INLS 111-02: INFORMATION RESOURCES AND SERVICES I

 

 

 

 

Dr. Helen R. Tibbo
Fall, 2001
Office: 201 Manning Hall 
¹Office: T. 3:30-5:00; Th. 8:30-9:30 & by appt.
962-8063(w); 929-6248(h)
¾Lab: T. 8:00-9:15
FAX #: (919) 962-8071
ÁClass: T/Th. 11:00-12:15
TIBBO@ILS.UNC.EDU

 

 

 

                        COURSE CALENDAR        

 

     
 

9/13
9/18
9/20
9/27
10/2
10/4
10/9
10/11
10/16
10/23
10/25
10/30
11/1
11/6
11/8
11/13
11/15
11/20
11/27
11/29
12/4
12/6

 

 Readings are listed to enhance your understanding of the material discussed in class.  You should definitely read all items by the date listed on the schedule, e.g., you should read items listed under September 5th before class on the 5th.  The Bopp and Smith readings from the textbook and the chapters in the DIALOG Lab Workbook will help you with the assigned exercises.  The lab workbook is particularly important as a reference manual.  All of the required readings listed in this calendar for which we have copyright clearance are on reserve in the SILS Library for INLS 111 or are available in electronic format.  A few journal items for which we could not afford copyright clearance and that are not online are also included in the required readings and are marked with a †.  These are found in the bound serials section of the SILS Library.  As there are limited resources for photocopying please be considerate of your classmates and promptly return the readings to the pamphlet boxes or the serials shelves in the library after you use them.  The school does not have the resources to make/buy extra copies of items that are lost or stolen.  Please be particularly careful of bound serials volumes as many students after you will have to use them.  Also, don't forget that for most of the readings, even when there is a photocopy on reserve,  there will also be an original copy in the bound periodicals.

 

Required Texts:

 

Bopp, Richard E. and Linda C. Smith. Reference and Information Services: An Introduction. 3rd ed. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 2001.  Available in bookstore.

 

The DIALOG Corporation. DIALOG Lab Workbook. Cary, NC: 1999.  Find at:  http://training.dialog.com/cip-lis/workbook/index.html. Available in bookstore.

Additional texts on reserve (not to be purchased) is:

 

The DIALOG Corporation. DIALOG Pocket Guide. Cary, NC: 2001. Find at http://library.dialog.com/pocketguide/pktgde.pdf. You may print this or copy the one on reserve.

 

Katz, William A. Introduction to Reference Work, Volume I: Basic Information Sources. 7th ed. New York: McGraw‑Hill, 1997. [Z711 .K32 1997 v.1]. and Introduction to Reference Work, Volume II: Reference Services and Reference Processes. 7th ed. New York: McGraw‑Hill, 1997. [Z711 .K32 1997 v.2]. There will be a new 8th edition out in 2001.

 


Journals to Browse from the SILS Library: Reference & User Services Quarterly (RUSA Quarterly, formerly: RQ (Reference Quarterly)), RSR (Reference Services Review), CRL (College and Research Libraries), and The Reference Librarian (The SILS Library binds each issue of this serial separately and places a full set in the monographic collection at the call number: Z711 .R43).  See also, Advances in Librarianship [Ref. Z674 .A4] and The Annual Review of Information Science and Technology (ARIST) [Ref. Z699.A1A65] for state-of-the-art reviews on a wide variety of topics.  The Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science [Ref. Z1006.E57] has many relevant entries for this class that will provide introductory and background material.

 

 

 

 CD-ROM (compact disk) databases are being replaced, increasingly, by Web-based databases. The Reference area in Davis Library, however, has a sizable collection of these tools in the Electronic Reference section in the following areas:

 

     Business/Economics/Demographics

     History

     Interactive Hyperfiction

     Literature

     Newspaper & Magazine

     Reference Tools

     Religion/Philosophy

     Social Sciences

     Textual Analysis & Electronic Texts

 

We will examine some library related disc products, available here in SILS, in some detail this semester, but you should explore the tools available in Davis, examining them from both professional and user perspectives, even if we don't cover them in class. 

 

Web resources are now often replacing CD-ROMs and print reference tools. Click on the Electronic Indexes and Databases on the library’s homepage to see the holdings of the UNC-CH Academic Affairs Libraries. The list of available databases changes frequently.

