LIBR 210-11
Reference and Information Services
Summer 2014 Greensheet

Professor Steve J. Tash
E-mail
Other contact information: mobile (949) 683-7151 9am-7pm PDT. Call or Text.
Office Hours: Virtual office hours with email, cell phone and IM.

Mission of the School
The School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) at San Jose State University educates professionals and develops leaders who organize, manage and enable the effective use of information and ideas in order to contribute to the well-being of our communities.

Getting Started
SLIS utilizes a content management system called CANVAS for class communications, submitting assignments, and grade records. Students will be automatically enrolled in the Canvas site for this course. The course will be automatically available to students on 2, June, 2014.

Our class begins on Monday, June 2, 2014. Class instruction ends August 8, 2014. Weekly class sessions run from Monday through Sunday of the following week. Our assignments are generally due Sunday evenings by midnight Pacific Standard Time unless major holiday.

Course Description

Catalog Description: A process-oriented examination of how information professionals answer reference questions. The interpersonal skills required for effective question negotiation and the sources with which questions are answered are stressed.

Full Description: This course provides an overview of reference and information services. We will be examining and evaluating key information sources in a variety of formats and becoming familiar with professional resources. Because the field of librarianship is changing rapidly, we will be exploring various methods and models for delivering information and examining how emerging trends and ways to use new ideas and skills may impact the future of reference services and access to information.

Course Requirements

Course Assignments
All written assignments must be typed, double spaced, with a font of at least 12 points. They must also conform to APA style. Should use MS Word or RTF (rich text format), no PDF please.

• Library Field Evaluation (20 pts  --- supports SLO#4, SLO#6, SLO#8)
  Evaluating reference and information services from the user's perspective gives you a more complete view on reference service provision.  Write an analytical summary of and conclusions about your experience shadowing a reference librarian at the reference desk and studying other aspects of a reference services area. Use the grading criteria at CANVAS course site when writing about your summary of the experience and your conclusions.
  
  Student Learning Outcomes addressed:
  • SLO#4:Describe the relationships between user needs, information resources, and relevant information technologies.
  • SLO#6: Evaluate reference services that address the needs of a diverse and changing society.
  • SLO#8: Begin to develop a personal philosophy of reference service.
     
• Reference Exercises (15 pts-- supports SLO#1, SLO#2, SLO#4)
  Part of good information service is having an understanding of information resources: what they are, how they work, and what they include. In this assignment, you are responsbile for examining a variety of standard and common reference tools with instructor assignment questions in mind. 
  
  Each student will  be looking to find quality resources, not just any sources you locate on the web. Rationale is to assist a provided library user who needs both factual information and evaluative information.
  
  Reference exercise that will have you actually look for appropriate sources to information quest questions or examine specific types of resources or some kind of  reference activity.  In this assignment, you are responsbile for examining a variety of standard reference tools with specific instructor assignment questions in mind. The activities will be graded using Canvas course site criteria:
  
  Student Learning Outcomes addressed:
  • SLO1: Identify and assess the characteristics and functions of various types of reference sources.
  • SLO2:Use basic reference tools and searching techniques to answer a wide range of questions.
  • SLO#4: Describe the relationships between user needs, information resources, and relevant information technologies.
     
• Bibliographic Resources (15  pts-- supports SLO#1, SLO#2, SLO#4)
  Another part of good information service is having an understanding of information resources: what they are, how they work, and what they include. In this assignment, you are responsbile for examining a variety of standard and common reference tools with instructor assignment questions in mind and grading criteria posted at Canvas course site.
  
  Student Learning Outcomes addressed:
  • SLO1: Identify and assess the characteristics and functions of various types of reference sources.
  • SLO2:Use basic reference tools and searching techniques to answer a wide range of questions.
  • SLO#4: Describe the relationships between user needs, information resources, and relevant information technologies.
    
    
• Interview Transcript Analysis (20 pts--supports SLO#3 & SLO#6)  
  Your understanding of reference work will be enhanced if you are able to connect the theory that we discuss and read about in class with the real-world practice. Therefore, individually, you will review transcripts from actual reference interactions, analyze based on established criteria, and write an analysis in which you apply published literature. Individual student will analyze  sample print and video interview samples provided by instructor. Please see the Reference Interview assignment sheet in Canvas coursesite for detailed information and a grading rubric.
  
  Student Learning Outcomes addressed:
• SLO#3: Conduct effective reference interviews.
• SLO#6: Evaluate reference services that address the needs of a diverse and changing society.
  
