LIS 652-3                                        Pratt Institute

Wednesday: 6:30–8:50            Spring 2007

 

 

 

Catalog Code                              LIS 652-3

                                                Information Services and

                                                Sources

 

Department/School          School of Information and

                                                Library Science

 

Instructor’s Name                Anne Kelly – Associate Professor

 

Course Locations            PMC – 6th floor – Room 611

 

Number of credits/CEU’s    3

Prerequisites                        None

Required Course                 Yes

 

Instructor’s Phone Numbers          PMC 212-647-7682 SILS

                                                          212-647-7377 Instructor

 

Campus Office Hours and Location:          PMC Rm. 604A

                                                                   Mon. 2:30-3:30 p.m.

                                                                   Wed. 5:00-6:30 p.m.

                                                                   by appointment only

 

E-mail – akelly@pratt.edu

                aekelly4@hotmail.com

 

Date of this syllabus – January 2007

 

 

 

 

SCHOOL OF INFORMATION AND LIBRARY SCIENCE                    LIS 652-3

                                                                                                                        Kelly

 

 

 

INFORMATION SERVICES AND SOURCES

 

GOALS:

 

            This course is designed to communicate the basic concepts of reference services.  Methods and sources of locating information, analysis of representative works and criteria for collection evaluation with respect to reference and research use are examined. 

 

OBJECTIVES:

 

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

 

  1. Understand the development of reference service and the basic concepts involved.

 

  1. Understand the use of reference service guidelines in establishing various levels of service.

 

  1. Recognize the criteria to be used in evaluating reference sources and apply these criteria.

 

  1. Recognize the criteria to be used in evaluating reference collections in specific settings and apply these criteria.

 

  1. Understand the selection principles involved in providing reference sources for particular users in specific settings.

 

  1. Apply a simple search strategy in solving reference questions using a variety of formats (print/microform, CD-ROM, Internet, on-line, etc.).

 

  1. Understand the types of reference questions answered by various forms of materials (dictionaries, almanacs, etc.).

 

  1. Understand the function of the reference interview, the psychological variables involved, and participate in an interview.

 

  1. Recognize the impact of information technologies on reference services (networking, online, Internet, CD-ROM).

 

 

 

1

PRATT INSTITUTE                                                                                  LIS 652-3

SCHOOL OF INFORMATION AND LIBRARY SCIENCE                            KELLY

 

 

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

           

                                    Class Participation            35%

                                    Assignments               35%

                                    Examinations               30%

 

·        6 Hours of Field Observation Required

 

 

COURSE STRUCTURE:

 

                        The course consists of lectures, discussion and sample exercises covering the units listed.  Students are expected to read widely from Cassell and Balay, 11th ed., assigned readings and self-selected readings from the Pratt Library.  Sample exercises will involve the use of a large library collection and beginning use digital/online sources.  There will be a mid-term and a final examination.  Individual student-teacher conferences will be scheduled early in the semester.

 

 

            COURSE DESCRIPTION:

 

                        LIS 652 – Information Services and Sources                       3 credits

                        This course covers concepts of reference service in real and virtual environments.  The course introduces the selection and evaluation of resources in all formats, the development of searching techniques, strategies for user-centered service,

matching user needs to resources and the provision of information services in changing technological environments.  Six hours of field work are required. 

 

Pratt Institute Graduate School Bulletin

 

 

**************************

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

PRATT INSTITUTE                                                                           LIS 652-3

SCHOOL OF INFORMATION AND LIBRARY SCIENCE                   KELLY

 

I.                   Introduction – Cassell & Hiremath; p. ix-xii, 3-14, 15-29. 

 

II.                Encyclopedias – Cassell & Hiremath; p. 32-50, 69-92.

 

III.             Ready Reference, Almanacs, etc. – Cassell & Hiremath; p. 93-110.

 

IV.              Bibliographies – Cassell & Hiremath; p. 53-68.

 

V.                 Indexes, Abstracts, E-Journals – Cassell & Hiremath; p. 135-154.

 