 

 

Back to the Top

1. Tuesday, August 21:  Course Introduction.            

 

8:00-9:15:   Meet in Computer Lab (Manning 117).

 

        Introduction to INLS 111 labs and searching OPACs.

 

1.        DRA materials given  in class.

 

2.        Visit the UNC-CH Libraries website at: http://www.lib.unc.edu, and more specifically, the online catalog at: [http://unclib.lib.unc.edu:5744/htbin/webcat.com - 1]

 

11:00-12:15:        Meet in classroom.

 

A.      General introduction: Course objectives. Mechanics of the course. Getting to know the instructor. Getting to know classmates as information resources and information conveyors.  Course mission statement.  What we want out of class participation. Student/Faculty/University partnership.

 

B.       Introduce term project.

 

C.       Students assigned to format groups for source/user instruction presentations.

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

Place your packet in a binder with separators.  Read through the syllabus thoroughly; write down any questions.              

 



1.        Fill in the INLS 111 student questionnaire. 

 

2.        Examine the reference collections in SILS, Davis and the Undergraduate libraries. Collect handouts, generally investigate, and compare the collections.  Visit the web sites for these libraries. Be prepared to discuss similarities, differences, and types of materials held.  These do not need to be lengthy examinations,  I just want you to be familiar with the facilities so that your future assignments will be easier.  Go on any tours offered.  Finally, either draw a map of the Davis Reference area or use one Davis Library has prepared (if available).  As well as indicating the general layout of the room, label the location of various types of materials on the index tables.  For example, Index Table 1A might contain biographical sources while 7B has newspaper indexes.  Do the same thing for the SILS reference room. A map maybe available on the Davis Library web site.  When you have finished with the physical library layouts, study their websites to start to discover what they offer electronically. Nothing will be collected from your investigations. This is just to get you oriented and give you a start on the semester.

 

 

1.        What do you hope to get out of this class?

2.        More specifically, what are your primary goals and objectives for the class?

3.        What are you prepared to do to maximize the class for yourself?  How many hours a week do you expect to devote to this class? To your studies in general? What are your other time obligations?

4.        What do you expect from your instructor?  What do you see as the instructor’s role?

5.        What do you expect from your classmates?  From class participation?

6.        What is the teaching-learning partnership?

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2.   Thursday, August 23: Reference Services: An Introduction.

 

A.    What is reference service?: History, issues, and trends of reference work.              

 

Bopp & Smith, "History and Varieties of Reference Services," 3-27.

 

Moody, Marilyn K. “Sell a Shirt, Answer a Reference Question: Reference Services in the Year 2000.” Internet Reference Services Quarterly 5/21 (2000): 1-4.

B.    Discuss any questions about syllabus.                          

     DUE: Questionnaire.

 

 

1.        What is reference service? What are some of the types of reference services?

 

2.        When did you last consult with a reference librarian?  Why? Was the transaction helpful?

 

3.        What is the primary function of the reference librarian? What are some secondary or ancillary functions?

 

4.        What is the goal(s) of the reference librarian vis-à-vis the client?

 

5.        How do reference librarians approach their work? What is their primary strategy to question answering?

 

6.        How has reference service evolved during the past century?

 

7.        What is realistic service and performance today in light of burgeoning information resources and dwindling financial resources? Do you think reference positions will disappear?

 

8.        What is the future of reference service in light of search engines such as Google? I.e., can the reference function be automated?

 

9.        What is the role(s)/function(s) of libraries in the electronic age? Does electronic access strengthen or weaken the position of libraries in society?

 

10.     Is the model and definitions of reference presented in your textbook outdated?

 

11.     What skills do  you most need to learn to become accomplished and successful reference librarians?

 

12.     What qualities do you most need to be an excellent reference librarian?

 

13.     What journals should reference librarians read to keep u with their field?

 

 

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3.   Tuesday, August 28: Pathfinders & Reference Resources: An Introduction.

I’ll be at the SAA Conference in Washington, DC this week.                   

8:00 – 9:15: On your own.

