Dominican University
Graduate School of Library and Information Science


Last updated August 23, 2010

LIS 703                                                                                                                                            G. Koh
Organization of Knowledge                                                                                                         Fall 2010

Gertrude S. Koh
Office: Crown 324
E-Mail: kohgsl@dom.edu
Phone: (708) 524-6867
http://domin.dom.edu/faculty/kohgsl/index.htm

 

Office Hours:

M: 3:30-4:30

  W:  Noon-1:00

Th: 3:30-4:30 (except Nov. 4)

Other times by appointments

The syllabus is subject to modification.
This syllabus is to be used for reference purposes only; consult your instructor for any changes or updates!


 


Catalog Description of the Course:
   
An overview of principles, methods and systems in the organization of all types of library materials and information. An introduction to the basic level use and interpretation of principles for AACR2R, subject headings, Dewey Decimal Classification, OCLC (Online Computer Library Center), MARC21 formats, and Library of Congress Classification.


Course Schedule   

Class #

Class Date

       M,              W

Class Topic

Assignments/Exams

1

Aug. 30,     Sep. 1

Unit I: Environments

 

2

Sep. 13,              8

Unit I: Bibliographic Tools

 

3

Sep. 20,            15

Unit I: Current Systems

 

4

Sep. 27,            22

Unit I: Encoding Standards

Assgn. I Due - Bibliographic Tools

5

Oct. 4,              29

Unit II: Historical Perspectives

 

6

Oct. 11,             6

Unit III: Description and Surrogate Records

 

7

Oct. 18,            13

Unit III: Access

Assgn. II Due - Team Project

8

Oct. 25,            20

Unit III: Authority Control

Mid-term Exam

9

Nov. 1,     Oct. 27

Unit III: The Information Organization Process

Assgn. III Due – Understanding Cataloging/MARC

10

Nov. 8,               3

Unit IV: Subject Heading Lists and Thesauri

 

11

Nov. 15,           10

Unit IV: Applications and Use of Subject Headings

 

12

Nov. 22,           17

Unit V: Dewey Decimal Classification

Assgn. IV Due - Subject Analysis

13

Nov. 29,     Dec. 1

Unit V: Library of Congress Classification

 

14

Dec. 6,                8

Unit VI: Reflections on KOS and Related Issues

Final Exam

15

Dec. 13,            15

Wrap-up, Individual consultation

 



Course Goals: Students will understand:
   
(1) an overview of principles, methods and systems of knowledge organization that are currently used today to meet the needs of users in various environments;
   
(2) an overview of organizational concepts that affect how information must be retrieved in order to meet user needs in diverse environments;
   
(3) an overview of individual knowledge characteristics of user needs that need various approaches to organizing in all types of environments;
   
(4) an overview of administrative issues and the advanced technology affecting current approaches in organizing knowledge;
   
(5) an overview of the role of technical standards and standard organizing tools in organizing information packages and knowledge therein.
 


Course Objectives: Students will be able to:
 
(1) describe the principles, systems and methods of organizing knowledge from the perspective of information access and retrieval by using, analyzing and interpreting them effectively;
   
(2) demonstrate an understanding of the similarities and differences in the purposes and systems of distinguishing, describing, and indexing intellectual works to meet the needs of users in various environments;
   
(3) effectively demonstrate an awareness of current standards and also an awareness of areas in which there are no standards, by analyzing and evaluating existing information when a number of standard organizing tools are used and interpreted;
   
(4) describe and critique various schemes and techniques currently used to organize information in different environments by defining and using correctly terminology commonly used;
   
(5) analyze and suggest appropriate approaches of organizing knowledge in given real-world use situations by interpreting appropriate principles and methods and by articulating a philosophy.
 


Expectations and Grades: (Please consult the class handouts.) [Please see GSLIS Policies regarding Grading and Academic Honesty on p. 23 in the GSLIS 2008-2010 Bulletin]

Two examinations will be given and four written Assignments will be collected and graded throughout the course. 

Exercises will be assigned throughout the course to serve as the basis for the class discussion (both in class meetings and on Blackboard forums). Active and productive class participation is encouraged. 

Evaluation of the course work is as follows:  

25%       Mid-term Exam

25%       Final Exam

40%       Assignments, I-IV (10% each Assignment)

10%       Participation, with bonus points    


Organization and Reserve Materials:  

The course consists of lectures, discussions in class and on the course Blackboard, outside readings, homework exercises, assignments and two exams.  The course Blackboard is at http://Blackboard.dom.edu.

LIS 703 is listed in the Blackboard course catalog under the discipline of Graduate School of Library and Information Science, so all of you can properly enroll in the Blackboard version of the course.

Below is the link for the student documentation, including a camtasia video explanation  for students on how to enroll for the course Blackboard:

https://jicsweb1.dom.edu/ics/Resources/Offices_-_Departments/IT/Systems_at_DU/Blackboard_Information.jnz

A list of reserve materials is included in the course syllabus. Assigned readings from your recommended textbook are required. Do your best to do exercise problems and other recommended and additional required readings from other sources. The reserve list includes some supplemental texts that may be of interest to you to examine or read. Additional materials may be put on reserve during the semester.

