Note: Only the links in the syllabus to readings available online are working. Registered students please contact me to gain full access to the class website.

Summer 2008: Meets weekdays June 16 - July 4, 2008, 1:00pm - 3:40pm in Bilger 319

Instructor: Joyce Yukawa
Voicemail: TBA
Email: jyukawa(at)comcast.net
Office: TBA
Office Hours: before/after class & by appointment

Course Description

This course introduces students to the field of library and information science, and where those fields fit in the overall information infrastructure. We consider the historical context and discuss the present and future of libraries and information centers in a changing technological world. Topics include: information seeking behavior, diverse user needs, information organization and access, characteristics of the information professions, information ethics, intellectual freedom and intellectual property, as well as national and international library development.

Prerequisite: None

Registered students please email me to get access to the course website for a full description of course assignments and reading lists. Please note that there are assigned readings due the first day of class. You can also work on the first assignment, Informal Survey, before class begins.

Core Competencies Addressed

Program Learning Objectives Addressed

This introductory survey course addresses the following objectives of the LIS Program, enabling students to:

Professional Expectations

All students in the Program are expected to become familiar with and adhere to the Professional Expectations posted at http://www.hawaii.edu/slis/students/profexp.html

Course Objectives

The student will be able to:

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Requirements

Course Assignments and Scoring

Assignment Points Due Date
Informal Survey 10 June 18
Journal Review and Analysis Paper 20 June 23
Issue Presentation (in groups) 30 June 25-July 2
Final Paper 25 July 3
Class Participation 15 Throughout the class

Letter Grades

A+ A A- B+ B B- C+ C C-
98-100 94-97 90-93 86-89 82-85 78-81 74-77 70-73 65-69

Late work will not be accepted unless there are special circumstances requiring consideration. In such cases, the instructor will decide on the action to be taken after consultation with the individual student.

Required Text

Rubin, R. (2004). Foundations of library and information science (2nd ed.). New York: Neal Schuman.

Other required readings are noted in the course schedule.

Optional Text

Battles, M. (2003). Library: An unquiet history. New York: W. W. Norton.

Technology Requirements

In this course, you will be expected to accomplish the following:

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Course Calendar (subject to change)

Session & Date
Topics
Readings & Assignments Due
Session 1 June 16
  • Introductions
  • Course overview
  • What is library and information science?
  • Searching workshop (as needed)
Readings due:
  • Rubin, Ch. 1
  • Optional but highly recommended: Battles, Matthew. Library: An unquiet history. New York: W.W. Norton, 2003. Read the entire book before the first class session. Don't worry about the details; enjoy a well-written view of the history of libraries.
  • American Library Association, Library Bill of Rights.
  • Gorman, M. (2002). The value and values of libraries.
  • Bell, S. (2007). Tools every searcher should know and use. Online (Weston, Conn.), 31(5), 22-7. Available via Academic Search Premier.
  • Optional: Foundations of LIS readings; Information seeking readings
In class:
Session 2 June 17
  • History & context of libraries
Readings due:
Session 3 June 18
  • Types of libraries & information work
  • Digital librarianship
Readings due:
Session 4 June 19
  • History & context of information science
  • Meeting user needs through ICT
Readings due:
 Assignments due:
Session 5 June 20
  • Systems dimensions of information work
  • Organization of information
  • Information architecture
Readings due:



Session 6 June 23
  • Collection dimensions of information work
  • Collection development
  • Changes in scholarly publishing: Open access
  • Library's changing role in the information cycle
Readings due:
Assignments due:
Session 7 June 24
  • Human dimensions of information work
  • Reference & information services
  • Social informatics
Readings due:
Session 8 June 25
  • Access and literacy
Readings due:
 Assignments due:
    Session 9 June 26
    • Censorship and intellectual freedom
    		Readings due:
     Assignments due:
      Session 10 June 27
      • Copyright and intellectual property
      		Readings due:
       Assignments due:



        Session 11 June 30
        • Privacy and the First Amendment
        		Readings due:
         Assignments due:
          Session 12 July 1
          • Access to government information
          		Readings due:
           Assignments due:
          Session 13 July 2
          • Our profession: Ethics, associations, literature
          		Readings due:
          Session 14 July 3
          • The future of libraries and the LIS profession
          		Readings due:
          Assignments due:

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          Assignment 1: Informal Survey

          Overview

          File naming: Please name your file beginning with your last name, e.g. yukawa-survey.

          The final product is a written report describing your findings and any conclusions you have drawn from those findings. The resulting paper will probably be 4-6 pages long.

          Due: June 18, 2008

          Points: 10 (10% of grade)

          Instructions

          Make copies of the survey questions below. (You'll need to format them with better layout and organization to make the questions easier to read.) Select ten or more people and ask each of them the survey questions. Use a separate copy of the form for each person interviewed. Fill in the form as the person answers. Jot down any relevant comments. Record the responses accurately. You may interview more people, if you wish. You may choose family members, friends, co-workers, students or strangers. You may include any age group. Summarize the results for each question, including personal data. Representing data graphically is an excellent way to present your results.Tables are easy to construct using Excel or in Word. Come to class prepared to share and discuss your findings and to compare them to others' results.

          Survey questions

          1. How often do you obtain information on the Internet?
          a) Daily; b) At least weekly; c) At least monthly; d) Several times a year; e) Never

          2. How frequently do you use the library to borrow books?
          a) Weekly; b) Monthly; c) Several times a year; d) At least once a year; e) Not even once a year; f) Never have used; g) Used to go, but no longer do

          3. How frequently do you use the library to get assistance with research?
          a) Weekly; b) Monthly; c) Several times a year; d) At least once a yeary; e) Not even once a year; f) Never have used; g) Used to go, but no longer do

          4. The next time you need a source/place for information, which would be your first choice?
          a) Search engine; b) Physical library; c) Online library; d) Physical bookstore; e) Online bookstore; f) A person

          5. When I want to read a book for fun, I usually:
          a) Buy one; b) Borrow it from a friend or family member; c) Check it out from the library; d) Read a book I already have; e) Don't read for pleasure.

          Personal data

          6. Age group:
          a) under 13; b) 14-18; c) 19-23; d) 24-35; e) 35 - 50; f) 51 - 65; g) over 65

          7. I consider myself:
          a) a K-12 student; b) a college/university student c) a fulltime employee; d) a retiree; e) other

          8. Gender:
          a) Female; b) Male.

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