LIBR 266-02
Collection Management
Fall 2009 Greensheet

Cynthia Wilson
E-mail
Office Location and Hours: Virtual through Angel

This class is conducted online using Angel. All students must self-enroll in this course on Angel with an access code provided by the instructor. In order to self-enroll, one must be registered for the course and use the access code sent via the MySJSU messaging system. Class begins on August 24, 2009.

Course Description

This 3 unit course will examine the theory and practice of collection management in various library and information center settings. Topics include community/user needs analysis, collection evaluation, developing collection management policies and procedures, materials selection and examination of various selection sources, de-selection, collection marketing, and intellectual freedom as it applies to selection and retention of library materials.

Prerequisites: LIBR 202, LIBR 204

Course Objectives

Student Learning Outcomes
The objectives of this course are to help the student learn to:

• Become familiar with the theoretical and practical aspects of collection management as it applies to various library settings.
• Assess community, user or client information needs and develop collection management policies and evaluate collections based on those needs.
• Identify, evaluate and utilize pertinent resources for the management of collections and the selection of materials.
• Identify, describe and analyze the historical and current theoretical and practical issues associated with the management of library collections.
• Identify the types and sources of materials included in library collections.
• Develop practical professional criteria for the evaluation, selection, and retention of materials appropriate to library and information centers.
• Use and evaluate selection tools and their usefulness for various library environments.
• Learn basic practices for marketing a collection.
• Understand censorship and advocacy and promote the principles of intellectual freedom, free inquiry and informed choice.

LIBR 266 supports the following SLIS Core Competencies:

• articulate the ethics, values and foundational principles of library and information professionals and their role in the promotion of intellectual freedom;
• compare the environments and organizational settings in which library and information professionals practice;
• use the basic concepts and principles related to the creation, evaluation, selection, acquisition, preservation and organization of specific items or collections of information;
• evaluate programs and services on specified criteria.

In addition, this section supports the following SLIS Core Competencies:

• recognize the social, cultural and economic dimensions of information use
• contribute to the cultural, economic, educational and social well-being of our communities
• apply the fundamental principles of planning, management and marketing/advocacy
• use service concepts, principles and techniques that facilitate information access, relevance, and accuracy for individuals or groups of users

Completed assignments for possible inclusion in student portfolios are:

• Draft Collection Management Policy
• Collection Development Article
• Press/Media Releases
• Public Service Announcements

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Course Requirements

Course Calendar
A complete calendar of due dates and course lectures is available on Angel.

Grading
All students begin this course with a grade of B, the standard grade for graduate level work. If you complete all assignments as outlined, you will maintain a B. Sub-standard work will receive a B-or below, while above standard work will receive a B or above. Above standard work clearly displays several of the following criteria:

• Originality in approach to the assignment.
• Greater depth of analysis than the assignment calls for.
• Making substantive comments to the discussions by identifying issues, resources and approaches pertaining to the topics being discussed.
• Evidence of original and critical thinking in all of the assignments and discussions.
• Superior organizational, written, or communication skills in the presentation of the material.
• Correct usage of academic English, spelling, grammar, and composition are expected. Failure to write at an expected graduate level will result in a lower grade.
• Ability to follow the assignment’s directions and completely address all aspects of the assignment.

Assignments
Complete the required readings and respond to the discussion topics for each unit.

Three short assignments: community/needs analysis, collection evaluation, marketing/PR. Two major assignments: a collection management policy assignment; a collection development article; final exam.

Grading
Grades for the course are weighted as follows:

Textbooks and Readings 

Required Textbook:

• Evans, G.E., & Saponaro, M. Z. (2005). Developing Library and Information Center Collections. Libraries Unlimited. Available through Amazon: 1591582199.

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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