VI.              Biographical Sources – Cassell & Hiremath; p. 199-212.

 

VII.           Dictionaries – Cassell & Hiremath; p. 111-134.

 

VIII.        Government Information – Cassell & Hiremath; p. 213-251.

 

IX.              Geographical Sources – Cassell & Hiremath; p. 183-198.

 

X.                 Reference Interview – Cassell & Hiremath; p. 31-50, 265-285.

 

 

 

 

REQUIRED TEXT:

 

Cassell, Kay Ann & Hiremath, Uma. (2006)  Reference and Information Services in the

     21st Century: An Introduction.  New York: Neal Schuman. 

     (Available Barnes & Noble, 5th Ave. and 18th St. and PMC Library on the 4th floor)

 

 

Additional Texts (Selected readings noted below):

Balay, R.  (1996).  Guide to Reference Books.  Chicago: American Library Assn.,

    (On Reserve Pratt Manhattan Library, 011.02 G946, PMC, 4th floor)

 

Bopp. R. E. & Smith, L. C.  (2001).  Reference and Information Service: An

     Introduction.  3rd ed.  Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited.

 

Radford, M. L., Barnes, S. B., & Barr, L.  (2006).  Web Research: Selecting, Evaluating

      & Citing.  Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

 

 

 

 

3

COURSE OUTLINE:

 

Session 1:            Introduction

-          course coverage; introduce requirements (review style manual)

-          history of reference services

-          service ethic/user & community centered reference

-          evolution of bibliographic information retrieval

-          impact of electronic information retrieval on reference services

-          current trends in reference services

 

Session 2:            Encyclopedias & Subject Resources/Databases

-          uses and importance of encyclopedias

-          types of encyclopedias (general, subject, one volume, etc.)

-          evaluation and selection of various formats

-          types of subject resources and databases (e.g., Biography Resource Center, Literature Resource Center, Health Research Center)

-          searching strategies for subject databases

 

Session 3:            Evaluation & Selection of Print & Electronic Reference Materials

-          reference librarian’s collection development responsibilities

-          developing user-centered reference collections (including for diverse environments)

-          decisions on format (print, electronic, combination, etc.)

-          current issues in selection/deselection of reference materials

-          evaluation criteria & selection aids

 

Session 4:            Ready Reference

-          define ready reference

-          types of sources (almanacs, dictionaries)

-          ready reference in different types of libraries and information centers

-          when to use which resource/which format

-          what if you cannot find the answer

-          ethical issues (business, legal, medical queries)

 

Session 5:            Bibliographies & Bibliographic Networks

-          definition & use of bibliographies

-          evaluation of bibliographies

-          types of bibliographies (national, subject, trade, etc.)

-          union catalogs & bibliographic networks (OCLC, RLIN, NUC)

 

Session 6:            Searching Techniques for Bibliographic Databases

-          structure of electronic reference

-          determining search strategy

-          use of keyword vs. subject searching

-          assisting end-user searchers

-          basic information retrieval techniques (truncation, proximity operators, limiters, etc.)

 

 

 

4

Session 7:            Mid-term

 

Session 8:            Indexes, Abstracts

-          definition/users of indexes

-          evolution of indexes

-          genre indexes (book review, poetry, short story, play, song, etc.)

-          types of journal indexes (citation, abstract, full-text)

-          structure/organization of journal indexes

-          searching strategies for electronic indexes

 

Session 9:                      -     major vendors (Wilson, EBSCO, OCLC, Lexis-Nexis, ProQuest,

      DIALOG

-          evaluating/selecting indexes

 

Session 10:            Digital Reference

 

                        Using the Internet for Reference, Part 1

-          Internet search strategies for reference queries

-          uses and types of search engines

-          uses of subject directories

-          evaluating Web resources

-          guidelines for Internet resource selection

 

Session 11:            Government Documents, Directories, Gazetteers

                       

                        Using the Internet for Reference, Part 2

-          Internet search strategies, continued

-          finding resources on the “Invisible Web”

-          finding government documents on the Web

-          search strategies for government resources

 