 


Course Outline:

UNIT I. Current systems for organization of information

A.  Environments

Need to organize?

Approaches in different types of environments (Internet, libraries, archives, museums, offices) 

B.  Bibliographic tools 

Bibliographic control, FRBR (Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records)

Bibliographies, Indexes, Catalogs, Finding Aids, Registers, Search engines, Databases

OCLC, RLIN, etc., Individual OPACs

C.  Encoding standards

DBMS (e.g., relational database management concepts), MARC, SGML, HTML, XML

DC, TEI, EAD, MODS, MADS, VRACC, ONIX

Z39.50

             D.  Current systems

Similarities and differences, Information technologies

UNIT II.  History and trends for the organization of information

A.  Historical perspectives

                         Internet, Libraries, Archives, Museums, Information industry

B.  Information technologies and cooperation

C.  Relationship of searching and indexing

D.  Known-item searching/ indexing and Un-known item searching/ indexing

E.  AACR/RDA and other international standardization efforts -- FRBR

F.  Natural language and controlled vocabulary

UNIT III.  The information organization process

A.  Description

B.  Access

C.  Authority control

D.  Description; Access; Authority control

E.  Local information process needs

UNIT IV.  Verbal subject analysis

A.    Subject heading lists and thesauri

B.  Pre- / Post- coordination

C.  Recall/ Precision

D.    Sears and LCSH

E.  Overview of Applications and Use of Subject Headings

F.  Thesaurus development and use

MeSH, ERIC Thesaurus, AAT (Art and Architecture Thesaurus), etc.

UNIT V.  Classification    

A.  Purpose and Use of Classification, Including Classification for Internet  

B.   Types of Classification Systems

C.   Call numbers: purpose and construction

D.   Dewey Decimal Classification  (DDC)

E.   Library of Congress Classification  (LCC)

F.   Overview of Applications, Analysis, Interpretation and Use:  DDC

G.   Overview of Applications, Analysis, Interpretation and Use:  LCC

            H.   Comparison and Contrast:  DCC and LCC

I.    Other Classification Systems:  UDC, Colon, etc.

UNIT VI.  Reflection on knowledge organization systems and related issues

A.  Professional vs. Paraprofessional involvement

B.  Catalog and database maintenance

C.  Ownership vs. access

D.  Outsourcing and budget reductions

            E.  Future of technical services and research issues  


Textbooks:

All textbooks are available for purchase in the Bookstore, but they are also on reserve for LIS 703.

Chapters in the required textbooks by Taylor and Chan, which correspond to each class discussion, are automatically the responsibility of each student. Additional required readings are assigned under "Required Readings" under each unit in the print syllabus.

  • Taylor, Arlene G. and Daniel Joudrey. The Organization of Information.  3rd ed.  Westport, Conn.: Libraries Unlimited, 2009. Required text
  • Chan, Lois Mai.  Cataloging and Classification: An Introduction. 3rd ed. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press, 2007. Required text

 

The following texts are not required but are considered useful class resources.

  • Oliver, Chris. Introducing RDA: A Guide to the Basics. Chicago: ALA, 2010.
  • Kornegay, Rebecca, Heidi Buchanan, and Hildegard Morgan. Magic Search: Getting the Best Results fromYour Catalog and Beyond. Chicago: ALA, 2009.  
  • Taylor, Arlene G.  Introduction to Cataloging and Classification.  10th ed.  Westport, Conn.: Libraries Unlimited, 2006.
  • Rowley, Jennifer E. and Richard Hartley.  Organizing Knowledge:  An Introduction to Managing Access to Information.  5th ed. Aldershot, England;  Burlington, Vermont:  Ashgate, c2008.
  • Caplan, Priscilla.  Metadata Fundamentals for All Librarians.  Chicago:  ALA, 2003. 


Internet Resources:
   
OCLC web site - http://www.oclc.org/

Explore and learn CONNEXION (formerly, PRISM, CORC, i.e., Cooperative Online Resources Catalog), FirstSearch (FirstSearch

 under WorldCat via Dominican University Library), DDC and other OCLC services, in addition to the specific facts on historical backgrounds of OCLC, its current status and services. Consult the Searching WorldCat User Guide; Connexion: Searching WorldCat Quick Reference (Characters (Typed, Omitted, Substituted; available in both HTML and PDF formats); Bibliographic Formats and Standards; Authorities Quick Reference; Authorities User Guide, Authority Record Format; Dublin Core Metadata Element Set: Dublin Core Metadata Initiative home page.  The following sources will be useful:  

Library of Congress web site - http://www.loc.gov

Explore and learn the Library of Congress' Marvel, its Catalog (Web Catalog) and other cataloging and classification services, including tools for cataloging and classification. Consult the home pages of MARC, EAD, Z39.50 Gateway, Class Web and Functional Analysis of the MARC21 Bibliographic and Holdings Formats.


Books on Reserve:

Please consult the print syllabus handed out in class for a complete listing of books on reserve. The listed textbooks are also available in the Bookstore and/or the Library.

Updated 08/23/2010