 

You will be searching for materials for your pathfinder.  Indeed, you may just be searching for a topic!  You may do this in Davis Library (or any other library), in the computer lab, or wherever! Of course, you might just want to do this at some other time this week  and sleep an extra hour this morning. ;-)

 

11:00 – 12:15: Meet in classroom.

 

Dr. Gollop will be discussing pathfinders and the variety of references sources with you today and you’ll be taking a tour of Davis Reference on Thursday.

 

A.      Varieties of reference sources and forms.

 

        Bopp &  Smith, “What Is a Reference Source?” pp. 309-310.

 

        Katz, vol. 1,  pp. 14-24.       

 

B.       Types of reference questions.

 

C.       Pathfinders, bibliographies, and webliographies.

 

Course handouts/assignment on pathfinder.

 

Dahl, Candice. “Electronic Pathfinders in Academic Libraries: An Analysis of Their Content and Form.” College and Research Libraries 62/3 (May 2001): 227-237.  Ebsco Host.

 

Holtze, Terri L. and Anne Marie Johnson. “Getting Mileage Out of the Pathfinder.” Kentucky Libraries 61 (Spring 1997): 29-32.

 

Laverty, Corinne. “Library Instruction on the Web: Inventing Options and Opportunities.” Internet Reference Services Quarterly 2 (summer/fall 1997): 55-66.

 

O’Sullivan, Michael K and Thomas J. Scott. “Pathfinders Go Online.” Library Journal (Summer 2000): 40-42. Ebsco Host.

Look in Library Literature under "pathfinders" to find published examples of library pathfinders.

 

·         Thought questions to focus readings for the day:

1.        How can pathfinders be used in libraries?  What ten subjects would be most useful to have ready for general patrons in an academic library?  In a public library?

2.        How can libraries justify the staff time necessary to compile pathfinders?

3.        What implications does the World Wide Web hold for pathfinders?

4.        What is  a “reference” source? What distinguishes a “reference” source from other materials?

5.        What are some types of reference sources?

6.        What are some types of reference questions?  

 

Back to the Top

 

4.   Thursday, August 30: Tour of Davis Reference Department.

 

Meet at Davis Reference Desk at 11 AM. Tom Nixon to lead our tour.

 

 

5.   Tuesday, September 4:    User Instruction.

 

8:00-9:15:  Meet in classroom.

 

Lisa Stimatz to discuss user education at UNC-CH.

 

11:00-12:15: Meet in classroom.

       

A.    User instruction.

 

Acree, Eric. “Tools for Librarians: Teaching Effectiveness Web Sites.” Internet Reference Services Quarterly 5/2 (2000): 81-88.

 

Allen, Eileen E. “Active Learning and Teaching: Improving Postsecondary Library Instruction.” Reference Librarian 51-52 (1995): 89-103.  Ebsco Host.

 

Association of College and Research Libraries, Instruction Section. “Guidelines for Instructional Programs in Academic Libraries,” College and Research  Libraries News 58 (Aril 1997): 264-66. Also available: http://www.ala.org/acrl/guides/guiis.html and Ebsco Host.

 

Bopp & Smith. “Instruction as a Reference Service,” 177-209. 

 

Gradowski, Gail, L. Snavely, & P. Dempsey, eds. Designs for Active Learning: A Sourcebook of Classroom Strategies for Information Education. Chicago: ALA, 1998.  Browse for ideas for presentations.

 

LaGuardia, Cheryl, et al. Teaching the New Library: A How-to-Do-It Manual for Planning and Designing Instructional Programs. Neal-Schuman, 1996. Browse for ideas for presentations.

 

B.       Discussion on how to apply active learning theory to your bibliographic instruction presentations throughout the semester.

  DUE:  Pathfinder topic; description of searching experience.

 

 

1.        Why is preparation for reference service important in the Information Age?  What is the responsibility of the information professional to information literacy beyond the workplace?

2.        Will users need more or less user instruction in the future?  Should libraries become public information centers?  Should librarians offer information enrichment classes on subjects such as online searching at home, legal reference, aging and retirement, health and fitness, privacy protection?

