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LIBR 501: Foundations of information based organizations – COURSE SYLLABUS

 

Program: Master of Library and Information Studies
Year: 2006-2007 Winter Session, term 1
Course Schedule: Sept. 7th – November 30 th, 2006 Offered via mixed delivery, 50% in-person, 50% web-based, with class meetings on alternating Thursdays from 1:30 – 4:30 at Koerner Library : KL 216 Site tours occur on alternate Thursday afternoons with additional times offered. Required class meetings start Sept 7th with eight class meetings: Sept. 7th, Sept. 21st, Oct. 5th, Oct. 19th, Nov. 2nd, Nov. 16th, Nov 23 rd, Nov. 30th. Students will sign up during class times for site visits scheduled for Sept. 14, Sept. 27 or 28, Oct. 11 th or 12 th; October 25 th or 26 th; November 8 th or 9 th. Although the site visits are arranged for you, if a student can not attend a scheduled visit, s/he may arrange an alternate library tour on his or her own.
Location: KL 216
Instructor: Allison Taylor McBryde
Office location: TEF 322
Office phone: 604-822-4250 or cell 778-772-4970
Office hours: Tuesdays 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. ; Thursdays 10:00 – Noon . Or by appointment
E-mail address: allison_taylormcbryde@yahoo.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 and literature; 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 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, the diversity of their services and the characteristics of the library profession.

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

• Define specific terms used in business management and information organization management
• Explain concepts used in business management and information organization management
• Conduct a successful literature search, including print, electronic and Internet resources, in the area of business management and information organization management
• Work successfully both in a collaborative way and in an individual way in a work team environment
• Make an effective business presentation
• Write an effective task force report

Course Topics:

• understand the historical context of contemporary libraries and appreciate how historical developments have led to contemporary policies and practices
• articulate the role of change in contemporary information agencies.
• think critically about current issues and problems pertaining to all types of libraries and information agencies in contemporary society
• conduct a successful search for library literature utilizing print, electronic and web-based resources.
• explain the similarities and differences between public, school, academic and special libraries and archives.
• clearly understand the essential role played by libraries in providing access to information in a democratic society ; describe the role and importance of public and school libraries.
• understand the role played by business, private and academic libraries and their support for their communities.
• explain the characteristics of freelance or entrepreneurial librarianship and its place in society
• list and describe the major structural components of libraries and information agencies, including selection, acquisition, cataloguing, circulation, reference and information services, user education, resource sharing, systems design and analysis, and management
• explain the differences between different levels of library staffing, including clerical staff, library assistants, library technicians, professional librarians, and subject and other specialists
• appreciate the fact that each level of staffing plays an important role in the overall success of the library
• understand different types of library users and know how to utilize different analytical tools such as user surveys, demographic statistics, and community profiles in order to understand different library user needs
• understand and appreciate the role that library and information associations play in the development and continuing education of professional librarians.
• discuss and debate contentious issues in the library and information professions such as ethical issues, gender issues, issues of race and ethnicity, internet access, literacy, issues of disability, outsourcing, health and safety concerns etc.
• understand the fundamental importance of intellectual freedom to the library profession and how to deal with selected intellectual freedom challenges
• understand the basic principles of Canadian copyright law and how the libraries comply with copyright provisions

Overview of Course Topics :

MODULE #1 – INTRODUCTION TO LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION AGENGIES

This module introduces students to the various types of information agencies that exist in our society: archives, public libraries, school libraries, academic libraries, and special libraries:

• Topic – Introduction to the literature of librarianship
• Topic – Similarities and differences between types of libraries and archives
• Topic – The processes that occur in libraries
• Topic – Levels of staffing in libraries
• Topic – Brief historical introduction to libraries – notable librarians, notable libraries
• Topic – Change as a dominant metaphor in today’s information agencies

MODULE #2 – PUBLIC LIBRARIES

This module introduces students to the characteristics and functions of public libraries as social institutions:

• Topic – Brief history of public libraries
• Topic – Role and function of public libraries today
• Topic – Diverse types of public libraries
• Topic – Public library services: Reference, Adult Programming, Children’s Services, Outreach, Community connections, Media
• Topic – Current trends including access issues, community building, outreach, programming, and intellectual freedom, recreational use of libraries
• Topic – Public library as “place”

MODULE #3 – SCHOOL LIBRARIES

This module introduces students to the characteristics and functions of school libraries as a vital part of the public education system:

• Topic – Brief history of school libraries
• Topic – Role and function of school libraries
• Topic – Elementary vs. secondary school libraries
• Topic – Current trends including funding issues and cutbacks , selection of materials, accreditation of teacher librarians
• Topic – Issues in staffing, support, intellectual freedom and access.

MODULE #4 – ACADEMIC LIBRARIES

This module introduces students to the characteristics and functions of college and university libraries in the context of higher education:

• Topic – Brief history of academic libraries
• Topic – Role and function of academic libraries
• Topic – College vs. university libraries
• Topic – Current trends including copyright issues, digitization

MODULE #5 – SPECIAL LIBRARIES

This module introduces students to special libraries (for-profit, non-profit and governmental) as well as to national libraries, research libraries and freelance librarianship:

• Topic – Brief history of special libraries
• Topic – Role and function of special libraries
• Topic – Types of special libraries – for profit, not for profit, government,
• Topic – National libraries and non-academic research libraries
• Topic – Freelance/Entrepreneurial/Non-traditional librarianship
• Topic – Current issues in special librarianship including knowledge management

MODULE #6 – THE LIBRARY AND INFORMATION PROFESSIONS

This module introduces students to some of the ideas and concepts involved in what it means to work as a professional librarian:

• Topic – Characteristics of a profession
• Topic – Characteristics of the library profession
• Topic – Brief history of the library profession
• Topic – Library education, accreditation and certification
• Topic – Library associations and ethical codes
• Topic – Current trends in the information professions

Format of the course: This course is a mixed mode web-based course. Much of the lecture material and directions for the course are contained online in the modules of the course. This online material is supplemented by face-to-face meetings where students will hear guest lecturers and will participate in class discussions. The web material is also supplemented by visits to libraries in the Greater Vancouver area.

Recommended Reading:
The textbook for the course is Fourie, Denise and Dowell, David, Libraries in the Information Age, Greenwood Village , Colo. , Libraries Unlimited, 2002, available for purchase at the University bookstore. Used copies may be available from students who took the course in previous terms. Students are also required to purchase a Custom Course Package (CCP) from the University bookstore. Readings in the CCP supplement those in the textbook. Students will also be assigned readings that are electronically accessible and are free of charge from the University library. These readings will be assigned on a regular basis. The readings will form the basis for the final course reading examination.

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

Online discussions	Throughout the term	10%
Famous library or librarian	Due Sept. 17th	10%
Public library writeup	Due October 1st	10%
School library writeup	Due October 15th	10%
Academic library writeup	Due October 30th	10%
Special libraries writeup	Due November 12th	10%
Library policy memo	Due November 19th	10%
Library specializations assignment	Due November 26th	10%
Final examination – open book	Due December 6th	20%

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.”

Evaluation: There will seven brief writing assignments, online class discussions and a final open-book examination based on the course readings. Four of the writing assignments will be based on the required tours for the course. 40% of the course mark is for tour writeups, 30% for other brief writing assignments, 10 for contributions to online discussions and 20% for the final course reading exam. All assignments will be awarded marks using the evaluative criteria given on the SLAIS web site.

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.