School of Information Resources and Library Science

IRLS 688

Advanced Issues in Information Resources:
Providing and Evaluating Library Services to Minorities

Fall 2001

 

Instructor: Dr. Edmund F. SantaVicca
Office & Phone: TBA
Email: ed.santavicca@pcmail.maricopa.edu
Office hours: TBA
Class time: Tuesdays, 6-8:30pm, 21 August-11 December

 


Course description: Analysis of planning, implementing and evaluating information services designed for minority populations. Includes racial, ethnic, cultural, religious, gender and age-based (children, elderly) minorities; confined populations; physically and mentally challenged; illiteracy.
Examination of program formulation, budget allocation, special formats, funding sources and evaluation instruments.

Course objectives: Upon completion of the course, each student should:

    1. be familiar with the basic protocols of demographic and population research, including survey design;
    2. be able to develop a community profile, and a programmatic statement of corresponding services to special groups;
    3. be familiar with the scope of minority identities & priorities for services;
    4. understand techniques of budget allocation for special services and formats;
    5. be able to evaluate services offered to special groups.

Textbook: None. The instructor will assign readings for each session.

Methodology: Discussion, lecture, exercises, guest speakers (possibly)

Course grade: The grade for the course is based upon a number of factors and



TENTATIVE CLASS SCHEDULE

21 August Introduction to Course

28 August Demographic & Population Studies

4 September Community Profiles & Services

11 September Defining Minorities, Defining Services

18 September Racial, Ethnic, Cultural Concepts & Identities

25 September Gender Minorities

2 October Age-based minorities: Children & the Aged

9 October Confined populations

16 October Religious & spiritual populations

23 October Differently-abled: Physical & Mental

30 October Illiteracy

6 November Developing program statements

13 November Evaluating program effectiveness

20 November TBA

27 November Minority Self-Censorship Project

4 December Minority Self-Censorship Project

11 December Minority Self-Censorship Project

 

 

READINGS AND ANNOTATIONS

Because there is no textbook for the course, students will be expected to read widely on a variety of topics.

In some cases, specific readings will be assigned by the instructor. In other cases, you are free to choose readings relevant to the topic being discussed.

All annotations are due on the date that the topic is discussed.

For each topic, you will be expected to read 3-5 articles, chapters, etc. With the exception of those articles that are required reading for everyone, you are urged to read about the topic as it relates to the type of information environment in which you expect to be working.

What I want from you on each due date are:

    1. a complete and accurate citation for the item read;
    2. an annotation of no more than 50 words for each item;
    3. your preparedness to share information from your readings as part of classroom discussion.

Further clarification will take place at the first class session.

 

MINORITY CENSORSHIP PROJECT

Each student will present a 15-minute profile of a documented incident where a minority group attempted and/or possibly succeeded in censoring resources and/or services to another group.

The only parameters are:

  1. The incident (and the presentation) must be based on documented evidence.
  2. The incident must have occurred since 1900.
  3. The presentation must fit within a 15-minute time frame (points deducted for each precious second beyond the time limit!)
  4. 4. ALL topics must be approved by the instructor.