LIBR 204-02
LIBR 204-03
Information Organizations and Management
Spring 2009 Greensheet
Joe Matthews
E-mail
Phone: (760)930-9223
Office Hours: The instructor is available via email or telephone.
| Greensheet Links Textbooks and Readings Course Requirements | Resources ANGEL ANGEL Tutorials iSchool eBookstore |
The content for the course is managed through ANGEL. Students must self-enroll for this course on Angel prior to January 26, 2009. You will be required to use a password access code. The code will be provided to you via the MySJSU Messaging system.
Course Description
Identifying distinguishing characteristics, culture and relationships of information organizations. Emphasizes theories examining the interaction between human beings and the organizations in which they work.
Course Prerequisites: Students will have the specified minimum hardware and software plus a high speed Internet connection to participate fully in the course.
Course Objectives
Student Learning Outcomes
- To increase your understanding of the roles and activities of managers and leaders in information agencies and issues of diversity in the workplace;
- To develop your disposition for leadership, regardless of job title, in the work environment;
- To develop your understanding and skills of group dynamics and processes and working in teams;
- To promote your understanding of the theory, principles and practices of management in libraries;
- To introduce analytical and strategic planning processes and skills;
- To introduce the portfolio as a means of performance assessment;
- To know the professional and research literature of management;
- To develop your skills in the preparation and presentation of oral and written reports;
- To increase your self-evaluation skills, particularly with respect to the ability to be aware of what you are doing, critically and non-defensively.
LIBR 204 supports the following SLIS Core Competencies:
- apply the fundamental principles of planning, management and marketing/advocacy;
- design training programs based on appropriate learning principles and theories;
- demonstrate oral and written communication skills necessary for group work, collaborations and professional level presentations;
- evaluate programs and services on specified criteria.
In addition, this section supports the following SLIS Core Competencies:
- understand the nature of research, research methods and research findings; retrieve, evaluate and synthesize scholarly and professional literature for informed decision-making by specific client groups.
See the competencies at:
http://ischool.sjsu.edu/slis/competencies.htm
Course Requirements
Complete LIBR 203: Online Social Networking: Technology and Tools
This is a mandatory 1 unit course that introduces students to the various e-learning tools used in the SLIS program, including Blackboard, Elluminate and Second Life. This course must be completed by all new SLIS students within the first 4 weeks of their first semester. If you have questions about this course, e-mail Debbie Faires or Dale David.
For more information, see http://ischool.sjsu.edu/classes/coursedesc.htm
Assignments
The general assignments for the course are noted here. Please see course outline each week and the assignments on Angel for specific assignment details, including due dates. Each assignment has a rubric and it is found on Angel Web. The total number of points for the class is 400.
| Number | Assignment | % of Points |
| 1 | Introduction and Resume. | 0% |
| 2 | Observations of Organizational Structure. Select a public library near you (not where you work) and describe it in 5-7 double-spaced pages. How easy is it to find major areas within the library (signage, wayfinding)? Are rules posted? Are staff moving about the library or do they stay behind a service desk? How friendly would you rate staff? What kind of organizational structure do you think exists? | 10% |
| 3 | Threaded discussion. Your engagement with the topics and with your fellow students will deepen your knowledge. Some ways of demonstrating engagement include: - Identifying an aspect of the topic as significant to you with your explanation of why you see it as significant - Evaluating an argument critically and comparatively [Note: “critically†doesn’t always mean “negativelyâ€; perhaps “logically†is a better synonym] - Providing an effective synthesis of multiple resources, arguments, or points of view - Taking an existing discussion in a new direction - Bringing “real life†experience into class discussions - Helping to create a learning community by inclusive remarks and questions and by bringing fellow students into the discussion.
| 20% |
| 4 | Forces Impacting Libraries. Add your comments and thoughts to a group discussion - discussion will take place using GoogleDocs - about the forces that are having an impact on libraries. | 20% |
| 5 | Strategic Plan (Group Project). Prepare a strategic plan for a public or academic library of your choice - a single building. Identify the changes that should take place if the library wants to acknowledge and incorporate the forces impacting libraries. | 30% |
| 6 | Operational Plan. For the library used in the strategic plan assignment, describe how you would position the organization for future success and then develop an operational plan - marketing, HR, technology, facilities, etc. | 15% |
| 7 | Individual assessment. Write an analysis of the experiences identifying factors that contribute to group success and factors that impede it. Conclude your paper with some suggestions for actions that you might take in a future group to make it work more effectively. | 4% |
Assignment Due Dates
| Date | Assignment |
| Jan 26 | Post resume |
| Feb 16 | Organizational Structure |
| Mar 9 | Forces Impacting Libraries |
| April 6 | Strategic plan - Group project |
| April 20 | Operational plan |
| May 7 | Individual Assessment |
All course work to be completed by May 8, 2009
Late or Missed Assignments
Penalty for late or missed work – Automatic 5% deduction
Grading
Students who complete the assignments, use the class Angel site on a regular basis, and participate in the discussions will receive the B provided the quality of written work meets the standard of rigorous scholarly work for the University. Above standard work is defined as clearly displays one of more of the following criteria:
- Originality in the approach to the assignment
- Greater depth of analysis that the written assignment expects
- Critical evaluation readings by comparing them to other authors or sources
- Ability to organize information for themselves and others plus create tools for life long learning and knowledge retrieval
Penalties are also assessed in the following situations:
- Errors in spelling, grammar and syntax will be subject to a grade penalty.
