School of Information and Library Science
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
INLS 707: Government Documents, Fall 2007
Michael Van Fossen

Classroom | Office Hours | Email | Webpage | Readings and Websites
Assignments | Evaluation | Various | Class Schedule

• To acquaint future librarians and information specialists with the variety and extent of information produced
  and distributed by governments at all levels, and in all formats: print, microform, electronic, and the Internet.
• To demonstrate the reference and research value of this information.
• To familiarize students with the major government or commercially published bibliographical tools, catalogs,
  encyclopedias, handbooks, indexes, and web sites.
• To show how this information is collected and organized for access in a library or information setting.
• In accordance with the Mission of the School of Information and Library Science (SILS), this course
  aims to "prepare reflective, adaptive information professionals for action in the present and the future..."

CLASSROOM
The first class will be held in 208 Manning. All other classes will be held in Room 247, Davis Library.
When you enter Davis, go up the stairs--Room 247 is on the right side.

OFFICE HOURS
My office is Room 124, Reference Dept., Davis Library.
I can meet with you any time I'm not on duty at the Reference Desk.
You can also make an appointment by phone (962-1151) or email.

My Fall 2007 Work Schedule:
Monday-Friday: 8:30am-5pm.

EMAIL
I don't use a course listserv. I will email if I need to communicate with you between
class meetings. If you have a spam filter, make sure my email will get to you.
If you email me, mvanfos@email.unc.edu, please begin the subject with INLS 707.

WEBPAGE
http://www.ils.unc.edu/courses/2007_fall/inls707_001/index.html
Each class page will be a lecture outline, with titles of sources we talk about, URL's etc.

READINGS AND WEBSITES
Before each class, there will be one or two websites for you to look at.
Websites that are part of the E-Research Tools section of the library homepage
need to be accessed off-campus via the library home page.

Some readings will be on the internet; otherwise, "Robinson" will indicate readings in:
Tapping the Government Grapevine. Judith Schiek Robinson. 3rd ed. Oryx Press, 1998.
ZA5055.U6R63. SILS Reserve, Davis Reference and Law Reference.

ASSIGNMENTS
Turn in assignments in class, send them as attachments via email, mvanfos@email.unc.edu,
put them in my box in the SILS office, or my office in the Davis Reference Department.

1. Worksheets: [45 points total]
   Worksheet questions will answered using the electronic or print resources
   we discuss in class. These are to give you some practical experience using the sources.

There's one copy of the printed sources used for worksheet assignments.
Return books to the shelf you found them on or to the Reference Desk. If you can't find a copy
of the printed sources used to complete a worksheet, tell me know so I can search it.

• Accessing information; Legislative Branch: Due Oct 3. [15 points]
• Census/Statistics: Due Nov. 14. [15 points]
• State, IGO's, and United Nations: Due Dec 12. [15 points]
2. Agency Report: 5 points.
   Detailed guidelines for this assignment are on the course webpage.
   A 10-minute oral report on either:
   
   1. A. U.S. federal executive branch department, 12 students will present on Sept 26.
      
   2. A U.S. state, 4-5 students will present on nov 7.
      
   3. An International intergovernmental organization, 4-5 students will present on Nov 14.
      
   4. A United Nations agency, 4 students will present on Nov 28.
      
   
   

   This is an overview of the agency and a demonstration of the webpage. There is no written report.
   Please email me your agency choice by Sept 12.

3. Annotated Bibliography: Due Oct 24. [25 points]
   
Detailed guidelines for this assignment are on the course webpage.
An annotated bibliography of 15 U.S government sources on any topic that interests you.
Include printed matter, CDROM's and Internet sources, as available.
Please email me your topic by October 3.

4. Organization Report: Due Dec 12. [25 points]
   
Detailed guidelines for this assignment are posted on the course webpage.
A 12 page report on the website of an international intergovernmental organization or a U.S. state.
Please email me your organization/state choice by Nov. 7.

EVALUATION
The SILS grading criteria:
H: Clear excellence.  P: Entirely satisfactory.  
L: Low passing.  F: Fail.  IN: Incomplete.

