last updated: 6/2/2011
834 (813) Information Sources and Services in Science and
Technology
Instructor: Suzanne Bell
Location: [online]
E-mail: bells@uwm.edu
Phone: 585.275.9317 (w), 585.281.6437 (cell)
Office Hours: phone anytime;
Fax: 585-276-3583
Google chat (ssbell607@gmail.com);
GoToMeeting labs as indicated in schedule;
CATALOG DESCRIPTION:
A study of the reference literature of science and technology; the structure of the literature;
and services of the various information sources in those fields. 3 credits.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
This course will explore the nature of science and technology in several ways: the literature
and information sources important to these fields and how to use them, publishing issues
in this area – patterns of journal pricing, Open Access, etc., and the people in the fields:
SciTech librarians and their clientele, in the latter group, their similarities and differences,
and how they judge achievement and recognition. Having learned about the sources and
the people, we can discuss issues of how services to this community may best be achieved,
especially in light of the rapid electronification-of-everything. While the course will be
entirely online and students will generally work independently, synchronous “recitation”
sessions will be offered regularly using GoToMeeting. In all, the course will endeavor to
demystify science and technology for those without a science background, enhance the
understanding of those with a science or technology undergraduate degree, and help all the
students decide whether or not this is an appropriate career path.
PREREQUISITES:
Graduate standing; L&I Sci 571(P).
OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:




List and describe the broad categories and structure of the fields of science and
technology.
Describe the processes of communication within the scientific and technical
communities.
Approach the information needs of scientists and engineers knowledgably, and
choose appropriate resources to meet these needs.
Effectively use selected information resources, print and electronic, basic to
particular, in a selection of scientific and technical disciplines.
LIS 834 Source/Servs Science & Technology


last updated: 6/2/2011
Discuss the day to day working life of a science or technology librarian, and how this
has changed over time.
Critically evaluate and discuss current issues in the provision of information
resources for academics and practitioners in the sciences and applied technical
fields, and what what the future of science and technology libraries may be.
METHOD:
Lecture, including guest lecturers/Discussion/Assignments and Fieldwork;
synchronous “recitation” meetings using the GoToMeeting software.
Students with special test and note-taking needs should contact the instructor as early
as possible for accommodations. See policies below.
TEXTS:
Required: Science And Technology Resources: A Guide For Information Professionals And
Researchers. James E. Bobick and G. Lynn Berard, ABC-CLIO, 2011.
Readings will be assigned from sources available through UWM subscriptions, publicly
on the web., or in rare cases provided for you. Additional readings for those interested
in learning more about specific topics are also provided.
COURSE SCHEDULE:
Week: Topics:
1
Introductions.
Welcome; what this course will cover, and how we’ll do it, what you can expect. First
look at the worlds of science and technology… and what science isn’t.
Assignments/Activities; Readings:
A/A: 1) Fill out pre-class survey; 2) Post your intro to the discussion board 3) Look at,
file away for future reference: NSDL Science Literacy Maps: http://strandmaps.nsdl.org/
Read: 1) Textbook, pp. 1-14
2) The Nature of Science:
http://www.project2061.org/publications/sfaa/online/chap1.htm
3) The Nature of Technology:
http://www.project2061.org/publications/sfaa/online/chap3.htm
4) Lower, Steven. Pseudoscience: What is it? How can I recognize it? [Web page].
http://www.chem1.com/acad/sci/pseudosci.html
2
Literature of science & tech, part 1: types of publications, their producers, movement to
ejournals, pricing issues.
Finding these “literatures” – general purpose, less expensive or free databases (Wilson,
Google Scholar, Scitopia.org)
A/A: Settle the “subject area” groups
Read: 1) Textbook, pp. 15-31; 43; 49-51; 63-69
2) Bosch, S., K. Henderson & H. Klusendorf. Periodicals Price Survey 2011 | Under
Suzanne Bell, bells@uwm.edu
2 of 10
LIS 834 Source/Servs Science & Technology
3
4
5
last updated: 6/2/2011
Pressure, Times Are Changing. Library Journal April 14, 2011.
