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Last revised December 21, 2006

Course Syllabus for IRLS 563 Readers' Advisory Service in Public Libraries

Link to Course Outline


Spring 2007 Instructor: Jennifer Hendzlik


COURSE NAME, NUMBER, AND PREREQUISITES

Readers' Advisory Services in Public Libraries

IRLS 563

No prerequisites required>
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COURSE DESCRIPTION

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to readers' advisory work in a public library setting. The emphasis of the course will be on genre fiction including mystery, romance, science fiction, Christian, western, horror and fantasy. Non-fiction readers' advisory will also be addressed. We will also explore readers' advisory tools, the readers' advisory interview, and the appeal factor of books and different marketing tools that can be used to promote fiction in your library. This is a discussion-oriented course and will be reading intensive.3 credit hours.

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to readers' advisory work in a public library setting. The emphasis of the course will be on genre fiction including mystery, romance, and science fiction, Christian, western, horror and fantasy.   Non-fiction Readers' advisory will be addressed.  We will also explore readers' advisory tools, the readers' advisory interview, and the appeal factor of books and different marketing tools that can be used to promote fiction in your library.  This is a discussion-oriented course and will be reading intensive.

The first two weeks of the class will be the most intensive of the course.  A lot of information that lays the foundation of readers' advisory services will be presented to you and will be essential to your success.  The class is structured differently than most readers' advisory courses and I hope you will grow to understand why as the semester takes shape.  While the historical background, appeal factors, reference interview and talking about books are very important to the field of readers' advisory-it is hard to fully comprehend and put to use the components if you have a small hold on the genres.  Without a solid understanding of each genre, what makes that genre appealing to readers and a working knowledge of the genre-you will be more lost than found with your patron.  Simply put, to know a genre, you must read a genre.  There is no getting around this fact.

With this concept in mind, the bulk of the class will be focused on the various fiction genres and one week of non-fiction readers' advisory.  With each genre we will incorporate the elements from the first two weeks into the discussion. With theory and practical experience, you should have the tools needed to begin your journey with readers' advisory services.

If you have any questions, please contact me.  It is easier to work on a solution to a problem when it gets started rather than when it may be too late to help.  I am here to provide a positive learning environment.  It is your responsibility to please let me know what you need.  Without your input, I have no way of knowing what is happening with you.  I will do my best to keep the class informed and updated of any changes in the class schedule well in advance. 

In an effort to keep everyone focused on the topic at hand, I will post lectures the Sunday before the week of the discussion.  The lecture notes will include the assigned reading from the textbooks.

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COURSE OBJECTIVES

 

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REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS

Saricks, Joyce. The Reader's Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction. ALA, 2001. (Required)

Saricks, Joyce. Readers' Advisory Service in the Public Library. 3rd edition. ALA, 2005.  (Optional) This text is not required but I highly recommend its purchase for students who are focusing on public library careers.

Join Fiction-L listserv. For the duration of the semester, each of you will join the fiction-L listserv. I recommend subscribing to the digest format for ease of management. Subscription information is available at:  http://www.webrary.org/RS/flmenu.html

 

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COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Week Beginning

Topic

Assignments Due

Week 1:

January 10-14

Introductions

Introduce self to class

Book title selections for book discussion by 1.14

Discussion

Week 2:

January 16-21

History of Readers' Advisory

Readers' Advisory Resources

Evaluation of RA resources due 1.21

Discussion

Week 3:

January 22-28

Appeal Factors

Readers' Advisory Interview

Speed Reading

Interview skits due by 1.28

Speed reading exercise

Discussion

Week 4:

Jan. 29-Feb. 4

Mystery Genre

Genre Study due 2.4

Discussion

Week 5:

February 5-11

Western Genre

Genre Study due 2.11

Discussion

Week 6:

February 12-18

Romance Genre

Genre Study due 2.18

Discussion

Week 7:

February 19-25

Science Fiction Genre

Genre Study due 2.25

Discussion

Week 8:

Feb. 26-Mar. 4

Fantasy Genre

Genre Study due 3.4

Library visit midterm due 3.4

Discussion

Week 9:

March 5-9

Horror Genre

Genre Study due 3.9 (grace until 3.11)

Feedback on peer midterms by 3.9

Discussion

March 10-18th

Spring Break

Enjoy!

Week 10:

March 19-25

Christian Genre

Genre study due 3.25

Discussion

Week 11:

March 26-April 1

Action/Adventure Genre

Historical Fiction Genre

(only required to read 1 title)

Genre study due 4.1

Discussion

Week 12:

April 2-8

Literary Fiction

Chick Lit

Multicultural fiction

(only required to read 1 title)

Genre study due 4.8

Discussion

Week 13:

April 9-15

Nonfiction

Genre study due 4.15

Discussion

Week 14:

April 16

Talking about books

-Book talks

-Book discussions

Discussion

Time to work on final projects

Week 15:

April 23

Book discussion groups

Final projects

Participation in book  discussion group by 4.29

Final project due 4.29

Week 16:

April 30

Final project evaluations

Marketing

Final thoughts

Feedback & evaluation of peer projects.

