Syllabus: LIS4362 Government Publications

University of Denver

Library & Information Science

Course Syllabus

LIS 4632 Government Publications

2 Quarter Hours

Quarter:	Spring 2009; March 25– May 27
Schedule:	Wednesdays 7:00 - 8:20 PM+
Place:	115 JMAC
Instructor:	Christopher C. Brown, Penrose Library, Reference / Government Documents Librarian ~~Phone: (303) 871-3404 (work - voicemail)~~; (303) 359-7460 (cell) I am on sabbatical this quarter. I will be available before and after classes for consultations. I will also respond to emails. 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 (not required)	Morehead, Joe. Introduction to United States Government Information Sources. 6th ed. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 1999. Penrose Reference J83 .M67 1999 Note: the online version of this book is a netLibrary e-book. Although it is possible to "check out" this book, you will then make it unavailable to the rest of the class. Please "close item" when finished reading it online. Here's how.
Assignments:	Weekly assignments to be posted on class Web site. Weekly reading reports. Each time a reading is assigned you are to write a page summarizing what you learned from the reading. One report per article, chapter, etc. Thus, if 3 chapters and one article is assigned in a given week, you will write 4 weekly reading reports. Redo Policy: Each student may do a "redo" on homework assignments. You must turn the redo in electronically to the Digital Drop Box. Note that in the first part of the quarter the emphasis is on reading (and writing your reading reports), and the in latter part of the quarter the emphasis is on weekly assignments and the final project.
Final Project	Finding Documents Online. Starting with Peak, you need to find 25 government documents that are not currently noted as being online, and find a free online locations. They must be links to the entire content. In order to count, it must be a Peak record which has no online content now, and there is not an equivalent record with online content either. Suggested methodologies: Use the Browse the Documents Stacks feature to find docs that might be targets. Start from one of these search engines, and see if the records in Peak contain the records. Use this list.
Note:	This syllabus is subject to change based on the needs of the learning environment.
Grading Criteria:	Weekly assignments: 50% Weekly reading reports: 20% Final Project: 30%
Grading Scale:	A 93-100% A- 88-92% B+ 86-87% B 80-85% B- 78-79% C+ 76-77% C 70-75% C- 68-69% D 60-67% F <60%

Tentative Class Schedule -- Subject to Change
Date	Topic	Assignments
Week 1 March 25	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 April 1	Depository Issues More Finding Aids Docs on the Net Introduction to Serial Set and Legislative Materials Notes	Read: Morehead Chapters 1, 3-4 Chapter 1: The Transformation of Government Information Chapter 3: The Federal Depository Library Program Chapter 4: General Finding Aids and Reference Sources Read: Brown, Christopher C. (2007). “Government Documents.” IN Research within the Disciplines: Foundations for Reference and Library Instruction . Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, pp. 145-172. Read: Instructions to Depository Libraries: ~~http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/pubs/instructions/~~ NOTE: URL is updated to: http://fdlp.gov/administration/handbook Assignment 1 due 5 reading reports due
Week 3 April 8	The Serial Set Legislative Materials Legislative Histories Notes	Read Morehead Chapter 5 (Legislative Branch); Chapter 7 (Administrative Law); Chapter 8 (Legal Info Sources) 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 5 reading reports due
Week 4 April 15	Presidential Documents Executive Agencies Notes	Read Morehead Chapter 6 (Presidency) Assignment 3 Due 1 reading report due
Week 5 April 22	No Class	I will be in Tampa FL at the Depository Library Council meeting. You can view my presentation here. Work on Final Project
Week 6 April 29	Statistics Census Authentication and Preservation Notes	Read Morehead Chapter 9 (Statistical Sources) ~~Test on the SuDocs Classification System~~ Assignment 4 Due 1 reading report due
Week 7 May 6	Census Notes	Read Morehead Chapter 10 (Intellectual Property) Assignment 5 Due 1 reading report due
Week 8 May 13	Management of Documents Collections Electronic Docs Environment Notes	Watch GPO video Assignment 6 Due
Week 9 May 20	No Class	Work on Final Project
Week 10 May 27	Scientific and Technical Docs Intellectual Property: Patents, Trademarks, Copyright GIS Notes	Fianl Project Due See final project as it evolves: Encore

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.

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