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Last revised November 1, 2005.

Course Syllabus for Information Resources and Services

Link to Course Outline

Spring 2006, Instructor: William Welburn


COURSE NAME, NUMBER, AND PREREQUISITES

Information Resources and Services

IRLS 424/524
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COURSE DESCRIPTION

Familiarizes students with theories, practices, and issues of information services and evaluation of reference sources in libraries, information centers and other information-based settings.


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COURSE OBJECTIVES

By the end of the semester, students will be:

1. Knowledgeable of theory and practice of reference and information services in different information environments.
2.  Proficient in the evaluation and use of different types of information resources.
3.  Aware of central issues in information seeking and retrieval, and of the fundamentals of reference interviews
4.  Aware of policy and management issues associated with the provision of reference and information services in different environments and cultures.
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REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS

Richard E. Bopp and Linda C. Smith. Reference and Information Services: an Introduction (Libraries Unlimited, 2000), $49.50

Suggested:  Tara Calishain. Web Search Garage (Prentice Hall, 2005), $19.99
A style manual of your choice (MLA, Chicago Manual of Style, APA, etc.)


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COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Emphasis in course requirements is given to understanding the management of reference and information services in information organizations, the nature of work for reference and information specialists, and how to evaluate information resources used to provide reference and information services in libraries and information centers.

Students will need to complete the following:

  1. Four sets of evaluations of print and electronic resources commonly found in reference and information service units.
  2. A field observation of a physical reference or information services unit in a library or other information organization.
  3. A paper based on readings from secondary sources on an issue in reference or information services in a specific library or information environment.

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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.

Assignment Policies

All assignments will be submitted to the instructor by the beginning of the class in which the assignment is due.  All assignmets should conform to a manual of style, such as MLA, Chicago Manual, or APA.  Term papers hould be word processed and double-spaced.  Ten percent (10%) will be deducted from all late assignments. 

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.

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GRADING

Your final grade is determined from the following breakdown:

Class participation              10%
Evaluation Summaries         40% (10% each)
Field observation                20%
Final paper                         30%
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CONTACTING ME

You can reach me by phone (621-5221), email (wwelburn@u.arizona.edu), or in my office (Rm 10, SIRLS)

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