IRLS 504

Foundations of Library and Information Science will introduce students to librarianship as an information profession, the language and literature of library and information science, social and historical backgrounds, types of libraries, the role of the library in American life, and current issues affecting library and information science. By the end of the course students will:

? Gain an appreciation for the role of librarians, archivists, and other information professionals and the place of libraries, archives, and information centers as cultural institutions serving communities and society in general

? Understand the responsibilities of librarians, archivists, and other information professionals, particularly through involvement in professional associations, and

? Gain exposure to issues and trends affecting the development of library and information studies

Readings: Required: Richard Rubin, Foundations of Library and Information Science, 2nd Edition (Neal-Schuman, 2004 ? this edition only!).? Recommended: Matthew Battles, The Library: an Unquiet History (Norton, 2004), Louise Robbins, Dismissal of Miss Ruth Brown (University of Oklahoma Press, 2001)

Course Requirements:

While I will give lectures throughout the semester, this course depends upon your participation. There will be an emphasis on discussion frequently held in small groups. You will need to keep abreast of assigned readings and contribute supplemental information from relevant sources where appropriate. Accordingly, we need to follow the house rules of mutual respect for one another?s ideas.? Note that graduate-level requirements include a greater number of assignments and a higher level of performance. ??You must use APA Style (see Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association). If you wish to use another style (MLA, or Chicago), please let me know ahead of time.

Book Review ? One review (approximately 3 pages) ?of a work of fiction or creative nonfiction involving libraries, books and manuscripts, newspapers, or computer/information technologies [see attached list of suggested titles]

Bibliographic Essay?A 5-7 page bibliographic essay on a narrowly defined topic of interest in library and information science.? Your essay should combine (and clearly distinguish between) scholarly and professional LIS literatures and should include 15-20 citations.

Case Study ? a choice of one of two projects: (1) Profile of a library, archive, or information center, discussing the characteristics, environment, and cultures (mission, values, etc.) of the site; include information on the context for your chosen location.? (2) A case study of an information activity: for example, a publisher of library/information resources, or an analysis of library-produced Weblogs.

Small Group Discussions ? Periodically I will divide you into small groups to investigate a specific topic or problem. In each instance, you will present your results to the class as a team.

Final Exam ? An in-class examination of information covered over the course of the semester.

For Master?s students: SIRLS Portfolio ? Master?s students will need to assemble a portfolio of work completed in Foundations along with a statement of career goals and a resume or CV.

Grading Points:
Class Participation, including Team
Project(s), and (for graduate students)
Portfolio: 15 %
Book Review: 10 %
Bibliographic Essay: 20%

Case Study: 20%

Final Paper: 35 %

All assignments are due on dates given above. Grades will be reduced 10% for assignments received after the close of class.

More Policy Notes: It is expected that we will all abide by the University of Arizona?s Code of Academic Integrity, which begins with the following statement:

?Integrity is expected of every student in all academic work. The guiding principle of academic integrity is that a student's submitted work must be the student's own.?

The Code also details procedures for handling academic misconduct as agreed upon by the University.

I would like to hear from anyone who has a disability that may require some modification of seating, testing, or other class requirements so that appropriate arrangements may be made. Please contact me during my office hours.

Information contained in the course information sheet, other than the grade and absence policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.

IRLS 404/504 Foundations of Library and Information Science

Course Schedule
(subject to change)

I. Library and Information Studies in Context ? August 26 ? September 16
Libraries in ?American? culture, Libraries in a global context; Information and Communication; Redefining the Library: Implications of Technological Change
Rubin, chapters 1-3, Appendix A

II. Information Policy ? September 23 - 30
Information Policy as Library Policy: Censorship and Intellectual Freedom
Rubin, chapters 4-5; Suggested Reading: Robbins, entire book
Book reviews due September 30

III. Information Organization, Development, and Evaluation ? October 7 - 21
Rubin, chapter 6
Bibliographic essay due October 28

IV. Mission and Values of Libraries, Archives, and Information Centers ? October 28 ? November 4
Professional Practices in Library and Information Studies; The Library as Institution; Library, Information, and Archival Studies: Evolving Professions
Education for Library and Information Studies
Rubin, chapters 7-8, Appendix B, C; Suggested Reading: Battles, entire book

V. Libraries, Archives, Information Centers and Community ? November 11-18
Rubin, chapters 9-10
Case study due December 2; Portfolio due for all Master?s students December 9

VI. Final Exam ? December 2 (FINAL CLASS)

Book Review:

Suggested Titles about Books, Libraries, Archives, Manuscripts, Documentation, and other matters

Ross King Ex-Libris
Umberto Eco The Name of the Rose
Ian Pears The Dream of Scipio
Lev Grossman Codex
Ian Caldwell and Dustin Tomason The Rule of Four
Jasper Fforde The Well of Lost Plots
Arturo Perez-Reverte Club Dumas
Walter Mosley Fearless Jones
Walter Mosley Fear Itself
Michael Cart In the Stacks: Short Stories about Librarians
Josephine Carr The Dewey Decimal System of Love
Elizabeth Berg The Art of Mending
Michael Griffith Bibliophilia: a Novella and Stories
Mel Odom The Destruction of the Books
Linda S. Bingham What the Librarian Heard
Eric Graeber Magic and Madness in the Library: Protagonists among the Shelves
Audrey Niffenegger The Time Traveler?s Wife
Amanda Eyre Ward Sleep Toward Heaven
Charlaine Harris Last Seen Alive: an Aurora Teagarden Mystery
Allen Kurzweil The Grand Complication
Marshall Browne Inspector Anders and the Ship of Fools
Keith Miller The Book of Flying
Joe Coomer The Loop
Linda Howard Open Season
Larry Beinhart The Librarian
William Gibson Pattern Recognition
Martha Cooley The Archivist
Sally S. Reed Pursuit and Persuasion
Hugh Leonard A Wild People
Judith Van Gieson The Stolen Blue
Simon Winchester The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of The Oxford English Dictionary
Annie Tremmel Wilcox A Degree of Mastery
John Baxter A Pound of Paper
Nicholas Basbanes Patience and Fortitude: Wherein a Colorful Cast of Determined Book Collectors, Dealers, and Librarians Go About the Quixotic Task of Preserving a Legacy