Session 12:            The Reference Interview

-          RUSA Guidelines for behavior of reference librarians

 

Session 13:            Biographical Sources

-          selection and evaluation criteria for biographical sources

-          authoritative publishers of biographical sources

-          questioning strategies for biographical queries

 

Session 14:            Dictionaries & Directories

-          types

-          current trends

-          evaluation

 

Session 15:            COURSE REVIEW – FINAL EXAMINATION

 

 

 

 

 

5

Attendance & Participation:  Attendance at all class meetings is required.  A student who must be absent from a class meeting still has certain responsibilities:

o        To inform the instructor in advance, or if advance notice is not possible, as soon after the absence as possible (see above for phone numbers/email address).

o        To arrange for delivery to the instructor of any assignment due at the class meetings.

o        To obtain notes, handouts, etc. from a classmate (in anticipation of this need, each student is advised to exchange telephone numbers with one or two other in the class).

 

Points are deducted for: unexcused absences, coming late to class, or leaving class early.  Active participation includes, but is not limited to the following:

o        Being involved in class discussions,

o        Asking relevant questions, debating, or challenging points raised in class,

o        Suggesting new ways of looking at things.

 

Written Work:

o        Students should always keep second copies of all assignments that are turned in.  In the case of a piece of written work becoming lost, regardless of fault, it is the responsibility of the student to provide a second copy.

o        Assignments are to be typed, double spaced with wide margins, and free from spelling, grammatical, and typographical errors.

o        Please put a single staple in the upper left-hand corner – no plastic covers or folders. 

o        Put your name, the date, class section 652-3, title of assignment, and my name on a front cover title sheet.  No blank page at the end is required.

o        Papers are due at the beginning of class on the dates noted.  Late papers will be marked down unless the student has obtained prior permission of the professor (in the case of illness, etc.).

o        Papers will be prepared in accordance with the APA (American Psychological Association) style available at http://www/apastyle.org/elecref.html.  Although APA requires an abstract, since all your papers are short, no abstract of the paper is required.  Information with sample citations for citing Web sources is provided in Ch. 6 of the Radford, Barnes, & Barr textbook (see scientific styles examples).

o        All material quoted or paraphrased from another source must be properly cited. 

 

Student Agreement:  Attendance at this class signifies that the student has agreed to abide by and adhere to the policies and regulations specified above.  It is understood that the instructor may adapt or change this syllabus and the assignments contained within it according to circumstances that may arise during the course of the class. 

 

 

 

 

 

6

LIS652-3                                                                                                                Prof. Kelly

Spring 2007

 

PRATT INSTITUTE SYLLABUS

INFORMATION SERVICES AND SOURCES

LIS652-3

 

01/17/07            General Introduction to the Course

                        Course Schedule and Explanation

                        Required Readings: 

Cassell & Hiremath; p. ix-xii; 3-14, 15-29.

 

                        Examine Balay and read pp. vii-xv.

 

                        Janes, J.  (2003).  What is reference for? Reference Services

                              Review, 31(1), 22-25.

                       

                        Speaker – Professor Jean Hines, Public Services Librarian

                                         Print/Electronic Resources of the Pratt Library Part 1

 

01/24/07            Encyclopedias and Subject Databases

                        Required Readings:

                        Cassell & Hiremath; p. 31-50, 69-92.

                         

                        Bibel, B. & Yusko, S. (Sept. 15, 2006). Encyclopedia Update 2006.

     Booklist, 103(2), 78-92.

 

Berenstein, P.  (March 2006).  Wikipedia and Britannica…  Searcher,

     14(3), 16-26.

 

            Class Discussion – Encyclopedia Comparison & Subject Database

            Examine 2 current general encyclopedias (electronic version recommended). 

Choose a topic at least one page in length and evaluate the article according to the

Cassell – Hiremath criteria, p. 70-74.

           

Examine one subject encyclopedia (e.g. Encyclopedia of Philosophy – print, Encyclopedia of Architecture - print, Grove Dictionary of Art – electronic), and evaluate the subject chosen with the same criteria.  Browse.  Make notes for discussion.