3.        What do patrons need to know about searching the WWW?

4.        How can we teach patrons about the WWW?

5.        What is “active learning”? “situated learning”? “collaborative learning”?

6.        Who should teach “information literacy”?  What training should they have?

7.        How is Kolb’s model of experiential learning useful?

8.        What is “information literacy instruction”?

9.        How do you know if you’re information literate? What skills do you have? What knowledge?

 

Back to the Top

 

6.   Thursday, September 6:  Selection & Evaluation of Reference Materials.

 

        A.    Guides to reference materials.                           

 

B.    Evaluation of reference sources: Reference reviewing tools; Book review indexes; Web evaluation.

 

Balay, Robert, ed. Guide To Reference Books. Chicago: ALA, 1996.  Browse.

 

Bopp & Smith. "Selection and Evaluation of Reference Sources." 309-329.

 

Rettig, James. "Every Reference Librarian a Reviewer." RQ 26/4 (Summer 1987): 467-76. 

 

Rettig, James and Cheryl LaGuardia. “Beyond Cool.” Online 23/4  (July/August 1999): 51-5. Ebsco Host

 

·         Thought questions to focus readings for the day:

1.        How can one know that a reference book is a quality item?

2.        What are the primary reference reviewing tools?

3.        How can tools such as the Guide to Reference Books (Balay), American Reference Books Annual, Library Journal, and Choice help librarians? 

4.        How does the information professional become competent to review reference sources?  What sources?  What skills?  What attitudes?  What values?

5.        In selecting reference sources, how should controversial subjects be handled?

6.        How do you conduct virtual reference collection development?

7.        What are the primary evaluation points for web sites?

8.        How does evaluation of web resources differ from those in print?

 

Back to the Top

 

 

7.   Tuesday, September 11:  Abstracts & Indexes.

 

        8:00-9:15: Meet in Computer Lab (Manning 117).

 

Basics of electronic retrieval.  We will go through some exercises that will help us define terms and get a grip on the basics.

 

Bopp & Smith, “Electronic Resources for Reference,” pp. 97-125.             

 

Dialog Lab Workbook, Chapter 2: “Planning the Search Strategy,” p. 29-41. 

 

        11:00-12:15: Meet in classroom.

 

A.    Indexes and abstracts.  Overview.    Student Presentation.

 

Bopp & Smith. “Indexes and Abstracts,” 509-536.

 

Tenoir, Carol and Jeff Barry. “Database Marketplace 2000: Are Online Companies Dinosaurs?” Library Journal 125 (May 15, 2000): 44-50. Ebsco Host.

 

B.    Database and file structure.

 

Dialog Lab Workbook, Chapter 3: “How Databases Are Constructed,” p. 43-64. 

 

·         Thought questions to focus readings for the day:

 

1.       Why are abstracts and indexes important?

 

2.       What makes for a good abstracting and indexing service?

 

3.       Abstracts take a lot of time to create.  Are they worth it?

 

4.       What are the draw backs to indexing and indexes?  Will they become obsolete?

 

5.       What are the primary ways in which to evaluate indexes?

 

6.       Why is knowledge of file structure important to searching and retrieval?

 

Back to the Top

 

8.      Thursday, September 13: Bibliographic Control.

 

A.    Bibliographic Control and Search Strategies.

 

        Bopp & Smith, “Bibliographic Control, Organization of Information, and Search Strategies,” 69-96.

 

 

1.        What are the differences between indexes and catalogs?

2.        What is a thesaurus? A controlled vocabulary?

3.        What are the benefits of using a controlled vocabulary? The drawbacks?

4.        What is authority control and why have librarians long thought it important?

5.        What is the difference between a dictionary and a classified catalog?

6.        What is “metadata”?

Back to the Top

9.      Tuesday, September 18:  Access-Related Reference Services.

 

        8:00-9:15: Meet in Computer Lab.

 

                Academic Universe and InfoTrac lab.

 

11:00 – 12:15: Meet in classroom.

 

A.      Review of A & I Exercise.

 

B.       Access-related reference services – ILL, document delivery, copyright & the web.

 

Bopp & Smith, “Access-related reference services,” p. 149-176.

  DUE:  A&I exercise.

 

10. Thursday, September 20:  Encyclopedias.

 

A.    Discuss collection development exercise.

 

B.    Encyclopedias: General and specialized, overview.       Student Presentation.        

 

Bopp & Smith. "Encyclopedias," 433-459.

