Courses

This course studies the fundamentals and basic techniques for evaluating the usability of products and services through qualitative and quantitative research methods. Students will gain the knowledge and skills to conduct effective user experience (UX) research, applying diverse methods to understand user needs, behaviors, and preferences. Through practical examples, they will learn to define research objectives, formulate hypotheses, analyze data, synthesize findings, and deliver actionable recommendations. These skills will enable them to make data-driven design decisions that enhance the usability of digital and physical products.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Understand the importance of data-driven approaches to UX design and evaluation.
• Select appropriate qualitative and quantitative research methods for UX design and evaluation.
• Conduct both qualitative and quantitative research for data collection and analysis of digital and physical products.
• Assess the ability to assess the usability and effectiveness of user interfaces using data-driven approaches.

This course focuses on the full range of information resources studied and used in applied contexts, placing emphasis on access to information through reference tools and the use of information by learners. Important considerations are an analysis of strategies for searching and evaluating these works and comparisons between printed and electronic media. Emphasis placed on research tools, communication, information services, policy development, and evaluation..

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of the development of reference service and the basic concepts.
• Use reference service guidelines and policies as appropriate.
• Articulate and model the critical functions of the reference interaction, the interpersonal dimensions, and questioning strategies.
• Analyze the impact of information technologies on reference services (networking, online sources, and the Internet).
• Discuss criteria to be used in evaluating reference sources and collections.
• Identify selection principles and evaluation tools involved in building a reference collection.
• Identify selection principles involved in providing reference sources for particular users in specific settings.
• Use a simple search strategy in providing reference assistance using a variety of formats (print, electronic, other media).
• Use various reference sources to find answers to reference questions.

Introduction to the nature and use of federal, state, local, and international government information resources. Problems relating to the acquisition, bibliographic organization, and reference use of public documents. Major emphasis on information resources of U.S. federal government.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Use a wide variety of reference tools issued by government and commercial publishers offering access to government information.
• Identify, evaluate, acquire and organize government documents.
• Identify professional media useful for current awareness of government information and development.
• Participate in the management of government information service: planning,marketing, evaluation, and ethical considerations.

This course provides an overview of the health information ecosystem and the role of health information professionals in supporting evidence-based decision making in health and medicine among multiple diverse constituents, include health professionals, researchers, and patients. Topics covered include evidence hierarchies and study designs, constructing and appraising exhaustive and reproducible search techniques for general and specialty medical databases, medical subject headings, and systematic reviews.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Understand the role of health information professionals, especially in evidence-based healthcare;
• Compare and contrast definitions of health and biomedical evidence, hierarchies of evidence, and health information;
• Analyze health information needs and develop search strategies to meet those needs;
• Design comprehensive and reproducible search strategies for both general and specialty health sciences bibliographic databases;
• Integrate critical appraisal guidelines and peer feedback when developing search strategies;
• Evaluate the reliability and evidential quality of health and biomedical resources;
• Provide access to authoritative and reliable health and biomedical information to end users, including health professionals, researchers, patients, and the public.

The course surveys the range of literature and media published for children, explores children’s developmental reading needs and interests, prepares youth services librarians to evaluate resources across formats and genres, and explores the potential for creating rich literacy cultures in schools and public libraries. 

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Apply knowledge of print, audio, and digital materials in the building of diverse, current collections for children and young adults of all backgrounds and reading levels. (NJAC II, III, VII)
• Critically appraise contemporary American, international, and multicultural authors and illustrators for children (NJAC VII)
• Implement criteria for evaluating excellence in books, sites, and databases for younger readers, with special awareness of varying needs of different kinds of readers and the paramount importance of developing information literacy across platforms. (NJAC I, III, V, X)
• Plan activities and events that demonstrate understanding of the varied interests and abilities of young people and make creative use of library resources to build a culture of literacy (NJAC I, III, X)
• Articulate to a school or public library community, the cognitive, language, and social developmental skills that are enhanced through the appreciation and sharing of literature for children
  (NJAC I, II, V, VII)
• Analyze the efforts and processes involved in creating a book from author/illustrator to final published book (NJAC VII)

This course prepares school and youth service librarians to take leadership in creating cultures of literacy for young people aged 12-18. Students will explore both traditional and emerging social/digital strategies to match readers with books across genres and media formats, plan and implement reader-centered activities, model critical thinking relating to the reading of nonfiction and fiction, and celebrate authors and reading.   

