LIBR 560: Foundations Of Information-Based Organizations - Course Syllabus

 

Program: Master of Library and Information Studies
Year: 2005-2006, Winter session, Term 2
Course Schedule: offered via mixed delivery, 50% in-person, 50% web-based, with class meetings on Wednesdays 9:00-12:00 and site tour choices primarily on Thursday mornings.
Instructor: Edie Rasmussen
Location: FNS, room 40
Office phone: 604-827-5486
Office hours: Edie - Mondays 9:30-11:00, Joey - after class as needed
E-mail address: edie@interchange.ubc.ca

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Course Goal: This course introduces students to the range of organizations whose purpose is to gather, organize, and transfer information; their role in society; their procedures; their rationales; how they are staffed and the division of labour in each institution. It introduces students to the profession they will eventually join as a professional librarian. The overarching goal of this course is to provide students with a better understanding of what libraries and information based organizations attempt to do in society and what activities take place in those institutions. It also attempts to provide you with an understanding of the nature and characteristics of the library profession.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course students will be able to:

• clearly delineate between libraries and archives;
• clearly delineate between the four basic types of libraries;
• describe the processes and functions that occur within libraries and other information agencies;
• describe typical staffing arrangements in libraries;
• conduct a successful search for library literature utilizing print, electronic and web-based resources;
• articulate the role of change in library history;
• articulate the role of change in contemporary information agencies;
• clearly describe the role and importance of public libraries in society;
• articulate the importance of intellectual freedom to librarians and describe the methods used to maintain that freedom;
• clearly describe the role and importance of school libraries in society;
• clearly describe the role and importance of academic libraries in society;
• articulate the importance of intellectual property laws to librarians and describe the methods used to maintain a balance between the rights of creators of information and the users of information
• clearly describe the role and importance of special libraries in society;
• clearly articulate the nature and characteristics of the library profession.

Course Topics:

• Information Based Organizations
• Public Libraries
• School Libraries
• Academic Libraries
• Special Libraries (for-profit and not-for-profit)
• Archives
• Intellectual Freedom
• Copyright
• Entrepreneurial (independent) Librarianship
• International Librarianship

Prerequisites: Admission to the MLIS program or permission of SLAIS Graduate Advisor.  Limited to graduate students.

Format of the course: Class is delivered in person and via the web using Web-CT software. On selected Wednesdays, class will meet, often with practicing guest speakers. Site tours are scheduled on selected Thursdays.

Required and Recommended Reading:

Required:

• Required readings from selected web sites will be provided from within the online WEB-CT course modules.

Required Texts: Available at the UBC Bookstore

• Libraries in the information age: an introduction and career exploration, by Denise K. Fourie, David R. Dowell. Greenwood Village, Colorado: Libraries Unlimited, 2002; ISBN: 1563086352. [A copy is on reserve at the Education Library]
• LIBR 560 Custom Course Pack

Course Assignments, Due dates and Weight in relation to final course mark:

Assignment	Due Date	Weight
Online Participation	Ongoing	10%
Assignment 1 – Library/Librarian	Week 2	10%
Library Tour Reports	Wks 4, 6, 8, 10	40%
Assignment 2 – Specialization	Wk 11	10%
Assignment 3 – Policy Memo	Wk 12	12%
Final Written Exam	Wk 14	18%