 

Quinn, Mary Ellen, ed. “ Encyclopedia Update, 2000.” Booklist 97/2 (Sept. 15, 2000): 264-274; 278-284. Ebsco Host.

 

  DUE:  Collection development exercise.

 

·         Thought questions to focus readings for the day:

 

1.        What is (are) the primary purpose(s) of an encyclopedia?  Will the encyclopedia becomes obsolete?  Will subject area encyclopedias last longer than general ones?  Will encyclopedias only remain in electronic form?  What are the advantages of electronic encyclopedias over printed ones?  Disadvantages?

 

2.        What are the primary evaluation criteria for encyclopedias?

 

3.        Explain bias in encyclopedias.  Should librarians describe the biased nature of encyclopedias to clients?  Should librarians recommend encyclopedias to clients for purchase in the home?

 

4.        What type(s) of information do people seek in encyclopedias?

 

Back to the Top

 

11. Tuesday, September 25: The Reference Interview.

 

8:00-9:15:   Meet in Computer Lab.

 

        FirstSearch (Library Literature).

 

11:00-12:15:

The Reference Interview.                   

 

Bopp & Smith. “Ethical Aspects of Reference Service,” 28-46; "The Reference Interview," 47-68.

 

ALA. RUSA. “RUSA Guidelines for Behavioral Performance of Reference and Information Services Professionals.” RQ (Winter, 1996): 200-203. http://www.ala.org/rusa/acrobat/behavior.pdf .

 

Visit ALA’s Reference and Adult Services Association (RUSA) web site: www.ala.org/rusa.

 

·         Thought questions to focus readings for the day:

 

1.        What is a reference interview?

2.        Why are good reference interviews frequently difficult to accomplish?

3.        What are the skills a librarian needs to be a good interviewer?

4.        What are the types of reference interviews?

5.        Why do most librarians seldom do reference interviews?  Why are clients reluctant to talk with librarians?  When should a reference interview be conducted?

6.        How can reference interviews best be evaluated?

7.        Ask for information from someone in public service (not in a library).  Record verbatim the interaction.  You may want to take a friend.  Ask for something complicated, like coordinating an outfit, the ingredients and preparation of food in a restaurant, a book on an obscure topic in a bookstore, drug information from a pharmacy, how to grow, fix, or build something from a friend or hardware store person.  Be creative.  Be prepared to describe this exchange.  I know I am the most disappointed when I ask someone something they should know and they don't give me a very complete or correct answer.

 

 

12. Thursday, September 27:  Directories.

 

A.      Discuss encyclopedia exercise.

 

B.       Directories overview.  Student presentation.

 

Bopp & Smith. "Directories," 331-356.

 

·         Thought questions to focus readings for the day:

 

1.        Explore some of the networked directories available from sites such as: Internet Public Library. http://www.ipl.org/, Librarians’ Index to the Internet. http://lii.org/, or http://www.libraryspot.com/.  Be prepared to discuss/demo one of your favorites.

2.        What are the most important features of a directory?

3.        Why are directories frequently expensive?

4.        Can you find me a directory of archival and manuscript repositories in the US that is fairly up-to-date?

  DUE: Encyclopedia exercise.

Back to the Top

 

13.  Tuesday, October 2:  More on the reference interview: models and approaches.     

 

8:00-9:15: Meet in computer lab.

 

        Ebsco Host (Serials Directory), BIP, & Ulrich’s.

 

Bopp & Smith, “Bibliographic Sources,” 480-508.

 

11:00-12:15: Model s of the reference interview.

 

A.    Counseling Model:

 

†Afolabi, Michael. “The Application of Counseling Concepts to Interviewing in Reference Services.” Library Review 41/4 (1992): 31-37.

 

B.    Diagnostic Approach:

 

Grover, Robert and Janet Carabell. “Toward Better Information Service: Diagnosing Information Needs.” Special Libraries 86 (Winter 1995): 1-10. Ebsco Host.

 

C.    The Maryland Model:

 

Isenstein, Laura J. "Get Your Reference Staff on the STAR [System Training for Accurate Reference] Track." Library Journal 117 (April 15, 1992): 34-37.  Ebsco Host.

  DUE: Pathfinder update.

