School of Library and Information Science
Indiana University (IUPUI)
PURPOSE
The purpose of L524 is to introduce students to the basic reference sources and services found in most libraries/information centers, and acquaint them with the history, philosophy, and function of the information services.
OBJECTIVES
By the end of the semester, students should be able to:
1. identify, compare, and evaluate information sources; identify the sources most likely to contain specific types of information, 2. discuss the reference process, including techniques of question negotiation and search strategy, 3. define the responsibilities of the reference librarian; identify reference and information services in different context, and 4. discuss current issues in information service.TEXTBOOK
Bopp, Richard E. and Linda C. Smith (Bopp). Reference and Information Services: an Introduction . Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited, Inc., 1995. (Required)
GENERAL STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES WRITTEN WORK Except for worksheets, all papers must be word processed. In addition to content and literary style, work will be graded upon neatness of presentation and bibliographic style. Do not use contractions (e.g., it's, don't, isn't) unless they are contained in direct quotations. Before handing in papers, please edit all work, checking for misspellings, incorrect punctuation and sentence structure. The final draft should have no corrections in pen or pencil. Unless otherwise instructed, all work should be double-spaced. Print should be on one side of the page. Each paragraph in the formal portion of your paper should be indented either five or seven spaces with no added spacing between paragraphs. All work is to be stapled in the upper left-hand corner and handed in without plastic covers. A cover sheet should state the title of the assignment, your name, course number, date and my name. A style manual of your choice should be used for correct citation, footnote and endnote construction. Please cite the style manual used on the last page of the assignment. ASSIGNMENTS In addition to four worksheets, there will be two short written assignments, and one final project in this course. There will also be two in-library practicums. Reference Worksheets Print Review You are to select and critically review a print reference source, such as an encyclopedia, index, dictionary, or abstracting publication. The review should be 3 or more pages in length. Observation Paper The purpose of this assignment is to provide you the opportunity to observe reference work in the actual process. Before you do the actual observation of a reference librarian, you should read Chapter 2 of your text, "The Reference Interview". This assignment is to be scheduled at your convenience in a library of your choice. Arrange to observe a reference librarian for a period of 2-4 hours or longer. Schedule the observation in advance so you may get approval of the librarian and/or his/her supervisor. Although it may seem easier to do this at a library where you might currently be working, your observations might not be as objective. I would suggest you choose a library where you might have the strongest interest: academic, public, school media center, or special library. During your observation, note the types of questions received and sources used, the reference interview, the library user's level of satisfaction, and your conclusions and observations concerning the reference process. REMEMBER YOU ARE THERE TO OBSERVE AND NOT TO ANSWER QUESTIONS POSED BY LIBRARY USERS. The observation paper should be 3 or more pages long. Grading of the report will include: length (within the guidelines, not under) and coverage of the above noted points. Final Project--Bibliographic Guide You are to prepare an annotated bibliographic guide designed to assist an interested user explore a body of literature. The immediate application of this guide would be to inform the library user of special materials within a particular collection. Your project will involve several steps. Part 1: You are to include: -- a complete description of your topic, (do not assume your user is familiar with the person or subject you select), -- description of the intended user of the guide and the library where the guide may be used, -and finally, discuss the steps you took in searching for the information, and any problems of subject access. Part 2: The annotated bibliography-annotations should reflect your assessment of the source. You are allowed to include no more than four sources that you personally did not get to physically examine. You may use reviews of these sources for the annotations. Be sure you credit the review by including a complete citation for each. In this part you may include books, articles, monographs, videos, films, tapes, diaries, Internet sites, etc. Please consult a style manual for the proper form of a citation. Annotations are to be single-spaced within the source entry, and double-spaced between entries. (See example below) Pierce, P., ed. The Oxford Literary Guide to Australia. Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1987. This resource provides descriptions of places in Australia that have been written about in books. Not only are the places described as they exist today, but descriptive passages from the books are also included. Each entry provides a reference to the location on the maps in the back of the book. An index of authors is also listed. Ransom, E. W., ed. The Australian National Dictionary ... Papers will vary in length because of the differences in the attention given to the topics as well as differences in the sources used. Your paper, though, should fall within a 10-15 page length, but it may be longer. Be thorough, but please be concise. The project will evaluated for resourcefulness in solving the problem of gathering information for your user, and style of presentation. (Examples of bibliographic guides are on reserve at the Circulation Desk) PRACTICUM INSTRUCTIONS An ability to make a careful analysis of questions or problems and to retrieve relevant information efficiently is a practical and useful goal, regardless of the position the librarian holds. Working conditions frequently and regularly demand that information be retrieved without delay, and the timed practicums represent these ordinary conditions. The practicum questions are typical kinds of questions asked in libraries; many are based on actual situations. Each student will be assigned to work on the practicum in the reference room for a designated time period. At the beginning of class, each student will draw an envelope containing five questions for the practicum. The questions vary in degree of difficulty and will require different types of sources for the information to be retrieved. You may bring your textbook, L524 syllabus, worksheets, notes, etc., to the practicum. Most students prefer to "plot" their strategy before beginning the search; you should develop a strategy that works most efficiently for you. Answer one question at a time, in any order preferred. When the answer is found, bring the question you are answering and the volume containing the answer to your instructor. Answers found on electronic sources must be printed out. Please do not write on the question card, and above all, do not mark the book(s). Treat your instructor as a library user, turning the book so that the answer can be read, pointing to the place where it can be found, and discussing any part of it as it relates to the question asked if this is appropriate. After completing the question, reshelve, immediately and accurately, the material pulled for your search. When you have finished answering all five questions, please return the questions and envelope to your instructor. All of the questions are answerable from the sources listed in the L524 syllabus and in Bopp and Smith. However, you are not limited to these sources. Use any available materials which solves the problem; use the opportunity to build on sources you already know, if their use seems relevant and improves your efficiency. If you search for a particular item and are unable to locate it on the shelf after checking once or twice, report the problem to your instructor, immediately. If you find that a question is causing difficulty, discuss your strategy with your instructor who will try to guide you along a more productive route. Often, a simple question may lead you toward an immediate solution. Please regard this strategy discussion as a part of the learning process. Do not be alarmed if you encounter difficulties; in fact, you should expect that you might not solve each question immediately. A calm, logical approach is the most important factor toward solving the problem. When you find that you are growing frustrated, that is the moment to discuss your strategy. The practicum should be an enjoyable challenge. CLASS PARTICIPATION Student contributions to discussions and informal reports about reference and reference sources are essential. Each member of the class brings an individual background and varying interests to the class sessions. Preparing for these discussions is essential. This involves reading the assigned chapters in Bopp and Smith and any selected journal articles before class. Class sessions may be led by your instructor, by guest speakers, or by members of the class and may involve use of films, recordings, demonstrations, etc., that are appropriate to the study of reference work in librarianship. As part of the class participation points (3), students will be required to present to the class a discussion of their bibliographic guide on the last class meeting of the semester. Your presentation should be about 5 minutes long. During that time you should: --give a brief overview of your topic --discuss your search strategy --talk about two sources you feel were essential for inclusion in your guide, ones that should be in most library collections GRADING Students will be graded on the following assignments: Assignment Points Reference Worksheets 4 @ 15 points each 60 Practicums 2 @ 10 points each 20 Print review 25 Observation Paper 30 Bibliographic Guide 60 Class Participation 