University of Denver

Library & Information Science

Course Syllabus

LIS 4632 Government Publications

2 Quarter Hours

Quarter:

Autumn 2014; September 9 – November 11

Schedule:

Tuesdays 4:00 - 6:20 PM

Place:

304 Ruffatto Hall

Instructor:

Christopher C. Brown, Penrose Library, Reference / Government Documents Librarian

Phone: (303) 871-3404 (work - voicemail); (303) 359-7460 (cell - voicemail)

E-mail: cbrown@du.edu

Class Web Page:

http://www.du.edu/~cbrown/lis4362/

Course Description:

The U.S. government is the world’s most prolific publisher, both for tangible and electronic formats. This class will cover the origin, nature, and scope of federal publications and issues related to management, organization, access, and reference services in a federal depository library. Technical/managerial aspects will cover acquisitions, organization, maintenance, bibliographic control, and technical processing. The reference component will cover congressional, presidential, executive branch, and judicial publications in all formats, together with their finding aids.

Course Objectives

To understand the publication and distribution of United States federal documents from the early history of the US to present

To understand the basic elements of participation in the US Federal Depository Program

To know and appreciate the value of the Superintendent of Documents classification system

To learn the basic sources for locating and using government information

To understand the documentary aspects of the legislative processes

To understand complex statistical research and to be able to provide reference services using federal statistical sources

Textbook (required)


Forte, Eric J, Cassandra J. Hartnett, and Andrea L Sevetson. Fundamentals of Government Information. New York: Neal-Schuman, 2011.

Note: there is one copy of this book on Reserve.

Textbook (optional - buy it used if want to, or access online)

Morehead, Joe. Introduction to United States Government Information Sources. 6th ed. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 1999. Main Stacks J83 .M67 1999. This book is a bit dated, but it's content is still needed in that way that it shows how to do research with print resources.

Note: the online version of this book is an e-book. Although it is possible to "check out" this book, you will then make it unavailable to the rest of the class. 

Assignments:

You are expected to complete all reading assignments before the beginning of each class to ensure intelligent discussions. Evidence of failure to engage in the reading assignment will negatively affect grades.

Weekly assignments to be posted on class Web site.

Redo Policy: Each student may do a "redo" on homework assignments. 

Final Paper You will write an original research paper of approximately 12 pages (about 3,500 words) on a topic relating to this class.
The paper will be done in stages.
Proposal: to be agreed upon with the instructor (due week 3)
Outline and bibliography: includes at least 5 scholarly sources. Primary sources also highly encouraged, if appropriate. (due week 4)
First draft (due week 7)
Final paper (due week 10)
Please use the excellent services of the Writing Center located in the AAC.
Note: Chicago style is required for this paper. The library subscribes to the online CMS.

 Note:

This syllabus is subject to change based on the needs of the learning environment.

Grading Criteria:

Weekly assignments: 75%

Final Paper: 25%

Grading Scale:

A: 4.0 = 93-100
A-: 3.7 = 90-92
B+: 3.3 = 87-89
B: 3.0 = 83-86
B-: 2.7 = 80-82
C+: 2.3 = 77-79
C: 2.0 = 73-76
C-: 1.7 = 70-72
D+: 1.3 = 67-69
D: 1.0 = 63-66
D-: 0.7 = 60-62
F: 0.0 = 59 & below

Tentative Class Schedule -- Subject to Change

Date

Topic

Assignments

Week 1
Sept. 9

Class Orientation
Scope of Class
History of U.S. Docs
Basic Finding Aids
Classification Issues

Notes

Subscribe to govdoc-l. Here are the instuctions. Forward me the first message you receive via e-mail from govdoc-l, to verify that you have subscribed. You will be responsible for monitoring this mail distribution list for the duration of this class.

Week 2
Sept. 16

Depository Issues
More Finding Aids
Docs on the Net

Introduction to Serial Set and Legislative Materials

Notes

Read:

Fundamentals, chapters 1, 2 and 3

Jaeger, Paul T., John Carlo Bertot, and John A. Shuler. "The Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP), academic libraries, and access to government information." The Journal of Academic Librarianship 36, no. 6 (2010): 469-478. Link

Quinn, Aimee C. 2003. Keeping the citizenry informed: Early congressional printing and 21st century information policy. Government Information Quarterly 20 (3): 281-93. Link

Brown, Christopher C. 2014. “Research with U.S. Government Information.” IN Research Within the Disciplines: Foundations for Reference and Library Instruction. Peggy Keeran and Michael Levine-Clark, eds. 2nd ed. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, pp. 139-164.See Canvas (files).

Work on developing your final paper topic. Topics are due Sept. 23.


