LIBR 248-01
LIBR 248-10
LIBR 248-11
Beginning Cataloging and Classification 
Fall 2012 Greensheet

Dr. Robert Ellett
E-mail
Office Location: Norfolk, VA
Office Hours:
Office hours and telephone conferences arranged by e-mail


Greensheet Links
Textbooks
SLOs 
Competencies 
Prerequisites

Deliverable Products
Resources
D2L
iSchool eBookstore
 

Students will be automatically enrolled in the D2L site for this course. The course will be automatically available to students on 20 August 2012.

Course Description

Theory and practice of bibliographic control techniques including the study of representation of cataloging using AACR2 (latest edition) and Library of Congress Rule Interpretations in machine-based representation using the MARC21 format and other metadata standards, and subject analysis and classification including Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH), Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC), and Library of Congress Classification (LCC) with the principle focus on monographic literature.

Course Requirements

Virtual Classes
Optional synchronous virtual classes will be scheduled during the course using the Blackboard Collaborate software. These classes will be recorded for later viewing. Live attendance is not required or monitored. Instruction on software use will be provided.

Deliverable Products
Students will be evaluated in the performance of the following tasks:

Product Percentage of Final Grade
Assignment 1 (Descriptive Cataloging: Books) SLO1 SLO2 SLO5 15%
Assignment 2 (Authority Control/ Choice of Entry/ Form of Entry) SLO2  15%
Assignment 3 (Library of Congress Subject Headings) SLO1 SLO3 10%
Assignment 4 (Dewey Decimal Classification) SLO1 SLO3 10%
Assignment 5 (Library of Congress Classification) SLO1 SLO3 10%
Course Project SLO1 SLO2 SLO3 SLO4 SLO5 30%
Class Participation SLO1 SLO2 SLO3 SLO4 SLO5 10%

In addition, several ungraded exercises will be distributed to practice and enhance skills. These exercises are included within class participation. Other class participation activities will occur in the discussion forum. The course project is designed as a culminating activity to allow students the opportunity to demonstrate proficiency in all aspects of descriptive and subject cataloging covered within the course.

Greensheet (Syllabus)
This syllabus may be altered to meet education objectives based on needs of the learning environment.

Attendance and Participation
To receive the most benefit from this course, you must read the text and online resource materials, complete the assignments, and participate in class activities. Regular participation has a positive effect on the course grade earned.

Late Assignments and Incompletes
Late assignments will not be accepted. If you have an illness (medical certificate supplied) or a family tragedy, please contact the instructor. Incomplete grades will not be granted except in extraordinary circumstances. Supporting documentation will be required in cases of medical or health emergencies.

Readings

  • Furrie, B. (2003). Understanding MARC Bibliographic: Machine-Readable Cataloging. Data Base Development Department of the Follett Software Company. http://www.loc.gov/marc/umb/
  • MARC 21 Concise Format for Bibliographic Data (2001). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, Network Development and MARC Standards Office.
    http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/ecbdhome.html
    Note: This text is for online reference only.

Additional Resources
Additional resources such as class notes and online cataloging tools accompanying topic specific lectures are located in D2L and will be posted during the course.

Note: Anglo-American Cataloging Rules (2nd ed., rev.) (AACR2R) is no longer required for purchase in print. SJSU SLIS now has a subscription to the electronic Catalogers’ Desktop which includes AACR2R.

Course Workload Expectations

Success in this course is based on the expectation that students will spend, for each unit of credit, a minimum of forty-five hours over the length of the course (normally 3 hours per unit per week with 1 of the hours used for lecture) for instruction or preparation/studying or course related activities including but not limited to internships, labs, clinical practica. Other course structures will have equivalent workload expectations as described in the syllabus.

Instructional time may include but is not limited to:
Working on posted modules or lessons prepared by the instructor; discussion forum interactions with the instructor and/or other students; making presentations and getting feedback from the instructor; attending office hours or other synchronous sessions with the instructor.

Student time outside of class:
In any seven-day period, a student is expected to be academically engaged through submitting an academic assignment; taking an exam or an interactive tutorial, or computer-assisted instruction; building websites, blogs, databases, social media presentations; attending a study group;contributing to an academic online discussion; writing papers; reading articles; conducting research; engaging in small group work.

Course Prerequisites

LIBR 202

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

  1. Apply standardized cataloging tools to catalog and classify materials in different formats.
  2. Describe the basic workings of automated catalogs and how the process of cataloging and classification impacts them.
  3. Define the impact of cataloging decisions on user retrieval.
  4. Identify current issues in cataloging, cataloging policy, and organization of new formats.
  5. Describe basic cataloging and how it fits into the profession of librarianship.

Core Competencies (Program Learning Outcomes)

LIBR 248 supports the following core competencies:

  1. G Demonstrate understanding of basic principles and standards involved in organizing information, including classification, cataloging, metadata, or other systems.

Textbooks

Required Textbooks:

  • Chan, L. M. (2007). Cataloging and classification: An introduction (3rd ed.). Scarecrow Press. Available through Amazon: 0810860007. arrow gif indicating link outside sjsu domain

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.

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