Course Syllabus for Young Adults & Public Libraries
- Course Name, Number, and Prerequisites
- Course Description
- Course Objectives
- Required Course Materials
- Course Requirements
- Course Policies
- Grading
- Contacting the Instructor
Fall 2006, Instructor: Diane P. Tuccillo
Young Adults& Public Libraries
COURSE NAME, NUMBER, AND PREREQUISITES
IRLS 582, Sec 791
No prerequisites
[return to top of page]
COURSE DESCRIPTION"To develop knowledge of, to learn ways to build, maintain and utilize, and to promote effective young adult collections, programs and services in public libraries."
COURSE CONTENT
This course is designed for prospective young adult or youth services librarians, or others working with or addressing the needs of teenagers in public libraries, to become acquainted with the wide spectrum of books and authors for young adult readers ages 12 to 18, for collection development, promotional, and reader advisory purposes. It is also designed to develop a knowledge of the programs, technology, and services appropriate for and important to teen library users. To lend perspective, historical and other background elements will be included.
The overall aim is for students to acquire knowledge and skills for successful library work with teens, to ideally produce lifelong readers and library users/supporters. There will be extensive reading and responsive writing required for this course, as well as related assignments and a final course project. Some assignments will require visits to libraries serving teens, and to library teen web sites. Additionally, there will be a booktalk demonstration assignment which will be given before an actual teen group, and documented to the instructor by a responsible teacher, librarian, or other group leader.
COURSE OUTLINE:
Week 1
- Introduction to course.
- Philosophy of YA Services.
- Physical, social and psychological aspects of adolescents.
- Young adults and their reading.
Week 2
- History of Young Adult literature and libraries.
- Outstanding authors in YA literature.
- Other important figures in YA services.
- Personal reading histories and why they are useful.
Week 3
- Young adults, pop culture, and the mass media.
- Teen spaces and customer service in libraries.
- Magazines for teenagers.
Week 4
- Evaluating, promoting and using YA books.
- Developing YA collections.
- How to write an effective book review.
- Book discussion groups for teens.
Week 5
- Awards for YA books.
- Professional associations and other connections: why they are important.
- Professional journals and book review sources.
Week 6
- What are graphic novels?
- Graphic novels, comics, and teenagers.
- Developing graphic novel and comic book collections.
Week 7
- Programming for teens.
- Teen library participation.
Week 8
- Adventures, sports, mysteries, the supernatural and humor in YA collections.
- What is booktalking, and how do you do it?
Week 9
- Fantasy and science fiction in YA collections.
- Realism and romance in YA collections.
- Verse novels and other alternative writing formats.
Week 10
- Historical fiction and nonfiction in YA collections.
- Other nonfiction, including informational books, for teens.
- Poetry and drama in YA collections.
- What is a poetry slam, and how do you do one?
Week 11
- Literature in the secondary English class--what and why librarians need to know.
- School/public library cooperation.
- Classics for teenagers.
- Short stories for teenagers.
- Adult books for young adults.
Week 12
- Reference and research for teenagers.
- Outreach for teenagers.
- Information & referral for teenagers.
Week 13
- How to write an effective annotation.
- Suggested reading lists and bibliographies for teens.
Week 14
- Censorship and young adult literature.
- Material selection policies and forms for reconsideration of materials.
- Other issues and trends in Young Adult literature and librarianship.
Week 15
- Nonprint media, including the Internet.
- Library web sites for teenagers.
Week 16
- Final project and assignments due and posted.
- Final thoughts and observations.
COURSE PROCEDURES
There will be weekly required readings, from the textbooks, posted articles, and supplemental reading, in addition to reading the books on the individual reading lists. Each student will keep a cumulative weekly reponse journal reflecting reactions to what has been read and how the material might apply to a library setting in work with teens. Journal entries will be posted by each student for the instructor each week by the due date, with instructor comments made and returned to each student during the following week.
Instructions for most assignments will be given at the beginning of the weekly time periods before their due dates. Students are welcome to preview assignments, and work on them in advance if they feel capable and so wish, as long as they are completed by the final due date. Since each student's assignments will be unique and original work, many will be posted for fellow students to review, with the idea that everyone in the course can learn from one another.
When students post assignments, questions and comments, everyone is welcome to respond to one another and to me in a helpful, supportive, respectful, and inquisitive manner. There will be discussions and responses scheduled as part of the course, and additional discussions arranged as concerns, issues, or piece of informations need to be more thoroughly addressed.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
- To identify and develop a basic knowledge of the elements and genres of literature for young adults.
- To develop an awareness of the physical, social, and psychological aspects of adolescence as they relate to library work with teenagers.
- To understand the history of young adult literature and how historical works complement and connect to contemporary writing.
- To appreciate the importance of notable professionals in the field of YA literature and young adult librarianship.
- To identify and evaluate the contributions of various young adult authors.
- To identify periodicals appropriate for young adults and describe contents and potential usage.
- To become familiar with non-book media and technology, including the Internet, in library work with teenagers.
- To recognize and demonstrate methods of promoting and utilizing young adult literature, programs and services in libraries and cooperative settings, especially schools.
