index.

 

Carefoot, Lillian. “Student Access to the School Library.” Teacher Librarian. 30.4 (2003):

69 (3). InfoTrac: Expanded Academic ASAP.

 

Chepesiuk, Ron. “United We Stand: Preserving the History of U.S. Labor: Labor Library

Collections Prove that in Union there is Strength.” American Libraries. Jan. 2002: 60(4). InfoTrac: Expanded Academic Index.

 

Chudnov, Daniel. “Docster: The Future of Document Delivery.” Library Journal. 125.13

(2000): 60-62. On Library Reserve.

 

Dinkins, Debbi. Circulation as Assessment: Collection Development Policies Evaluated

in Terms of Circulation at a Small Academic Library.” College & Research Libraries. 64.1 (2003): 46-53. Wilson Web Education Index.

 

Drake, Miriam A. “You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet: Patriot II on the Way.” Searcher. 11.6

(2003): 48 (5). InfoTrac: Expanded Academic ASAP.

 

Donald, Merlin. “Memory Palaces: The Revolutionary Function of Libraries.” Queen's

Quarterly. 108.4 (2001): 559(14). InfoTrac: Expanded Academic ASAP.

 

 

 

Eddy, Jacalyn. “’We Have Become Too Tender-Hearted’: The Language of Gender in the

Public Library, 1880-1920.” American Studies. 42.3 (2001): 155-172. On Library Reserve.

 

Freiburger, Gary and Robert Bauchspies and Anne Sharp. “Docsters Redux: Librarians

Respond.” Library Journal. 125.17 (2000): 38+. InfoTrac: Expanded Academic ASAP.

 

Fritch, John W. and Scott B. Mandernack. “The Emerging Reference Paradigm: A Vision

of Reference Services in a Complex Information Environment.” Library Trends. 50.2 (2001 ) 286(22). InfoTrac: Expanded Academic ASAP. 

 

Lilburn, Jeff. “re-examining the Concept of Neutrality for Academic Librarians.”

Fecliciter. 49.1 (2003): 30-32. Wilson Web Education Index.

 

Plum, Terry. “Academic Libraries and the Rituals of Knowledge.” RQ. 33.4 (1994): 496

(13). InfoTrac: Expanded Academic ASAP.

 

Powers, Janet E. “Marketing in the Special Library Environment.” Library Trends. 43.3 (1995): 478(16). InfoTrac:Expanded Academic ASAP.

 

Shuler, John A. Freedom of Public Information Versus the Right to Public Information:

The Future Possibilities of Library Advocacy.” Journal of Academic Librarianship. 28.3 (2002): 157-59. Wilson Web Education Index.

 

St. Lifer, Evan. “What Public Libraries Must Do to Survive.” Library Journal. 126.6

(2001): 60-62. InfoTrac: Expanded Academic ASAP.

 

Tennant, Roy. “The Print Perplex: Building the Future Catalog.” Library Journal. 123.19

(1998): 22+. InfoTrac: Expanded Academic ASAP.

 

Thomas, Sarah E. “Quality in Bibliographic Control.”  Library Trends. 44.3 (1996):

491(12). InfoTrac: Expanded Academic ASAP.

 

“What Research Tells Us About the Importance of School Libraries.” Teacher Librarian.

Oct. 2002:76(3). InfoTrac: Expanded Academic ASAP.

 

Yu, Linna. “Role of the Public Library in the 21st Century.” Journal of Education Media

& Library Sciences. 37.3 (2000): 256-264. On Library Reserve.

 

 

Course Outline:

Week 1 (Monday January 12)

  • Introduction to the course and course requirements
  • Student introductions and areas of interest

 

Break

 

  • Present Critical Reflections Journal assignment
  • Present Library Portfolio assignments overview
    • Library Visits (textbook, pages 89-90)
    • Analysis of a specific type of library

 

Read for Week 2:

  • Textbook, chapters 1 and 2, and Appendix A

·        Billington, James H. “The Library of Congress Turns 200.”

  • Eddy, Jacalyn. “’We Have Become Too Tender-Hearted’: The Language of Gender in the Public Library, 1880-1920.”
  • Donald, Merlin. “Memory Palaces: The Revolutionary Function of Libraries.”

 

 

NO CLASS Monday January 19, Martin Luther King, Jr. HOLIDAY

 

 

Week 2 (Monday January 26)

Lecture/Discussion:

·        Types and roles of library staff

 

Break

 

Lecture/Discussion

·        History of libraries

 

Read for Week 3:

  • Textbook, chapter 3 (pages 39-56)
  • St. Lifer, Evan. “What Public Libraries Must Do to Survive.”
  • Yu, Linna. “Role of the Public Library in the 21st Century.”

