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Last revised 12/21/05

Course Syllabus for IRLS 515 001 - Organization of Information


Spring 2006 Instructor: Cheryl Knott Malone


COURSE NAME, NUMBER, AND PREREQUISITES

IRLS 515 - Organization of Information

 

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COURSE DESCRIPTION

·    CATALOG DESCRIPTION

  • IRLS 515 -- Organization of Information (3 units)

Description: Introduction to the theories and practices used in the organization of information. Overview of national and international standards and practices for access to information in collections. Usually offered: Fall, Spring.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course studies the history, theory and practices of information organization, primarily in traditional and digital libraries. However, other organizations and information environments such as archives, museums and management information systems are also included. This is an introductory course that surveys the information and knowledge organization techniques that exist or are emerging and focuses on standards and tools that are used in large text-based information environments.

COURSE HISTORY

Read Coleman, A. 2002. Interdisciplinarity: The Road Ahead for Education in Digital Libraries. D-Lib Magazine, 8 (7/8), July/August. Available online. URL: https://www.email.arizona.edu/horde/services/go.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dlib.org%2Fdlib%2Fjuly02%2Fcoleman%2F07coleman.html This article will help you understand the sequence of courses that you can take in the area of Knowledge Organization. Note that the old course name was Knowledge Structures I and may still be used within WebCT or by adjunct professors teaching this course.

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COURSE OBJECTIVES

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The main goal of the course is to become familiar with the concepts and practices of bibliographic and non-bibliographic information organization. By the end of the course, the student will be able to:

  • Define the knowledge structures (a.k.a. information handling tools) used in various information environments for organizing information and knowledge
  • Describe the main theories in library and archival cataloging (including recent trends in metadata), categorization, classification, and subject analysis
  • List the uses, advantages, and disdvantages of a sample range of knowledge structures (information handling tools)
  • Demonstrate basic skills in subject analysis
  • Demonstrate basic skills in metadata creation
  • Demonstrate basic knowledge of at least two metadata standards
  • Articulate the similarities and differences between a thesaurus, ontology, authority file, subject heading list, and library classification scheme
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REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS

  • Taylor, Arlene. 2004. The Organization of Information. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited.
  • Coleman, Anita. 2004. Guide to Selecting and Cataloging Quality WWW Resources for the Small Library. Fairfield, CA: LRACCC.
    IMPORTANT NOTE: Please buy both texts from the UA Bookstore

REQUIRED RESOURCE:

Knowledge Structures Toolbox, https://www.email.arizona.edu/horde/services/go.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fradio.weblogs.com%2F0109575%2Fstories%2F2004%2F09%2F07%2F2004KnowledgeStructuresToolbox.html

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COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Students are required to do the assigned reading; attend weekly classes; participate in class discussions; and complete all assignments by the deadlines given. A final grade will not be given if all assignments have not been completed.

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COURSE POLICIES

Academic Code of Integrity

Students are expected to abide by The University of Arizona Code of Academic Integrity (one theme of which is that The guiding principle of academic integrity is that a student's submitted work must be the student's own.). If you have any questions regarding what is acceptable practice under this Code, please ask an Instructor.

Accommodating Disabilities

The University has a Disability Resource Center . If you anticipate the need for reasonable accommodations to meet the requirements of this course, you must register with the Disability Resource Center and request that the DRC send me, the Instructor, official notification of your accommodation needs as soon as possible. Please plan to meet with me by appointment or during office hours to discuss accommodations and how my course requirements and activities may impact your ability to fully participate.

Incompletes

The 1997-8 University of Arizona General Academic Manual, p.23 reads

The grade of I may be awarded only at the end of a semester, when all but a minor portion of the course work has been satisfactorily completed. The grade of I is not to be awarded when the student is expected to repeat the course; in such a case the grade of E must be assigned. Students should make arrangements with the instructor to receive an incompete grade before the end of the semester ...

If the incomplete is not removed by the instructor within one year the I grade will revert to a failing grade.

METHODS OF INSTRUCTION

Lectures, discussions, field trips, guest lecturers, assigned and supplement reading, small-group work, quizzes, assignments. 

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GRADING

Grade Breakdown (in points):

  1. Exercise 1: 10
  2. Exercise 2: 10
  3. Assignment 1: Resource Selection & Description: 30
  4. Assignment 2: Metadata Quality Paper: 30
  5. Participation: 20

Total: 100

Assignment of Course Grades:

Course grades will be assigned as follows:
A=90+ (Superior Work)
B=80-89 (Very Good)
C=70-79 (Marginally Satisfactory)
F=0-69 (Failed to meet requirements)

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CONTACTING ME

Contact: Office - SIRLS 12, Phone 621-3957, Email – ckmalone@u.arizona.edu
Instructor Office Hours: Wednesdays, 1-3 p.m. and by appointment

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