- To demonstrate an understanding of and to analyze a variety of issues surrounding young adult literature and library services.
- To differentiate and use varieties of professional resources for study, evaluation, selection, appreciation, promotion and enjoyment of young adult literature.
[return to top of page]
REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALSJones, Patrick, Michelle Gorman, and Tricia Suellentrop. Connecting Young Adults and Libraries: A How-to-Do-It Manual for Librarians. 3rd Ed. Neal-Schuman, 2004. (This edition only--it contains the most comprehensive and current information, and reading assignments will be based on it specifically. This is a text you will want to keep if you are planning to work with teens in libraries in the future.)
Nilsen, Alleen Pace and Ken Donelson. Literature for Today’s Young Adults. 7th Ed. Allyn & Bacon, 2004. (This edition only--it contains the most current and relevant information, and reading assignments will be based on it specifically. This is a text you will want to keep if you will be working with teens in libraries, developing YA collections, and promoting teen literature in the future.)
Lowry, Lois. The Giver. Houghton Mifflin, 1993.(Paperback edition, Laurel Leaf, 2002. You may use any edition you wish, however.)
SUPPLEMENTAL TEXTS AND READINGS:
An extensive bibliography of support materials will be provided. Also, required supplemental reading materials will be posted or linked on the course web site, and/or be available via the university library.
COURSE REQUIREMENTSGrades will be based on the following required work:
- Personal Reading Autobiography Assignment: 3 points
- Interview with a Young Adult Assignment: 5 points
- Cumulative Written Response Log of Assigned Textbook Chapters and Supplemental Readings: 10 points
- Evaluation of Young Adult Magazines: 5 points
- Young Adult Author/Notable Figure Project: 5 points
- Library Teen Space Visited Assignment: 5 points
- Analysis of a Successful Teen Program: 5 points
- Evaluation of Professional Journals: 5 points
- Personal YA Reading List and Book Reviews of Selected Titles: 10 points
- Nonfiction Book Comparison: 5 points
- Booktalk Presentation and Written Booktalks of Selected Titles from Personal YA Reading List: 10 points
- Annotation Exercise: 2 points
- Annotated Bibliography (Ten Titles): 5 points
- Analysis of Censorship Issues Relating to The Giver: 5 points
- Letter-to-the-Editor on a YA Issue: 5 points
- Evaluation of Library Teen Web Site: 5 points
- Final Project: 10 points
TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE: 100
[return to top of page]
COURSE POLICIESAcademic Integrity
The academic community of the University of Arizona and of the School of Information Resources and Library Science requires the highest standards of professional ethics and personal integrity from all members of the community. Violations of these standards are violations of a mutual obligation characterized by trust, honesty, and personal honor. As a community, we commit ourselves to standards of academic conduct, impose sanctions against those who violate these standards, and keep appropriate records of violations. The academic integrity statement can be found at: http://studpubs.web.arizona.edu/policies/cacaint.htm
Accomodating Disabilities
The University has a Disability Resource Center . If you anticipate the need for reasonable accommodations to meet the requirements of this course, you must register with the Disability Resource Center and request that the DRC send me, the Instructor, official notification of your accommodation needs as soon as possible. Please plan to meet with me by appointment or during office hours to discuss accommodations and how my course requirements and activities may impact your ability to fully participate.
Assignment Policies
- Assignments must be clearly and correctly written (including spelling) at a level presumed of graduate students. The expectation is that assignments will be completed on time, and submitted via email or posted to D2L (depending on assignment instructions) no later than midnight of the assigned due date.
- All assignments must include the student's full name, course title, and email address at the top.
- Students need to keep up with weekly course assignments and complete the course as scheduled. Since this course requires a large amount of reading, plan carefully for assignments and read regularly.
- Points will be subtracted for late, missing, incomplete or poorly prepared assignments.
- In unanticipated emergency situations, the instructor will consider exceptions on an individual case basis.
- All student work will be original, with information borrowed from others quoted or paraphrased carefully, and with proper documentation using MLA style.
Computer Literacy Skills
- Graduate students are expected to meet the minimum and recommended information technology literacy skills required of students in the School of Information Resources & Library Science.
- To access your course on D2L you must have a UA NetID and be officially enrolled in the course for at least 24 hours. Your browser and its settings must be compatible with D2L.
Incompletes
The 1997-8 University of Arizona General Academic Manual, p.23 reads
The grade of I may be awarded only at the end of a semester, when all but a minor portion of the course work has been satisfactorily completed. The grade of I is not to be awarded when the student is expected to repeat the course; in such a case the grade of E must be assigned. Students should make arrangements with the instructor to receive an incompete grade before the end of the semester ...
If the incomplete is not removed by the instructor within one year the I grade will revert to a failing grade.
[return to top of page]
GRADINGGrading Scale:
Out of a possible 100 points: 90-100 Points = A 80-89 Points = B 70-79 Points = C 60-69 Points = D Below 60 Points = Failure
[return to top of page]
CONTACTING ME
Telephone: 480-236-5160