The University of Arizona
School of Information Resources &
Library Science
Knowlege Structures I
LiS 401/501

Course Description:

The goal of this course is to teach students a broad understanding of the theory, principles, standards, and tools behind the organization of information. Students will learn to apply a top-down method to the process of organizing information, and will examine descriptive methodologies in order to build a sensibility for the best methodology to apply in a given set of circumstances. Descriptive techniques will include bibliographic description, archival processing, relational database design, and hyperdocument design. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the function of catalogs, indexes, and other organizing entities.

Objectives:

Students will understand:

• basic principles of organization that have developed over the last several centuries;
• organizational concepts that affect how information must be retrieved;
• various approaches to organizing in all types of environments;
• the role of technical standards in organizing information packages.

Students will be able to:

• use and interpret existing systems for organization of information effectively;
• use a number of standard organizing tools;
• define and use correctly terminology commonly used with respect to the organization of information;
• suggest appropriate approaches to organizing information in given situations.

Class 1: Introduction (July 14, 1997)

Main Assignment, Assignment 1 handed out

Class 2: Overview: What is information (July 15, 1997)

Required readings:

• Stoll, Clifford. Silicon snake oil: Second thoughts on the information highway. New York: Doubleday, 1995, Chapter 11: Wherein the Author Considers the Future of the Library, the Myth of Free Information, and a Novel Way to Heat Bathwater.
• Buckland, Michael. Information and information systems. New York: Praeger, 1991, Chapter 1: Information.
• Rowley, Jennifer. Organizing knowledge: An introduction to information retrieval. Brookfield, Vt.: Ashgate, 1992, Chapter 1: The tools of information retrieval and the organization of knowledge.

Class 3: Organization in Different Environments (July 16, 1997)

Main Assignment, Part a (Item set selected) emailed in.

Required readings:

• Buckland, Michael. Information and information systems. New York: Praeger, 1991, Chapter 3: Systems.

Read from three of the following:

A. Libraries

• Hagler, Ronald. The bibliographic record and information technology. 2nd ed. Chicago: American Library Association, 1991. Chapter 1: Documents and Bibliographic Control.
• Taylor, Arlene G. Cataloguing. In: World encyclopedia of library and information services. 3rd ed. Chicago: American Library Association, 1993, pp. 117 ff.

B. Archives / Manuscripts

• Burke, Frank G. Archives: Organization and description. In: World encyclopedia of library and information services. 3rd ed. Chicago: American Library Association, 1993, pp. 63-68.

C. Museums / Art Galleries

• Bierbaum, Esther Green. Records and access: Museum registration and library cataloging. Cataloging & classification quarterly 9, no. 1 (1988): 97-111.

D. The Internet

• Dodd, David. Grass roots cataloging and classification: Food for thought from World Wide Web subject-oriented hierarchical lists. Library resources & technical services 40 (1996): 275-286.

Class 4: Bibliographic Tools (July 17, 1997)

Required readings:

• Wynar, Bohdan S. Introduction to cataloging and classification. 8th ed. by Arlene G. Taylor. Englewood, Colo.: Libraries Unlimited, 1992, Chapter 1: Cataloging in Context.
• Levy, David M. Cataloging the digital order. http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/DL95/papers/levy/levy.html
• Rob, Peter, and Carlos Coronel. Database systems: Design, implementation, and management. 2nd ed. Danvers, Mass.: Boyd & Fraser, 1995, Chapter 1: Introducing the database (esp. sections 1.1, 1.3 and 1.5).

Class 5: Descriptive Standards (July 18, 1997)

Main assignment: Part 1 due.

Required readings:

• Gaynor, Edward. From MARC to markup: SGML and online library systems. ALCTS Newsletter 7, no. 2 (1995): A-D.
• SGML. http://jefferson.village.virginia.edu/iath/treport/sgml.html
• Rowley, Jennifer. Organizing knowledge: An introduction to information retrieval. Brookfield, Vt.: Ashgate, 1992, Chapter 6: Computerized record formats and database structures.