 

Examine one electronic subject database (e.g. Biography Resource Center, Literature Resource Center or Health Reference Center), all available with a NYPL card.  Browse.  Make notes for discussion.

 

 

7

 

01/31/07            Exercise 1 – Hand in – Short Paper Due (3-4 pages)

Encyclopedias

 

02/07/07            Review Media – Selection of Print & Electronic Materials – Part 2

 

                        Required Readings:

                        Cassell & Hiremath; p. 253-263, 289-302.

                        Balay, p.1-15.

           

                        Highly Recommended Readings:

                        Altschiller, D. and Wenzel, S. G. (Spring 2003). Book reviews in print

                                    and online. RUSQ, 42(3), 193-205.

 

                        RUSA Guidelines for Information Services.  (Winter 2003). RUSQ, 40

(2), 115-117.

 

                        Wayman, M. J.  (May 2006).  It’s the little things: the 2006 list of

     outstanding reference sources.  American Libraries, 37(5), 40-43. 

 

                        Witte, S. and Cargill, M.  (March 2006). Selected reference works,

2005.  College and Research Libraries, 67(2),177-190.

 

            Class Discussion – Review Media – Examine 5 titles (paper or electronic)

discussed by Cassell & Hiremath, p. 291-295 in your readings.  Note the

differences in these titles, especially the features you liked or disliked.  You do not need to hand in your notes but bring them to class for discussion.

 

02/14/07            Ready Reference, Almanacs, Handbooks, etc.

           

                        Required Readings:

Cassell & Hiremath; p. 93-110.

 

                        Highly Recommended Readings:

                        RUSA Guidelines for Medical, Legal and Business Responses at

General Reference Desks. (Winter 2000). RUSQ, 40(2), 118-120.

                        Yue, J.  (Fall 2000). How familiar is it anymore? Bartlett’s Familiar

                                    Quotations goes digital. RUSQ, 42(1), 26-29. 

 

            Class Discussion – Ready Reference – Read Cassell & Hiremath, p. 56, 65-66. 

Note general sources new to you, their organization and indexing.  Choose Books

in Print and Encyclopedia of Associations as well.  Look for an active political

group of interest to you.  Address?  Number of members?  Newsletter? Mainstream?  Find the price of the new 9/11 Task Force report?  More than one publisher?  And why so cheap?  Do the same for the Iraq study group report by Baker and Hamilton.                                                                                 cont’d                                                             

8

            Bartlett’s Quotations (www.bartleby.com/100)

                        Information Please Almanac (www.infoplease.com)

                        Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary & Thesaurus

                                    (www.m-w.com/dictionary)

                        Merck Manual of Medical Information Home Edition

                                    (www.merck.com/pubs)

                        Roget’s Thesaurus (www.thesaurus.com)

                        FedStats (www.fedstats.gov) note: compare to print Statistical Abstract of                                           the United States

                        Facster (www.facster.com) note: compare to print Statistical Abstract of

the United States

                        Occupational Outlook Handbook (www.bls.gov/oco)

                        Zip Code Look-Up (www.usps.gov/ncsc)

 

            Utilize any of the ready reference sources listed on the webliography at the end of

            this syllabus.

 

02/21/07            Bibliography – Evaluation

 

                        Required Reading:

                                    Cassell & Hiremath; p. 53-68.

                       

                                    Janes, J.  (2003). Introduction to Reference Work in a Digital

     Age.  New York, Neal-Schuman.  p.1-36. 

RESERVE – LS 025.524 J33 (PMC)

 

                        Examine 5 titles of your own choosing, and the National Union Catalog

pre-1956 imprints (at Pratt Library-Brooklyn 3rd floor or Mid-

Manhattan Library 2nd floor).

 

02/28/07            Journal Indexes Abstracts and E-Journal Collections – Part 1

 

                        Required Reading:

Cassell & Hiremath; p. 135-154.