 

·         Thought questions to focus readings for the day:

 

1.       Why don’t library clients ask very good questions?

 

2.       Which counseling techniques and/or factors are important to reference interviewing?

 

3.       Why is diagnosis basic to reference service?

 

4.       Explain the diagnosis process in general.  How does this relate to reference interviewing?

 

5.       How does the diagnosis model change the reference paradigm?

 

6.       Why is context important in regards to the reference interview?

 

7.       What are the key steps to the “Maryland Model”?

 

8.       What do you think is good about the “Maryland Model”?  What might be problematic?

 

Back to the Top

 

14.  Thursday, October 4:  Geographical Resources.

 

A.      Review directory exercise.

 

B.    Geographical Sources: Overview.                  Student Presentation.

 

 

 

Badurek, Christopher. “Managing GIS in Academic Libraries.” Information Bulletin (Western Association of Map Libraries) v. 31 no2 (Mar. 2000) p. 110-14.

 

Bopp & Smith, "Geographical Sources," 460-479.

 

Cobb, David A., GIS: Its Impact on Library Services.” Meridian 16 (1999) p. 5-8.

 

Linberger, Peter and Gary W. White. “ Geographic Information on the Web: Extracting Demographic and Market Research Information.” Information Today (1998): 235-42. Ebsco Host.

 

Packard, Victoria Lynn. “Create Your Own World: What’s Available with GIS.” College and Research Libraries News   60/3 (March 1999): 165-9. Ebsco Host.

 

·         Thought questions to focus readings for the day.

 

1.        What factors should you consider when buying an atlas?

 

2.        What is a gazetteer and how can you judge the quality of one?

 

3.        What are the pros and cons of web-based atlases and maps?

 

4.        How many atlases should a library have?

 

5.        What types of information are important in travel guides?

 

6.        How has GIS changed geographic information?

  DUE: Directory exercise.

 

Back to the Top

 

15.  Tuesday, October 9:  World Wide Web Searching.

 

8:00 – 9:15: Meet in Computer Lab.

 

Web Searching Lab #1.

 

            Bopp & Smith, “Understanding Electronic Information Systems for Reference,” pp. 126-148.

 

11:00 –12:15: Meet in classroom.

 

A.    Searching the World Wide Web: Search Engines and Directories.

 

·         Thought questions to focus readings for the day:

 

1.        What is the best strategy for learning to search the Web well?

 

2.        Where can librarians turn for help in searching the Web?

 

3.        What is a “digital library”?  How will it be different from traditional libraries?

 

4.        What is the difference between a search engine and a web directory?

 

5.        Why do we need reference when we can find everything we need through Google?

 

 

16. Thursday, October 11:  Meet on lower level of Wilson Library.

 

      Tour of Maps Collection.                           .              

 

Back to the Top

 

17. Tuesday, October 16: 

 

8:00 – 9:15:

 

Web Searching lab #2.               

 

 

9:30 – 10:45:   

 

A.      Discuss reference observation exercise.

 

B.       Evaluating web resources.

  DUE:  Reference observation exercise.

 

Back to the Top


**  Thursday, October 18: No Class: Fall Break.

 

 

18. Tuesday, October 23:  Ready Reference Sources.

 

8:00 – 9:15: Meet in computer lab.

 

Web Searching lab #3.

 

11:00 – 12:15: meet in classroom.

 

A.      Review geographical sources exercise.

 

B.    Almanacs, yearbooks, and handbooks. Overview.        Student presentation.        

 

                Bopp & Smith, "Almanacs, Yearbooks, and Handbooks," 357-380.

 

Janes, Joseph & Charles R. McClure. “The Web as a Reference Tool: Comparisons with Traditional Sources.” Public Libraries (January/February 1999): 30-39.

 

·         Thought question to focus readings for the day:

 

1.     Should ready reference collections be kept behind a reference desk or in the general reference collection?

 

2.       How can the Internet be used as a ready reference tool?

 

3.       What are the most important criteria upon which to evaluate ready reference tools? Pick 3 and argue for them.

 

4.       What is the difference between digested and raw data? Why would this distinction be important to a client?

 

Back to the Top

 

19. Thursday, October 25: The Virtual Reference Desk & Chat.

       

 

A.      The Virtual Reference Desk.

 

Guest speaker from Davis Library re Chat Reference and other virtual outreach.