  
• Reference interview exercise and reflection (20 pts-supports SLO #2, SLO #3, and SLO #6)
  Experiencing an actual reference interaction both from the librarian's perspective and the patron's perspective will give you a view of reference work from both sides of the desk, so to speak. In this assignment, you will work with a partner to role-play two reference interactions, one from each perspective. Afterwards you will individually analyze both transcripts, applying criteria and reflecting on your experience in both roles. Specific details at Canvas coursesite.
  
  Student Learning Outcomes addressed: 
  
• SLO#2: Use basic reference tools and searching techniques to answer a wide range of questions.
• SLO#3: Conduct effective reference interviews.
• SLO#6: Evaluate reference services that address the needs of a diverse and changing society.
  
  
• Class Participation -Discussion Board Forum -Grand Total= 10 Points-- supports SLO#3, SLO#4, SLO#5, SLO#6, SLO#7, and SLO#8)  
  Class participation is an important part of this course. I have topics posted for the discussion board forums. I expect students to ask good questions about the topics in question and respond constructively to others' postings. Your participation can take the form of active listening that incorporate or builds on comments by other students, thoughtful questions, suggestions, addressing related issues, and making observations based on personal or professional experiences and/or class readings. Although positive reinforcement is good, participation that does not add to the discussion (e.g., comments like "Yes, I agree" and "good Point" and LOL will not be counted toward your participation grade.
  
  Responding to other people’s comments is encouraged, as long as you’re actually contributing something to the conversation. 
  
  In your own postings show evidence of critical reading of the material. Indicate which work you’re referring to and what the basis of your thought or opinion is.
  
  Student Learning Outcomes addressed: 
  • SLO#3: Conduct effective reference interviews.
  • SLO#4: Describe the relationships between user needs, information resources, and relevant information technologies.
  • SLO#5: Describe current issues and trends in reference services, including the impact of technology on user needs and reference interactions.
  • SLO#6: Evaluate reference services that address the needs of a diverse and changing society.
  • SLO#7: Understand the relationship between reference service and information literacy instruction.  
  • SLO#8: Begin to develop a personal philosophy of reference service.

Grading

Course Format
This class is taught online via Canvas and Blackboard Collaborate (previously Elluminate).

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 must complete all assignments to pass the course.

Late Assignments
Except for medical reasons or other instructor authorized tardiness no late assignments will be excepted. If granted an extension your assignment grade will be reduced 10% of total score per day late. 

Readings

Core Journals
Finally, you should begin to become familiar with professional journals that address reference and information service issues appropriate to your career plans, e.g.:

• College & Research Libraries (Z671 .C6)
• Internet Reference Services Quarterly
• Journal of Academic Librarianship (Z671 .J58)
• Knowledge Quest (Z675.S3 K56)
• Medical Reference Services Quarterly (R118.2 .M4)
• Public Libraries (Z673.A5 .P88)
• Reference & User Services Quarterly (Z671 .R7)
• The Reference Librarian (Z711 .R43x)
• Reference Services Review (Z1035.1 .R43)

The call numbers listed above are drawn from the SJSU library catalog, but they should also help you to locate materials, if available, at any academic library to which you may have access. Each of the titles above is also available through the SJSU Electronic Journals List. 

Discussion Lists
Electronic discussion lists are an important part of professional dialogue and support for reference and information service librarians. All students in this class should subscribe to LIBREF-L, the largest electronic discussion list dedicated to issues in reference librarianship.

*Join LIBREF-L*

In addition to LIBREF-L, you will find a variety of electronic discussion lists dedicated to specific subject areas (e.g., history librarianship), to specialized service areas often administered as part of reference and information service programs (e.g., instructional services), and to the use of information technology as a means of delivering reference and information services.  Students may be especially interested in DIG_REF, the discussion list dedicated to digital reference services.

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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. Identify and assess the characteristics and functions of various types of reference sources.
2. Use basic reference tools and searching techniques to answer a wide range of questions.
3. Conduct effective reference interviews.
4. Describe the relationships between user needs, information resources, and relevant information technologies.
5. Describe current issues and trends in reference services, including the impact of technology on user needs and reference interactions.
6. Evaluate reference services that address the needs of a diverse and changing society.
7. Understand the relationship between reference service and information literacy instruction.
8. Begin to develop a personal philosophy of reference service.

Core Competencies (Program Learning Outcomes)

LIBR 210 supports the following core competencies:

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Textbooks

Required Textbooks:

• Cassell, K. A., & Hiremath, U. (2013). Reference and information services: An introduction (3rd ed.). Neal-Schuman. Available through Amazon: 1555708595

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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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