Clarion University of Pennsylvania
Department of Library Science

LS 500-71
Information Sources and Services

Celeste DiCarlo Nalwasky, Ph.D.
Southpointe Center

Syllabus - Fall, 2001

Friday, September 14, 2001, 6:00 P.M. - 9:45 P.M.
Saturday, September 15, 2001, 8:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M.
Friday, October 19, 2001, 6:00 P.M. - 9:45 P.M.
Saturday, October 20, 2001, 8:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M.
Friday, November 9, 2001, 6:00 P.M. - 9:45 P.M.
Saturday, November 10, 2001, 8:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M.

Office Hours: By Appointment
Fridays:  4:30 P.M. - 6:00 P.M.
Saturdays:  7:00 A.M. - 8:00 A.M.

Updated 9/25/01

Celeste DiCarlo Nalwasky, Ph.D.

(H) 724-942-1115

nalwasky@cobweb.net

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Philosophy and techniques of information services in libraries, with the sources, tools and technology essential to the reference process.Specific reference problems and research studies, the reference interview, and search strategies are considered.

OBJECTIVES

A. To become familiar with the characteristics and proper use of basic reference materials (both print and electronic) through a systematic examination of these materials.

B. To examine the reference process relative to overall library goals and activities.

C. To develop basic and specific communication and interpersonal skills for determining what information is sought by library patrons.

D. To develop an efficient methodology for analyzing reference questions.

E. To become familiar with the reasons for and methods of effective bibliographic instruction, including the development of electronic products to deliver such instruction.

F. To develop a personal philosophy of reference work.

G. To become familiar with the professional literature associated with librarianship generally and with reference work specifically.

ASSIGNMENTS

READING LOG

The reading log is a record of your reading of chosen and assigned articles in the professional periodical literature of library science. The reading log is designed with several purposes in mind:

• To serve as a vehicle of communication between student and instructor

• To offer you a laboratory experience in abstracting (summarizing) and reflecting critically on the literature of your chosen profession.

• To acquaint you with the core professional/scholarly journals of reference librarianship.

The log will be prepared in two installments, each of which is due at the time indicated on the Course Calendar.  Each entry in the log should have three distinct parts:

• A proper citation using Turabian format

• A brief (one paragraph) summary or abstract of the article or chapter

• A brief (one or two paragraphs) reaction to/critical reflection on the article, indicating whether you agree with the author(s) premise(s), what you learned from the article, etc.

Grading will be both qualitative and quantitative and will be based, among other things, on an assessment of the descriptions and reflections in each log entry and the extent to which you have followed the above-articulated guidelines.

PATHFINDER AND BIBLIOGRAPHIC INSTRUCTION UNIT

"The Pathfinder"

This project is designed to assist you in developing expertise in identifying and selecting materials relevant to an identified information need and presenting them in a user-friendly, web-based format. The project will be prepared in two parts:

Part one (The Plan): A brief statement [not a part of the web page] identifying the audience the pathfinder is being designed for, what has occasioned the development of the pathfinder (e.g., professor's request, consistent patron inquiries on the topic, etc.), the type of library setting in which the pathfinder will be used (e.g., rural public library, middle school media center, university library, etc.). If the pathfinder is being developed for a specific library, please indicate the name of the library. Include any comments here that relate to how you have chosen to organize your pathfinder.

Part two (The Work): The pathfinder. Pathfinders ordinarily are no more than two or three pages in length. The idea is to identify a narrow topic in which an identifiable group of patrons has an interest and to provide a "roadmap" to your library's collection that will enable the patrons to quickly and easily retrieve information on the topic. Examples of such topics include: "Fetal Alcohol Syndrome," "Children's Literature with a Jewish Theme," "The Short Fiction of Flannery O'Connor," and "Native American Religion." The pathfinder is NOT a bibliography of everything you can find on the topic; rather, it outlines a strategy for locating information and provides illustrative examples of the types of materials (along with call numbers) that can be located using this strategy; all examples should be cited in correct Turabian format. The attached Pathfinder has been provided for illustrative purposes. Other pathfinders will be added as the semester progresses.

The due date for the pathfinder is indicated on the course calendar. Grading will be based on accuracy and appropriateness of the bibliographic citations and a qualitative evaluation of such items as scope notes, annotations, logic and clarity of the overall product, etc.

"Bibliographic Instruction"

The pathfinder will be presented to the class as if you were a reference librarian providing instruction to the group of library users described in the statement discussed above. A typical BI session will be demonstrated for the class for illustrative purposes.

MULTICULTURAL ADULT READER ADVISORY PROJECT

This project will be developed as if to be used in a public library setting. Select a specific culture-related area [e.g., Native American, Cuban-American, Chinese, Egyptian, etc.] and develop a genre-specific [e.g., mysteries, romances, historical, etc.] list of recommended popular fiction in English.

The list need not be long but should include at least 10 titles. Each title should include a brief annotation. If there are appropriate web sites that include additional recommended titles, these should also be included along with a brief annotation.

In a brief [approximately two pages double spaced], paper please describe your search procedure, sources you used to prepare the reading list, problems you encountered, etc.

Several examples can be given. An example of a collection of genre links within African-American culture is listed in the following: http://www.clpgh.org/clp/Humanities/bklafam2.html

An example of a list of books with gay detectives is listed in the following:  http://www.scls.lib.wi.us/madison/booklists/glmysteries.html

In these cases the citations do not have annotations; however, the guide that you prepare should have annotations for each citation.

TEXTS

REQUIRED:

Bopp, Richard E. and Linda C. Smith. Reference and Information Services: An

     Introduction. 3d ed. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited, Inc., 2001.

OPTIONAL:

Turabian, Kate L.  A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations.

     6th ed.  Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996.

GRADING

20% Two Quizzes

20% Class Participation, including discussion of search questions

20% Reading Log

20% Pathfinder/Bibliographic Instruction Unit

20% Reader Advisory Project

CALENDAR

Date	Readings	Activities	Due
9/14-15	Text: Chapters	Introductions
	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,	Reference Interview
	12, 16, 17	Electronic systems
		Saturday Afternoon:
		Visit to Peters Twp.
		Public Library
		Article Selection
10/19-20	Text: Chapters	Quiz	Pathfinder:
	7, 11, 18, 19,	Discussion	Part 1
	20, 21	Search Questions	Reading Log
		Pathfinder Activity
11/9-10	Text: Chapters	Quiz	Reading Log
	8, 9, 10, 13,	Discussion	Reader Advis-
	14, 15, 22	Search Questions	ory Project
		Reader Advisory	Pathfinder:
		Project Activity	Part 2
		Bibliographic
		Instruction Activity