"This course is designed to familiarize students with the theory, practice, and issues of reference services in libraries and information centers. Upon completion of the course, students should be able to describe the principal features of reference services in a variety of environments. Specific topics covered include information provision theory; information seeking and retrieval; the history and philosophy of reference services; types of reference services, provided in physical and digital format; reference service in different library environments; the reference interview; the fundamentals of bibliographic control; online searching; the evaluation of reference sources and services; the management of reference services; and other topics." Three credit hours.
Learning will be through lecture, group presentations, guest speakers, tours, evaluation of reference sources, use of reference sources to answer specific reference questions, and completion of a final project guiding library users to appropriate reference sources in a topic.
Cassell, Kay Ann and Uma Hiremath. (2006). Reference and Information Services in the 21st Century: An Introduction. New York: Neal Schuman. ISBN: 1-55570-563-4.
All students are required to:
1. Complete two reference worksheets. A handout describing this assignment will be provided.
Due: October 13 and November 3
Value: 30%
2. Complete one source evaluation. A handout describing this assignment will be
provided.
Due: November 3
Value: 10%
3. Complete one group written report and oral presentation. A handout describing this
assignment will be provided.
Due: October 13 and October 27
Value: 20%
4. Complete a Pathfinder, either in print format, or, preferably, in digital format on the
World Wide Web. A handout describing this assignment will be provided.
Due: Interim report September 8; Final Pathfinder, November 30
Value: 40%
Please note:
· Late work will lose one letter grade from the grade it would have gotten had it been turned in on time. However, the final project, the Pathfinder, will not be accepted late.
· Assignments are due at the beginning of class on the assigned due date.
· Please include your name on the first page of all your assignments.
Academic Code of Integrity
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.' 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.
Assignment Policies
· Assignments are due at the beginning of class on their assigned due date.
· Please include your name at the top of all your assignments.
Attendance and Class Participation:
Active participation is expected. Class participation will have no specific grade value. However, meaningful and active participation will contribute to a student’s final grade by increasing it slightly (for example from a high B to a low A.). Conversely, inappropriate and disruptive participation will lower a student’s final grade.
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.
Late work will lose one letter grade from the grade it would have gotten had it been turned in on time. However, the final project, the Pathfinder, will not be accepted late.
Grading criteria:
A=90-100
B=80-89
C=70-79
D=60-69
F=59 and below
Office Phone: 520-621-5220
E-Mail: bedgar@u.arizona.edu
Office: No. 2
Office Hours: Thursday, 3:00-4:00 or by appointment
