SCHOOL Of LIBRARY SCIENCE
THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
LiS 404/504 Foundations of Library and Information Science
SUMMER II, 1996

Frank Gibbons, Adjunct Professor
Room: Telephone:
Office Hour: 9:00am - 10:45am, daily

OBJECTIVES

Students should acquire an understanding of the various types of library and information agencies and their functions.

Students should become aware of the historical background to library and information services, of the social, political and economic context of information and information processing, of modern trends in information management (both print and non-print technologies) and of current issues and controversies in library and informatoin studies.

Students will gain knowledge of the role of professional organisations and professional publications and an understanding of the educational foundations of library and informations science.

By the end of the programme students should be able to formulate their own ideas about the profession and begin to identify areas of interest on which to base their future careers.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

4 papers, one on each of the subjects listed below:

The contribution made to library and/or information science by a specified person
A topic in library history
A theme connected with the library/information science professions
A current issue/controversy in library/information science

Note: in all 4 of the above students will be expected to choose their specific subject from lists which will be issued in class for each of the 4 papers. For paper no. 4 students will be expected to present not only a written paper but to summarise their paper in class as a topic for group discussion.

GRADING AND SUBMISSION OF WORK

Paper 1 - To be presented at the end of Week 2 - 20%
Paper 2 - To be presented at the end of Week 3 - 20%
Paper 3 - To be presented at the end of Week 4 - 20%
Paper 4 - To be presented at the beginning of Week 5 - 40%

COURSE OUTLINE

Week 1 - Overview; types and functions of libraries/information agencies; philosophy of librarianship; role of librarians/information scientists
Week 2 - Historical and social background of libraries and information agencies: social responsibility of librarians/information scientists
Week 3 - Professional organisations and publications: professional education
Week 4 - Current issues and controversies; the future of libraries
Week 5 - Student presentations and discussions

ADVICE ON READING FOR THIS COURSE

There is no set text book and no prescribed reading list for this course. Students are encouraged to browse in the library/information science collections of the University Library and read on specific themes: library history; education for librarianship and information science; professional organisations etc.

For Overviews of topics in this programme articles in the Encyclopaedia of Library and Information Science, in the American Library Association World Encyclopaedia of Library and Information Science and the Bowker Annual Library and Book Trade Almanac will be useful. For up to date reviews on topics of current professional interest Library Trends and Advances in Librarianship are recommended.

The following journals should be scanned for relevant current information:

American Libraries
College and Research Libraries
Journal of Academic Librarianship
Journal of Education for Library and Information Science
Journal of Librarianship and Informaton Science
Library Journal
Library Quarterly
Public Libraries
Public Library Quarterly
School Library Journal
Special Libraries

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This document was last updated on May 2, 1996.
URL:http://timon.sir.arizona.edu/lf/admin/syl_sm96.html