GOV 572: Government Information Policy and Resources [Draft 1/7/2005 – subject
to change – but not substantive- Course Description: This course will prepare a framework
from which the student will develop an understanding of the creation,
nature, distribution and accessibility of government information resources.
Topics covered will include government information policies, provenance
(origin) of government information, uses for citizenry and academic
communities, collections, services, staffing, and future trends for
government information in libraries. The student will; as an information professional, understand the origins and nature of government information resources and establish an expertise in finding government information resources for library patrons. The student will also learn how to direct library patrons in finding government information resources on their own. The focus is on how to find and use government information no matter what your position might be in a library, school, or corporate setting. The student will have an understanding of how to build a government documents collection for a library of any type. The class will assist in preparing them as professionals for participation in the world of government information access whether as a library generalist, a government information specialist, or a special library information provider. The method will involve exploring various government information venues; federal; international, foreign; state and local. The student will learn how to access government information; anticipating and facilitating government information requests, and helping users locate more difficult to find information resources. It will also create an awareness of the role the library profession can play in providing access to government information to citizens, students, scholars, and other professionals. On completion of this course, students should be able to: · Understand what government
information is based on its nature, format; how it is disseminated and
how it may be used Assignments: There will be a topic of discussion each week with suggested readings, and students will be expected to read the suggested material and/or articles and contribute weekly to a discussion with their classmates about the topic. Discussion topics include: organization of government information [types of collections; jurisdictional constructs;] types of government information: statistics; record-keeping; legislation and regulation and court information; government information policy; availability of non-governmental information providers; user-based library reference services; training and staffing; professional issues; the role of government information resources in strategic planning and future issues. Readings are resources for discussions and to help with assignments: as readings are assigned, they may be added to the resource list. Some may not be posted full-text, if they are widely available. Textbook: (Provisional Information) United States Government Information on the Web (Hernon, Dugan Shuler, 1999; Libraries Unlimited) There are 2001 and 2003 editions available in paper only. I am selecting the 1999 because it is available through Netlibrary. If the newer version becomes available on NetLibrary before class begins, we will use that version. (We are checking on 2001 now) I do not think that the information will change substantively, I think URL’s and agencies change. That is a fact of life we will have to live with. I am attempting to have the Joe Morehead book, Introduction to United States Government Information Sources available through NetLibrary as an additional resource. There are three books available on reserve at the University of Arizona Library Reserve Desk. They are: United States Government Information
on the Web (Hernon, Dugan Shuler, 1999; Libraries Unlimited) I will update this information as it becomes available. DO NOT PURCHASE A TEXTBOOK AT THIS TIME. Assignments: a. Explain what governmental body
created it and what information it conveys. (2-3 pages) (Due January 23) ****As part of the first week’s assignment, each student should post a paragraph biographical summary of their career and any other information they would like the class to know to the class bulletin board. Of particular interest are: why you are taking the course, what your career goal is; and why you want to become a librarian. This is especially important as this is a totally virtual class and we will not be meeting face to face. If there are problems posting to the bulletin board the first two weeks, email your summary and assignment (s) to me at the above listed email. We are having some difficulty getting this class fully integrated into the system as I am a late arrival to SIRLS [this Fall] I hope everything will be working smoothly by the second or third week of class. I can and will handle information sent to me by email but I expect all students to transition to the new Courseware D2L (Desire to Learn) by the third week of class. 2. Take a look at the Tools at
the Web sites listed in the FDLP (Federal Depository Describe at least 3 of the FDLP tools and their purpose. We will focus on the United States government for this exercise. Describe how to approach one of the following scenarios as if you are a new [government information] librarian. (Many will have responsibility for government information but not be “the” government information librarian) Approach the assignment from one of the following: 1) Scenario #1 You are a new government
information librarian in a large academic (or public) library with a
large government publications collection: OR 2) Scenario #2 Your library does
not have a government information collection How might you create a collection? (3-5 page paper) (Due January
30) Answer the following questions
about the Web site: Screen capture the front page of
the site; or copy the URL and post it to the 4. Answer the following list of
questions concerning Federal Government Information (Treasure Hunt)
[to be added – 5. Create a government information
Web page for your library. You can create one (Examples will be provided) (Due
March 20) (Due April 10) 7. Assume a library patron has
asked one of the following questions. [to be Answer the following: Describe how you would go about
assisting a patron to find the answer for this question. (3-5 pages) (Due April 24) 8. List of questions using International
and Foreign government information (Due May 8) (5-7 pages) (Due May 13) Grading:
Grading structure: 90-100% A Extra Credit: Students may do (one) extra credit
assignments to bring up their grade. 2 Attend the Spring Federal Depository
Library Council meeting (April 17-20) 3. Find a library or a government
agency in your town that is conducting an
Lectures - Spring 2005 Week 1 January 12, Introduction
– AND Government Information Readings: (Both books listed are on reserve at UA Library Reserve. In addition, the Hernon book is on NetLibrary (1999). It doesn’t matter what edition you use – they all say essentially the same thing – the Shuler article should be available in paper and through Library Literature. If I find out it is not – I will provide an HTML file of the article by January 12) ***I have an additional caveat – if a student finds a reading that they want to share with the class – they may do so. Let’s keep in mind – Scholarly or substantive sources only! If you aren’t sure – ask me via email first. I will add any notable resources to our List of Resources for the class. Martin, Mary A., “What Pleasure Government Publications”, Genre and Ethnic Collections:Collected Essays, Ed. by Milton T. Wolf, and Murray S. Martin, Foundations in Library and Information Science, v. 38, JAI Press: Greenwich, CT, 1996. Hernon, et al. U.S. Government on the Web: Getting the Information You Need, Chapter 1 “Government Information and Its Importance” pp. 1-18. Robinson, Judith. Tapping the Government Grapevine: the User-Friendly Guide to U.S. Government Information Sources; Chapter 1 “Introduction to Government Information Resources.” pp. 1-8. Shuler, John. “New Economic Models for the Federal Depository System-Why Is It So Hard to Get the Question Answered?” The Journal of Academic Librarianship 30 no3 May 2004: 243-9. Assignment 1 Due January 23 Week 2 January 17 Government Structure and Types of Publications Hernon, Peter et. al. U.S. Government on the Web: Getting the Information You Need; Chapter 2, “Government Structure and Types of Information. “ pp. 37-44. Browse the U.S. Government Manual in paper at the following location: Main [Library]. Latest edition only in Information Commons Reference; earlier eds. in Govt Docs. OR ONLINE at: The U.S. Government Annual Online
Martin, Mary A. “Fugitive documents? or, What's happening to dissemination of government information?” (publications not made available through the depository library program).” Documents to the People 23 (Mar. '95): 42-5. Malone, Chuck. “Agency Web Pages--An Information Resource and a Public Relations Tool: The USDA Example” Government Information Quarterly 21 no3 383-90 2004 Singer, Carol A. The Transition of U.S. Government Publications from Paper to the Internet: A Chronology.” Internet Reference Services Quarterly 8 (2003): 29-45 Assignment 1 due January 23 FDLP (Federal Depository Library
Program Web site http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/.
***The rest of the reading assignments and lectures will be completed before the week the lecture begins Week 4 January 31 Federal Government
Search Engines, Reference Tools Assignment #9 Due May 13 Last day to turn in any work –
May 13, 2005 |