Syllabus for

LIS 703-01

Wednesdays

6-9 p.m.

Spring

2008

Kanti Srikantaiah, Ph.D. Office: (708) 524-6944 Fax: (708) 524-6657 Srikant@email.dom.edu

Office Hours Tuesdays: 5:00-6:00 p.m. Wednesdays:10:00-12:00 p.m. Other times by appointment.

Dominican University

Graduate School of Library & Information Science

LIS 703-01: Organization of Knowledge

Spring 2008

Prof. T. Kanti Srikantaiah, Ph.D.

CATALOG DESCRIPTION

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 (On-line Computer Library Center), MARC 21 (Machine Readable Cataloging) formats and Library of Congress Classification (prerequisite or co-requisite: LIS 701)

COURSE OBJECTIVES

The objective of the course is to provide, through an integrated approach, an overview of principles, systems, techniques and tools in the organization of information and to prepare each student to understand user needs in different information environments. Specifically, at the end of the course each student will:

p Describe the principles, systems and methods of organizing knowledge from the perspective of information access and retrieval by using, analyzing and interpreting them effectively;

p 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;

p Demonstrate effectively 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;

p Describe and critique various schemes and techniques currently used to organize information in different environments by defining and using correctly terminology commonly used;

p 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.

COURSE ASSESSMENT TO ASSIST THE GSLIS PROGRAM

To assist with the GSLIS program assessment, all students are required to complete an assessment instrument that will be evaluated by the GSLIS Assessment Committee. This assessment will count 15% towards the final grade. Assessment instrument will be distributed towards the end of the course.

ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING

The assignments cover several areas. While the core reading of the assigned chapters from the textbook for each meeting is mandatory, additional readings relevant to the topic under discussion are also required. These readings will be assigned as required. Each student is expected to complete several written assignments and submit completed assignments on time. The final test will cover textbook readings and all assignments discussed and completed in the course.

The final grade will be determined on the basis of several written assignments, classroom participation, a mid-term examination and a final examination. Exercises must be turned in on the agreed schedule. The breakdown of evaluation is as follows:

Classroom attendance and participation	10 points
Written assignments	30 points
Mid-term examination	30 points
Final examination	30 points

TEXTBOOKS

1. Taylor, Arlene G. The Organization of Information. 2^nd ed. Englewood, Colo., Libraries Unlimited, 2003.

2. Saye, Jerry D. with Bohannan, April T. Manheimer's Cataloging and Classification: A Workbook. 4^th ed. (Revised and expanded) New York: Marcel Dekkar, 2000.

SUPPLEMENTARY READINGS (relevant segments from references cited below will be assigned at class meetings)

1. Anglo-American Cataloging Rules. 2^nd ed.-- 2002 Revision. Chicago: American Library Association, 2002. .

2. Chan, Lois Mai. Cataloging and Classification. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1994.

3. Other readings will be assigned as needed.

LS 703: CLASS SCHEDULE

Class Meeting	Date		Topics
1	January 23		INTRODUCTION · Review of syllabus · Conceptual framework for organizing knowledge: concepts, definitions, principles of bibliographic systems Taylor: Chapter 1 - Organization In Human Endeavors.
2	January 30		INFORMATION ENVIRONMENT & BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD · Historical context and evolution · Organization of knowledge in library and non-library environments Taylor: Chapter 2 - Retrieval Tools
3	February 06		INFORMATION ENVIRONMENT & BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD (Cont) · Data elements in bibliographic records · Electronic formats · User needs Taylor: Chapter 3 - Development In the Organization of Recorded Information in Western Europe.
4	February 13		BIBLIOGRAPHIC TOOLS: Descriptive Cataloging · Descriptive cataloging principles · Rules for descriptive cataloging · AACR2R and amendments · MARC · Others ASSIGNMENT #1: DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGING EXERCISE DUE ON FEBRUARY 27 Taylor: Chapter 4- Encoding Standards. Taylor: Chapter 6- Metadata. Manheimer: Chapter 1- Rules of Description.
CLASS MEETING	DATE		TOPICS
5	February 20		BIBLIOGRAPHIC TOOLS: Descriptive Cataloging (contd.) Taylor: Chapter 7– Metadata: Description . Chapter 8- Metadata: Access and Authority Control Manheimer: Chapter 2 – Choice of Access Points.
6	February 27		BIBLIOGRAPHIC TOOLS: Descriptive Cataloging (contd.) REVIEW OF PREVIOUS SESSIONS Manheimer: Chapter 3- Headings for Persons and References. Manheimer: Chapter 4 – Headings for Corporate Bodies and References.
7	March 12		MIDTERM BIBLIOGRAPHIC TOOLS: Vocabulary Control · Classification systems and subject heading lists · Authority files: concept, definition and development · Relevance of vocabulary control in bibliographic systems · Review of Assignment # 1 Manheimer: Chapter 5 – Uniform Titles and References.
8	March 19		BIBLIOGRAPHIC TOOLS: Classification Systems · General Principles · LCC · DDC · UDC · Others · Call numbers and Cutter numbers ASSIGNMENT #2: CLASSIFICATION EXERCISE DUE ON MARCH 26 Taylor: Chapter 11-Systems for Categorization Manheimer: Chapter 6- Dewey Decimal Classification. Manheimer: Chapter 7- Library of Congress Classification.	BIBLIOGRAPHIC TOOLS: Classification Systems · General Principles · LCC · DDC · UDC · Others · Call numbers and Cutter numbers · Filing principles ASSIGNMENT #3: CLASSIFICATION & CUTTER NUMBERS EXERCISE DUE ON NOVEMBER 10
Class Meeting		Date	Topics
9	March 26		BIBLIOGRAPHIC TOOLS: Subject Cataloging · Subject cataloging principles · Sears · LCSH · Others Taylor: Chapter 9- Subject Analysis. Manheimer: Chapter 8- Library of Congress Subject Headings.
10	April 02		FILING PRINCIPLES · General filing schema · Library information systems · Non-library information systems · Manual filing vs. electronic filing · Display characteristics Taylor: Chapter 10- Systems for Vocabulary Control. ASSIGNMENT #3: SUBJECT HEADINGS EXERCISE DUE ON : APRIL 09
11	April 09		MACHINE READABLE CATALOGING · Evolution · MARC · OCLC and other integrated systems · Discussion with examples Taylor: Chapter 12- Arrangement and Display