School of Library and Information Science
University of Kentucky
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LIS 600 401 Information in Society
Fall Semester 2004 Aug 25 - Dec 17
Instructor: Dennis Carrigan carrigan@uky.edu
Revised Syllabus
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The description for LIS 600, Information in Society, reads:
An introduction to the nature of information (both utilitarian and aesthetic) in contemporary society and to the role played by libraries and other information organizations in disseminating that information. Emphasis is on developing perspectives.
LIS 600 is one of four required courses in the MSLS program, making it especially important that those who teach it cover essentially the same core of content. (With that in mind, and because this is the first time I will teach LIS 600, I began with Professor Donald Case’s syllabus, with his permission.) However, having the same core of content does not rule out some differences in content, and of course doesn’t rule out what is almost certain to be differences in approach between instructors.
I will make use of Professor Case’s readings, to which I will add a few. The readings, my lectures, and our discussions will address such topics as the nature of information, types of "information work," the organizations and publications that are influential in information services, ethics, and particular social issues affecting library policy. Specific topics will include the history of libraries and technology, definitions of information, models of information transfer, information needs and uses, the sociology of libraries and librarianship, past and current professional aspects of librarianship, types of libraries and library functions, associations for information professionals, diversity in the profession, cooperative and standards-building efforts, and the issues of copyright, equity of access, and information poverty.
Note that the course description refers to “the role played by libraries and other information organizations in disseminating that information. Emphasis is on developing perspectives.” In the way I go about the course, I want to be certain to address “other information organizations” and “developing perspectives.”
Requirements: Reading reports, an exam, and final term paper, along with a verbal presentation during the final weeks at a date/time assigned by lottery. I will NOT accept reports and papers by fax, but I will accept them as attachment to e-mail. Please double-space papers and reports, use 1” margins, number the pages, and use a conventional font. Type in the body of the paper should be no smaller than 11 point and no larger than 12 point. (This syllabus is Times New Roman 11 point, which is very legible even to my old eyes.) Papers for this class must be “the result of [students’] own thought, research, or self-expression.”[1] Quotation of other's work without full attribution (plagiarism) is a violation of ethics and University policy; Senate rules stipulate an E grade -- or worse -- in instances of plagiarism. Ask if you have any questions about citation.
NOTE: Something that is due a certain week is due at the start of class that week.
Grading. Three reading reports will each account for 10% of the grade (30% total). A term paper (12-15 double-spaced pages) and verbal presentation will together account for 35%. An exam on the readings and lectures will be 25%. Attendance and participation in the class will decide the final 10% of the grade.
Reading reports (3): 30%
Final paper: 25%
Exam: 25%
Presentation of final paper topic 10%
Participation in class 10%
Grading Policy. All grading is comparative. Papers are assigned grades in comparison with each other, based on quality of thought and of writing style, thoroughness of research and of references, length and originality. Only exceptional work will receive an "A" grade. Papers that are received after the due date will be assigned a lower grade than would otherwise be received. (and see attendance policy)
Attendance Policy. It is assumed that each student will miss no more than one session and will speak in class – the equivalent of a "B" grade for "participation." Missing more classes or failing to participate will lower the grade. Acceptable reasons for absence include illness or bereavement; it is the policy NOT to grant incompletes (I) for reasons other than these. (For the University Senate’s rules having to do with attendance and absences, go to http://www.uky.edu/USC/New/Rules/Section%20V.pdf and then to 5.2.4.1-.2 and .4.)
Textbook. One text contains most of the required readings:
Rubin, R. (2000). Foundations of Library and Information Science.
New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers. Updated version. ISBN 1-55570-402-6 (Paperback.)
We will read two chapters from the following book, on reserve in Young Library:
Harris, M., Hannah, S. & Harris, P. (1998). Into the future: The Foundations of Library and Information Services in the Post-Industrial Era. Norwood, NJ: Ablex. Second edition. (Paperback.)
(Professors Mike Harris and Stan Hannah were members of the School’s faculty.)
We will also read a few chapters from the following book available on the WWW:
Buckland, Michael. (1988). Library Services in Theory and Context. 2nd ed. New York: Pergamon Press. Available at: http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/Literature/Library/Services/
In preparing to teach this course, I have benefited greatly from Professor Case’s book, which is on reserve in Young Library: Case, Donald Owen. (2002). Looking for Information: A Survey of Research on Information Seeking, Needs, and Behavior. Amsterdam, New York: Academic Press.
LIS 600 Information in Society: List of readings, reports, and final paper by date due
(NOTE: Reports and final paper are due at the start of class of the relevant week.)
WEEK 1 (8/30): Introduction to course.
[No reading due for this meeting]
WEEK 2 (9/6): No meeting due to Labor Day
WEEK 3 (9/13): History of libraries and information technology.
Rubin, R. (2000). Chap. 7, From past to present, pp. 207-264 in Foundations . . .
The sociology of professions. The profession of librarianship.
