INFO 275-01
INFO 275-11
Library Services for Racially and Ethnically Diverse Communities
Spring 2020 Syllabus

Dr. Kristen Radsliff Rebmann
E-mail
Office Hours: By appointment.

Canvas and Workshop (Zoom) Session Information: Courses will be available beginning January 23rd, 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.

This is an online-only class using Canvas and course materials in multiple modalities. The course begins via Canvas on January 23rd. Workshop (synchronous) sessions in Zoom will begin the first week of classes. I will send more information about the first session as we approach this date.

Workshop, synchronous (ZOOM) Sessions:

There is one mandatory Zoom workshop: Wednesday, January 29th from 12 pm to 1:30 pm Pacific. (Otherwise, it is mandatory to review recordings; not mandatory to attend live).  See the front page section of our Canvas course page for details on times and access to URLs. Synchronous sessions will be recorded.

***Student attendance at the 1/29 live synchronous session is mandatory.  Attendance at all other workshops is not mandatory.  Recordings will be available, however, and it is expected that you will view them.  This is a group-intensive class where collaboration and participation in joint synchronous sessions (scheduled by student groups) is mandatory.***

Note: OK to purchase Kindle or Paperback version of the text.

Course Description

Focuses on developing skills for planning, implementing and evaluating programs for addressing the information needs of racially, ethnically, economically, and linguistically diverse communities (in addition to other dimensions of diversity). Reviews the major national, state and local studies.

Course Requirements

Assignments and Exams
Students will complete the assignments shown below. More specific information regarding all assignments will be made available on the course website.

Canvas and Synchronous Participation
Attendance at the synchronous sessions is not mandatory - recordings will be available. Part of participation in this course includes listening well to others and engaging with opposing viewpoints. You are expected to be respectful and thoughtful in responding to each other and in responding to the course materials.

Help! How do I …?
I will create a discussion forum in Canvas for general questions regarding due-dates, the structure of assignments, and clarification of concepts. Please post your general questions here so that all students may benefit. Feel free to contact me via email at kristen.rebmann@sjsu.edu. Please do not email me via the Canvas mail system.  Placing the words: INFO 275 and your section number in the subject field will guarantee that your email will get to my high priority folder so that I can get back to you promptly (usually within 24 to 48 hours). Sometimes you might see me in ZoomIM or GoogleChat - feel free to talk with me this way as well.

Timelines

Course Calendar
A course calendar will be available from the modules section of the course site (in Canvas) at the start of the semester.

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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

INFO 200, INFO 204. 

Course Learning Outcomes

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

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the characteristics, challenges, issues, needs, interests, and concerns associated with providing information services to diverse groups.
2. Develop skills and methods for identifying appropriate resources and communication channels for service delivery to these patrons.
3. Design, implement, and evaluate effective and responsive programs and services.
4. Review readings and studies reflecting major national, regional, state, and local trends for providing culturally appropriate library services to racially and ethnically diverse groups.

Core Competencies (Program Learning Outcomes)

INFO 275 supports the following core competencies:

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Textbooks

Required Textbooks:

• Smallwood, C., & Becnel, K. (2012). Library services for multicultural patrons: Strategies to encourage library use. Scarecrow Press. Available through Amazon: 0810887223 as Kindle or Paperback.

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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 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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