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ILS 504

Reference & Information Resources and Services

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

General Reference Sources Print and Electronic their content evaluation and use. The reference process and the organization of reference and information services in traditional and virtual settings as they relate to different types of libraries.

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES/STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

  • Explore the history and development of reference service
  • Understand the organization of information for access
  • Analyze patron's information need by conducting reference interviews and provide relevant resources to satisfy the patron's information need.
  • Develop the ability to use and critically evaluate reference materials in all formats and to select suitable sources for specific library uses.
  • Demonstrate the basic skills for electronic searching, including search techniques and strategies.
  • Investigate the basics of collaborative reference work
  • Examine the use of Internet Resources to satisfy user' information needs.
  • Investigate the use electronic communication channels with classmates and other reference discussion groups. 

 

COURSE OUTLINE

I.     Introduction to Reference Work
       i.     History
       ii.     Development

II.     Organization of Information
       i.     Bibliographic Control
       ii.     Classification

III.      Reference Process
       i.     American Library Association Guidelines
       ii.     Reference& User Services
       iii.     Reference Interview Concepts
       iv.     Reference Interview Practice

IV.     Electronic Information Concepts
       i.     Database Concepts
       ii.     Database Vendors
       iii.     Online Searching Concepts

V.     Evaluation and Use of Reference Sources
       i.     Collaborative Reference work
       ii.     Electronic Communication
       iii.     Web Based Reference Service Concepts 

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Students will have to:
1.     Evaluate the behavior of reference staff at two different libraries using RUSA Guidelines
2.     Differentiate between electronic and print reference resources
3.     Evaluate and review 100 - 150 reference tools in all formats
4.     Formulate solutions to patrons' information needs using reference sources.
5.     Integrate the skills learned  by constructing and providing access to a  resource guide.
6.     Design an electronic collaboration activity with classmates using new technology tools.

 

SUGGESTED TEXTS / TEXTS USED IN THE PAST 

1.     Bopp, Richard and Linda C. Smith, (eds). 3rd ed.  Reference and Information Services: An Introduction,  Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited  Inc.,    2001 (Bopp)

2.     Cassell, Kay and Hiremath, Uma. (2004).  Reference and Information Services in the 21st. Century . An introduction. New York; Neal - Schuman Publishers, Inc. (Cassell)

3.     . Katz, William A., Introduction to Reference Work Volume I. 8th. ed.  New York: McGraw- Hill, Inc., 2002.(Katz)
Instructional materials from the WWW as assigned 

 

Approved by the ILS Department Curriculum Committee and Faculty, Spring 2009.