3) Academic publishing: Of goats and headaches. The Economist May 26, 2011.
Optional reading for those interested:
a) Van Orsdel, Lee C. and Kathleen Born. Periodicals Price Survey 2006: Journals in the
Time of Google. Library Journal April 14, 2006.
Literature of science & tech, part 2: Finding the lit – high end multidisciplinary
databases (Web of Science, ScienceDirect).
What are the “best journals”? How to use Journal Citation Reports.
Other publishing models: Open Access, IRs.
A/A: 1) Subject groups: use JCR to find and post the “top 10” journals in your area to
the shared Google Doc.
2) Attend synchronous “lab session” to go over the Web of Science db
Read: 1) Textbook, pp. 32-40;
2) Tenopir, Carol et al. (2003) Patterns of Journal Use by Scientists through Three
Evolutionary Phases. D-Lib Magazine 9(5).
3) Kaiser, Jocelyn. Free Journals Grow Amid Ongoing Debate. (20 August 2010) Science
329 (5994), 896-98.
Optional readings for those interested:
a) Worlock, Kate. 2004. The pros and cons of Open Access. Nature.
b) Open-Access Publication of Medical and Scientific Research: A Public Library of
Science Background Paper. 2003. http://www.plos.org/downloads/oa_background.pdf
c) Horrocks, Gary. Battle of the giants: a comparison of Web of Science, Scopus & Google
Scholar. ICIC 2006, The International Conference on Trends for Scientific Information
Professionals. October 23, 2006. [link provided in D2L]
SciTech librarianship, part 1: views from the field (guest pod casts); how to quickly get
a grounding in any subject using guides and database lists; 3 major trade journals:
Science & Technology Libraries, Issues in Science & Technology Librarianship., Sci-Tech
News
A/A: Interview a science/technology librarian.
Read: 1) Textbook 73-85 (focus on the “general purpose” resources); also read 2-3 of
the Subject Bibliographies in the Appendix (choose ones that are interesting to you).
Then go to UWM’s “Research & Course Guides,” and see how UWM’s LibGuide for the
subject compares to the one in the textbook.
2) Science Majors Needed (ACRL Brochure from 2006):
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/about/sections/sts/publications/ACRLSTS_Brochure.pdf
3) Haines, Laura L. et al. (2010) Information-seeking behavior of basic science
researchers: implications for library services. Journal of the Medical Library Association
98(1): 73-81.
Focus on: Computer Science. Who are they? Special literatures: technical reports,
conference proceedings. Databases: ACM Digital Library, Citeseer, Inspec
A/A: 1) Attend synchronous “lab session” to go over databases.
2) Database evaluation/Decision making assignment: Inspec case write up.
3) Visit shared Google Docs file, see how values have been filled in for this subj group
Read: Textbook, chapter 11; and pp. 196-8.
Suzanne Bell, bells@uwm.edu
3 of 10
LIS 834 Source/Servs Science & Technology
6
7
8
9
last updated: 6/2/2011
Focus on: Engineering. Who are they? Special literature: standards. Databases: IEEE
Xplore, Compendex
A/A: 1) Engineering Ref Q assignment; 2) engineering group add information to
shared Google doc, lead discussion on discussion board. 3) Attend synchronous “lab
session” to go over databases.
Read: 1) Textbook, chapter 10; and pp. 215-218, 252-425.
2) Pinelli, Thomas E. et al. (2010) Engineering Literatures and Their Users [ELIS
Classic], Encyclopedia of Library and Information Sciences, 3rd ed, 1: 1, 1708-1728.
3) Wild, Peter J. (2010) A diary study of information needs and document usage in the
engineering domain. Design Studies 31(1): 46-73.
Optional readings for those interested:
a) McAlpine, H. et al. (2006) An investigation into the use and content of the engineer’s
logbook. Design Studies 27(4): 481-504.
b) Hertzum, Morten and Annelise Mark Pejtersen. (2000) The information-seeking
practices of engineers: searching for documents as well as for people. Information
Processing & Management 36: 761-778.