 

Walters, W. H.  (October 2004). Criteria for replacing print

                        journals with online journals, the importance of

                        sustainable access. Library Resources and Technical

                        Services, 48(4), 300-304.

                                                                                                                                   

                        Hand in Topic for Webliography and Short Paper – 02/28/07                                                          Submit a topic which will be used for both projects, with your

                        name, class name, class section number and date for the Professor’s

                        approval.  The topic should be one in which you are interested, but which

                        is scholarly in nature, so that you will be able to find information about it

                        on the web and in journal indexes.                                                              cont’d

9

                        It should not be too broad or too narrow.  Choose a topic that has a

                        combination of at least 2 concepts, (e.g. “Do the children of gay parents

                        achieve higher academic goals in elementary school than the children of

                        other families?”  This is a multi-concept question that came into a St.

                        Louis Public Library branch) or “Women as directors of major penal

                        institutions in the United States?”

 

03/07/07            Mid-Term Exam

 

03/14/07            Spring Vacation

 

03/21/07            Exercise 2 –Hand in

                        Journal Indexes – Annotated List for your Search

 

                        Part 1 – For your paper (2 pages) choose 4-5 electronic journal indexes

                                    which are relevant to your topic.  Include a 100 word annotation

                                    for each title.  Each entry should include the title of the index,

                                    range of dates covered (e.g. ERIC, v.1. 1966 – to date), vendor/

                                    publisher.  Include URL (if Web based) and frequency of updates

                                    (e.g. weekly, monthly).  Annotation will provide a brief description

                                    of the index, subject areas covered (scope), and specific

                                    relationship to your topic. 

Part 2 – Procedure.  Use the APA Style Manual for your bibliographic

                                    citation form.  Use assigned readings (Cassell & Hiremath;

p.135-154) and Ulrich’s International Periodical Directory if needed to find indexes relevant to your topic.  If you use EBSCO,

                                    WilsonWeb, OCLC FirstSearch, which have several subject

                                    indexes, specify which specific index (e.g. Social Science Index)

                                    covered your topic.  Assignment will be graded on the basis of

                                    relevance/appropriateness of indexes to topic and quality of

                                    annotations and presentation.

           

03/28/07            Biographical Sources and Information Literacy

 

                        Required Reading:

                                    Cassell & Hiremath; p. 179-212.

 

                        Class Discussion – Choose a famous person living or dead.  Find

                        information about him/her in 3 different essay type biographical sources

                        mentioned in your readings.  NOT MONOGRAPHS!  Make photocopies

                        of this information and bring to class (up to 3 pages only).  Be prepared to

                        discuss ease/difficulty in finding information and differences in coverage

                        of the sources. 

 

 

 

10

 

04/04/07            Dictionaries & Directories – Discussion

 

                        Required Reading:

                                    Cassell & Hiremath; p. 111-133.

 

                        Discussion – Dictionaries & Directories.  Examine and become familiar

                        with at least 4 current dictionaries (including 1 unabridged, 1 desk/college

                        dictionary, 1 Internet dictionary and 1 specialized dictionary) and at least 3

                        directories (other than the Encyclopedia of Associations).  Check the

                        “word of the day” in the Oxford English Dictionary (www.oed.com).

                        Earliest use of the word?  Most recent use recorded?

                        Do not hand in your notes but be prepared to discuss in class. 

 

04/11/07            Digital Reference – Using the Internet for Reference, Part 1 and

                        Government Information Sources

 

                        Required Readings:

                                    Cassell & Hiremath; p. 213-251.

 

                                    Jatkevicius, J.  (March/April 2003). Free lunch legal resources,

                                                from plain to polished. Online, 27(2), 22-26.

 

                                    West, J. ed. (2004). Digital versus non-digital reference: ask a

                                                librarian online and offline. Reference Librarian, no.85.

                                                (Scan)

 

                        Highly Recommended Reading:

                                    Fallis, J.  (Winter 2004). On verifying the accuracy of information.

                                                Library Trends, 3, 463-487.

