The life cycle of information for children and youth is quite distinct from that of adults. Serving their information needs and requests requires a different understanding of what is information to them and how they will acquire & use it. The use of critical thinking and information literacy by children and youth will define them as viable citizens and life long learners in society's future.

This course will focus on the information concerns, needs and interests of children and youth, both from an academic and personal basis. It will interpret major concepts of information as they relate to children and youth, including the creation, development, selection and evaluation of information for and by children and youth. Information behavior of children and youth will be discussed and strategies for successfully working with them developed.

Additionally, collections of information and information resources as well as issues related to information technology that serve the interests of children and youth will be discussed and criteria developed. Delivery systems for children and youth or uses of adult information systems by children and youth, and services that facilitate access for children and youth will be emphasized.

By the end of this course students will:

• demonstrate an understanding of developmental information needs of children and youth;
• be able to determine appropriateness and implementation of various information technologies and services that best fit children and youth information needs;
• understand the influence of technology on information services as it relates to children and youth;
• be able to determine what types of resources are better for various developmental levels of children and youth;
• ascertain the roles of the public library and the school library in servicing the information needs of children and youth;
• collaborate with each other to create supportive information environments that facilitate positive information uses by children and youth; and,
• understand information policies and procedures that aid or hinder information services to children and youth.

The course will require four on-site meetings at the Phoenix Public Library Burton Barr facility. These will be on the following nights, from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm.

Tuesday, January 15
Tuesday, February 12
Tuesday, April 9
Tuesday, May 9

The remainder of the course will be taught virtually through WebCT. On-site meetings will have panels, discussion, group collaborations and presentations, and some lectures. All exams will be done electronically. Directions for using WebCT can be provided.

The course counts as a 3 unit graduate credit. It will NOT count for residency. To complete this course you will need to make ALL of the on-site meetings and visit the course web-site at least twice per week. The final on-site class will be the final class, but the final exam will be done electronically within the next week.

All students are expected to participate fully in the on-site and virtual activities and discussions, and to complete all course assignments and readings on time. Students will be asked to find additional readings, visit several different libraries that serve children and youth and use these for additional discussions and activities.

Each student will be evaluated on the basis of the exams (midterm and final) and on the assignments. The assignments are to give each student exposure to different kinds of learning environments that relate to children and youth, and to give students practice in collaboration and observation. All assignments are required to be turned in at the on-site sessions or electronically posted by midnight of the date they are due. Late assignments will be immediately graded down one grade.

Students are expected to abide by the University of Arizona Code of Academic Integrity. "The guiding principle of academic integrity is that a student’s submitted work must be the student’s own." (paragraph 1) If you have any questions regarding what is acceptable practice under this Code, please ask your professor.