Patent literature (important to many disiciplines); getting out and meeting a scientist
or engineer in person.
A/A: 1) Interview a science or engineering faculty member. As prep, watch a Science
360 video (http://www.science360.gov/files/) on an individual scientist/research
team discussing their specific work such as a “Scientist at work” or “Profiles of Sciences
& Engineers” video. Most videos are under 10 minutes; fine to watch a short one.
Read: 1) Textbook, chapter 9.
2) Brown, Cecelia (2010) Physical Sciences and Mathematics Literatures and Their
Users. Encyclopedia of Library and Information Sciences 3rd ed, 1: 1, 4180-4191.
Optional readings for those interested:
Science & Technology Libraries 2001, Vol. 22 Issue 1/2 is devoted to articles on patent
searching.
Focus on: Physics & Math. Who are they? Special literature: preprints. Databases: arXiv,
Knovel
A/A: 1) Physics/Math Ref Q assignment; 2) physics/math group add information to
shared Google doc, lead discussion on discussion board. 3) Attend synchronous “lab
session” to go over databases.
Read: 1) Textbook, pp. 91-95, 242-247, 266-269.
2) Hadro, Josh. ArXiv seeking funds for second year of collaborative support model.
Library Journal May 5, 2011. (2 pgs)
3) Jamali, Hamid R. and Daivd Nicholas. Interdisciplinarity and the information-seeking
behavior of scientists. Information Processing and Management 46 (2010): 233-243.
4) Renear, Allen H. and Carole L. Palmer. Strategic reading, ontologies, and the future of
scientific publishing. Science 325, 14 August 2009. pp. 828-832
Focus on: Chemistry. 2 guest lecturers. Special literature: encyclopedias, handbooks.
Databases: SciFinder
A/A: 1) Chemistry Ref Q assignment; 2) chemistry group add information to shared
Google doc, lead discussion on discussion board. 3) Attend synchronous “lab session” to
go over databases.
Suzanne Bell, bells@uwm.edu
4 of 10
LIS 834 Source/Servs Science & Technology
10
11
12
13
last updated: 6/2/2011
Read: 1) Textbook, pp. 186-191.
2) Garritano, Jeremy R. (2010) Trends in Chemical Information Literacy and Collection
Development, 2000-2009. Science & Technology Libraries 29(3): 235-257.
Focus on: Biology. Who are they? Special literature: taxonomies. Databases: PubMed,
Biological Abstracts, BioMed Central
A/A: 1) Biology Ref Q assignment; 2) biology group add information to shared Google
doc, lead discussion on discussion board. 3) Attend synchronous “lab session” to go
over databases.
Read: 1) Textbook, pp. 211-214, 170-175
2) Park, Ji-Hong. (2009) Motivations for web-based scholarly publishing: do scientists
recognize open availability as an advantage? Journal of Scholarly Publishing 40(4): 343369. (Not specific to biologists; continuing the ‘open access’ thread)
Focus on: Earth/Environmental Science (EES). Who are they? Databases: GeoRef. Guest
database: CSA Illustrata: Natural Sciences
A/A: 1) EES Ref Q assignment; 2) EES group add information to shared Google doc,
lead discussion on discussion board. 3) Attend synchronous “lab session” to go over
databases.
Read: 1) Textbook, pp. 206-210, 231-234.
2) The Anthropocene: A man-made world. The Economist May 26, 2011.
3) Niu, Xi et al. (2010) National study of information seeking behavior of academic
researchers in the United States. JASIST 61(5): 869-890.
SciTech librarianship (2) – management of the SciTech library (guest lecture). Do you
want to be a SciTech librarian? Competencies and recruitment issues.
A/A: Analysis of SciTech librarian job ads over time.
Read: 1) Berard, G. Lynn. The Management of SciTech Libraries: Services, Staff,
Facilities, and Outsourcing. Science & Technology Libraries, 2008, Vol. 28 Issue 1/2, p
101-121.
