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Syllabus

Purpose: The purpose of L524 is to introduce students to the basic reference sources and services found in most libraries/information centers, and acquaint them with the history, philosophy, and function of the information services.

Objectives: By the end of the semester, students should be able to:

1. identify, compare, and evaluate information sources; identify the sources most likely to contain specific types of information,
2. discuss the reference process, including techniques of question negotiation and search strategy,
3. define the responsibilities of the reference librarian; identify reference and information services in different context, and
4. discuss current issues in information service.

Readings: There are no required textbooks for this course. There will be a Readings Packet.

Course Calender:

Date	Topics, Readings and Assignments
August 29	Introduction and Overview Who are the instructors? our experience and our biases; Who are the students? your experience and expectations; Mechanics of class - including posting on our discussion forum; What is "reference service" Resources: Overview of the IUB libraries and services Assignments: Sign up in the Online Discussion and post your self introduction in the appropriate conference. Readings (for the next session): Rothstein, Samuel "Reference Service: the new dimension in librarianship" College and Research Libraries 22,1 (January 1961) 11-18 [in packet] Miller, Stuart W. "'Monument': Guide to Reference Books'" in Distinquished Classics of Reference Publishing [hereafter referred to as DCRP] ed. James Rettig (Oryx Press, 1992) p.129-137. "The bibliographic wonder of the world: the National Union Catalog" in DCRP p.161-173 [in packet] Crawford, W. MARC for Library Use. 2nd ed. Boston: G.K. Hall, 1989. Chapter 1. Introduction. [in packet] Tennant, Roy. "The Print Perplex: Building the Future Catalog." Library Journal 123.19(Nov. 15, 1998): 22-23. [in packet] Take a look at: Guide to Reference Books, 11th edition (copies on reserve in SLIS as well as in the Reference Department); earlier editions in Research Collections stacks. Katz , Bill Introduction to Reference Work, 7th edition 1997 (SLIS reserve) Bopp, Richard and Reference and Information Services, 1995 (SLIS reserve)
September 5	Finding books and journals: the library catalog Assignment Due: Resources exercises -- Your Own List and Section A Guest Lecture: The MARC record and the modern library catalog Julie Bobay, Head, SLIS Library Discussion of assigned readings from August 29 Resources: Section A on Basic Resources list & IUCAT and SIRSI Assignment: Getting started with Assignment III Readings, browsings and explorings for the next session Introduction to Online Information Retrieval Introduction to IR (Don't worry too much about the technical details.) Agents and Angels (Chapter Two of The Social Life of Information) Automated Digital Libraries How Effectively Can Computers Be Used for the Skilled Tasks of Professional Librarianship? A few short pieces on recent search engine development Internet Scouring Techniques That Go Beyond The Basics Souped-up search engines The web is a bow tie Never trust a human In Search of Google Three sites to learn more about search engines Search Engine Watch Search Engines Showdown Web Search
September 12	Searching: Bibliographical, fulltext, and internet Assignment: Resources exercises: Section B "Indexes-General & Multidisciplinary" Readings for the next session Biggs, Mary. "Mom in the Library": the Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature" in packet Campbell, Jerry "Clinging to Traditional Reference" in packet Hernon, Peter and Charles R. McClure "Unobtrusive Reference Testing: the 55 Percent Rule" in packet Gers, Ralph and Lillie J.Seward "Improving Reference Performance: Results of a Statewide Study" in packet Durrance, Joan C. "Reference Success: Does the 55 Percent Rule Tell the Whole Story?" in packet Guidelines for Behavioral Performance of Reference and Information Services Professionals
September 19	Finding information on My Topic : Part I General and Multidisciplinary Assignment Due: Resources exercises -- Section B "Indexes-General & Multidisciplinary" Resources: Section B on Basic Resources list Begin discussion of the Reference Interview and competencies Introduction to Web Searching: Overview and General Search Engines Assignment: Basic Resources Section C "Indexes-Discipline Specific" Readings for the next session Nielsen, Brian "Teacher or Intermediary: alternative professional models in the Information Age" -- in packet