Discussion

Assignments: Detailed guidelines will be provided for each assignment.

1. Evaluation of a Readers' Advisory Resource: (20 points) Due January 21st. Using the guidelines for evaluating reference materials and Readers' advisory materials, each student will evaluate a print or database Readers' Advisory resource and provide a 2-page evaluation of the book or database.

2. Interview Skits: (10 points) Due January 28th. The best way to learn how to conduct an RA interview is to get a lot of practice at it. I will have skits posted in which each of you will be assigned an example to evaluate.

3. Genre Studies: (10 pts for each genre) Due by the end of each week, but the earlier you can post, the better for our discussions. In order to know a genre, you must read a genre. For each genre we discuss I will require the following:

Read at least one book in the genre and turn in annotation. (Annotation guidelines will be provided)

Evaluate one article or website that is dedicated to the genre in discussion. Special consideration should be given to trends in the field.

Participate in active/critical discussion with the rest of the class about the different characteristics and appeal of the genre. You should also be thinking of different ways the genre can be promoted in the library.

4. Midterm Library Visit/Evaluation: (100 points) Due March 4th. With a better understanding of the RA Interview I am sending you on an adventure to test your local library's reference staff. Scripts will be provided for you to follow. You will need to record everything from staff reactions to your request to steps taken to help you in your search. More details will be provided. A 3-5 page paper outlining the experience will be turned in and discussed.

5. Fiction-L Participation: (10 points) For the duration of the semester, each of you will join the fiction-L listserv. I recommend subscribing to the digest format for ease of management. Subscription information is available at: http://www.webrary.org/RS/flmenu.html At least once during the semester, post a Readers' advisory question to the group and share your experience with the class.

6. Book Discussion.  (30 points) Due by April 29th.  While most book discussions happen face to face, we are going to have a book discussion virtually.  Due to the size of the class you will be broken into 3 different groups that will read three different titles.  Titles will be assigned the first week of class with the actual discussion being done the week of April 23rd.  Criteria for evaluation will be provided. The three title choices are:

            1. My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Piccoult

2. The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls

3. Snow flower & the secret fan by Lisa See

Each book should be easily available at your local library and used bookstores.  If you have trouble finding a copy of your assigned book, please let me know and I will get you a copy.

7. Final Project: (100 points) Due April 29th. Each student will select a genre to focus on.  The student must create a website for fellow librarians to help learn about the genre.  I will leave the choice of genre up to you, BUT if the class does not choose all the genres, I may assign certain genres for a better representation.  The site does not have to be fancy; it just needs to be a one-stop resource to learn about the genre.  The website should include:

Definition, characteristics and appeal of the genre.

The most popular sub genres and their definitions.  Examples of authors and/or titles important.

Annotated bibliography of reference resources that can be used to learn more information about the genre.  Should include both book resources and articles.

Annotated bibliography of websites that pertain to the genre.

Include book annotations of titles read over the semester. I would prefer they include titles you have read, but I will accept 5 books that you have 'speed read'. You should include at least 10 annotations.

8. Class Participation: (5 points each week) You will be expected to fully participate in all class discussions and activities, demonstrating a knowledge and application of relevant readings and topics.  On D2L it is expected for you to contribute relevant postings each week.  By relevant I mean a thoughtful response to a question or posing your own topic of discussion.  Simply responding that you agree will not be counted towards your participation grade.

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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

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

Grades will be posted as quickly as possible for the student. Grades will be posted in the Grades section of D2L. Feedback will be provided especially in relation to areas that need improvement. My feedback is intended as a learning process to improve future work.

GRADING BREAKDOWN:

ASSIGNMENT

POINTS

Evaluation of Readers' Advisory Resource

20 pts

Interview Skits

10 pts

Genre Studies (10 pts for each genre)

100 pts

Midterm Library Visit/Evaluation

100 pts

Book Discussion

30 pts

Final Project

100 pts

Fiction-L Participation

10 pts

Participation (5 pts per week)

80 pts

Total Points:

450 pts

GRADING SCALE:

LETTER GRADE

PERCENTAGES

A

90-100

B

80-89

C

70-79

D

60-69

F

59 and below
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CONTACTING ME

I can be reached in the following fashion:

Jennifer Hendzlik

Phone: 417-693-4548 (home) 417-874-8130 (work)

Email: jhendzlik@gmail.com or jenniferh@mail.sgcl.org

Mailing address: 2214 Brentwood Blvd.; Springfield, MO 65804

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