LIS624

Fall 1999


Instructor:  Antoinette P. Powell
Office:  Agricultural Information Center, 248 Agricultural Engineering (temporary)
Telephone:  257-2758
Email Address:  apowell@ca.uky.edu
Office hours by appointment

Course Description

A survey of the content and structure information resources in science and technology.  Consideration is given to the communication systems of science and technology, emphasizing information systems, sources and services in the life sciences, physical sciences and engineering.

Course Objective

To provide students with an understanding of the communications systems and processes by which information is transferred in science and technology.

To compare the information needs and communications behavior of scientists and technologists.

To familiarize students with the range of information systems, sources and services which provide access to information in science and technology.

Electronic Resources

Students are expected to have an e-mail account and be somewhat familiar with the World Wide Web.  A listserv has been set up for the course called LIS624 and the address is LIS624@lsv.uky.edu.  For those of you who need some assistance or are not familiar with e-mail or the Web, help is available in the UK Microlabs and in the LIS Information Lab.

Class Participation

Students are expected to be an active participant in this course.  Participation will consist of class discussion, class questions, peer review and listserv postings on the assigned topic.  Grading on class participation will be assessed on the following:
search questions--prepared by your classmates for their subject orientation. Due next class period.
peer review--a critique of your classmates presentation, handout and questions. Due next class period.
listserv postings-- brief discussion (no more than 300 words) of a topic assigned at the end of the previous class.  Messages posted to the list are to be on the server no later than 12 p.m. (noon) the Sunday prior to the class.  All students are expected to read the postings prior to the class period.

Methods of Instruction

Information in Science and Technology (LIS624) consists of lecture, discussion and practical exercises.  To prepare for class discussion students will be required to read assigned readings and listserv postings prior to the class.  Practical exercises will consist of exercises requiring use of the reference tools along with using specialized bibliographic tools for science and technology.

Semester Project

Each student will be required to examine a subject area in science or technology and prepare a 30 minute orientation for the class.  Presentations will begin on November 1st and will continue until the end of the semester.  Along with the orientation students will be required to prepare a handout and practical exercises for the instructor and their classmates to complete.

Grading Criteria

Assignment I    5% Class Participation Semester Assignment
Assignment II  10%    Class questions 15%   presentation      10%
Assignment III  5%   Peer review  10%   handout   10%
Assignment IV 15%   Listserv postings   10%   assignment       10%
35%    35%   30%

Total Grade: assignments 35% + class participation 35% + semester assignment 30% = 100%

Grade Assignments

Grades will be assigned on a percentage basis according to the following scale:

100% - 90%  ------   A

89% - 80%  ------   B

79% - 70%  ------   C

69% - 60%  ------   D

Below 60%  ------   Failing grade

The instructor will assign a failing grade for the course to any student who is found guilty of cheating or plagiarism.  Personal work submitted for this course is expected to represent your individual effort, not that of a friend or colleague.  Work completed for other courses is not acceptable for meeting the requirements of LIS624.

Absences

Students are expected to attend class and participate in discussion.  Attendance is not mandatory but roll will be taken for each class.

Late Assignments

Assignments are expected to be turned in on time.  One percentage point will be deducted for each day the assignment is late unless there is prior instructor approval.  Listserv postings will not be accepted late.

Assigned Reading

Assigned reading not included in this guide is on reserve in the Information Laboratory located in the College of Library and Information Science.

Schedule of Classes

August 30 Discussion I: Overview of the Nature of Science and Technology
Evaluation of Reference Tools
Overview of Semester Assignment
Presentation on Presentations

Assignment I:
Information Tools on Information Tools
Due September 13, 1999
Please return the tools to their proper place so your classmates have access to them.

 September 13 Discussion II: Communication of Science and Technology

Assigned readings:

T.J. Allen, "The Communication System of Technology: An Overview."  In: Managing the Flow of
Technology.  Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1977.pp. 35-39.

Lievrouw, L.A. "Invisible College Reconsidered: Bibliometrics and the Development of Scientific Communication Theory." Communications Research, v. 16, no. 5, 1989, pp. 615-627.

W. Garvey.  "Changing the System: Innovations in the Interactive Social System of Scientific Communication. In Communication: The Essence of Science. New York: Pergamon, 1979, pp. 300-320.

