INFO 231-10
Issues in Special Libraries and Information Centers
Summer 2019 Syllabus
Crystal Megaridis
E-mail
Phone: 630-850-9809
Office Hours: While I have no official office hours, I am readily available by phone or e-mail. My preferred method of contact is by e-mail, and we can always set up a telephone call. I will normally respond within 24 hours. There will be a few occasions when I am traveling and unavailable. You will be notified in advance of those days.
I would like to talk with each student individually at least once this semester. I will send an email asking you to coordinate a date and time with me. This is completely voluntary, but I encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity.
| Syllabus Links Textbooks CLOs Competencies Prerequisites |
Resources iSchool eBookstore Canvas Login and Tutorials |
Canvas Information: Courses will be available beginning June 3rd at 6 am PT unless you are taking an intensive or a one-unit or two-unit class that starts on a different day. In that case, the class will open on the first day that the class meets.
You will be enrolled in the Canvas site automatically.
Course Description
This course will investigate current issues that impact the functioning of special libraries/information centers. Topics covered will include issues related to social and political environments, clientele, services, collections, physical settings, financing and staffing, and future trends in the special library/information center sector. We will explore the different kinds of special libraries and the advantages and disadvantages of working in this part of the field. You will have the opportunity to learn about international special libraries if you choose.
Course Requirements
Assignments
Students are encouraged to become familiar with their local professional association for special librarians, such as the Special Libraries Association (SLA). Some assignments require face-to-face meetings with practicing special librarians. The class assignments are listed below.
Fieldwork and report or Paper: (total of 40 points possible). All reports must be posted to Canvas.
- Each student will be expected to complete either a project at a fieldwork site or a research paper.
- For the fieldwork choice, the student will negotiate the project content with the supervisor they are working with at the site, as well as your instructor. Assistance is available for finding/selecting fieldwork opportunities. Fieldwork should be about 20 hours. Upon completion of the project, the student will prepare a written project review. This assignment will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
- Purpose and scope of project
- Explanation of the approach to and design of the project, along with the rationale for the approach taken
- Description of specific methods and techniques used and why
- Discussion of any problems encountered and how they were handled
- Summary of the results of the project and how the project will benefit the fieldwork site
- Evaluation of what you learned/accomplished by doing the project
- Completeness of the report
- Organizational ability
- Your site supervisor's feedback
- If you choose to write a research paper, these are the requirements:
- Choose a topic that pertains to Special Libraries. You must get your instructor's approval of this topic.
- Your paper must be double-spaced, 20-25 pages
- Include your bibliography of sources
- Example topics include: knowledge management, big data, the role of the special library in the future, trends in medical libraries.
Interview Paper: (9 points possible).
- Interview a special librarian, preferably in person at their library. Discuss the major issues of our field. Write a 5+ page paper describing the interview. Post it to Canvas. These papers may be submitted to your local SLA chapter newsletter for publication (with everyone's permission, of course).
Professional Event Paper: (9 points possible)
- Attend a local professional event held by a special library association during the semester. Your assignment is to participate and introduce yourself to at least one new person. Write a one-page, double-spaced summary of the event, including about the person you meet. Post it to Canvas. Students may consider submitting these papers to your local SLA chapter newsletter for publication (with everyone's permission, of course).
Unit Discussion Papers: (5 points each, 40 points possible)
- Six different topics have been posted to the Canvas site. For each topic, view the lecture, read the assigned materials as well as at least two other readings on the topic. Write a 1-2 page paper on the topic.
- In order to receive full credit for the assignment, you must reply to at least two of your classmates' discussion papers by the comments due date. Your replies must be substantive in nature - at least two paragraphs in length - using critical thinking.
- You do not need to reply to the getting acquainted message, the interview, the professional event summary, or the fieldwork report or paper.
Course Calendar
This calendar is subject to change with fair notice. The first column indicates the day the work is due to be posted on Canvas. A lecture corresponding to the topic of the discussion will precede the discussion paper due-date.
| Due | Assignment |
| 6/5/19 | Getting Acquainted |
| 6/12/19 | Unit 1: What is a Special Library? What types are there? (7 possible points) - Supports CLO #1 |
| 6/19/19 | Unit 2: Management (7 possible points) - Supports CLO #2 |
| 6/26/19 | Unit 3: Marketing & Measurement (7 possible points) - Supports CLO #2 |
| 7/3/19 | Unit 4: Risk Management (7 possible points) Supports CLO #2 |
| 7/10/19 | Unit 5: Alternative Roles (7 possible points) - Supports CLO #2 |
| 7/17/19 | Unit 6: Current and Future Trends (7 possible points) - Supports CLO #3 |
| 7/24/19 | Interview Due (9 points possible) Supports CLO #3 |
| 7/31/19 | Professional Event Summary #1 (9 possible points) Supports CLO #4 |
| 8/9/19 |
Final paper - Fieldwork report or Research paper (40 points possible); Supports CLO #1 & CLO #2 |
Grading
The following is a breakdown of the assignments and the grading scale. A full explanation of each assignment will appear on Canvas.
| Assignment | Possible Points |
| Fieldwork or Research paper | 40 points |
| Canvas discussions on readings | 7 points each for a total of 42 points |
| Interview paper | 9 points |
| Professional Event papers | 9 points |
| Total points | 100 points |
Extra credit
There is no extra credit for this class.
Late Work
Late work will only be accepted with prior approval of instructor.
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
INFO 200.
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- Describe the characteristics of special libraries and information centers and the variety of environments in which they are found.
- Identify the organizational and operational issues associated with special libraries and information centers and related types of information services.
- Analyze and evaluate issues and trends within the special library environments.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the value of and opportunities for professional networking within the special library community.
Core Competencies (Program Learning Outcomes)
INFO 231 supports the following core competencies:
- B Describe and compare organizational settings in which information professionals practice.
- C Recognize the diversity (such as cultural and economic) in the clientele and employees of an information organization and be familiar with actions the organization should take to address this diversity.
Textbooks
Recommended Textbooks:
- Dority, G. K. (2006). Rethinking Information Work: A Career Guide for Librarians and Other Information Professionals. Libraries Unlimited. Available through Amazon: 159158180X.
- Kelsey, S. E., & Porter, M. J. (Eds.). (2011). Best practices for corporate libraries. Libraries Unlimited. Available through Amazon: 1598847376
- Matthews, J.R. (2002). The bottom line: Determining and communicating the value of the special library. Libraries Unlimited. Available through Amazon: 159150048.
- Siess, J.A. (2003). The visible librarian: Asserting your value with marketing and advocacy. American Library Association Available through Amazon: 0838908489.
- Siess, J.A. (2006). The new OPL sourcebook: A guide for solo and small libraries. Information Today. Available through Amazon: 1573872415.
- St. Clair, G. (2016). Knowledge services: A strategic framework for the 21st century organization. De Gruyter. Available through Amazon: 3110462966
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 or undergraduate (for BS-ISDA);
For core courses in the MLIS program (not MARA, Informatics, BS-ISDA) — 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 if you wish to stay in the program. 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.
Graduate Students are advised that it is their responsibility to maintain a 3.0 Grade Point Average (GPA). Undergraduates must maintain a 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA).
University Policies
Per University Policy S16-9, university-wide policy information relevant to all courses, such as academic integrity, accommodations, etc. will be available on Office of Graduate and Undergraduate Programs' Syllabus Information web page at: https://www.sjsu.edu/curriculum/courses/syllabus-info.php. Make sure to visit this page, review and be familiar with these university policies and resources.
In order to request an accommodation in a class please contact the Accessible Education Center and register via the MyAEC portal.
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