Rubin, R. (2000). Appendix G, Major LIS associations, in Foundations . . .
Rubin, R. (2000). Appendix H, Overview of librarianship..., in Foundations . . .
Library Bill of Rights, available at http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/statementspols/statementsif/librarybillrights.htm
DUE: Reading Summary #1. Read, summarize and be prepared to describe an article on any aspect of the profession (e.g., its history, image, rewards). See the attached list of journals from which to choose, along with Guidelines for Preparing a Reading Report, below.
WEEK 4 (9/20): Defining "information." Information seeking. Services.
Buckland, M. (1988). Chap. 9, Becoming informed, pp. 115-126, and Chap. 10, Demand, pp, 127-142, in Library services . . .
Gladwell, Malcolm. (2002, March 25th). The social life of paper: Looking for method in the mess. The New Yorker, 78 (5), 92-96. Available at: http://www.newyorker.com/critics/books/?020325crbo_books
Rubin, R. (2000). Chap. 2, Information science, pp. 19-56 in Foundations . . .
Professor Case’s book is especially helpful on defining “information” and on information seeking. Herbert A Simon’s work on aspiration level, bounded rationality, and satisficing is relevant to information seeking.
WEEK 5 (9/27): The Information Society: Implications for libraries.
Harris et al. (1998). The information age, pp. 1-26 in Into the future . . . [On reserve]
Harris et al. (1998). Librarians confront the post-industrial era, pp. 27-50 in Into the future . . .
The subject matter of the two Harris chapters is relevant to the so called “digital divide.” See week 8.
Two talks by Librarian of Congress James Billington are among many things relevant to this topic. He gave the talks at the National Press Club (April 14, 2000) and at the IFLA conference (August 21, 2001). They are available at the Library of Congress Web site <http://www.loc.gov/>. I typed “Billington speeches” in the search window, top right corner. (The relevance of the Billington talks is not limited to this week’s topic.)
WEEK 6 (10/4): Libraries by type and organization: Public and School libraries.
Rubin, R. (1998). Chap. 9, The library as institution, pp. 297-349 in Foundations . . .
Kent, S. (1998). American public libraries: A long transformative moment. In Graubard & LeClerc (eds.), Books, bricks and bytes, pp. 207-220. [On reserve]
Tisdale, S. (1997). Silence, please: The public library as entertainment center. Harper's Magazine, 296 (March), 65-74. [On reserve]
DUE: Reading Summary #2. Read, summarize and be prepared to describe an article on the changes in libraries prompted by technological change. See the attached list of journals from which to choose.
WEEK 7 (10/11): Libraries by type/organization: Academic and Special libraries.
Buckland, M. (1988). Chap. 2, Origins and motivation, pp. 6-12, Chap. 3, Scope, pp. 13-26, and Chap. 11, Allocation I, pp. 143-161, in Library services . . .
Lau, D. (2002). What does your boss think about you? SLJ's survey reveals principals' lack of knowledge about the role of school librarians. School Library Journal, 49 (Sept.), 52-55. [On reserve]
WEEK 8 (10/18): Issues: Environmental change, fees, access, digital divide.
Rubin, R. (2000). Chap. 3, Redefining the library, pp. 57-92 in Foundations . . .
Buckland, M. (1988). Chap. 17, Technology, pp. 208-214, and Chap. 18, Change, pp, 215-224, in Library services . . .
WEEK 9 (10/25): Diversity: Panel Discussion
WEEK 10 (11/1): Copyright.
Rubin, R. (2000). Chap. 4, Information policy, pp. 93-138 in Foundations . . .
It may be impossible to overstate the importance of copyright to information in society, and copyright can be as slippery a subject to understand as it is an important subject to include in the course. Fortunately, there are some good copyright-related Web sites:
· Copyright Management Center Indiana University Purdue University http://copyright.iupui.edu/
· Stanford University Libraries Copyright & Fair Use Center http://fairuse.stanford.edu/
· US Copyright Office http://www.copyright.gov/ (options to click on Copyright Basics and FAQs)
Issues: Privacy, censorship and privatization.
Rubin, R. (2000). Chap. 5, Information policy as library policy, pp. 139-169 in Foundations . . .
Other ethical and legal issues.
Rubin, R. (2000). Chap. 8, Ethics and standards, pp. 207-264 in Foundations . . .
DUE: Reading Summary #3. Read, summarize and be prepared to describe an article or chapter on library ethical and/or policy issues . See the attached list of journals and books from which to choose.
WEEK 11 (11/8): EXAM Covers all reading and lecture material.
WEEK 12 (11/15): Presentations and discussion.
WEEK 13 (11/22): Presentations and discussion.
WEEK 14 (11/29): Presentations and discussion.
WEEK 15 (12/6): Presentations and discussion.
DUE: Final paper.
Course Evaluation.
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Reading Reports: List of Journals -- Reports must be on articles published in 1995 or later.
(Note: These journals are not on reserve but are available at Young Library and elsewhere.)