2) Stanton, Jeffrey M. et al. Education for eScience Professionals: Job Analysis, Curriculum
Guidance, and Program Considerations. 2011. J. of Education for Library and Information
Science, Vol. 52, No. 2 (Spring): 79-94.
3) Mitchell, Victoria S. 2004. The Top Ten Things a new Sci/Tech Librarian Should
Know: Developing Core Competencies. Issues in Science and Technology Librarianship
(Winter).
Optional readings for those interested:
a) Leach, Michael R. Collection Development Competencies for Science and Technology
Libraries. Science & Technology Libraries, 2008, Vol. 28 Issue 1/2, p11-22.
b) Paster, Amy et al. (2006) Assessing Reference: Using the Wisconsin-Ohio Reference
Evaluation Program in an Academic Science Library. Issues in Science and Technology
Librarianship (Spring).
c) Science & Technology Libraries; 2006, Vol. 27 Issue 1/2: entire issue of articles on
education and recruitment.
Future of SciTech libraries (guest lecture). Other matters to ponder: dubious practices
in science and technology publishing; patterns of scientific communication; what’s
important and why.
Read: 1) Roth, Dana (2010) The Future of Librarianship in Science and Technology
Suzanne Bell, bells@uwm.edu
5 of 10
LIS 834 Source/Servs Science & Technology
14
15
last updated: 6/2/2011
Libraries, Sci-Tech News 64 (3): 6-9.
2) Butkovich, Nancy (2010) How Much Space Does a Library Need? Justifying
Collections Space in an Electronic Age, Issues in Science and Technology Librarianship
62 (Summer); 8 pp.
3) Guterman, Lila. Copycat articles seem rife in science journals, a digital sleuth finds.
The Chronicle of Higher Education January 24, 2008.
4) Farid, H. (2009) Seeing Is Not Believing. IEEE Spectrum, 46(8):44-48; and: (2008)
Digital Image Forensics. Scientific American, 298(6):66-71.
5) Abbott, Alison, et al. Metrics: Do Metrics Matter? Nature. 465, 860-62 (2010).
Optional reading for those interested:
a) Harley, Diane, et al. (2010). Assessing the Future Landscape of Scholarly
Communication: An Exploration of Faculty Values and Needs in Seven Disciplines Executive Summary. 20 pp. UC Berkeley: Center for Studies in Higher Education.
Retrieved from: http://escholarship.org/uc/item/0kr8s78v
Post projects
A/A: Read and comment on projects
Wrap up.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Assignments are due on the specified date. Grades will be reduced for late papers (one
point for each day or part thereof the assignment is late). As all work must be submitted
electronically, obviously all assignments will be word-processed; Microsoft Word is
preferable, saved as .doc or .docx. All assignments should include your name, title of the
course, and the date. You may not resubmit work that has already been used in fulfillment
of the requirement of this or any other course. Rules of academic conduct require that you
not use the work of others without clearly indicating it as such. Academic misconduct may
result in a lowered grade, no credit for a given assignment, or removal from the course.
It is expected students will consult and appropriately cite the research and professional
literature where merited. This means citing a variety of sources. Consulting a source such
as Wikipedia is fine as an initial step, but using it as the entirety of your research efforts is
unacceptable and will result in a failing grade for the assignment. Grades will also be
reduced for papers that include irrelevant content to “fill up space” to meet the length
specifications for a paper. Please rely on a commonly used style manual for your
submissions (e.g. Turabian, Chicago, APA, MLA). These are available in the Library or UWM
Bookstore or may be purchased through online book vendors. If you are uncertain about
how to cite electronic sources, consult one of the many electronic guides to citing electronic
sources available on the net. Minimal citation content includes: author (if known), date (if
given), title, URL, and date accessed.
