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Instructor |
Lisa G. O’Connor, Assistant Professor, MLIS, A.B.D. |
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Office Hours |
Tuesday & Thursday
1 – 3 pm |
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Office |
518E King Library South |
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Telephone |
859.257.5679 (office) 859.268-4268 (home) |
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loconnor@uky.edu |
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AIM |
lisaatuky |
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.
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.
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. Please double-space papers and reports, use 1” margins, number the pages, and use a 12 point conventional font. Papers for this class must be “the result of [students’] own thought, research, or self-expression”[1] and must be written specifically for this course. 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.)
Required Textbook. One text contains most of the required readings:
Rubin, R. (2004). Foundations of Library and Information Science. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers.
Required additional texts (On reserve in the CAIT lab):
Abbott,
A. (1988) The System of Professions. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Buckland, M. K. (1988). Library Services in Theory and Context. New York: Pergamon.
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
Harris, M., S. A. Hannah, & P. Harris. Into the Future: The Foundations of
Library and Information Services in the Post-Industrial Era. Greenwich, Conn: Ablex.
Harris, R. (1992) Librarianship: The erosion of a Woman’s Profession. Norwood, NJ: Ablex.
Kent, S. (1998). American public libraries: A long transformative moment. In Graubard & LeClerc (eds.), Books, bricks and bytes, pp. 207-220.
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.
Schiller, H.I. (1996). Information Inequality: The Deepening Social Crisis in America. New York: Routledge.
Tisdale, S. (1997). Silence, please: The public library as entertainment center. Harper's Magazine, 296 (March), 65-74.
Web Sources
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)
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. Readings should be completed prior to the class meeting the week they are listed)
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Date |
Topic |
Readings |
Assignments Due |
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8/29 |
Introduction to the Course / Origin of Libraries |
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9/5 |
Happy Labor Day. Class will not meet, but there is always reading to be done J.
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Rubin Chap. 7 Rubin Appendix B, Major LIS associations, in Foundations . . .
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9/12 |
The sociology of professions. The profession of librarianship.
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Abbott Chapter 8 Rubin Chap. 10
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9/19 |
A Woman’s Profession?
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Harris, R. Chapters 1 - 5 |
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9/26 |
The Information Society |
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Rubin Chap. 1 & 2
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10/3 |
Technology and Change |
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Rubin
Chap 3
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10/10 |
How Modern Libraries Organize Information/Libraries by Type |
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Rubin Chaps 6 & 9 Buckland Chaps 9 & 10 |
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10/17 |
Libraries by Type |
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Kent, Tisdale, Lau, Foster |
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10/24 |
Privatization/Commodification of Information |
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Rubin Chaps 4 & 8 Harris Chap 8 Schiller Chap 2 |
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10/31 |
Intellectual Freedom & Privacy |
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Rubin Chap 5 DUE: Reading Summary #3 |
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11/7 |
Preservation and Other Ethical Issues |
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Baker Reading Gladwell Reading M. Harris Chaps 1 & 2 |
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11/14, 21, 28 & 12/5 |
Class Presentations and Discussion |
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Paper Due 11/21 |
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12/12 |
Final Exam |
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Guidelines for Preparing a Reading Report (3 pages each)
Over the course of the semester, read articles from three different journals (not just different issues; different journals). Begin your report with a complete citation (including all page numbers) to what you read. Summarize what the author says in 200-400 words, double-spaced. Where appropriate, note what other work the author uses (through references and discussion). Quote from the work only if you think the exact wording is important or particularly well-put. Most important points: critique what the author says in another 100-200 words; connect what you read to your own experience if possible. Pose questions and make comments about the topic or conclusions in a section labeled "Discussion." Aim for a variety of journals and for articles of substance; do not choose regular columns or reviews of books or other media. Do not select articles from American Libraries; those articles are too brief to be merely summarized. For the same reason lean towards the longer, more substantive articles from the other journals. Be prepared to discuss what you learned in class.
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.
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.
Reading Summary #3. Read, summarize and be prepared to describe an article or chapter on library ethical and/or policy issue . See the attached list of journals and books from which to choose.
Term paper:[2] You will submit a paper of 12-15 typed, double-spaced, numbered pages, investigating a topic that is relevant to the course title, Information in Society. We will coordinate these topic assignments in class. You should utilize APA style for citation and bibliography.
Class presentation: During one of the last four weeks of the term you will report to the class on your work; dates for reports are assigned randomly among students. There will be 20 minutes for each presentation/discussion.
For class presentation you should prepare a description of your paper for delivery in class. For class delivery, use any combination of:
· handouts
· materials for document camera (i.e., today’s version of the overhead projector, which does not require transparencies)
· PowerPoint
(Note: These journals are not on reserve but are available at Young Library and elsewhere.)
Bulletin of the Medical Library Association
College and Research Libraries
Government Publications Review
Information Outlook (formerly Special Libraries)
Journal of Academic Librarianship
Journal of Library Administration
Journal of the American Society for Information Science & Technology
Law Library Journal
Library & Information Science Research
Library Journal
Library Quarterly
Library Trends
Public Libraries
School Library Journal
School Library Media Quarterly
[1] University Senate Rule 6.3.1 plagiarism. I encourage students to read the entire discussion of plagiarism.
[2] For citations and cited references, see Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. The 5th edition is on reserve in the CAIT lab.
PLEASE NOTE: This syllabus was largely developed by Donald Case with alterations by Dennis Carrigan and then me. Thanks to Donald and Dennis for allowing me to use their wonderful work.