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Last revised 05/09/06

Course Syllabus for IRLS 515 001 - Organization of Information


Summer 2006
Instructor: Cheryl Knott Malone


COURSE NAME, NUMBER, AND PREREQUISITES

IRLS 515 - Organization of Information

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COURSE DESCRIPTION

Introduction to the theories and practices used in the organization of information. Overview of national and international standards and practices for access to information in collections. History, theory and practices of information organization, primarily in traditional and digital libraries. Surveys the information and knowledge organization techniques that exist or are emerging and focuses on standards and tools that are used in large text-based information environments. It is highly recommended that you complete your evaluation and information technology electives before enrolling in IRLS 515.

COURSE HISTORY

Read Coleman, A. 2002. Interdisciplinarity: The Road Ahead for Education in Digital Libraries. D-Lib Magazine, 8 (7/8), July/August. Available online. URL: https://www.email.arizona.edu/horde/services/go.php?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.email.arizona.edu%2Fhorde%2Fservices%2Fgo.php%3Furl%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.dlib.org%252Fdlib%252Fjuly02%252Fcoleman%252F07coleman.html This article will help you understand the sequence of courses that you can take in the area of Knowledge Organization. Note that the old course name was Knowledge Structures I.

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COURSE OBJECTIVES

The main goal of the course is to help students become familiar with the concepts and practices of bibliographic and non-bibliographic information organization. By the end of the course, the student will be able to:

  • Define the knowledge structures (a.k.a. information handling tools) used in various information environments for organizing information and knowledge
  • Describe the main theories in library and archival cataloging (including recent trends in metadata), categorization, classification, and subject analysis
  • List the uses, advantages, and disdvantages of a sample range of knowledge structures (information handling tools)
  • Demonstrate basic skills in subject analysis
  • Demonstrate basic skills in metadata creation
  • Demonstrate basic knowledge of at least two metadata standards
  • Articulate the similarities and differences between a thesaurus, ontology, authority file, subject heading list, and library classification scheme
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REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS

  • Taylor, Arlene. 2004. The Organization of Information. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited.
  • Coleman, Anita. 2004. Guide to Selecting and Cataloging Quality WWW Resources for the Small Library. Fairfield, CA: LRACCC.
    NOTE: Please buy both texts from the UA Bookstore

REQUIRED RESOURCE:

Knowledge Structures Toolbox, https://www.email.arizona.edu/horde/services/go.php?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.email.arizona.edu%2Fhorde%2Fservices%2Fgo.php%3Furl%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fradio.weblogs.com%252F0109575%252Fstories%252F2004%252F09%252F07%252F2004KnowledgeStructuresToolbox.html

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COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Students are required to do the assigned reading; login and read and respond to topical discussions; and complete all assignments by the deadlines given. A final grade will not be given if all assignments have not been completed.

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COURSE POLICIES

Academic Code of Integrity

Students are expected to abide by The University of Arizona Code of Academic Integrity (one theme of which is that The guiding principle of academic integrity is that a student's submitted work must be the student's own.). If you have any questions regarding what is acceptable practice under this Code, please ask an Instructor.

Accommodating 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.

Incompletes

I do not grant incompletes for summer courses.

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.

METHODS OF INSTRUCTION

Online lecture notes, discussions, guest lecturers, assigned and supplemental reading, small-group work, quizzes, assignments. Expect a minimum of 135 hours of work required for a three-credit class. The course is taught via a d2l site, which should be available by the first day of the Summer I session. The course runs through both summer sessions.

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GRADING

Grade Breakdown (in points):

  1. Assignment 1: Resource Selection & Description: 30
  2. Assignment 2: Metadata Quality Paper: 25
  3. Assignment 3: Final Paper: 25
  4. Participation: 20

Total: 100

Assignment of Course Grades:

Course grades will be assigned as follows:
A=90+ (Superior Work)
B=80-89 (Very Good)
C=70-79 (Marginally Satisfactory)
F=0-69 (Failed to meet requirements)

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CONTACTING ME

Contact: Office - SIRLS 12, Phone 621-3957, Email – ckmalone@u.arizona.edu
Instructor Office Hours: By appointment

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