Class 6: Historical Perspective (July 21, 1997)

Assignment 2 handed out.

Required readings:

• Dunkin, Paul S. Cataloging U.S.A. Chicago: American Library Association, 1969, Chapter 1: Mr. Cutter's Catalog, and Chapter 2: The Prophet and the Law: Codes after Cutter.
• Bush, Vannevar. As we may think. http://www.isg.sfu.ca/~duchier/misc/vbush/ Also available in the Atlantic Monthly, July, 1945.
• Rowley, Jennifer. Organizing knowledge: An introduction to information retrieval. Brookfield, Vt.: Ashgate, 1992, Chapter 8: Cataloguing codes: purpose and development.

Class 7: Systems Evaluation (Lab) (July 22, 1997)

Required readings:

• Baker, Nicholson. Discards. New Yorker 70, no. 7 (April 4, 1994): 64-86.
• Borgman, Christine L. Why are online catalogs still hard to use? Journal of the American Society for Information Science 47 (1996): 493-503.
• Kilgour, Fred. The design of online catalogs. In: The nature and future of the catalog. Maurice J.. Freedman and S. Michael Malinconico, eds. Phoenix, AZ: Oryx Press, 1979, 34-45.

Recommended:

• Library of Congress' Z39.50 Gateway: http://lcweb.loc.gov/z3950/gateway.html
• Foss, C.L. Tools for reading and browsing hypertext. Information Processing & Management 25 (1989), 407-418.

Class 8: The Organizing Process: Overview (July 23, 1997)

Assignment 1 due.

Discussion topic: Systems review, implementations of different methodologies

Required readings:

• Rob, Peter, and Carlos Coronel. Database systems: Design, implementation, and management. 2nd ed. Danvers, Mass.: Boyd & Fraser, 1995, Chapter 6: Database design (skim).
• Anglo-American cataloguing rules. 2nd ed., 1988 rev. General introduction, pp. 1-4.
• Rowley, Jennifer. Organizing knowledge: An introduction to information retrieval. Brookfield, Vt.: Ashgate, 1992, Chapter 3: Description of documents: principles and monographs; and Chapter 4: More on bibliographic description: nonbook media, periodicals, and analytic cataloguing.

Class 9: Description (July 24, 1997)

Required readings:

• Anglo-American cataloguing rules. 2nd ed., 1988 rev. Part 1 introduction, pp. 7-9.
• Wynar, Bohdan S. Introduction to Cataloging and Classification. 8th ed. by Arlene G. Taylor. Englewood, Colo.: Libraries Unlimited, 1992, Chapter 3: Description-General.
• Weibel, Stuart. Metadata: The foundations of resource description. D-Lib Magazine. http://www.cnri.reston.va.us/home/dlib/July95/07weibel.html

Class 10: Access (July 25, 1997)

Assignment 3 handed out.

Main Assignment: Part 2 due.

Required readings:

• Rowley, Jennifer. Organizing knowledge: An introduction to information retrieval. Brookfield, Vt.: Ashgate, 1992, Chapter 7: Problems in author cataloguing and in name indexing; Chapter 9: The Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules and author access; and Chapter 10: Catalogue and index access points for the works of corporate bodies.
• Anglo-American cataloguing rules. 2nd ed., 1988 rev. Part 2 introduction, pp. 305-306.

Class 11: Archives/Records Management Description (July 28, 1997)

Required readings:

• Miller, Frederic M. Arranging and describing archives and manuscripts. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 1990, chapters 1-3.
• Fishbein, Meyer H. Archives: Records management and records appraisal. In: World encyclopedia of library and information services. 3rd ed. Chicago: American Library Association, 1993, pp. 60-63.

Class 12: Authority Control (July 29, 1997)

Assignment 2 due.

