Course Description
Covers philosophy and techniques of matching information to people's needs. Introduces human information behavior and information retreival concepts; prepares students to meet needs through needs assessment, source selection, and user-instruction.
Syllabus
Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:
Students successfully completing this course will be able to:
- Describe the dynamic nature of information technology and anticipate its application to meet user needs. [PLO 1, 3]
- Describe forms of information available for use and analyze the relevance, authenticity, authority, and credibility of information sources. [PLO 1, 3]
- Identify the information needs and behaviors of diverse groups through collection of evidence. [PLO 1, 2, 3]
- Formulate and execute search strategies. [PLO 1, 3]
- Curate a collection of resources to meet the needs of a specific user group. [PLO 1, 2, 3, 4]
- Design instruction to meet the needs of a specific user group. [PLO 1, 2, 3, 4, 7]
- Assess the effectiveness of information provision in information organizations through user experience analysis. [PLO 3, 4, 5, 7]
- Apply ethical principles to information provision. [PLO 1]
Course Grading Information:
| Activity/Performance Measure | Percentage/Points |
|---|---|
| Participation: In class discussion, in class activities, and online participation in discussion forums | 10% |
| Reference topic facilitation and sample questions: Group facilitation of a reference topic, creation of sample reference questions, private submission of answers, grading of classmates’ responses, and individual reflection | 20% |
| Reference practice: Weekly reference questions with complete answers, search strategies, source selection explanations, and source evaluation | 20% |
| Information Needs and Search Plan for LibGuide: Assessment of a user group’s information behaviors and needs, with a search plan for finding and evaluating curated sources | 10% |
| Virtual Poster Session: Assessment of a library’s website, digital services, or online resources for access, representation of community needs, clarity, and usability | 20% |
| LibGuide: Instructional resource guide for a specific topic, institution, and user group | 20% |
Attendance/Participation:
Attendance/participation is not a graded component included in the student's final grade for this course.
Course Materials Purchased by the Students:
Reference and Information Services: An Introduction: Melissa A. Wong and Laura Saunders, Seventh edition, Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited, 2025, ISBN 9781440880483
Scholarly Perspectives
This course engages diverse scholarly perspectives to develop critical thinking, analysis, and debate and inclusion of a reading does not imply endorsement.