LIBR 200-18
LIBR 200-23
Information and Society
Fall 2009 Greensheet

Dr. David Gross
E-mail
Home Phone: (408)265-9329
Office Hours: Virtually using Elluminate; telephone advising by appointment


Greensheet Links
Textbooks and Readings
Course Requirements
Resources
ANGEL
ANGEL Tutorials
iSchool eBookstore
 

Getting Started
This course will be delivered online using the Angel class management software. Students must enroll for this course (200-18) on Angel between August 17 - August 24. I will send you a password via the MYSJSU messaging system before August 17 and you will need to use it when enrolling. The course begins on Monday, August 24. Weekly sessions will run from Monday through Sunday.

Course Description

Explores the complex and interrelated historical, social, economic, cultural, political, and technological influences that shape information and society. Emphasis is on the various roles and responsibilities of information organizations and the values and ethics of information professionals.

Note: Effective Spring 2009, LIBR 200 must be completed with a B grade or higher, or the student will need to retake the course.

Course Objectives

At the completion of the course, students should be able to:

  • Describe the role of information from historical, current, and future perspectives;
  • Identify the various information stakeholders and the information environments that provide for their needs;
  • Describe and evaluate issues involved in creating and disseminating information in society;
  • Identify and discuss the major values and codes of ethics associated with the information professions;
  • Describe the impact of cultural diversity on the provision of user services by librarians and other information professionals;
  • Describe and discuss important economic and policy issues related to the creation, dissemination and use of information;
  • Explain what information literacy is and how it helps users evaluate and use information;
  • Understand the different genres of and venues for scholarly and professional writing.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Know the foundations and structure of the information profession;
  • Locate, evaluate, and utilize scholarly and professional literature;
  • Demonstrate in-depth understanding of major issues in library and information science.

LIBR 200 course supports the following MLIS 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;
  • Recognize the social, cultural and economic dimensions of information use;
  • Understand the nature of research, research methods and research findings; retrieve, evaluate and synthesize scholarly and professional literature for informed decision-making by specific client groups.

Course Requirements

Complete LIBR 203: Online Social Networking: Technology and Tools
This is a mandatory 1 unit course that introduces students to the various e-learning tools used in the SLIS program, including Angel, Elluminate and Second Life. This course must be completed by all new SLIS students within the first 4 weeks of their first semester. If you have questions about this course, e-mail Debbie Faires or Dale David

For more information, see http://ischool.sjsu.edu/classes/coursedesc.htm

Assignments

  • Angel Discussions. This course requires student participation in weekly discussions of course materials and topics. The total participation is worth 15 points.
  • Critical Note. You will write a critical note about a library-related article on a topic of your choice, with the article note to exceed two pages, double-spaced. This is worth 10 points.
  • Review of a LIS Professional Journal. You will write a review of a library and information science professional journal of your choice, with the review not to exceed two pages, double-spaced. This is worth 10 points.
  • Review of a LIS Professional Association. You will write a review of a library and information science professional association of your choice, with the review not to exceed two pages, double-spaced. This is worth 10 points.
  • Annotated Bibliography. You will start working on your major paper by locating and evaluating 12-15 scholarly sources pertinent to your paper topic and providing an annotation for each. Your paper topic must be approved first. Instructions will be provided. This is worth 15 points.
  • Reflective Essay. You will write a two-page essay, double-spaced, expressing your reflections about a library-related topic of your choice. Instructions will be provided. This is worth 10 points.
  • Major Paper.You will write a formal research paper in which you analyze a significant issue confronting the information professional today. Paper topics may be selected from the areas covered in class or you may chose an issue of more personal interest that is relevant to the goals and objectives of this course. The text of your paper should be 15-20 pages in length, double-spaced, with at least 20 citations in your reference list. A bibliography is not required, but you may include one if you'd like to list sources not cited but consulted for background information and context. You will be graded on the extent of your research, your description and critical analysis of the topic, the evidence you provide in support of your argument, and the clarity and quality of your writing. Your references and formatting must adhere to the rules established in the APA Publication Manual. This paper is worth 30 points.

All assignments are due on Sundays and must be turned in by 11:59 p.m. Late submissions will have your points earned for that assignment reduced by 10%.

Grading and Due Dates

Assignment Points Due Date
Angel Discussions 15 points Weekly
Critical Note 10 points September 15
Professional Journal Review 10 points September 29
Professional Association Review 10 points October 13
Annotated Bibliography 15 points November 3
Reflective Essay 10 points November 17
Major Paper 30 points December 8

Note: Due dates are subject to change with fair notice.

Extra Credit
Extra credit assignments may be available, as noted in the Angel site for this course.

Course Calendar
The weekly course calendar will be provided in the Angel site for this course.

Textbooks and Readings

Required Textbook:

  • Haycock, K., & Sheldon, B. E. (Eds.). (2008). The portable MLIS: Insights from the experts. Libraries Unlimited. Available through Amazon: 1591585473. arrow gif indicating link outside sjsu domain

Recommended Textbook:

  • American Psychological Association (2001). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.). American Psychological Association. Available through Amazon: 1557987912. arrow gif indicating link outside sjsu domain
  • Rubin, R. E. (2004). Foundations of Library and Information Science. Neal-Schuman. Available through Amazon: 1555705189. arrow gif indicating link outside sjsu domain


GWAR

This course satisfies the Graduate Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR).

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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