Course Schedule

Week	Module	Class Meeting	Readings TBA	Tours	Online Discussion Topic	Assignment due Dates (midnight PST)
Week 1	Module 1: Introduction	SLAIS Orientation Wed Jan 4		UBC Virtual Tour	Introduction
Week 2	Module 1: Introduction	Intro to Info Based Orgs - Edie, Joey Wed Jan 11			Info Based Organizations	Assignment 1 Famous Library or Librarian Sun Jan 15
Week 3	Module 2: Public Libraries			Public Library Tour Thurs Jan 19	Public Library Tours
Week 4	Module 2: Public Libraries	Jean McKendry & Nancy Black, SLAIS Wed Jan 25			Public Library Topic	Public Library Tour Report Sun Jan 29
Week 5	Module 3: School Libraries			School Library Tour Thurs Feb 2	School Library Tours
Week 6	Module 3: School Libraries	Pat Parungao, Vancouver School Board (1.5 hrs) Paul Whitney, Vancouver Public Library (1.5 hrs) Wed Feb 8			School Library Topic Copyright, Info Policy	School Library Tour Report Sun Feb 12
Midterm Break
Week 7	Module 4: Academic Libraries			Academic Library Tour Thurs Feb 23	Academic Library Tours
Week 8	Module 4: Academic Libraries	Todd Mundle, SFU Wed Mar 1			Academic Library Topic	Academic Library Tour Report Sun Mar 5
Week 9	Module 5: Special Libraries			Special Library Tours (2) Thurs Mar 9	Special Library Tours
Week 10	Module 5: Special Libraries	Terry Eastwood, Archives (3 hrs) Wed Mar 15			Archives	Special Library Tour Reports (2 reports) Sun Mar 19
Week 11	Module 6: Professions	Ann Curry, Intellectual Freedom (3 hrs) Wed Mar 22			Intellectual Freedom	Assignment 2 Specializations Sun Mar 26
Week 12	Module 6: Professions	Sandie Bradley, Entrepreneurial (1.5 hrs) International Panel Wed Mar 29			Independent Librarianship International Librarianship	IF Policy Memo Sun Apr 2
Week 13						Final Exam WED April 12

Attendance: The Calendar states: “Regular attendance is expected of students in all their classes (including lectures, laboratories, tutorials, seminars, etc.). Students who neglect their academic work and assignments may be excluded from the final examinations. Students who are unavoidably absent because of illness or disability should report to their instructors on return to classes.”

This offering of LIBR560 has both a web-based and an on-site component. Attendance at on-campus classes and completion of library tours is required. If you are unable to attend a class session or scheduled tour please notify the instructor in advance. It is important that you complete the web-based modules according to the schedule, in order to participate in discussions in class and on the discussion list. Submission of assignments and other activities is also due by the date specified. Late submissions for assignments or other activities may not be accepted or may be given a failing grade unless there are exceptional circumstances and other arrangements have been made and agreed to in advance.

The University accommodates students with disabilities who have registered with the Disability Resource Centre. The University accommodates students whose religious obligations conflict with attendance, submitting assignments, or completing scheduled tests and examinations. Please let your instructor know in advance, preferably in the first week of class, if you will require any accommodation on these grounds. Students who plan to be absent for varsity athletics, family obligations, or other similar commitments, cannot assume they will be accommodated, and should discuss their commitments with the instructor before the drop date.

Evaluation: Assignments will not be accepted late unless prior arrangements are made with the instructor. Consideration will be given to legitimate emergencies. If an extension is granted, a late penalty may be imposed at instructor discretion; this will be discussed when you request an extension. All assignments will be awarded letter grades using the evaluative criteria given on the SLAIS web site: http://www.slais.ubc.ca/RESOURCES/slais-marking.htm. If you receive a mark such as A-/B+ you should interpret it as a low A-, likewise a mark of B+/A- should be interpreted as a high B+. [The top mark represents the awarded letter grade, and the bottom mark indicates the relative position of the numerical equivalent in the range for the letter grade.]

Academic Dishonesty: Please review the UBC Calendar “Academic regulations” for the university policy on cheating, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty. Also visit www.arts.ubc.ca and go to the students’ section for useful information on avoiding plagiarism and on correct documentation.

Written & Spoken English Requirement: Written and spoken work may receive a lower mark if it is, in the opinion of the instructor, deficient in English.

Additional course information can be found on the official Distance Education & Technology, Continuing Studies web site. If you have questions or concerns or require other information, please contact the course instructor edie@interchange.ubc.ca by e-mail.