 

Bopp & Smith, “Organizing, Delivering, & Managing Reference Services,” p. 265-278.

 

Holtze, Terri L. “Applying Learning Style Theory to Web Page Design.” Internet Reference Services Quarterly 5/2 (200): 71-80.

 

Tolppanen, Bradley P. et al. “An Examination of Library World Wide Web Sites at Medium-Sized Universities.” Internet Reference Services Quarterly 5/2 (200): 5-18.

 

 

 

 

20. Tuesday, October 30: Biographical Sources.

 

8:00-9:15: Meet in computer lab:

 

LISA database.

 

11:00-12:15:

 

A.    Review ready reference sources exercise.

        B.    Biographical sources. Overview.       Student Presentation.                        

 

Bopp & Smith. "Biographical Sources,” 381-408.

 

·         Thought questions to focus readings for the day:

 

1.       If you were going to design a CD-ROM or online international source for biographical information, what features would you want to include?  How would you limit its contents?

 

2.       What are the most important factors on which to evaluate a biographical directory?

 

3.       Can you find any useful biographical information on the Internet?  If so, how did you find it?

 

4.       How can you evaluate biographical information?  On the web?

 

5.       Why are biographical sources generally expensive? Why generally flawed?

  DUE: Ready reference sources exercise.

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21.  Thursday, November 1:  Government Documents. Meet in Davis Library. 

 

 

Barbara Levergood and Ridley Kessler will be showing you the Davis Library Government Documents section.  You will see the entire print collection downstairs and the electronic documents, GPO Access, and some electronic geographical information systems (GIS).                     

 

Bopp and Smith. “Government Documents and Statistical Sources,” 537-591.

 

Platt, Nina. “GPO Access: Government at Its Best.” Database 21 (April/May 1998): 41-43. Ebsco Host.

 

·         Thought questions to focus readings for the day and discussions with Barbara and Ridley:

 

1.        What role does the U.S. government play as a publisher?  How is this changing?

2.        How do government documents fit into a general reference department?  What are the benefits?  Drawbacks?

3.        How are various electronic formats complicating the picture in government documents department?

4.        How long should depository libraries be expected to keep documents?

5.        How good is GPO Access?

 

22. Tuesday, November 6: Pathfinder: Paper to Web.

 

8:00 – 9:15: Meet in Computer Lab.

 

        HTML workshop for pathfinder construction #1.                         

 

Long, Christ E. “Web Site Design Resources for the Librarian: A Selective Annotated Bibliography.” Internet Reference Services Quarterly 5/2 (2000): 31-40.

 

11:00-12:15:

 

        Continue HTML workshop for pathfinder construction.

  DUE: Pathfinder content.

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23. Thursday, November 8:  Dictionaries.

 

A.    Review biographical sources exercise.

        B.    Dictionaries and word sources.  Overview.           

 

Bopp & Smith. "Dictionaries,"409-432.

 

Jacso, Peter. “Academic Dictionaries on CD-ROM.” Computers in Libraries 17 (June 1997): 45-47. Ebsco Host

 

Kister, Kenneth F. "Buying and Selling Words: What Every Good Librarian Should Know about the Dictionary Business."  Wilson Library Bulletin 67 (January 1993): 35-37, 115. Ebsco Host.

 

Kister, Kenneth F. "Dictionaries Defined: Buying Guidelines and Language Notes from a Reference Expert." Library Journal 117 (June 15, 1992): 43-46. Ebsco Host.

 

·         Thought questions to focus readings for the day:

 

1.        Why do libraries need a collection of dictionaries? 

 

2.        What types of dictionaries are there?

 

3.        Describe a good mix of dictionaries for a small public library (including children's services), a liberal arts college, and a large law firm. 

 

4.        What are the key factors upon which to evaluate a dictionary?  Which one is the most important?

 

5.        Does every library need a Spanish/English dictionary? A French/English dictionary?

 

6.        Should a public library buy dictionaries that contain vulgar words?  Should these be available to children?

 

7.     What is the difference between a prescriptive and a descriptive dictionary?  Which type should be available to children?