5 *****Total points 200 The final accumulation of points will translate into the following letter grades: Points Grade 198-200 A (outstanding work) 192-197 A- (excellent work) 187-191 B+ (very good work) 180-186 B (good-meets all requirements) 177-179 B- (marginal) 174-176 C+ (Unsatisfactory) 171-173 C ( " " ) 168-170 C- (Unacceptable) 165-167 D ( " " ) SLIS GRADING POLICY (11/11/96): A 4.0 Outstanding achievement. Student demonstrates full command of the course materials and evinces a high level of originality and/or creativity that far surpasses course expectations. A- 3.7 Excellent achievement. Student performance demonstrates thorough knowledge of the course materials and exceeds course expectations by completing all requirements in a superior manner. B+ 3.3 Very good work. Student performance demonstrates above-average comprehension of the course materials and exceeds course expectations on all tasks as defined in the course syllabus. B 3.0 Good work. Student performance meets designated course expectations, demonstrates understanding of the course materials and performs at an acceptable level. B- 2.7 Marginal work. Student performance demonstrates incomplete understanding of course materials. C+ 2.3 Unsatisfactory work. Student performance demonstrates incomplete and inadequate understanding of course materials. C 2.0 Unsatisfactory work. C- 1.7 Unacceptable work. Course work performed at this level will not count toward the MLS or MIS degree. For the course to count toward the degree, the student must repeat the course with a passing grade. D+ 1.3 Unacceptable work. D 1.0 " " D- 0.7 " " F 0.0 Failing. Student may continue in program only with permission of the Dean. SELECTED REFERENCE SOURCES READY REFERENCE SOURCES General Almanacs and Yearbooks Canadian Almanac and Directory. AY414 .C2 1999 Information Please Almanac. AY64 .I55 1998 (Ref desk) Whitaker's Almanack. AY754 .W5 1999 World Almanac and Book of Facts. AY67 .N5 W7 1999 Government International Europa World Year Book. JN1 .E85 Statesman's Year-Book. JA51 .S7 Handbooks and Manuals American Book of Days. GT4803 .D6 1978 Chase's Calendar of Events. GT4803 .C48 Emily Post's Etiquette. BJ 1853 .P6 1965 Familiar Quotations. (Bartlett) PN6081 .B27 1992 (Ref desk) Famous First Facts. AG5 .K315 1981 Guinness Book of World Records. AG243 .G87 1997 Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. QD65 .H3 1998-1999 (Ref desk) The Home Book of Quotations, Classical and Modern. PN6081 .S73 Masterplots II (American Fiction Series). PN846 .M37 1986 The New York Public Library Desk Reference. AG6 .N49 1993 Oxford Dictionary of Quotations. PN6081 .O9 Advice and Information Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. RC55 .M4 Physicians' Desk Reference to Pharmaceutical Specialities and Biologicals (PDR). RS75 .P5 (Ref desk) Directories The American Library Directory. Z731 .A53 (1998/99) Encyclopedia of Associations. AS22 .E5 (Ref desk) The Foundation Directory. AS911 .A2 F65 (1998) The HEP ... Higher Education Directory. L901 .H46 (Ref desk) BIOGRAPHICAL SOURCES American Men and Women of Science. 8v. Q141 .A472 American National Biography. 24v. Ct213 .A68 1999 Biography Index. Z5301 .B6 Contemporary Authors. Z1224 .C64; Z1223 .C63; Z1224 .C6 Current Biography. CT100 .C8 Dictionary of American Biography. (DAB) 20v. E176 .D56 Dictionary of National Biography. (DNB) 22v. DA28 .D47 Dictionary of Scientific Biography. 18v. Q141 .D5 The International Who's Who. CT120 .I5 (1966-98) Notable American Women 1607-1950: a Biographical Dictionary. CT3260 .N57 Something about the Author. PN451 .S6 Webster's New Biographical Dictionary. CT103 .W4 1988 Who Was Who in America. E176 .W64 (1975-90) Who's Who Among Black Americans. E185.96 .W53 Who's Who in America. (East, Midwest, South and Southwest, and West) E176 .W642 Who's Who. DA28 .W6 World Authors, 1980-1985. PN451 .W672 (also PN456 .W3 and PN451 .W674) ENCYCLOPEDIAS General Encyclopedias Academic American Encyclopedia. 21v. AE5 .A23 (1998) Collier's Encyclopedia. 24v. AE5 .C683 1995 Canadian Encyclopedia. 4v. AG5 .C27 1988 Encyclopedia Americana. 30v. AE5 .E333 1996 New Encyclopaedia Britannica. 32v. AE5 .E363 1993 World Book Encyclopedia. 22v. AE5 .W55 (1997-v. 3 missing) One-Volume Encyclopedias The Concise Columbia Encyclopedia. AG5 .C737 (also CD-ROM) The Random House Encyclopedia. AG5 .R25 1990 The Cambridge Encyclopedia. AG5 .C26 1990 Foreign Published Multi-Volume Encyclopedias Brockhaus Enzyklopadie. AE27 .G672 Encyclopedia Universalis. AE25 .E3 Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan. DS805 .K633 1983 The Great Soviet Encyclopedia. AE55 .B623 Subject Encyclopedias Benet's Readers' Encyclopedia. PN41 .B4 1996 The New Palgrave: a Dictionary of Economics. 4v. HB61 .N49 1987 Dictionary of the Middle Ages. 15v. D114 .D5 1982 Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science. Z1006 .E57 The Encyclopedia of Religion. 16v. BL31 .E46 1987 Encyclopedia of Social Work. HV35 .S6 (Ref desk) Encyclopedia of World Art. 15v. N31 .E533 McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. 