Required readings:

• Wynar, Bohdan S. Introduction to cataloging and classification. 8th ed. by Arlene G. Taylor. Englewood, Colo.: Libraries Unlimited, 1992, Chapter 25: Authority Control.
• Wilson, Patrick. The catalog as access mechanism: Background and concepts. In: Foundations of cataloging: A sourcebook. Edited by Michael Carpenter and Elaine Svenonius. Littleton, Colo.: Libraries Unlimited, 1985, 253-268.
• Roe, Kathleen. Enhanced authority control: Is it time? Archivaria 35 (Spring 1993): 119-129.

Class 13: Quiz/Discussion (July 30, 1997)

Discussion topic: Authority information and database design implications

Required readings:

• Carpenter, Michael. Main entry. In: Conceptual foundations of descriptive cataloging. Elaine Svenonius, ed. San Diego, Ca.: Academic Press, 1989, 73-95.

Class 14: Access Points/Record Formats (Lab) (July 31, 1997)

Main Assignment: Part 3 due.

Required readings:

• Leazer, Gregory. An examination of data elements for bibliographic description: Toward a conceptual schema for the USMARC formats. Library resources & technical services 36 (1993): 189-208.
• Younger, Jennifer. After Cutter: Authority control in the twenty-first century. Library resources & technical services 39 (1995): 133-141.

Class 15: Subject Analysis Introduction (August 1, 1997)

Assignment 4 handed out.

Required readings:

• Rowley, Jennifer. Organizing knowledge: An introduction to information retrieval. Brookfield, Vt.: Ashgate, 1992, Chapter 17: Indexing systems: principles and printed indexes.
• Wellish, Hans H. Aboutness and selection of topics. Key Words 4, no. 2 (Mar./Apr. 1996): 7-9.
• Lancaster, F. W. Vocabulary control for information retrieval. 2nd ed. Arlington, Va.: Information Resources Press, 1986, Chapter 1: Why Vocabulary Control?

Class 16: Library of Congress Subject Headings (August 4, 1997)

Required readings:

• Wynar, Bohdan S. Introduction to cataloging and classification. 8th ed. by Arlene G. Taylor. Englewood, Colo.: Libraries Unlimited, 1992, Chapter 22: Library of Congress Subject Headings.
• Cochrane, Pauline. Improving LCSH for use in online catalogs: Exercises for sel;f-help with a selection of background readings. Littleton, Colo.: Libraries Unlimited, 1986, pp. 3-25.

Class 17: Other Indexing Schemes (August 5, 1997)

Required readings:

• Dooley, Jackie M. Subject indexing in context. American archivist 55 (1992): 344-354.
• Foskett, A.C. The subject approach to information. 4th ed. London: Bingley, 1982, Chapter 14.
• Barnett, Patricia J. and Toni Petersen, "Extending MARC to Accommodate Faceted Thesauri: The AAT Model" (in Beyond the Book: Extending MARC for Subject Access. Edited by Toni Petersen and Pat Molholt. Boston, MA: G.K. Hall, 1990, pp. 7-23).

Class 18: Classification (August 6, 1997)

Assignment 3 due.

Required readings:

• Langridge, D. W. Classification: Its kinds, elements, systems and applications. London: Bowker-Saur, 1992, pp. 1-23
• Gorman, Michael. The longer the number, the smaller the spine; or, Up and down with Melvil and Elsie. American Libraries 12 (1981): 498-99.

Class 19: (Lab) (August 7, 1997)

Main Assignment: Part 4 due.

Required readings:

• Dykstra, Mary. LC Subject Headings disguised as a thesaurus. Library journal 113 (March 1, 1999): 42-46.
• Bates, Marcia. Rethinking subject headings in the online environment. Library resources & technical services 33 (1989): 400-19.

Class 20: Quiz/Discussion (August 8, 1997)

Discussion topic: Subject indexing issues

Required readings:

• Larson, R.R. Between Scylla and Charybdis: Subject searching in the online catalog. Advances in librarianship 15 (1991): 175-236.