  DUE: Biographical sources exercise.

 

 

24. Tuesday, November 13: Pathfinder: Paper to Web II.

 

8:00 – 9:15: Meet in Computer Lab.

 

        HTML workshop for pathfinder construction #2.                         

 

11:00-12:15:

 

                Continue HTML workshop for pathfinder construction.

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25.  Thursday, November 15:  Area Reference Librarians Will Be Our Guests.

 

 

A.    Reference Panel.                                                  

 

26.  Tuesday, November 20: DIALOG Searching.

 

8:00 – 9:15: Meet in Classroom.

 

A.    Review dictionary exercise.

B.    Introduction to DIALOG searching.                

 

Dialog Lab Workbook, chapters 1-2, 1-42.

 

·         Thought question to focus readings for the day:

 

1.        If you wanted to add Dialog searching in your library, how would you argue for its usefulness to people who know nothing about database searching?  What resistance do you think you would encounter, excluding financial considerations?

 

2.        Why do you think Boolean logic is so difficult for many people to understand?

 

3.        Do you think end-user searching will completely replace mediated searching?

 

4.        Access Carl Uncover at the Carl Homepage: http://www.carl.org.  What do you think of this service?

 

5.        How does searching Dialog compare to searching the WWW?  How can Dialog, Lexis/Nexis, etc. stay in business when so much stuff is freely available on the WWW?

 

6.        Why are we teaching you to search Dialog in this class?

 

11:00-12:15: Meet in computer lab.

 

        DIALOG lab #1.

 

  DUE: Dictionary exercise.

 

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**           Thursday, November 22:  No class: Thanksgiving Break.

 

 

 

 

 

 

27.  Tuesday, November 27: DIALOG Searching II.

 

8:00-9:15: Meet in classroom.

 

More basics of DIALOG searching.                                        

 

Dialog Lab Workbook, Chapter5-6: “Word Proximity Searching,” and “Database Indexes and Vocabulary,” pp. 83-94; 103-122. 

 

 

11:00 – 12:15: Meet in computer lab.

 

 

DIALOG searching lab #2.

 

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28.  Thursday, November 29: Manuscripts and Reference. Meet on 4th floor of Wilson Library.

 

        A.    Library tour: Southern Historical Collection.           

 

Pugh, Mary Jo. “Reference Services in Archives,” and “Identifying Users of Archives.” In Providing Reference Services for Archives and Manuscripts. Chicago: SAA, 1992, 3-24.

 

Cross, James E. “Archival Reference: State of the Art.” Reference Librarian 56 (1997): 5-25. Ebsco Host.

 

·         Thought questions to focus readings for the day:

 

1.        How is reference service in archives and manuscript repositories different from reference in most libraries?

 

2.        What is an archival finding aid?  How does it relate to a catalog record for a collection?

 

3.        Visit some finding aids at the following Web addresses: http://scriptorium.lib.duke.edu/findaid/ and   http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/FindingAids/

 

4.        Find the Southern Historical Collection’s finding aids on the Web.

 

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29.  Tuesday, December 4:  Dealing with Difficult Public Service Situations.

 

8:00 – 9:15: Meet in Computer Lab.

DIALOG searching lab #3.

 

 

Dialog Lab Workbook, pp. 123-129; 155-167.

 

11:00-12:15:

 

Dealing with difficult situations.

 

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30.  Thursday, December 6:  Evaluation of Reference Services.

 

A.      Evaluation of reference services.

 

Bopp & Smith, “Evaluation of Reference Services,” 245-264.

 

Katz, vol. II, 254-268.

 

B.       Course evaluation.

 

·         Thought questions to focus readings for the day:

 

1.        What should be evaluated?

 

2.        What criteria should be used in the evaluation of reference services?

 

3.        What can librarians do to become better prepared for management responsibilities?

 

4.        What are the primary concerns of managing reference services?

 

5.        How well is your library (the one you use most often – public or academic) organized and managed? How would you rate it? What would you change?

 

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31.  Tuesday, December 11, 12:00-3:00: Pathfinder Presentations

 

A.      Pathfinder presentations.

 

  DUE: Pathfinder.  Must be passed in by 12:00 PM.

 

 

 

 

 

 


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