Syllabus for

LIS 703

Wednesdays

Fall

2007

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

Office Hours Mondays: 5:00-6:00 p.m. Tuesdays 4:00-6:00 p.m. Other times by appointment.

Dominican University

Graduate School of Library & Information Science

LIS 703: Organization of Knowledge

Fall 2007

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 anonymously an assessment instrument that will be evaluated by the GSLIS Assessment Committee. This assessment is separate from the grading of students in the course. 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.

LIS 703: CLASS SCHEDULE

Class Meeting	Date		Topics
1	September 5		INTRODUCTION s Review of syllabus s Conceptual framework for organizing knowledge: concepts, definitions, principles of bibliographic systems Taylor: Chapter 1– Organization In Human Endeavors.
2	September 12		INFORMATION ENVIRONMENT & BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD s Historical context and evolution s Organization of knowledge in library and non-library environments Taylor: Chapter 2 – Retrieval Tools
3	September 19		INFORMATION ENVIRONMENT & BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD (Cont) s Data elements in bibliographic records s Electronic formats s User needs Taylor: Chapter 3 – Development In the Organization of Recorded Information in Western Europe.
4	September 26		BIBLIOGRAPHIC TOOLS: Descriptive Cataloging s Descriptive cataloging principles s Rules for descriptive cataloging s AACR2R and amendments s MARC s Others ASSIGNMENT #1: DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGING EXERCISE DUE ON OCTOBER 10 Taylor: Chapter 4 – Encoding Standards. Taylor: Chapter 6 – Metadata. Manheimer: Chapter 1 – Rules of Description.
CLASS MEETING	DATE		TOPICS
5	October 3		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	October 10		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	October 17		MIDTERM BIBLIOGRAPHIC TOOLS: Vocabulary Control s Classification systems and subject heading lists s Authority files: concept, definition and development s Relevance of vocabulary control in bibliographic systems Review of Assignment # 1 Manheimer: Chapter 5 – Uniform Titles and References.
8	October 24		BIBLIOGRAPHIC TOOLS: Classification Systems s General Principles s LCC s DDC s UDC s Others s Call numbers and Cutter numbers ASSIGNMENT #2: CLASSIFICATION EXERCISE DUE ON NOVEMBER 14 Taylor: Chapter 11 – Systems for Categorization Manheimer: Chapter 6 – Dewey Decimal Classification. Manheimer: Chapter 7 – Library of Congress Classification.	March 20	BIBLIOGRAPHIC TOOLS: Classification Systems s General Principles s LCC s DDC s UDC s Others s Call numbers and Cutter numbers s Filing principles ASSIGNMENT #3: CLASSIFICATION & CUTTER NUMBERS EXERCISE DUE ON NOVEMBER 10
Class Meeting		Date	Topics
9	October 31		BIBLIOGRAPHIC TOOLS: Subject Cataloging s Subject cataloging principles s Sears s LCSH s Others Taylor: Chapter 9 – Subject Analysis. Manheimer: Chapter 8 – Library of Congress Subject Headings.
10	November 7		FILING PRINCIPLES s General filing schema s Library information systems s Non-library information systems s Manual filing vs. electronic filing s Display characteristics Taylor: Chapter 10 – Systems for Vocabulary Control.
11	November 14		MACHINE READABLE CATALOGING s Evolution s MARC s OCLC and other integrated systems s Discussion with examples ASSIGNMENT #3: SUBJECT HEADINGS EXERCISE DUE ON DECEMBER 5 s Review of Assignment # 2 Taylor: Chapter 12 – Arrangement and Display