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate the practiced ability to separate their personal responses to reading materials from their professional role in selecting and sharing writing and art with young adults
  (NJAC VII)
• Show their ability to analyze Young Adult literature, including realism, fantasy, and nonfiction in the context of our diverse multicultural society and the changing experiences of adolescents (NJAC VII)
• Manifest an ability to obtain, select and utilize appropriate evaluation tools including critical commentary from reputable publications, comments from teenagers, and insights from peers (NJAC III)
• Demonstrate an understanding of the Common Core ELA standards (and current state variants) and how they relate to the needs of teenagers and the nature of YA collections. (NJAC II)
• Present an engaged and nuanced evaluation of a major Young Adult author as a model for book talks and other presentations. (NJAC VII)
• Show the ability to plan and budget book-related activities for a YA library through specific fully-realized examples. (III)

This course offers students a hands-on introduction to software tools and technology used in the creation and delivery of information services. Students will learn key concepts and skills related to Web technologies (e.g., HTML, CSS, Frameworks), Web programming (e.g., JavaScript, PHP) and Data management (e.g., MySQL). Students will learn how to use and evaluate Web services and open source software tools. Students will learn how information technology is used in today’s information organizations and libraries, e.g., integrated library systems, technical services, document management, and provision of Web services. The knowledge and skills conveyed in this course will assist students in applying information, web and data technologies in various information services and in their professional practice.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Create Screencasts and Work with Different Media Types, such as images, audio and video.
• Utilize Web Services, such as online surveys, Google Analytics or Web APIs, in the design and development of information services.
• Create and upload HTML Web pages that are standards compliant and contain relative and absolute links, tables, images and embedded video or data widgets.
• Design external Cascading Style Sheets that control the layout and visual appearance of a set of Web pages.
• Design Responsive Layouts that control the layout and visual appearance of a set of Web pages on different display devices.
• Understand the Basics of JavaScript to create simple or customize existing code samples.
• Understand the Basics of Scripting Languages, such as PHP, to create simple and useful scripts to develop information service.
• Create a Database Application using MySQL that shows information organized into one or more Tables, a data entry Form, multiple Queries for simple information retrieval, and one or more Reports for the presentation of information.
• Evaluate an Open Source Software Tool and assess the advantages and disadvantages of using such tools in a library or business setting.

Theory, design, use, and evaluation of information retrieval (IR) systems. Design principles for IR systems and their implementation, characteristics of operational and experimental retrieval systems, and evaluation of information retrieval systems.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Identify and describe the operation of the different components of IR systems
• Compare different IR systems according to their methods and performance
• Design and implement a summative evaluation scheme for operational IR systems

Fundamental issues, problems, and approaches to digital libraries, reflecting differing efforts and thinking in a number of fields and enterprises. Variety of digital library collections; organization, access, and use of digital libraries. Technical infrastructure; socioeconomic issues; integration of information resources; relation to traditional libraries. Current projects and initiatives.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Understand the complexities of digital libraries.
• Start their development toward a professional with expertise in digital libraries.
• Participate in creation of a digital library.
• Be involved in operation and organization of a digital library.
• Contribute to evaluation of a digital library or its services.
• Critically consider and evaluate advances in digital libraries, including research and development in general.
• Understand and follow many economic, legal, and social issues facing digital libraries.

