University of Denver

Library & Information Science

Course Syllabus

LIS 4060 Reference

3 Quarter Hours

Quarter:

Summer 2009; June 16 - August 11

Schedule:

Tuesdays 7:00 - 9:20 PM

Place:

103 JMAC

Instructor:

Christopher C. Brown, Penrose Library, Reference Technology Integration Librarian

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

E-mail: cbrown@du.edu

Class Web Page:

http://www.du.edu/~cbrown/lis4060/

Course Description:

Information resources include a number of different kinds of reference materials in a wide variety of formats. These include guidebooks, encyclopedias and dictionaries, indexes and abstracts, handbooks, bibliographies, biographical finding tools and biographies, data sets and much more. Many of these resources are available on-line, as well as in print and other digital formats. This course will help students identify and evaluate the most likely resources for information queries in particular settings. It will also provide the opportunity to find answers to real research questions. The course will cover the primary resources for the broad disciplines of business, humanities, sciences, social sciences and government publications in print and electronic formats. Class exercises will reflect the multidisciplinary and multicultural interests and characteristics of library users. (Prerequisites: none; Recommended: LIS 4000, LIS 4011).

Course Objectives

The course objectives as stated are intended to serve as a framework for the course content. My responsibility is to provide the opportunities and guidance for achievement of these objectives. These opportunities will be found in class meetings and exercises, readings, assignments, and exams. Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:

1. Identify, evaluate, select, and use a variety of reference sources;
2. Discuss philosophy and trends of reference service in libraries;
3. Analyze issues related to reference sources and services in the print and electronic environment and in a variety of community settings; and,
4. Identify and discuss issues related to evaluation of reference resources and services.

Because LIS 4011 is a recommended and not required prerequisite, I will spend a relatively small amount of time on objective on search strategies. Objective 1 is a much deeper development of reference source knowledge than what you may have experienced in LIS 4011.

Textbooks (required)

The required texts for this course are:

Cassell, Kay Ann, and Uma Hiremath. 2006. Reference and Information Services in the 21st Century: An Introduction. New York: Neal-Schuman. Updated at: http://www.neal-schuman.com/reference21st/

Keeran, Peggy, et al. 2007. Research within the Disciplines: Foundations for Reference and Library Instruction. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow.

Additional readings are listed in the Schedule. Permanent URLs are links to full-text articles available in databases via Penrose Library.

Online Resource A trial of Guide to Reference will be available via Penrose Library for the duration of this course.

Assignments:

This class is intended to be thought-provoking and will allow you to interact with each other. It will also allow me to see if you are tracking with the topics.

Library Visits Report

You are to visit two libraries to observe reference models and interactions. The libraries may NOT be libraries where you currently work or volunteer. Ideally they should be of different types (academic, public, law, medical, special, etc.). You may chose to do unobtrusive observation of reference services, or you may chose to interview reference staff to inquire about the types of services they provide and their philosophy of reference. You may discuss reference collections, reference services, reference staffing, policies, or other ideas relevant to reference services.

You will then write up the results of your visits in a brief paper (3-5 pages).

Reference Subject Guide You will prepare a subject guide on a specific subject area. This guide must include all formats that would be found in a reference collection (print, online databases, e-books, etc.). Grading will be based on selection of resources, arrangement of resources, and quality and originality of annotations.
Final Exams

Take home exam. The exam will be given out during class in week 9, and will be due at the beginning of class in week 10. The take home exam involves creating responses to email reference questions.

In-class exam. The test will be a one-hour matching, multiple-choice, and short answer questions regarding the sources covered in class.

Note:

This syllabus is subject to change based on the needs of the learning environment.
Disability Services If you have a disability protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and need to request accommodations, please make an appointment with the Disability Services Program (DSP); (303) 871-2455 / 2278 / 7432; located in The Center below the bookstore in Driscoll South.

Grading Criteria:

Library visits report and other homework assignments: 25%

Reference Subject Guide: 25%

In-Class participation and BlackBoard discussion participation: 25%

Final Exam: 25%

Grading Scale:

A 95-100%
A- 90-94%
B+ 87-89%
B 83-86%
B- 80-82%
C+ 77-79%
C 73-76%
C- 70-72%
D+ 67-69%
D 60-66%
F <60%
Tentative Class Schedule -- Subject to Change

Date

Topic

Assignments

Week 1 June 16

Reference Intro.

Notes

Due by first class. Begin commenting using Discussion Board feature in Blackboard. Read and be throroughly prepared to discuss in class:

Read Cassell and Hiremath ch.1-3

Week 2 June 23

Reference Sources I

Notes

Read Cassell and Hiremath ch. 4-6; Keeran ch. 1 and 3

Contribute to BlackBoard discussions

Assignment 1 Due

Week 3 June 30

Reference Sources II

Notes

Read Cassell and Hiremath ch. 7-11; Keeran, ch. 4-5

Contribute to BlackBoard discussions

Assignment 2 Due

Week 4 July 7

Reference Ethics

Reference Collection Development

Notes

Read Cassell and Hiremath, ch. 13-16; Keeran, ch. 6-8

Contribute to BlackBoard discussions

Library Visits Report Due

Week 5 July 14

Reference Interview

Notes

Readings:

Kwon, N., and, Gregory, V. L. 2007. The effects of librarians' behavioral performance on user satisfaction in chat reference services. Reference & User Services Quarterly , 47 , 2: 137-148. Permalink.

Luo, L. 2008. Reference service in Second Life: An overview. Reference Services Review . 36 , 3: 289-300. Permalink .

Portree, M., Evans. R. S., Adams , T.M, and, Doherty, J. J. 2009. Overcoming transactional distance: Instructional intent in an e-mail reference service. Reference & User Services Quarterly , 48 , 2: 142-152. Permalink .

Burke, S. 2009. Perceptions of public library accessibility for people with disabilities. The Reference Librarian , 50 , 1: 43-54. Permalink.

RUSA. 2007. Guidelines for the development and promotion of multilingual collections and services. Available at: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rusa/resources/guidelines/guidemultilingual.cfm

RUSA. 2007. Guidelines for library services to Spanish-speaking library users. Available at: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rusa/resources/guidelines/guidespanish.cfm

RUSA. 2008. Guidelines for library and information services to older adults. Reference & User Services Quarterly , 48 , 2: 209-212. Permalink.

Valentine, B., and, Bernhisel, S. 2008. Teens and their technologies in high school and college: Implications for teaching and learning. Journal of Academic Librarianship , 34 , 6: 502-512. Permalink.

Contribute to BlackBoard discussions

Assignment 3 Due

Week 6 July 21

Reference Models

Notes

Read Cassel and Hiremath, ch. 18-19; Keeran, ch. 10

Contribute to BlackBoard discussions

Assignment 4 Due

Week 7 July 28

Virtual Reference

Evaluating Reference Resources

Notes

Read Cassel and Hiremath, ch. 17

Contribute to BlackBoard discussions

Assignment 5 Due

Week 8 August 4

Review

Reference Interviews

Reference Subject Guides Due

Final exam, part I take home handed out (respond to email questions)

Week 9 August 11

Exam, Evaluation, Tie up loose ends

Final exam, part I due (hand in at beginning of class)

Final exam, part II in class (test over sources)

 

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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.

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