 

 

Week 3 (Monday February 2)

Lecture/Discussion:

  • Types of libraries and their roles and function in society
    • Public Libraries

Break

 

  • Public Library Worker presentation and question/answer session

 

Read for Week 4:

  • Textbook, chapter 3 (pages 57-67)
  • Carefoot, Lillian. “Student Access to the School Library.”
  • “What Research Tells Us About the Importance of School Libraries.”

 

 

Week 4 (Monday February 9)

Lecture/Discussion:

  • Types of libraries and their roles and function in society
    • School Libraries

 

Break

 

  • School Library Worker presentation and question/answer session

 

Read for Week 5:

  • Textbook, chapter 3 (pages 67-75)
  • Berry John N. “Arizona's New Model: An Academic Library for the Present and Future.”
  • Plum, Terry. “Academic Libraries and the Rituals of Knowledge.”
  • Albanese, Andrew Richard. “The Top Seven Academic Library Issues.”

 

NO CLASS  Monday, February 16,  Presidents Day HOLIDAY

 

Week 5 (Monday February 23)

Lecture/Discussion:

  • Types of libraries and their roles and function in society
    • Academic Libraries

 

Break

 

  • Academic Library Worker presentation and question/answer session

 

Read for Week 6:

  • Textbook, chapter 3 (pages 76-89)
  • Janet E. Powers. “Marketing in the Special Library Environment.”
  • Ron Chepesiuk. “United We Stand: Preserving the History of U.S. Labor: Labor Library Collections Prove that in Union there is Strength.”

 

 

 

Week 6 (Monday March 1)

Lecture/Discussion:

  • Types of libraries and their roles and function in society
    • Special Libraries

 

Break

 

  • Special Library Worker presentation and question/answer session

 

Read for Week 7:

  • Textbook, chapter 4

·        Campbell, Brian. “Media Concentration and the Role of Libraries in Promoting a Diversity of Voices.”

·        Dinkins, Debbi. Circulation as Assessment: Collection Development Policies Evaluated in Terms of Circulation at a Small Academic Library.”

·        Lilburn, Jeff. “Re-examining the Concept of Neutrality for Academic Librarians.”

 

 

NO CLASS Monday, March 8, SPRING BREAK

 

 

 

Week 7 (Monday March 15)

  • Library Collections
    • Collection Development
    • Weeding
    • Censorship
  • Progress Report: Library Visits
    • Bring to class what you’ve done so far (suggest you have at least started the first 2-3 visits)

 

Read for Week 8:

  • Textbook, chapter 9

 

Week 8 (Monday March 22)
  • Course Review

 

Break

 

  • Mid-Term Examination

 

Read for Week 9:

  • Textbook, chapter 5
  • Tennant, Roy. “The Print Perplex: Building the Future Catalog.”
  • Sarah E. Thomas. “Quality in Bibliographic Control.”

Week 9 (Monday March 29)

  • Technical Services:
    • Acquisitions
    • Cataloging
    • Serials
    • Government Documents
    • Preservation

 

Read for Week 10:

  • Textbook, chapter 6
  • Chudnov, Daniel. “Docster: The Future of Document Delivery.”

·        Freiburger, Gary and Robert Bauchspies and Anne Sharp. “Docsters Redux: Librarians Respond.”

 

Week 10 (Monday April 5)

  • Access Services
    • Circulation
    • Interlibrary Loan

 

  • Progress Report: Library Visits
    • Bring to class what you’ve done so far (suggest you have mostly completed all five.)

 

  • Progress Report: Library Type Group Presentation
    • Update on choice, division of work, plans for remaining work

 

Read for Week 11:

  • Textbook, chapter 7

·        Fritch, John W. and Scott B. Mandernack. “The Emerging Reference Paradigm: A Vision of Reference Services in a Complex Information Environment.”

 

Week 11 (Monday April 12)

  • Reference Services and Information Literacy

 

Read for Week 12:

  • Textbook, chapter 8 and 10
  • Drake, Miriam A. “You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet: Patriot II on the Way.”

·        Shuler, John A. Freedom of Public Information Versus the Right to Public Information: The Future Possibilities of Library Advocacy.”

 

Week 12 (Monday April 19)

  • Ethical and Legal Issues
  • Internet in Libraries

 

Week 13 (Monday April 26)
  • Library Visit Presentations

 

Week 14 (Monday May 3)

  • Library Type Group Presentations

 

Week 15 Finals Week (Monday, May 10)

  • Final Examination