LIBR 210-01
Reference and Information Services
Spring 2012 Greensheet

Lili Luo
E-mail
Office Hours: By appointment

Students will be automatically enrolled in the D2L site for this course. The course will be automatically available to students on Wednesday, January 25, 2012.

Course Description

This course provides an overview of information services provided in a variety of settings. The focus is on human intermediation in libraries (both physical and digital) and in other information service environments, mainly covering the methods and models of information service delivery, fundamental tools and resources in selecting and searching information, information evaluation and emerging issues and standards pertinent to information access and service.

Course Prerequisites: LIBR 202

Major Themes

• The evolution of reference and information service
• The reference process in various venues
• Information sources in multiple formats
• Search tools and search strategies
• Evaluation of reference interactions
• Evaluation and management of information resources
• Library instruction
• Delivery of reference and information service to diverse populations
• Ethics and policies of reference and information services

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, students will:

• Understand the basic principles and techniques used in the provision of reference and information services
• Be able to conduct an effective reference interview to interpret users’ information needs
• Have a working knowledge of general information resources and search tools in various disciplines
• Be able to quickly identify and select information resources, effectively locate relevant information, and provide clear instructions (if necessary) in the fulfillment of users’ information needs
• Comprehend the skills to critically and thoroughly evaluate information
• Be able to create documents for indirect reference.
• Develop a strong sense of the broader context of reference and information service, in particular the customer service mentality, professional concerns of ethics, and equal representation and service
• Be aware of the emerging issues concerning reference and information service

LIBR 210 supports the following SLIS core competency:

• Use service concepts, principles and techniques that facilitate information access, relevance, and accuracy for individuals or groups of users

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Course Requirements

Course Format
This class is taught online via D2L and Blackboard Collaborate (previously Elluminate). There are two mandatory meetings on Blackboard Collaborate -- Feb 13 & April 9, 6:00-8:30 pm PST.

Student Responsibilities

• As a student, you are expected to read and carefully consider all the readings, participate fully in all activities and discussions during the class duration, as well as turning in assignments by the designated time.
• Due dates are not negotiable. If the instructor needs to change a due date, you will be notified as soon as possible. Because due dates are not negotiable, procrastination should be avoided. If you employ procrastination as a time management tool, this can limit your time in dealing with unexpected problems. The instructor has the right not to accept late assignments or to add significant grade penalties. If you foresee any difficulty in completing your assignment on time, you need to contact the instructor at least 36 hours before the due date to request extension. In addition, as the instructor schedules grading time for assignments, students turning in late assignments may receive their assessment much later than the rest of the class.
• If you do not understand assignments, readings, etc., it is your responsibility to inform the instructor. If you are having difficulty, please contact me early so that we can resolve problems before your final grade is unchangeable. You may also ask for help from your classmates through the various discussion methods in Blackboard. You must complete all assignments to pass the course.

Assignments

• Reference sources exercises (40%， corresponding with course objective 2, 3, 4, 5)
  Knowledge of reference resources and skills in effectively searching and evaluating them are one of the core competencies of reference work. Thus, you will complete a series of exercises to practice your skills in selecting, searching and evaluating reference and information resources discussed in class.
• Reference service evaluation exercises (12%, corresponding with course objective 1, 7)
  Evaluating reference and information services from the user’s perspective gives you a more complete view on reference service provision. You will participate as a user in three reference transactions via different media (face-to-face, email and chat), and submit a report evaluating your experiences.
• Reference desk shadowing exercise (12%, corresponding with course objective 1, 2, 7, 8)
  Observing the activities at a reference desk helps you better understand the nature of reference work. You will spend a few hours shadowing an on-duty reference librarian at a reference desk of your choice, and submit a report recording the shadowing experience and reflecting upon it.
  
• User instruction project (20%, corresponding with course objective 1, 6, 7)
  This is a group assignment. The class will be split into several groups and each group is responsible for delivering a presentation and create a companion Website in an instructional scenario. This assignment will further your knowledge of reference sources as well as practice your instructional skills.
• Class discussion (16%, coorresponding with course objective 1, 7, 8)
  You are expected to participate in a series of class discussions. Your individual contribution to the discussion topics is as important as your responses to your colleagues’ postings. Basically you will be evaluated for your involvement in and intellectual contribution to the collaborative learning environment. Part of the graduate education experience is to help you learn how to present information with support, and not simply say “Well, I think that….” This also applies to agreeing with someone; the statement “I agree” should be presented with support..

All assignments must be turned in by midnight of the day they are due. Late submissions will be reduced by 5% of the total points for the assignment for each day they are late.

Textbooks and Readings

Required Textbooks:

• Cassell, K.A. & Hiremath, U. (2011). Reference and information services in the 21st century (2nd ed. revised). Neal-Schuman. Available through Amazon: 1555707408.

Grading Scale

The standard SJSU School of Information Grading Scale is utilized for all iSchool courses:

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.

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