Assignment 1 due
Week 3
Sept. 23

The Serial Set
Legislative Materials
Legislative Histories

Notes

Read Fundamentals, chapters 4 and 5

Read: 

Imholtz, August A. Jr. 2012. Congress as publisher: The magic of the U.S. congressional serial set. Government Information Quarterly 29 (2): 285-90. Link

Imholtz Jr, August A. "The Printing and Distribution of the Serial Set: A Preliminary Contribution to 19th Century Congressional Publishing." Dttp 31 (2003): 8-17. Link

Read A Short History of the GPO:
http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/history/macgilvray.html

Read Snapshots of the Federal Depository Library Program : http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/history/snapshot.html

Assignment 2 Due

Final paper topics due

Week 4
Sept. 30

Presidential Documents
Executive Agencies

Notes

Read Fundamentals, chapters 6 and 7

Read: Legal Requirements & Program Regulations of the Federal Depository Library Program (June 2011)

NOT required: You can also skim the FDLP Handbook. Link. This was superseded by Legal Requirements, but has additional background information.

Assignment 3 Due

Outline and bibliography of final paper due

Week 5
Oct. 7

Statistics
Census

Authentication and Preservation

Notes

Read Fundamentals, chapters 8 and 9

Assignment 4 Due

Week 6
Oct. 14
Week 7
Oct. 21

Census

Notes

Read Fundamentals, chapters 13 and 14

Assignment 5 Due 

First draft of final paper due

Week 8
Oct. 28

Management of Documents Collections

Electronic Docs Environment

Notes

Read Fundamentals, chapters 10 and 15

Watch GPO video

Assignment 6 Due

Week 9
Nov. 4
NO CLASS Work on Final Paper
Week 10
Nov. 11

Scientific and Technical Docs
Intellectual Property: Patents, Trademarks, Copyright

Notes

Read Fundamentals, chapters 11 and 12

Final Paper Due

 

The University Honor Code

All members of the University community are entrusted with the responsibility of observing certain ethical goals and values as they relate to academic integrity. Essential to the fundamental purpose of the University is the commitment to the principles of truth and honesty. The Honor Code is designed so that responsibility for upholding these principles lies with the individual as well as the entire community.

The Honor Code fosters and advances an environment of ethical conduct in the academic community of the University, the foundation of which includes the pursuit of academic honesty and integrity. Through an atmosphere of mutual respect we enhance the value of our education and bring forth the highest standard of academic excellence. Members of the University community, including students, faculty, staff, administrators and trustees, must not commit any intentional misrepresentation or deception in academic or professional matters.
All members of the University community are entrusted with the responsibility of observing certain ethical goals and values as they relate to academic integrity. Essential to the fundamental purpose of the University is the commitment to the principles of truth and honesty. The Honor Code is designed so that responsibility for upholding these principles lies with the individual as well as the entire community.

The Honor Code fosters and advances an environment of ethical conduct in the academic community of the University, the foundation of which includes the pursuit of academic honesty and integrity. Through an atmosphere of mutual respect we enhance the value of our education and bring forth the highest standard of academic excellence. Members of the University community, including students, faculty, staff, administrators and trustees, must not commit any intentional misrepresentation or deception in academic or professional matters.

RATIONALE. The Code was developed following discussions among a broad range of constituencies within the University encompassing students, faculty, staff, administrators, and trustees. The Honor Code is a living document that will evolve with time. In order to better foster and advance an environment of ethical conduct in the academic community of the University both substantive requirements and enforcement procedures may be amended by the University to reflect experience gained from its implementation.
AUTHORITY. Any modification of the Honor Code, other than to the procedures governing its enforcement, must be approved by the Board of Trustees upon recommendation from the Provost. Modifications and variations in procedures governing enforcement of the Code, including the use of alternative procedures in specific context as mandated by federal or state law, are subject to the approval of the Provost. In addition, upon recommendation from a Dean or the Faculty Senate, the Provost, in his or her sole discretion, may permit individual units or divisions of the University to adopt and implement area-specific descriptions of conduct violative of the Honor Code, provided that such descriptions do not authorize or condone conduct prohibited by, or inconsistent with, the Code.
ENFORCEMENT. The University of Denver Honor Code Procedures Governing Students shall govern and be followed in the case of any student at the University who is accused of violating the Honor Code. The University’s Faculty Personnel Guidelines Relating to Appointment, Promotion, and Tenure shall govern and be followed in the case of any faculty member who is accused of violating the Honor Code. The University’s Employee Handbook of Personnel Guidelines & Procedures shall govern and be followed in the case of any non-faculty employee who is accused of violating the Honor Code. The By-Laws, or other Board policies, of Colorado Seminary or the University of Denver shall govern and be followed in the case of any trustee who is accused of violating the Honor Code. Any conflict or dispute concerning which procedure governs in the enforcement of this Honor Code shall be resolved by the Provost, or, in the case of the trustees, by the Board of Trustees.

 

Relevant Links

Tools for Government Documents Librarianship