 

                                    Herman, E.  (2004). A post September 11 balancing act: Public

                                                access to U. S. government information versus the

                                                protection of sensitive data. Journal of Government

                                                Information, 30(1), 20-41.

 

04/11/07            Exercise 3 – Webliography – Hand in

                        (2 pages) Part 1 – Pick out 7-10 best web sites for your research topic.

                        Use the search engines and web sites on the last pages of the syllabus.  To

                        determine the best web sites use the criteria provided in class and in your    

assigned readings.  Be objective about commercial web sites.  Give a brief

introduction to your topic.  Then in alphabetical order list your web site             names, complete URLs and a brief critical annotation (50-100 words).

 

                        Exercise 3 – Webliography – Part 2 (1 page – separate sheet of paper)

                        Discuss the search engines/web indexes you used and any problems you

11

encountered in compiling the webliography and how you solved them. 

                        What worked?  What did not work?  Exercise 3 will be graded on the

                        quality of the web sites selected, presentation, quality of the annotations

                        for each site and quality of description of problems/search strategy as

                        applied to your topic.

                        Do not print out web pages and hand them in.

                        Exercise 3 due 04/11/07 (3 pages total).

 

04/18/07            Geographical Sources – Discussion

 

                        Required Readings:

                                    Cassell & Hiremath; p. 183-198.

 

                                    Mitchell, S.  (2003). Where in the world? An online guide to

                                                     gazetteers, atlases, and other map resources.  Internet

                                                     Reference Services Quarterly, 8(1/2), 183-194.

           

                                    Berenstein, P.  (January 2006).  Location, location, location:

     online maps for the masses.  Searcher, 14(1), 16-25.                                   

                                    See also www.mapquest.com for road maps and directions.

 

04/25/07            Journal Indexes, Abstracts, & E-Journal Collection – Part 2

 

                        Required Reading:

                                    Cassell & Hiremath; p. 135-154.

 

                                    Wleklinski, J. M.  (May-June 2005). Studying Google Scholar:

                                                wall to wall coverage. Online, 29(3), 22-26.

 

04/25/07            Exercise 4 – Hand in Journal Articles on Your Search Topic (5-6

                        pages, plus bibliographies).  Look for the 15 best journal articles on your

                        approved search subject in the appropriate journal indexes.  (NO BOOKS,

                        NO NEWSPAPERS, NO WEBSITES), as if you were doing a 20-30 page

                        term paper.

                                                                                                           

The Search Process will have 3 parts:

I.        In a well developed essay, describe the process you used to locate the articles.  How did you approach the search?  Strategy?  Did you ask for help?  When and why?  Was the help a success?  Why or why not?  What would have been helpful?  Would you approach the search the same way were you to do it again?

II.     List the 15 best articles you found.  (Use the APA style manual – not annotated).

12

III.   List the journal indexes you used (APA style) to find the 15 articles.

 

Hand in Exercise 4 – 4/25/07

 

05/02/07            Discussion – The Reference Interaction

 

                        Required Readings:

                                    Cassell & Hiremath; p.31-50, 265-286.

 

                                    Kluegel, K. et al. (Fall 2003). The reference interview, connecting

                                                     in person and in cyberspace. RUSQ, 43(1), 37-51.

                                   

                        Highly Recommended Readings:

Albanese, A.R. (Sept. 15, 2006). Google is not the net, Library Journal 131(15) 32-34.

 

Dewdney, P. & Mitchell, G. (Summer 1996). Oranges and peaches: understanding communication accidents in the

                                    reference interview. R.Q., 35(4), 520-536.

 

                                    Straw, J. E. (Summer 2000). A virtual understanding: the

                                    reference interview and question negotiation in the

                                    digital age. RUSQ, 39(4), 376-379.

 

                                    RUSA Guidelines for Behavioral Performance of Reference

                                    and Information Services Providers. (Fall 2004). RUSQ.,

                                    44(1), 14-17.

 

                                    RUSA Task Force on Professional Competencies. (Summer

                                    2003). Professional Competencies for Reference and User Services

                                    Librarians.