IRLS 504 FOUNDATIONS OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICES
Summer II 2006
Reading Period July 10 – July 22, 2006


READING ASSIGNMENTS


The required textbook for this course is Richard Rubin, Foundations of Library and Information Science, 2nd edition, Neal-Schuman, 2004. This book provides important background information and an introduction to key concepts and terminology for IRLS 504. Also required is Joan M. Reitz, ODLIS — Online Dictionary for Library and Information Science, http://lu.com/odlis/ .

Note that there is quite a bit of reading and more importantly independent learning expected of you during the reading period July 10 through July 22. Your first challenge as a graduate student at SIRLS will be to pace yourself during the reading period so that you will have completed the entire Rubin book by the first day of our face-to-face sessions beginning July 23.

Reading with a purpose

Your reading should have three purposes:

1) general comprehension and retention of main points.

Reading a textbook for comprehension and retention requires special techniques. Helpful advice is at:

Diablo Valley College English Tutoring Lab
http://www.dvc.edu/english/learning_resources/reading.htm#How%20to%20read%20Textbooks

Dartmouth College Academic Skills Center
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~acskills/success/reading.html 

2) Thinking about specific questions

Here are some questions to guide your thinking as you read Rubin.

Chapters 1-3

What is the "information infrastructure" and what are some of its components?

What are the main areas of Information Science that relate to library practices and services?

How have Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) affected libraries?


Chapters 4-6
  

What is meant by the phrase "the politico-economic character of information" and why are policies regarding issues such as privacy, security, and intellectual property necessary?

To what extent do library policies promote and, conversely, impede access to information, texts, and audiovisual and multimedia material?

In what ways do the various methods of information organization support and enhance access?


Chapters 7-8

What features of libraries have persisted over time?

In what key ways do specific professional associations' codes of ethics differ from one another?


Chapters 9-10

What are some of the most challenging issues confronting libraries today?

To what extent can librarianship be considered a profession?

How do you think librarianship is in the 21st Century and why?

3)  First Steps in Choosing a Topic for your Issues Paper

In addition to reading the Rubin text for comprehension, retention and response to the questions above, you will also read to identify 3 to 4 potential topics for the issues paper assignment due at the end of the course on August 4. The issues paper assignment is to write a paper of 1,200-1,500 words on an important issue facing the library and information professions. During the reading period, you will identify 2 to 4 issues; take notes from the reading that relate to those issues; formulate questions about each issue; and  read through Rubin's references at the ends of the chapters and his "Selected Readings" at the end of the book to find sources that you can use to learn more about each issue and perhaps to form the basis for the list of references you will cite in your own paper. By the end of your reading, you may wish to narrow down on one issue as a first choice for your paper. Write a short paragraph summarizing your thoughts on what issue you would like to pursue further in your paper.

Bring a paper copy of the work you have done on identifying your 3-4 issues to the first class session. These will be collected and returned to you on Monday. These will not be graded and are not expected to be finished pieces; they should, however, reflect thoughtful comments about your issues. You'll also want an electronic version to continue working on during the residency period, so email a Word file to yourself or bring it on a disk, CD, or memory stick.