Suzanne Bell, bells@uwm.edu
6 of 10
LIS 834 Source/Servs Science & Technology
last updated: 6/2/2011
ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTIONS:
Reference Questions – 25 pts
There are five subject specific research exercises, worth 5 pts each:
o Reference Q, due in Week 6 (Engineering)
o Reference Q, due in Week 8 (Physics & Math)
o Reference Q, due in Week 9 (Chemistry)
o Reference Q, due in Week 10 (Biology)
o Reference Q, due in Week 11 (Earth/Environmental Science)
Database Evaluation/Decision Making – 5 pts
The new head of Collections sends you an email asking what you think about cancelling
Inspec completely. Write a one page response for or against this proposal. Information will
be posted in D2L on how to do the research to inform your response.
Interviews / Photo Essays – 15 pts
Using the interview protocols posted in D2L, you will:
 interview a science or technology librarian (7 pts)
 interview a practicing scientist or engineer, either academic faculty or in industry (8
pts)
including taking photos of the various items listed in the protocol. Post your photo essay to
the appropriate discussion board.
Leading Discussion for Subject Units – 10 pts
At the beginning of the semester, we will form five groups of [n] students, depending on
enrolment and topical preferences. Topic groups will lead the discussion for their assigned
week’s subject, e.g. Biology, Chemistry, etc. (The first one, Computer Science, will be
modeled for you by the instructor.)
Each group will be responsible for filling in values for their subject area in the on-going
chart hosted in Google Docs: “top 10” journals for discipline, average journal prices for
discipline, and any characteristics or idiosyncrasies of the discipline. In addition to the
provided readings, each week’s group will find and assign one or two additional readings
they found useful, and pose questions, comments to guide the postings on the discussion
board.
Sci/Tech Library Jobs Then and Now – 10 pts
Evaluate two science librarians’ job descriptions from the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. Write
up a 1-2 page report on changes and continuities in job requirements. Consult past issues
of College and Research Libraries or The Chronicle of Higher Education for job postings.
Major Project – 20 pts
Choice of:
 Using a combination of ethnographic methods (such as observation, surveys,
interviews, focus groups) and a review of the relevant literature, re-design a current
Suzanne Bell, bells@uwm.edu
7 of 10
LIS 834 Source/Servs Science & Technology
last updated: 6/2/2011
science or technology library to be the sci/tech library of the future. Information on
the methods and samples will be provided to those choosing this option.
 Create a learning module on a science or technology subject area not covered in
detail in class (ex.: Astronomy, Botany, Geology, Meteorology, Zoology…), to teach us
about that area. Such a module should include: the most important types of
literature in that area, major reference works, key journals, subject specific
databases (with appropriate exercises to demonstrate their use), and important
names in the field, historical and modern. Note: a “learning module” is not a static
“library guide” – this option must be created as an engaging, ideally interactive,
multimedia presentation. The instructor will be happy to brainstorm ideas and
provide suggestions to those choosing this option.
Assignment submissions must clearly identify the assignment and include your name.
Late assignments will be accepted ONLY under exceptional circumstances, and upon prior
arrangement with instructor.
CLASS PARTICIPATION:
Class participation will be based on the thoroughness with which you access the materials
available in D2L, and substantive contributions to class discussions.
EVALUATION:
Assignment
Reference question exercises
Database evaluation/decision
Interview/photo essays
Leading discussion for the week (group)
Analysis of library job ads
Major project
Participation (other discussion board
assignments, responses, etc.)
Total:
Value
25%
5%
15%
10%
10%
20%
15%
100%
GRADING SCALE:
96-100
90-95.99
87-90.99
84-86.99
80-83.99
A
AB+
B
B-
Suzanne Bell, bells@uwm.edu
74-76.99
70-73.99
67-69.99
64-66.99
60-63.99
C
CD+
D
D-
8 of 10
LIS 834 Source/Servs Science & Technology
77-79.99
C+
last updated: 6/2/2011
Below 60
F
ACADEMIC POLICIES:
Grade requirement for MLIS students:
If you are pursuing an MLIS degree, you need to earn at least a B to pass the course. See the
policy at: http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/SOIS/academics/mlisrequirements.html
UWM AND SOIS ACADEMIC POLICIES
The following links contain university policies affecting all SOIS students. Many of the links
below may be accessed through a PDF-document maintained by the Secretary of the
University: http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/SecU/SyllabusLinks.pdf. Undergraduates may
also find the Panther Planner and Undergraduate Student Handbook useful
(http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/OSL/DOS/Handbook2005-06.pdf). For graduate students,
there are additional guidelines from the Graduate School
(http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/Grad_Sch/StudentInfo/), including those found in the
Graduate Student and Faculty Handbook:
http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/Grad_Sch/Publications/Handbook/.