Assignment II:  Tools of the Trade
Search questions
Due October 4, 1999

Listserv posting due 12 p.m. (noon) September 12, 1999

 September  20 Discussion III: Scientific and Technical Information Policy

Assigned Reading:

Branscomb, L. M. " U.S. Scientific and Technical Information Policy in the Context of a Diffusion-Oriented National Technology Policy." Government Publications Review, v. 19, 1992, pp. 469-482.

Lederman, L.  "Science and Technology Policies and Priorities: a Comparative Analysis." Science, v. 237, 1987.  pp. 1125-33.

Lepkowski, W. “R&D Policy: Cooperation is the Current Byword.” Chemical and Engineering News, June 30, 1997, p. 11-17

September 27

Discussion IV:  Dissemination and Control of Scientific and Technical Information

Assigned Readings:
W. Scott, W.  "Interreferee Agreement on Some Characteristics of Manuscripts."  American Psychologist, v. 29, 1974.  pp. 698-702.

Welborn, V. "The Cold Fusion Story: A Case Study Illustrating the Communication and Information Seeking Behavior of Scientists".  Science and Technology Libraries, v. 11, no. 3, 1990/91. pp. 51-60.

Listserv posting due 12 p.m. (noon) September 19, 1999

 October 4 Discussion V: Impact of Technology on Scientific and Technical Communication

Assigned Reading:

"Executive Summary."  in National Research Council.  National Collabories:   Applying Information Technology for Scientific Research. Washington,  D.C.: National Academy Press, 1993. pp. 1-4.

Hayes, R.M. "The Needs of Science and Technology." Science and Technology  Libraries  v. 12, no. 4, 1991/92. pp. 3-33.

Lepkowski, W. “Public Science Drives Innovation.” Chemical and Enginering  News, September 1, 1997.

"Science, Collaboration, and Information Technology."  in National Research     Council. National Collabories: Applying Information Technology for Scientific Research. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press, 1993.  pp. 5-11.

St. Clair, G. "The Future of Scholarship".  College and Research Libraries  News, v. 56, no. 6, November 1995.  pp. 473-474.

Taubes, G. " Science Journals Go Wired."  Science, v. 271, 9 February, 1996. pp. 764-766.

Listserv posting due 12 p.m. (noon) September 26, 1999.

 October 11 Special Topic: Bibliographic Control and Information Access

Assigned Reading:

Pruett, N.J.  "Collection Control".  Scientific and Technical Libraries. Vol. 1: Functions and Management.  New York: Academic Press, 1986. pp. 153-197

Assignment III:  Creating a Secondary Information  Source Abstracting & Indexing
Due October 25, 1999

  October 18 Discussion VI: Information Needs and Seeking Information  (Panel discussion with scientists and engineers)

Assigned Reading:

Gessesse, K. "Scientific Communication, Electronic Access and Document
Delivery: The New Challenge to the Science/engineering Reference
Librarian." International Information and Library Review, v. 26, 1994.
pp. 341-349.

Listserv posting due 12 p.m. (noon) October 10, 1999.
October 25 Discussion VII: Growth, Scatter and Decay of Scientific and Technical Information

Assigned Reading:

Kaiser, J.C. and E. Marshall. "Imanishi-Kari Ruling Slams ORI". Science, v. 272, no. 5720, June 28, 1996. pp. 1864-1865.

Kevles, D. "The Assault on David Baltimore." New Yorker, May 27, 1996. pp. 94-109.

Marshall, E. "Disputed Resluts Now Just a Footnote". Science, v. 273, no. 5272, July 12, 1996. pp. 174-175.

 November 1 Discussion VIII:  Collection Development for Science and Technology

Assigned Reading:

Demas, S.; P. McDonald, and G. Lawrence. "The Internet and Collection Development: Mainstreaming Selection of Internet Resources".  Library Resources and Technical Services, v. 39, 1995. pp. 275-290.

Pruett, N.J.  "Collection Development".  Scientific and Technical Libraries. Vol. 1: Functions and Management.  New York: Academic Press, 1986.  pp. 115-152.

Assignment IV: Tools of the Trade Too Collection Development Exercise Due November 29, 1999

 November 8 Discussion IX: Information Systems and Services
Subject presentations begin November 15 Subject  presentations continue to end of the semester December  13 Course wrap-up