Department of Library and Information Studies

LIS 620: Information Sources and Services

COURSE PROSPECTUS

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

None.

Required Text(s):

William A. Katz. Introduction to Reference Work, Vol. 1: Basic Reference Sources , 8th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2001.

Course Description:

Information Sources and Services deals with the origins and characteristics of information and of information sources, and with such related issues as the negotiation of information requests, standards for ethical conduct, and the development of appropriate search strategies. (3 s.h.)

Student Learning Outcomes:

At the conclusion of this course students will be able to:

  • Describe the processes by which information sources are compiled, and the original sources of information contained in standard reference works.
  • Discuss problems likely to be encountered with the use of sources, including problems accessing materials through index terms and headings, as well as problems of scope, organization, bias, and inaccurate and/or conflicting information.
  • Identify the sources most likely to contain specific types of information;
  • Discern the virtues and weaknesses of products available in multiple-formats (i.e., print, microfilm, CD-Rom, electronic), and make appropriate choices from among available options for each information request; and
  • Articulate requirements for a general bibliographic instruction unit for information seekers based upon a review of the existing literature in any given subject field.
  • Create user documents on the World Wide Web, and develop facility in the use of internet resources.

Course Requirements:

Exercises for class preparation (most classes), problem questions, one paper, and one exam (details on next page.) Grades will be computed on the following basis: problem questions 24%, paper 48%; mid term and final 20%; class participation and presentation 8%.

DAILY EXERCISES: There will be frequent exercises in the use of reference sources in your workbook (one due almost every class meeting. These exercises are considered part of normal class preparation, and are NOT to be handed in. Students are responsible for sources included in these assignments (you may confuse them at the beginning of the course, but no doubt will become more familiar with them as the semester progresses; some students keep note cards to help them remember which is which, what they do, how they are indexed, etc.)

TERM PROJECT: There will be a BIBLIOGRAPHY, which will be assigned shortly after classes begin. Due dates for this assignment and the problem questions are listed on the course calendar.

Topical Outline:

    1. Reference Sources
      1. Formats
        1. Print (standard)
        2. Microreprography
        3. CD-ROM
        4. Online
        5. The Network environment and its options
    2. Types
      1. Bibliographies
        1. National
        2. Trade
        3. Subject
      2. Indexes and Abstracts
        1. General
        2. Subject
        3. Subject Heading Problems
    3. Encyclopedias
      1. General
      2. Subject
    4. Geographical Sources
      1. Atlases
      2. Gazetteers
      3. Guidebooks
    5. Sources of Factual Information
      1. Handbooks
      2. Almanacs
      3. Directories
      4. Manuals
      5. Yearbooks
      6. Miscellaneous
      7. Alternative Press
      8. Pop Culture
    6. Government Sources
      1. National
      2. State
      3. Urban
      4. Local
    7. Online and CD-ROM Alternatives
      1. Decision-Making
      2. Cost comparisons
      3. "Noise" in print vs. electronic forms
    8. Reference Services
      1. The User
        1. Community Surveys
        2. Cultural Differences and Biases
      2. The Reference Librarian
        1. Attitudes towards customers
        2. Burn-out
        3. Expanded Roles
          1. Bibliographic Instruction
          2. Rotating Staffing Patterns
        4. The Reference Process
          1. The Reference Interview
            a. Psychology of Unexpressed Needs
          2. The Role of Serendipity
          3. Building Clienteles
            a. e.g., faculty liaison
          5. Administrative Aspects
            1. Collection Development and Weeding
            2. Automated Alternatives
            3. Paraprofessional vs. Professional
            4. Marketing of services in various administrative environments
            5. Evaluation of Reference Services

Department of Library and Information Studies
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
349 Curry Building, PO Box 26170
Greensboro, NC 27402-6170
VOICE 336.334.3477
FAX 336.334.5060
EMAIL cpfelts@uncg.edu