Class 21: Hot Issues (August 11, 1997)

Discussion topics: Outsourcing & The Future of Technical Services

Required readings:

• Rowley, Jennifer. Organizing knowledge: An introduction to information retrieval. Brookfield, Vt.: Ashgate, 1992, Chapter 23: Research and the future.
• Buckland, Michael K., Barbara A. Norgard, and Christian Plaunt. Filing, filtering and the first few found. Information technology and libraries 12 (1993): 311-19.

Read three articles from each of the following sections:

A. Outsourcing (contract cataloging)

• Dunkle, Clare B. Outsourcing the catalog department: A meditation inspited by the business and library literature. Journal of academic librarianship (January 1996): 33-43.
• Zyloff, Ellen. Cataloging is a prime number. American libraries 27, no. 5 (May 1996): 47-48, 50.
• Miller, David. Outsourcing cataloging: The Wright [State] experience. ALCTS Newsletter 6, no.1 (1995): 7-8.
• Hirshon, Arnold, Barbara Winters, and Karen Wilhoit. A response to 'Outsourcing cataloging: The Wright State experience'. ALCTS Newsletter 6, no. 2 (1995): 26-28.

B. Future of technical services

• The future is now: The changing face of technical services: Proceedings of the OCLC Symposium, ALA Midwinter Conference, February 4, 1994. Dublin, Ohio: OCLC Online Computer Library Center, 1994. READ:
• Holt, Public Library Cataloging ... (in The Future is Now, pp. 21-27)
• Gozzi, Technical Processing ... (in The Future is Now, read Today and Tomorrow, pp. 30-32)
• Gorman, Innocent Pleasures (in The Future is Now, pp. 39-42)
• Hawks, Carol Pitts. Expert Systems in Technical Services and Collection Management. Information Technology and Libraries 13, no. 3 (September 1994): 203-212.

Class 22: Hot Issues (August 12, 1997)

Assignment 4 due.

Discussion topics: Ownership vs. Access & Electronic Records

Required readings:

A. Ownership vs. access

• Crawford, Walt and Michael Gorman, Future Libraries: Dreams, Madness, & Reality. Chicago: American Library Association, 1995, Chapter 9: Economics of Collection and Access.

B. Electronic records (Archives)

• Bearman, David, and Margaret Hedstrom. Reinventing Archives for Electronic Records: Alternative Service Delivery Options. In: Electronic records management program strategies, edited by Margaret Hedstrom. Pittsburgh, PA: Archives and Museum Informatics, 1993, pp. 82-98.

Class 23: Wrapup (August 13, 1997)

Main Assignment: Part 5 due.

Discussion topic: Goin' down the road

Required readings:

• Buckland, M. Redesigning library services: a manifesto. Chicago : American Library Association, 1992.

Important Course Information:

Organization

The course consists of lectures, discussions in class, outside readings, homework exercises, and quizzes.

Requirements

Students are expected to attend class, read the assigned text and other readings, participate in class discussions, complete in-class and homework assignments, and to be present to complete the quizzes in class. Class participation will weigh heavily in the final grade. Students are responsible for locating and using the resources of the school.

Homework

Due dates for assignments are included within the syllabus. You are encouraged to ask for assistance with assignments when needed.

Evaluation

Evaluation of your work is as follows:

33 1/3% Quizzes
33 1/3% Main Assignment
33 1/3% Class participation

Late Policy

All assignments must be turned in on time. Late assignments will not be accepted except in cases of dire emergency. Quizzes must be taken on the dates scheduled. Incompletes will be given only under the most extreme of conditions and with the understanding that the final grade will usually then be one letter grade less than it would have been had the work been completed on time.

Language Courtesy

Inclusive language: Gender-inclusive language is required in all course work and on all quizzes. The use of respectful language in any situation is not a matter of "political correctness" but one of simple courtesy.

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