Design of presentations using texts, graphics, images, sounds. User interpretation, navigation, and interaction with visualizations. Visualization in information retrieval, and interfaces in library and information processes. Effective display and presentation of information in organizational contexts, using various formats, both print and electronic.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Understand human visual perception and how it relates to creating effective information visualizations.
• Understand the key design principles for creating information visualizations.
• Recognize the major existing techniques and systems in information visualization.
• Evaluate information visualizations tools.
• Design new, innovative visualizations.

A laboratory course in the design and production of multimedia resources for libraries, media centers, and information systems and other informational applications. Examines and critiques current uses of new media and provides skills in user-centered multimedia design.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Create and design user-centered, instructional multimedia.
• Practice multimedia production, including digitization of images, sounds, animation and video, and hypertext authoring.

How to keep what we have for as long as we want to have it. The risks to physical materials, and the ways of preventing loss. Deterioration, environmental controls, and principles of handling. Reformatting. Digital preservation.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Understand why the contents of libraries are at risk.
• Assess the problems in a particular library.
• Recommend solutions.
• Assess the relative advantages of repair or reformatting.
• Preserve digital information.
• Create plans for physical protection.

This course introduces students to databases, data modeling, and database management systems for information management and retrieval.  Both theory and practical technology experiences will take place balancing database concepts, design, implementation and usage.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Examine and evaluate the ways a database, a DBMS, and the people who interact with them meet applied needs in technical, business, societal, and other contexts.
• Design, document, develop, and deploy a database and build a database user interface via standard practices and processes.
• Utilize standard processes and procedures to identify and resolve structural data integrity problems.
• Construct Structured Query Language (SQL) statements to define, manipulate, query, and control data in a relational database.
• Retrieve information from data stored in a relational database, perform data analysis, and generate reports.

Organizational, technical, and logistical issues concerning the design and implementation of electronic collections, documents, and services. Students learn in the context of building their own prototype digital library.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Understand the complexities of designing and implementing a digital library.
• Identify tasks and skills necessary to build a digital library.
• Perform the basic tasks related to digital libraries.
• Address and analyze emerging issues in creating digital libraries in a group setting.
• Demonstrate skills related to digital project management.
• Provide basic documentation related to digital projects.

This course gives students a hands-on introduction to the key web programming concepts, technologies, and software tools used to create web applications. Students will learn how to use major front- and back-end frameworks to design multi-device user experiences.  

Prerequisites:  Students who have not successfully completed the course 17:610:550 may request to waive the course prerequisite if they can demonstrate that they have the knowledge/expertise to:

• Create and upload HTML web pages that are standards compliant and contain relative and absolute links, tables, images, and embedded video or data widgets.
• Design external cascading style sheets that control the layout and visual appearance of a set of web pages.
• Use basic programming concepts (variables, arrays, loops, and functions).
• Understand the basics of JavaScript to create or customize simple functions.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Code using key web programming concepts, structures, and processes
  • Explain Full Stack development and its related front- and back-end concepts and tools.
  • Develop code using JavaScript and ECMAScript 6 that makes advanced use of functions, loops, event control, array processing, and DOM manipulation.
  • Create templates, modules, and components using front-end frameworks.
  • Use code editors and workflow tools to effectively develop and debug code.
  • Employ version control systems, such as Git, to manage source code changes and use and share code on repository hosting services, such as GitHub.
• Use key code libraries and front- and back-end frameworks
  • Create responsive page layouts using front-end frameworks, such as Bootstrap.js and its grid system and components
  • Use Model View Controller (MVC) design patterns, two-way data binding, and create templates, modules, and services
  • Implement single page application using front-end frameworks such as React.js or Angular.js
  • Design single page application using a back-end framework such as Node.js to exchange with a database
• Connect to databases and data sources
  • Implement NoSQL database such as Mongo DB that works within a back-end framework such as Node.js
• Use online documentation, forums, and code created by others
  • Debug code by using online documentation and forums
  • Interact with other developers online to troubleshoot code and interact with local developers by joining a MeetUp

