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Department
of
Library Science |
Information Sources and Services
Fall 2000
Becker 152
Monday, 9 am-11:30 am
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Dr. Buchanan
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Office Hours
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180 Carlson Classroom Building
814-393-2447 (office)
814-393-2150 (fax) buchanan@clarion.edu |
Monday: 2:30-4:30 pm
Tuesday: 9:30-11:30 am
Wednesday: 9-10 am and by appointment |
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 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.
- 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.
PATHFINDER/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: 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 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.
Here is an example of a collection of genre links within African-American culture: http://www.clpgh.org/clp/Humanities/bklafam2.html
Here is an example of a list of books with gay detectives:
http://www.scls.lib.wi.us/madison/booklists/glmysteries.html
In the above cases the citations do not have annotations; however, the
guide that you prepare should have annotations for each book.
TEXTS
REQUIRED:
Bopp, Richard E. and Linda C. Smith. Reference and Information
Services: An Introduction. 2nd ed. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited,
Inc., 1995.
OPTIONAL:
Turabian, Kate L. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses,
and Dissertations. 5th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago
Press, 1987.
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
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Date
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Readings
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Activities
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Due
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August 28
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Introduction
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September 4
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Labor Day - No Class
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September 11
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Text: Chaps 1,2,16,17
Anderson, Charles R. "Proactive Reference." Reference &
User Services Quarterly
1999 38, no. 2 (1999): 139-140. [Available through ProQuest] |
Discussion of readings and question sets.
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Encyclopedia Questions |
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September 18
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Text: 3,4,12
Read the following article and note how the author summarizes, organizes,
and presents a review of recent literature on reference librarianship.
Reih, Soo Young. "Changing Reference Service Environment: A Review
of Perspectives from Managers, Librarians, and Users."
[Available through ProQuest] |
Discussion of readings and continuation of discussion
of question sets
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September 25
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Text: chaps 5,6
Select one of the articles discussed in the previous article and include
it as one of the items in your reading log assignment. |
Professor at Pennsylvania Library Association annual
conference. Ms. Constance ("Connie") Gamaluddin will be guest lecturer.
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Prepare at least one question concerning reference
librarianship and submit to Ms. Gamaluddin prior to Monday’s class.
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October 2
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Text: chaps 7,20,21
Read: Still, Julie M. and Vibiana Kassabian.“Selecting
Full-text Undergraduate Periodicals Databases.”Econtent
22, no. 6 (December 1999) [available through ProQuest]
Visit GPO online at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/db2.html
and browse through at least three of the databases; be prepared to discuss
your impressions in class.
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October 9
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Text: chap 11
Identify and read an article in the professional periodical literature published within the last three years that deals with diversity or multiculturalism |
discussion of readings; review of questions
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October 16
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quiz
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first half of reading log due |
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October 23
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Text: Chaps 10,13,14
Guenther, Kim. "Preserving the personal touch of library services in a digital world." Computers in Libraries (September 2000) [available through ProQuest] |
discussion of readings; review of questions
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October 30
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Text: Chaps 8,9,15
Straw, Joseph E. "A virtual understanding: The reference interview and question negotiation in a digital age." Reference & User Services Quarterly 39, no. 4 (Summer 2000) [available through ProQuest] |
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November 6
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November 13
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November 20
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November 27
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bibliographic instruction presentations
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December 4
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bibliographic instruction presentations
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December 11
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final
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