September 26	Finding information on My Topic: Part II Discipline Specific Assignment Due: Resources Exercise: Section C: Subject/Discipline Specific Indexes Discussion: continue discussion of elements of the "Reference Interview" centering on accuracy (section 4.0 of the RASD Guidelines) and, if we have time, the "teacher"/"spoon-feeder"dicotomy which Nielsen discusses and which we began discussing on our Board under the heading "Rothstein article" Resources: Section C on Basic Resources list Web Searching (II): Directories and Special Search Engines Assignment: Basic Resources Exercise: Section D "Biographical Resources" Readings for the next session People Finders and White Pages, and especially the section on privacy, at: Naked In Cyberspace What the Internet Knows About You Code of Ethics of the American Library Association Library Bill of Rights The Librarian's Guide to Cyberspace Tipsheet
October 3	Finding People Assignment Due: Resources Exercise: Section D: Biographical Resources Discussion: readings from the previous session Resources: Section D on Basic Resources list Web Searching (III): Meta-Search Engines and Portals Assignment: Basic Resources Exercise: Section E "Encyclopedias" Readings for the next session Evaluating Information Found on the Internet Take a look at (as opposed to read all of) Copyright Management Center
October 10	Finding an overview Assignment Due: Resources Exercise: Section E: ENCYCLOPEDIAS GENERAL and SUBJECT Discussion: readings from the previous session Rate the Candidates' Web Sites Argus Clearinghouse Ratings System GoTo.com Resources: Section E on Basic Resources list Encyclopedias in English and Other Languages Assignment: To be prepared for Lou Malcomb's lecture on October 17, please go over Government Publications Department: Selected Sources for Reference: U.S., IGO and Indiana Government that she provided. You will not be asked to turn in your assignment when we meet on October 17. Instead, you will be given some questions to work on, after Lou's lecture.
October 17	Finding statistics, government publications and geographical resources Guest Lecture: Lou Malcomb, Government Publications Department: Selected Sources for Reference: U.S., IGO and Indiana Government More Government related web resources Assignment: Complete an exercise of ten questions, distributed in class. Review (i.e. re-read and refresh your memory of) Campbell, Hernon, Gers, and Durrance, all in your reading packet, assigned on September 12. Read What is the Shelf Life of the MLS by Duncan Smith, especially the section on REFERENCE ACCURACY IN MARYLAND: A CASE STUDY AND A SUCCESS STORY To be prepared for Carolyn Walters's lecture on October 24, please go over her Business Information Bibliography
October 24	Finding business, consumer and medical information(for the layperson) Discussion of the exercise from the previous week, and the 55 Percent Rule Guest Lecture: Carolyn Walters, Business Information Bibliography Assignment: Complete an exercise of Business Resources, distributed in class. Section F on Basic Resources list
October 31	Finding words and facts Discussion of the exercise on Business Resources Discussion of Section F on Basic Resources List More Internet Resources related to Section F Reading Assignments: Electronic Reference Service: Some Suggested Guidelines Managing an Internet-based distributed reference service A Beginner's Guide to Effective Email Take a look at E-Mail Reference Sites Take a look at AskA Service from VRD Take a look at Collaborative Digital Reference Service (CDRS) Take a look at EARL: Ask a Librarian Take a look at Ask an Expert
November 7	Email Reference and Commercial and Cooperative "Aska" services Assignments Due: Bibliographic Guide Reading Assignments: Guidelines for Medical, Legal, and Business Responses at General Reference Desks Guidelines for Information Services Review ALA Code of Ethics, assigned on September 26 Take a look at Internet Training and Learning: A Guide to Web Resources for Public Librarians
November 14	Public Libraries Assignments Due: Opinion Paper Guest Speaker: Mickey Needham, MCPL. Topic: Public Libraries Ethics and policy issues; confidentiality, medical and legal aspects
November 21	Creating reference tools within the Web environment: email service setup, internet resource selections, guides, pathfinders, database help, etc. Tools Assignments Due: Paper on participation in online conference Practicum questions to be distributed in class.
November 28	Near Future: real-time remote reference, portals, student assistance, "Expert" systems Links
December 5	Wrapup: Expert Help Needed? Who? When? and Where? Practicum Due