515

IRLS 515 Organization of Information

Syllabus

Winter 2005

Instructor: Cheryl Knott Malone

COURSE DESCRIPTION

(3 units) 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. This course covers 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.

How this course will be taught

This is a 'blended' course combining 5 consecutive days of classes in Tucson with online course support and management. Attendance at all 5 class meetings in Tucson is required. In Tucson, there will be lectures and discussions, field trips with guest lecturers, small-group work, and other learning activities. Logging in to the d2l course space, reading and using the materials provided there, and participating in the asynchronous discussions are also required. To receive a final grade in this course, you must attend all 5 days in Tucson and complete all of the assignments by the deadlines given.

The class will meet in the SIRLS multipurpose room and lab from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. December 19-23, inclusive.

There will be lecture notes, readings, discussion groups, and assignments posted to our d2l ("desire to learn") course space. Enrolled students will be able to log in to their d2l account via the Learning Technologies Center E-Learning Portal.

COURSE 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, authority file, subject heading list, and library classification scheme

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. This guide is needed for completing one of the major assignments.

Please bring both textbooks to the first class on Monday, December 19. Make a point of at least skimming both entirely by the time class starts.

REQUIRED RESOURCE

Anita Coleman, Knowledge Structures Toolbox
brtp://radio.weblogs.com/0109575/stories/2004/09/07/2004KnowledgeStructuresToolbox.html

Please familiarize yourself with the Knowledge Structures Toolbox before class begins.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Students are expected to do the readings, attend classes, participate in discussions, and complete the assignments on time.

COURSE POLICIES

Academic Code of Integrity
Students are expected to abide by The University of Arizona Code of Academic Integrity: http://web.arizona.edu/~dos/uapolicies/cai1.html. '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 official notification of your accommodation needs as soon as possible. Please discuss with me by phone, in person, or via email the necessary 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.

GRADING

Grade Breakdown

Exercise 1 (due December 20): 10 points

Exercise 2 (due December 22): 10 points

Metadata Assignment (due December 30): 30 points

Short Paper (due January 9): 30 points

Participation: 20 points

Assignment of Course Grades
A: 90+ (Superior Work)
B: 80-89 (Very Good)
C: 70-79 (Marginally Satisfactory)
D: 60-69 (Unacceptable)
F: 0-59 (Failed to meet requirements)

General grading criteria: (specific criteria will be posted with the assignment descriptions)

All work must be turned in on the dates due before 11:30 p.m. Mountain Standard Ttime.

All work must be turned in using the dropbox within d2l (not to the instructor’s u.arizona.edu or d2l mailbox).

HTML format (not MS Word) must be used for all assignments.

CONTACTING ME

Please use the internal d2l email system for questions and comments about the course.

CLASS SCHEDULE (subject to change)

December 19

    Introductions; Overview of Course; Lecture: Introduction to Information Organization; Information Retrieval Tools

    Read: Taylor, Chapters 1-2, 4-5; Skim Coleman in entirety
December 20

   Library Catalogs; An Insider's View of Library Catalogs; Description; Access Points; Authority Control

   Read: Taylor, Chapters 6-8

   Exercise 1 due

December 21

   Subject Analysis; Vocabulary Control

    Read: Taylor, Chapters 9-10
December 22
   Classification; Social, Political, and Cultural Perspectives on Knowledge Representation

   Read: Taylor, Chapters11-12

   Exercise 2 due

December 23

   An Insider's View of Digital Library Metadata; Overview of Remainder of Course

   Re-read selected parts of Taylor and Coleman as needed.