1. The prerequisite to this course is INLS 501 (was INLS 111) Information Resources and Services.
   Please see me if you have not taken that class.
2. You are responsible for knowing the information in this syllabus, the course webpage. and emails I send.
3. Please notify me before class if you can't be with us.
4. I assume you are familiar with the UNC-CH library homepage, E-Research Tools, E-Journals, etc.

CLASS SCHEDULE

22 AUGUST
Administrativia, course overview, assignments.
Tour of the Davis Library Reference Department and Documents stacks.

29 AUGUST
Documents Librarianship, the Federal Depository Library Program.
Reading:
Keeping America Informed, http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/pr/keepam.html
Snapshots of the Federal Depository Library Program
http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/history/snapshot.html

5 SEPTEMBER
Accessing federal information; paper/electronic catalogs and indexes.
Reading: Robinson: pgs. 44-48.
Website to look at:
Catalog of U.S. Government Publications , http://catalog.gpo.gov/F

12 SEPTEMBER  Due today, your choice for the Agency Report.
Legislative Branch
Reading: Robinson: pgs. 89-102; 108-113.
Websites to look at:
LexisNexis Congressional, E-Research Tools.
http://eresources.lib.unc.edu/eid/description.php?EIDID=145
Thomas (Library of Congress) , http://thomas.loc.gov/

19 SEPTEMBER
Legislative Branch (continued), Administrative Law, Judicial Branch.
Reading: Robinson: pgs. 103-106 and Chap. 9.
Website to look at:
GPO Access, http://www.gpoaccess.gov/

26 SEPTEMBER  
12 Students Report on U.S. Federal Executive Branch departments.

3 OCTOBER  Due today: Worksheet 1 and the topic of your bibliography.
Executive Branch departments.
Reading: Robinson, pgs. 127-133. Website to look at:
GPO Access, Executive Resources, http://www.gpoaccess.gov/index.html

10 OCTOBER
Statistics.
Reading: Robinson, pgs. 154-163.
Websites to look at:
FedStats, http://www.fedstats.gov/

17 OCTOBER  FALL BREAK

24 OCTOBER  Due today: Bibliography Assignment.
Census,
Reading: Robinson, Chap. 12.
Website to look at:
U.S. Census Bureau, http://www.census.gov/

31 OCTOBER
Science, Patents, Copyright, Translations, Maps.
Reading: Robinson, Chap. 7, and pgs. 181-189.
Websites to look at:
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, http://www.uspto.gov/
U.S. Copyright office, http://www.copyright.gov/
U.S. Geological Survey maps, http://erg.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/usgsmaps/usgsmaps.html

7 NOVEMBER Due today: your choice for the Organization Report.

State and Local information; Foreign Governments.
Includes 4-5 Student Reports on U.S. States.
Reading: "U.S. State Documents in Academic Libraries. Zheng Ye Yang and Sandra da Conturbia.
Journal of Government information. Vol 25, Iss. 3, pg 263-276. Use E-Journal finder.
Websites to look at:
State of California, http://www.ca.gov/
United Kingdom Parliament, http://www.parliament.uk/

14 NOVEMBER  Due today: Worksheet 2.
International Intergovernmental Organizations (IGO's), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO's)
Includes 4-5 Student Reports on IGO's.
Reading: Look at the websites.
Websites to look at:
Asian Development Bank, http://www.adb.org/
Council of Europe, http://www.coe.int/
Oxfam, http://www.oxfam.org.uk/

21 NOVEMBER: Thanksgiving Holiday

28 NOVEMBER
United Nations
Includes 1 Student Report on United Nations agencies.
Reading: UN Documentation Research Guide, http://www.un.org/Depts/dhl/resguide/index.html.
Read Basic Research Tools and Indexes sections.
Websites to look at:
United Nations, http://www.un.org/english/
UN Economic Commission for Africa, http://www.uneca.org/

5 DECEMBER  
Classified government information and other topics. Student Course Evaluations.
Website to look at:
Federation of American Scientists, Project on Government Secrecy
http://www.fas.org/main/content.jsp?formAction=325&projectId=5

12 DECEMBER: Worksheet 3, Organization reports, and any other assignments, due by 5pm.

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