NOTE: THIS IS NOT A SYLLABUS FOR ANY SPECIFIC SEMESTER
SOME DETAIL MAY CHANGE BUT YOU CAN GET AN IDEA OF THE TOPICS AND
ASSIGNMENTS
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE
SCHOOL OF INFORMATION STUDIES
540-510: Introduction to Reference
Services and Resources (3 cr.)
Syllabus
Instructor:
Office:
Phone:
Fax:
e-mail:
Alexandra Dimitroff
Bolton 528
229-6839, or 229-4707 (front office)
229-4848
dimitrof@uwm.edu
CATALOG DESCRIPTION
An investigation into reference services, reference interviews, and organizations, including
critical examination of basic reference sources.
OBJECTIVE
To provide the student with an introduction to the broad area of reference sources and
services.
COMPETENCIES EXPECTED
1.
The student will develop a familiarity with a basic core of general (i.e., not subjectspecific) information sources.
2.
The student will develop skills in the examination, use and evaluation of
information sources, both print and electronic.
3.
The student will be able to discuss processes involved in providing information
(e.g., the reference interview, digital reference).
4.
The student will be able to describe and discuss major components of the reference
function (e.g., online search services, bibliographic instruction).
METHODOLOGY
Extensive examination of information sources.
Online discussion will be used for comments and/or clarification of sources.
Readings, lectures, lecture notes and other “handout” materials will be the basis for
discussion of issues and topics related to the provision of reference services. Please
remember that online discussions are the primary means I have to evaluate your
comprehension of the readings. Participation – in the form of both posting discussion
comments/questions and reading others’ – is required.
PREREQUISITE SKILLS
This course is one of the courses offered in the Master of Library and Information Science
graduate degree program. It is expected that all students come to this course with a basic
understanding of how to identify and locate materials in a library (medium or large
academic library is best, or large public) and have basic internet search skills..
SPECIAL NEEDS
If you are a student with any special needs, please discuss them with me ASAP. If any
student cannot meet deadlines, let me know before the due date.
EVALUATION
Source exercises (10 points each)
Discussion participation
Observation assignment
Pathfinder
Exam
70 points
30 points
40 points
40 points
20 points
________
200 points
[Explanations of source exercises and discussion are below. Detailed instructions for the
observation assignment and pathfinder assignment are in separate documents.]
Grades will be assigned according to the following point distribution:
A
AB+
B
190-200
180-189
170-179
160-169
BC+
etc.
150-159
140-149
All assignments are due on the day noted on the detailed course calendar. Late
assignments will be penalized (50% credit). If you need additional time, discuss this with
me before the due date to avoid penalty.
READINGS
Dates for required readings are noted on the “Detailed Course Calendar.” Required
readings will include those from the course text plus additional articles listed in the
“Course Readings” document.
The text is:
TBA
ORGANIZATION OF COURSE CONTENT
A module for each unit/week has been set up in our D2L site. These modules contain
information related to the week’s sources and/or the week’s discussion topic. We will
alternate sources (which will require your completion of a set of practice reference
questions) and discussions on key topics in reference (during which you will read assigned
readings and participate in a group discussion).
The “Detailed Course Calendar” identifies the type of sources we will be examining during
sources weeks. It is during this week that you should ask for clarification, comments,
hints, etc. about any of the practice questions.
Each issue topic is also identified on the “Detailed Course Calendar” along with
associated readings, and the dates for discussion. Missed discussion cannot be made up.
ABOUT PRACTICE QUESTIONS
You will work through 7 sets of practice questions.
It is fine to ask for help with the questions from other students, from librarians, from me
(via D2L discussion topic, not individual email). The main objective of these exercises is
to have you examine and evaluate information sources AND to practice formulating an
efficient search strategy. A search strategy begins with selection of possible sources
(direction, or clues, will be provided by me and the relevant textbook chapters). Ideally,
you would be using both print and electronic sources, although I’ve limited the number of
print sources needed. Once you have selected what you think is the best source, keep notes
on how you navigate that source, be it print or electronic You MUST include your search
strategy with your answer – giving me just the answer will not be acceptable.
ABOUT DISCUSSION PARTICIPATION
You will be required to participate in class discussions. “Discussion” of the practice
questions is not required, but it is highly recommended that if you find yourself having
trouble getting the practice questions done in a reasonable amount of time or get stuck on
one, that you use the appropriate practice questions discussion forum to get help. You
don’t have to struggle alone!
Course discussions of issues are not optional – you should plan on participating if you
want to get credit for class participation. These discussions will be based on what you read
in several sources: the assigned textbook chapters; articles (noted on the course calendar,
with full citations at the end of this syllabus); a few “handouts” that may be available in
each week’s folder; and audio lectures and/or “lecture notes” that are posted in the week’s
content area. You should also read your fellow classmates’ discussion postings.
Everyone brings different experiences to the class and many times those experiences can
be related directly to a discussion topic. Do not discount the value of the discussion.
Your contributions to the discussion should be thoughtful and concise. Course
participation is not based on volume alone – 10 frivolous or off-topic comments a week
will not earn you points. Two well-articulated comments or observations very well may.
The points you get for discussion participation will be based on your postings (one posting
per discussion is considered average or “B” work) and your reading of others’ postings.
I will initiate each week’s discussion with “discussion questions.” Do not feel you must
respond only to my questions, but do consider how far afield you are going should you
want to bring up a related issue. In fact, bringing in your own experiences would be
welcome but be sure to stay on topic. Examples from real life will certainly make our
discussions more interesting.
ABOUT THE EXAM
There will an essay exam at the end of the course. This exam will cover the “issues”
material (along with the assigned readings). It will not cover sources. The exam will
consist of a set of essay questions from which you’ll select 4-6 to answer. It will be open
book/take home.
ABBREVIATED COURSE CALENDAR
See separate document for the Detailed Course Calendar.
Unit #
Topics/ Sources
1
Introductions
Reference Services in Libraries I
2
Source Evaluation
Dictionaries & Other Word Sources
3
Reference Services in Libraries II
4
Encyclopedias
5
Reference Interview
6
Biographical Sources
7
Information Literacy
8
9
Bibliographies & Catalogs
Ethics in Information Services
10
Bibliographic Databases
11
12
13
Evaluation of Reference Services
Ready Reference Sources
Reference Service Behaviors
14
Government Information & Statistics
15
Exam
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 shorter-term
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.
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.
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).