This course provides students with a practical introduction to the field of Data Science and familiarizes them with the essential facets of the data scientist profession.  This includes a grounding on data-based reasoning, problem formulation, data collection, data pre-processing, data analytics, visualization, and the ethics surrounding the use of data and its processing.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Assess and articulate the relevance of data for a particular business or societal problem.
• Collect, store, and retrieve data originating from multiple sources.
• Preprocess diverse data into standardized formats.
• Undertake exploratory data analysis to generate insights from the data.
• Visualize data into charts and other visual representations for generating insights and supporting decision making.
• Describe the ethical, legal, and social implications of such data collection and processing.

Data analytics linked to storage, curation, management, and mining with attention to alternative methodological approaches.  The course will demonstrate various methods to explore how big data might be analyzed, stored, and retrieved.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Use models and structures to depict large data sets within a data analytics environment.
• Apply statistical models to data using SPSS and related software programs.
• Explain, determine, debate, compare and contrast: predictive analytic issues, language issues, algorithms, analytic methods, curation issues, and applications to social networks.
• Create a tutorial guide to assist others in data analytic endeavors to include structuring data sets, using software to analyze data, and depositing and making accessible big data sets.
• Assess how different statistical models might be used to extract meaning from particular data sets.
• Understand how clustering and other statistical models can be used to extract meaning from data sets which will then lead to decision models on particular sub-groups.
• Specify how to manage and curate large sets within a particular application area.
• Address storage, security, and privacy issues as they apply to different types of large data sets.
• Implement appropriate frameworks to identify the overall model for a big data set, how such data might be analyzed, curated, placed in a repository to provide appropriate access points for data set retrieval.

This course offers students a practical introduction to the field of Data Science and common methods for quantitative and computational analytics, through which they can have an overview of key concepts, skills, and technologies used by data scientists.  While the course covers several programming languages and tools, the focus is on solving problems.  Students will be introduced to real-life problems that involve collecting and analyzing data.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Apply programming languages and tools such as UNIX commands, MySQL, Python, and R to collect, clean, process, and analyze data.
• Exhibit familiarity with data science methods by learning and experiencing essential algorithms and approaches.
• Use statistical methods and visualization techniques to explore and analyze data, and visualize and present the results.
• Identify data-driven analytics problems and design solutions and applications to solve them.

This course offers students a practical introduction to using Machine Learning algorithms, tools, and techniques for solving problems that fall under the umbrella of Data Science. It is structured around learning concepts from the field of Machine Learning and applying them on data-intensive problems. While the course covers theories of Machine Learning and tools such as R, the focus is on using them for solving data-driven problems. Students will be introduced to several real-life problems that involve analyzing data for prediction, classification, organization, estimations, and pattern recognition.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Exhibit familiarity with Machine Learning methods by learning and experiencing essential algorithms and approaches as they relate to data problems and information processing strategies;
• Use Machine Learning techniques to explore and analyze data, and derive decision-making insights;
• Identify data-driven analytics problems as they relate to organizational or individual information needs;
• Design innovative solutions and applications to solve problems using Machine Learning techniques and strategies.

Collecting, making available, and preserving digital materials, including data resources as well as text resources. This is not about conversion to digital but about the organization and long-term preservation of both converted and born-digital materials.  

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Describe the history and current state of digital archives/museums;
• Investigate the major questions that affect how an institution should gather and organize digital materials;
• Design a new digital curation program including its principles for selection of content, the kinds of tools that might be used for a variety of materials, an organization of the library that is appropriate, and relevant legal issues;
• Identify possible funding sources and sustainability.