Students with disabilities. If you will need accommodations in order to meet any of the
requirements of a course, please contact the instructor as soon as possible. Students with
disabilities are responsible to communicate directly with the instructor to ensure special
accommodation in a timely manner. There is comprehensive coverage of issues related to
disabilities at the Student Accessibility Center
(http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/DSAD/SAC/MainOffice.html ), important components of
which are expressed here: http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/DSAD/SAC/SACltr.pdf.
Religious observances. Students’ sincerely held religious beliefs must be reasonably
accommodated with respect to all examinations and other academic requirements,
according to the following policy:
http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/SecU/acad%2Badmin_policies/S1.5.htm. Please notify your
instructor within the first three weeks of the Fall or Spring Term (first week of shorterterm or Summer courses) of any specific days or dates on which you request relief from an
examination or academic requirement for religious observances.
Students called to active military duty. UWM has several policies that accommodate
students who must temporarily lay aside their educational pursuits when called to active
duty in the military (see
http://www3.uwm.edu/des/web/registration/militarycallup.cfm), including provisions
for refunds, readmission, grading, and other situations.
Suzanne Bell, bells@uwm.edu
9 of 10
LIS 834 Source/Servs Science & Technology
last updated: 6/2/2011
Incompletes. A notation of “incomplete” may be given in lieu of a final grade to a student
who has carried a subject successfully until the end of a semester but who, because of
illness or other unusual and substantial cause beyond the student’s control, has been
unable to take or complete the final examination or some limited amount of other term
work. An incomplete is not given unless the student proves to the instructor that s/he was
prevented from completing course requirements for just cause as indicated above
(http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/SecU/acad%2Badmin_policies/S31.pdf).
Discriminatory conduct (such as sexual harassment). UWM and SOIS are committed to
building and maintaining a campus environment that recognizes the inherent worth and
dignity of every person, fosters tolerance, sensitivity, understanding, and mutual respect,
and encourages the members of its community to strive to reach their full potential. The
UWM policy statement
(http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/SecU/acad%2Badmin_policies/S47.pdf) summarizes and
defines situations that constitute discriminatory conduct. If you have questions, please
contact an appropriate SOIS administrator.
Academic misconduct. Cheating on exams and plagiarism are violations of the academic
honor code and carry severe sanctions, ranging from a failing grade for a course or
assignment to expulsion from the University. See the following document
(http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/OSL/DOS/conduct.html) or contact the SOIS Investigating
Officer (currently the Associate Dean) for more information.
Complaints. Students may direct complaints to the SOIS Dean or Associate Dean. If the
complaint allegedly violates a specific university policy, it may be directed to the
appropriate university office responsible for enforcing the policy.
Grade appeal procedures. A student may appeal a grade on the grounds that it is based on
a capricious or arbitrary decision of the course instructor. Such an appeal shall follow SOIS
appeals procedures or, in the case of a graduate student, the Graduate School. These
procedures are available in writing from the respective department chairperson or the
Academic Dean of the College/School
(http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/SecU/acad%2Badmin_policies/S28.htm).
Examinations, Finals. The Secretary of the University is authorized to prepare the final
examination schedule. The time of the final examination for an individual or a class may be
changed only with the prior approval of the dean or director of the respective
college/school. The change will involve a postponement to a later date. For individuals with
exam conflicts, a separate week at the very end of the exam week will be reserved to take
one of the conflicting exams
(http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/SecU/acad+admin_policies/S22.htm).
Suzanne Bell, bells@uwm.edu
10 of 10