Pratt Institute
School of Information & Library Science
Spring 2002
Marie L. Radford, Ph.D.

LIS 602
INFORMATION SOURCES

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Professor
Contact Information, Location, Office Hours
Course Description
Description, Goals, Objectives, and Course Requirements
Course Readings
Required Text, Additional Texts, and Readings
Course Structure
Structure, Attendance and Participation, Written Work, and Student Agreement
Spring, 2002 Syllabus - LIS 602, Week-by-week
Pratt Manhattan, Puck Building
Fall, 2001 Syllabus- LIS 602, Week-by-week
Brooklyn, ISC Building
Bibliography
Additional recommended readings.
Webliography
Links to quality Web resources.

Professor

Dr. Marie L. Radford, Associate Professor
SILS Office ISC, Room 303
Telephone: (973) 267-7996 (h) up to 9:00pm
(718) 636-3702/3512 (for voice mail messages that are not urgent)
Fax: (718) 636-3733 (SILS Brooklyn Office)
E-mail: mradford@prodigy.net

Syllabus Web Page: http://pages.prodigy.net/mradford/LIS602-1.html

Location:
LIS 602-2 Class meets Thursdays, 6:30pm-8:50pm, Puck Bldg. room 21

Office Hours:Thursdays, Puck room 419B, 5:00pm-6:00pm.
Saturdays, Puck Room 419B, 9:00am-9:30am, 12:00pm-1:00pm
By appointment at other times.

Course Description

Basic concepts of reference service are reviewed. Methods and sources for locating information, analysis of representative works and criteria for collection evaluation with respect to reference and research use are reviewed. (Pratt Graduate Bulletin, 2001-2002).

Goals & Objectives

Goals: Upon completion of the course, students will have obtained an understanding of basic reference tools (print and electronic), their evaluation and selection, a knowledge of the importance of the reference interaction, and an awareness of the impact of information technologies.

Objectives: Upon completion of course, students will be able to:

  1. Understand the development of reference service and the basic concepts involved.
  2. Understand the use of reference service guidelines and policies.
  3. Understand the critical functions of the reference interview, the interpersonal dimensions, and questioning strategies.
  4. Recognize the impact of information technologies on reference services (networking, online sources, CD-ROM, and the Internet).
  5. Understand the criteria to be used in evaluating reference sources and apply these criteria.
  6. Understand and apply the criteria to be used in evaluating reference collections.
  7. Understand and apply the selection principles and evaluation tools involved in building a reference collection.
  8. Apply selection principles involved in providing reference sources for particular users in specific settings.
  9. Apply a simple search strategy in providing reference assistance using a variety of formats (print, microform, CD-ROM, online, Internet, etc.)
  10. Understand the types of reference questions answered by the various reference sources.

Required Texts

  • Bopp. R. E., & Smith, L. C. (2001). Reference and Information Services: An Introduction (3rd ed.) Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited

  • Radford, M. L., Barnes, S. B., & Barr, L. (2002). Web Research: Selecting, Evaluating, and Citing. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

    Additional Texts (Selected Readings)

    Balay, R., ed. Guide to Reference Books, 11th ed. Chicago: ALA, 1996. (On reserve at Pratt Library, 011.02.G946, at Pratt Manhattan Library, Puck, 4th floor).

    Sheehy, E. P. Guide to Reference Books, 10th ed. Chicago: ALA., 1986. (On reserve at Pratt Library, 016.W759G105, at Pratt Manhattan Library, Puck, 4th floor Library).

    Course Requirements

    Participation & Assignments15%
    Short Paper #120%
    Webliography15%
    Short Paper #225%
    Short Paper #325%
    Total100%

    Course Structure

    Readings: All readings are available at the Pratt Library and at Puck as noted above. The Bopp & Smith and Radford, Barnes, & Barr texts are on reserve at both Pratt Manhattan, Puck 4th floor, and Brooklyn libraries. The Bopp & Smith and Radford, Barnes & Barr textbooks are available for purchase at Barnes & Nobles at 105 5th Ave. at 18th St. Make sure you are looking at the 3rd edition of Bopp & Smith. Journal articles are in the Radford 602 Box at the circulation desk at the Pratt Library and in the Radford 602 Box at Pratt Manhattan, Puck, 4th floor, library. If any assigned articles are missing, but not in use by another student, please let me know immediately - e-mail or call me. Articles that are available as full-text through ProQuest on the NYPL Website and can be accessed by those with NYPL library cards. Additional readings and exercises will be assigned in class.

    Structure: This course consists of lectures, discussions, exercises and in class activities. Students are expected to do all assigned readings, to examine reference materials as assigned, to come to class prepared to discuss readings, assignments, and to actively participate.

    Attendance & Participation: Attendance at all class meetings is required. A student who must be absent from a class meeting still has certain responsibilities:

    1. To inform the instructor in advance, or if advance notice is not possible, as soon after the absence as possible (see above for phone numbers/email address).
    2. To arrange for delivery to the instructor of any assignment due at the class meeting.
    3. To obtain notes, handouts, etc. from a classmate (in anticipation of this need, each student is advised to exchange telephone numbers with one or two others in the class).

    Points are deducted for: unexcused absences, coming late to class, or leaving class early. Active participation includes, but is not limited to the following:

    1. Being involved in class discussions,
    2. Asking relevant questions, debating, or challenging points raised in class,
    3. Suggesting new ways of looking at things.

    Written Work:

    • Students should always keep a second copy of all assignments that are turned in.
    • In the case of a piece of written work becoming lost, regardless of fault, it is the responsibility of the student to provide a second copy.
    • Assignments are to be typed, double spaced with wide margins, and free from spelling, grammatical, and typographical errors.
    • Please put a single staple in the upper right-hand corner - no plastic covers or folders.
    • Put your name, the date, class section (602-2), title of assignment, and my name on a front cover title sheet. No blank page at the end is required.
    • Papers are due at the beginning of class on the dates noted. Late papers will be marked down unless the student has obtained prior permission of the professor (in the case of illness, etc.).
    • Papers will be prepared in accordance with the APA (American Psychological Association) style. Although APA requires an abstract, since all your papers are short, no abstract of the paper is required. Information with sample citations for citing Web sources is provided in Ch. 6 of the Radford, Barnes, & Barr textbook (see scientific style examples).
    • All material quoted or paraphrased from another source must be properly cited.

      Student Agreement: Attendance at this class signifies that the student has agreed to abide by and adhere to the policies and regulation specified above. It is understood that the instructor may adapt or change this syllabus and the assignments contained within it according to circumstances that may arise during the course of the class.