Evidence of plagiarism will result in a grade of F for the course.
General Expectations
All students must:
- Have the minimal home computing environment as described at http://ischool.sjsu.edu/ecommunication/homecomputing.htm
- Enroll in the course in Blackboard to receive communications from the instructor by the first day of the term.
- Submit all assignments electronically. The following scheme is required for the files: [Course Number]_[Student’s Last Name]_[Assignment Number]. Example: If the students last name is Smith use 204_Smith_assignment1.doc. Failure to utilize this format results in point deductions.
- Type or key coursework using Microsoft Word, double-spaced and in 12 point font.
- Use a current virus protection program to scan all assignments before they are submitted electronically to Blackboard and to the instructor.
- Use The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Fifth edition, as the official style manual for formats, citations, and bibliography.
Textbooks and Readings
Required Textbooks:
- Matthews, J. R. (2005). Strategic planning and management for library managers. Libraries Unlimited. Available through Amazon: 1591582318.
- Stueart, R.D., & Moran B.B. (2007). Library and information center management (7th ed.). Libraries Unlimited. Available through Amazon: 159158406X (paperback).
Grading Scale
The standard SJSU School of Information Grading Scale is utilized for all iSchool courses:
| 97 to 100 | A |
| 94 to 96 | A minus |
| 91 to 93 | B plus |
| 88 to 90 | B |
| 85 to 87 | B minus |
| 82 to 84 | C plus |
| 79 to 81 | C |
| 76 to 78 | C minus |
| 73 to 75 | D plus |
| 70 to 72 | D |
| 67 to 69 | D minus |
| Below 67 | F |
In order to provide consistent guidelines for assessment for graduate level work in the School, these terms are applied to letter grades:
- C represents Adequate work; a grade of "C" counts for credit for the course;
- B represents Good work; a grade of "B" clearly meets the standards for graduate level work;
For core courses in the MLIS program (not MARA) — INFO 200, INFO 202, INFO 204 — the iSchool requires that students earn a B in the course. If the grade is less than B (B- or lower) after the first attempt you will be placed on administrative probation. You must repeat the class the following semester. If -on the second attempt- you do not pass the class with a grade of B or better (not B- but B) you will be disqualified. - A represents Exceptional work; a grade of "A" will be assigned for outstanding work only.
Students are advised that it is their responsibility to maintain a 3.0 Grade Point Average (GPA).
University Policies
General Expectations, Rights and Responsibilities of the Student
As members of the academic community, students accept both the rights and responsibilities incumbent upon all members of the institution. Students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with SJSU's policies and practices pertaining to the procedures to follow if and when questions or concerns about a class arises. See University Policy S90-5 at http://www.sjsu.edu/senate/docs/S90-5.pdf. More detailed information on a variety of related topics is available in the SJSU catalog at http://info.sjsu.edu/web-dbgen/catalog/departments/LIS.html. In general, it is recommended that students begin by seeking clarification or discussing concerns with their instructor. If such conversation is not possible, or if it does not serve to address the issue, it is recommended that the student contact the Department Chair as a next step.
Dropping and Adding
Students are responsible for understanding the policies and procedures about add/drop, grade forgiveness, etc. Refer to the current semester's Catalog Policies section at http://info.sjsu.edu/static/catalog/policies.html. Add/drop deadlines can be found on the current academic year calendars document on the Academic Calendars webpage at http://www.sjsu.edu/provost/services/academic_calendars/. The Late Drop Policy is available at http://www.sjsu.edu/aars/policies/latedrops/policy/. Students should be aware of the current deadlines and penalties for dropping classes.
Information about the latest changes and news is available at the Advising Hub at http://www.sjsu.edu/advising/.
Consent for Recording of Class and Public Sharing of Instructor Material
University Policy S12-7, http://www.sjsu.edu/senate/docs/S12-7.pdf, requires students to obtain instructor's permission to record the course and the following items to be included in the syllabus:
- "Common courtesy and professional behavior dictate that you notify someone when you are recording him/her. You must obtain the instructor's permission to make audio or video recordings in this class. Such permission allows the recordings to be used for your private, study purposes only. The recordings are the intellectual property of the instructor; you have not been given any rights to reproduce or distribute the material."
- It is suggested that the syllabus include the instructor's process for granting permission, whether in writing or orally and whether for the whole semester or on a class by class basis.
- In classes where active participation of students or guests may be on the recording, permission of those students or guests should be obtained as well.
- "Course material developed by the instructor is the intellectual property of the instructor and cannot be shared publicly without his/her approval. You may not publicly share or upload instructor generated material for this course such as exam questions, lecture notes, or homework solutions without instructor consent."
Academic integrity
Your commitment, as a student, to learning is evidenced by your enrollment at San Jose State University. The University Academic Integrity Policy F15-7 at http://www.sjsu.edu/senate/docs/F15-7.pdf requires you to be honest in all your academic course work. Faculty members are required to report all infractions to the office of Student Conduct and Ethical Development. The Student Conduct and Ethical Development website is available at http://www.sjsu.edu/studentconduct/.
Campus Policy in Compliance with the American Disabilities Act
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, or if you need to make special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible, or see me during office hours. Presidential Directive 97-03 at http://www.sjsu.edu/president/docs/directives/PD_1997-03.pdf requires that students with disabilities requesting accommodations must register with the Accessible Education Center (AEC) at http://www.sjsu.edu/aec to establish a record of their disability.
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader to access PDF files.
More accessibility resources.