This course introduces students to the concepts of information security management. Both technical and administrative aspects of enforcing and managing the security of information assets will be covered through requirements analysis, planning and designing of information security management systems and development of information security plans and policies.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Articulate the importance of information security to organizations and individuals and learn how information security can be incorporated in any system;
• Evaluate information assets in order to define the level of security needed, information security strategy, model and architecture to suit organizational security needs;
• Identify possible threats to assets, and possible countermeasures to reduce vulnerabilities and avert risks and their suitability for implementation;
• Practice best practices concerning information security behavior to help protect information assets;
• Utilize standard processes and procedures to analyze security requirements and design and document information security plans. 

This course evaluates the interconnectedness of digital preservation, digitization, copyright, and curation of digital collections. Digitized formats and media and born digital content are crucial to the success of cultural heritage digital collections. Digital preservation ensures this content is accessible and stable for many lifetimes. The goal of this course is to give students an advanced look into the world of cultural heritage digital preservation.  This course allows students to explore their own interests in typical cultural heritage formats and media held by museums, libraries, and archives.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Write a grant proposal focused on digital preservation and digitization of collections
• Assess copyright of cultural heritage materials for public digital access
• Compare and contrast controlled digital lending practices across an array of institutions
• Evaluate digitization best practices and advanced imaging techniques in cultural heritage institutions
• Use frameworks such as Open Archival Information System (OAIS) and National Digital Stewardship Alliance (NDSA) levels to assess digital preservation strategies
• Utilize time management techniques to understand the intertwined nature of digital preservation and project management
• Develop a personal digital collection while ensuring its long term accessibility and digital preservation status

This course provides an introduction to the current state of management theory, ethics, and practice focusing on leadership and the management of information organizations.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Examine, evaluate, and apply contemporary management concepts, theories, and functions.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the applications of managerial functions including planning, organizing, and leading.
• Explore existing information organizations and critically analyze the ways in which management activities and functions are carried out in those environments.
• Analyze and evaluate key organizational concepts and issues.
• Develop and apply problem-solving skills in a managerial situation.
• Contribute to collaborative projects and initiatives that are relevant in today's interactive and technologically mediated work environments.

Today's libraries are in the midst of transformative change requiring a workforce that is able to lead, manage, and interact with others outside of traditional structures long associated with organizational hierarchies. This course will provide students with the foundational values underlying the library profession, explore leadership topics, and focus on skills and attributes that are essential for the delivery of effective and dynamic library service.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Critically analyze and evaluate key leadership theories, models, and perspectives and apply them in a library context.
• Integrate library core values, competencies, transformative leadership approaches, and attributes of library leaders in diverse library settings.
• Formulate a library leadership philosophy and development plan to adopt in professional endeavors based on a self-assessment of one's leadership traits, competencies, styles, strengths, and areas for future growth.
• Adopt principles and models of transformational leadership in practical library contexts as a result of knowledge gained though inquiry, discovery, discussion, observation, and self-introspection throughout the course.
• Work effectively in interactions and communications with others such as in teams and other collaborative endeavors, planning and decision making, coaching/mentoring, dealing with challenges, and promoting diversity in the community in which they serve.

Methods of assessing performance and value, with emphasis on evaluating each system or service in its context. Specification of criteria, measures, measuring instruments, and methods of evaluation related to a variety of library services, and to information retrieval (IR) systems.

Students will investigate the range of evaluative methods used in library and information science to assess institutional, system and service performance. Value issues and external validity issues will be highlighted during this review. Emphasis throughout the course will be on the impact of systems and services to end-users.

Measurement issues will be explored as they relate to evaluation goals and objectives. Students will simulate the design of an evaluation program for targeted users and will analyze the results obtained using quantitative and qualitative research methods. Effective methods for graphing data results will be emphasized for this objective. Computer packages will be used to demonstrate data analysis and the creation of graphic displays. Computer laboratory sessions will be held as needed to supplement the course topics.

Alternative methods to evaluate services and systems will be explored with a concomitant analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of each approach. Specific references will be made to the appropriateness of different evaluative methodologies and criteria.