20v. Q121 .M3 1997 The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. 20v. ML100 .G885 Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia. Q121 .V3 1995 DICTIONARIES Unabridged Dictionaries Webster's Third New International Dictionary of the English Lanuage. PE1625 .W36 The Random House Dictionary of the English Language. PE1625 .R3 1987 Desk Dictionary Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary. PE1628 .W4M4 (Ref desk) Historical Dictionaries Dictionary of American English on Historical Principles. 4v. (Craigie) PE2835 .C7 The Oxford English Dictionary. 20v. PE1625 .O87 1989 Specialized Dictionaries Acronyms, Initialisms, and Abbreviations Dictionary. (3 parts & suppl.) PE1693 .A3 Dictionary of American Regional English. PE2843 .D52 1985 Dictionary of American Slang. PE3729 .U5W4 New Dictionary of American Slang. PE2846 .C46 (1986) Dictionary of Modern English Usage. (Fowler) PE1628 .F65 1996 (1996 & 1965) Juba to Jive: a Dictionary of African-American Slang. PE3727 .N4M34 1994 Roget's International Thesaurus. PE1591 .R73 Webster's Collegiate Thesaurus. PE1591 .W38 BIBLIOGRAPHIES, NATIONAL LIBRARY CATALOGS AND TRADE BIBLIOGRAPHIES Bibliographic Guides Guide to Reference Books. (Balay) Z1035.1 .G89 (Ref desk) Guide to Reference Books. (Sheehy) Z1035.1 .G89 1986 (On reserve) Walford's Guide to Reference Material. 3v. Z1035 .W252 1993 National Library Catalogs (stacks) The National Union Catalog: Pre-1956 Imprints. Z881 .U49A1 (Circ stacks) United States Trade Bibliographies-Annual and Biannual *Books in Print. Z1215 .P972 (Index tables) Publishers, Distributors and Wholesalers of the United States. Z475 .P75 Weekly, Monthly and Annual Bibliographies American Reference Books Annual. Z1035.1 .A55 Bibliographic Index: a Cumulative Bibliography of Bibliographies. Z1002 .B595 Cumulative Book Index. Z1219 .M78 Forthcoming Books. Z1215 .P974 Reader's Advisory Aid Children's Catalog. Z1037 .C5443 (1996) Fiction Catalog, 13th ed. PN3353 .W74 Public Library Catalog. Z1035 .W77 (1983) The Reader's Advisor. Z1035 .B7 (1994) Bibliographies-Periodicals and Newspapers Gale Directory of Publications and Broadcast Media. 4v. Z6951 .A97 (1999) Ulrich's International Periodical Directory. 5v. Z6941 .U52 The Serials Directory. Z6941 .S464 Magazines for Libraries, Z6941 .K2 1995 INDEXES & ABSTRACTS General Periodical Indexes Poole's Index to Periodical Literature. (1802-1906) AI3 .P7 Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature. 1900- . AI3 .R48 Indexes to Material in Collections Essay and General Literature Index. AI3 .E752 Short Story Index. PN3373 .S3875 The Columbia Granger's Index to Poetry. PN1022 .G7 Play Index. Z5781 .P53 Subject Indexes and Abstracts **ABI/INFORM (Abstracted Business Information). *America: History and Life. E171 .A43 *Applied Science and Technology Index. T1 .I52 *Art Index. N1 .A78 *Arts and Humanities Citation Index. AI3 .A77 (also Scholars Workstation) **Biological and Agricultural Index **Biological Abstracts *British Humanities Index. AI3 .B7 *Business Periodicals Index. HF5001 .B75 **Dissertation Abstracts Ondisc. Dissertation Abstracts International. Z5055 .U5A53 (through 1992-Circ. stacks) **ERIC (U.S. Educational Resources Information Center) *Humanities Index. AI3 .R52 Index to Black Periodicals. E185.5 I52 Library Literature. Z666 .K218 *PAIS International. (Public Affairs Information Service) Z7163 .P9 *Psychological Abstracts. BF1 .P65 **Science Citation Index. *Social Sciences Citation Index. Z7161 .S65 Social Sciences Index. AI3 .R5 *Sociological Abstracts. HM1 .S67 Social Work Abstracts. HV1 .S6455 Newspaper Indexes *New York Times Index. AI21 .N44 (Guide-AI21 .N442) *Print and Electronic **Electronic only GEOGRAPHICAL SOURCES The New International Atlas. G1021 .R23 Times Atlas of the World: Comprehensive Edition. G1021 .T55 (Atlas case) Citation World Atlas. G1021 .H267 Goode's World Atlas (& Guide). G1019 .G67 1995 Historical Atlas of the United States. REF G1201 .S1N3 1988 The Times Atlas of World History. G1030 .T54 Rand McNally Commercial Atlas and Marketing Guide. HF1023 .R18 (Atlas case) Merriam Webster's New Geographical Dictionary. G103.5 .W42 1997 Columbia Lippincott Gazetteer of the World. G103 .L7 1962 GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS United States Government Manual. AE2.108/2: (Ref desk) Official Congressional Directory. Y4.P93/1:1 (Ref desk) Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications. GP3.8 CIS/Index to Publications of the United States Congress. KF49 .C62 CQ Weekly Report. JK1.C15 (Circ stacks) Digest of Education Statistics. ED1.326: (Ref desk) Index to U.S. Government Periodicals. Z1223 .Z9I5 Statistical Abstract of the United States. C3.134: (Ref desk) Historical Statistics of the United States: from Colonial times to 1960. HA202.A356 Crime in the United States/Uniform Crime Reports. J1.14/7 County and City Data Book. C3.134/2:C83/2/ (Ref desk) State and Metropolitan Area Data Book. C3.134/5: (Ref desk) Occupational Outlook Handbook. L2.3/4: (Ref desk) U.S. Industry & Trade Outlook (cont. as U.S. Industry Outlook). C61.48: (Ref desk) World Factbook. PREX 3./5: (Ref desk)