Credit Hours: 3 credit course

Prerequisites: LSC 553 Information Sources and Services

Day and Time: Wednesday, 7:10 - 9:40 p.m.

Class Location: Marist 131

Instructor: Joan Weeks, MLIS, M.Ed., MA Int. Rel. Office: Marist Hall Room 242 Hours: M., Tu., Th 6:30-9:00 p.m. Phone: (d) 202-707-3657 (e) 202-319-6129 Email: weeks@cua.edu

Course Description:

This course covers the theory and practice of information storage and retrieval in the online environment. It includes the history of the online information industry, types and structures of online databases, basic search skills, and search strategy development. Assignments and projects illustrate search techniques using commercial databases, such as Dialog, Lexis and Factiva, and Internet resources. The course also explores electronic reference services and discusses the management of online search services.

Goals for Student Learning :

• become capable, professional information searchers with a general proficiency in pre-search interviewing, search strategy organization and planning, search result evaluation for the solution of real information problems for clients as evidenced in problem sets and projects.
• understand and apply database characteristics and search syntax of Dialog, Lexis/Nexis and Factiva through hands-on search and retrieval exercises.
• understand the general principles of literature search in a variety of online databases and search systems
• develop the ability to successfully select appropriate electronic sources to fulfill information requests in several subject fields as evidenced in social and physical science anotated bibliographies.
• achieve the ability to transfer the knowledge and skills learned for one system to an unfamiliar database as evidenced in problem sets and Ask a Librarian chat scenarios.
• develop the proficiency in using documentation and search aids to learn about the scope, coverage, unique features, and search language of the unfamiliar database and perform quality searches in such a system;
• cultivate informed opinions and develop the awareness of issues and trends in the development of online systems and the provision of online services in a variety of settings from online and in-class discussions and readings.

Schedule

Course Readings : The readings are centered on the topics we will cover in class on a given date and therefore should be read prior to the class so that you will be able to participate fully in the discussions.

Required texts- many used & new available through Amazon.com:

Bell, Suzanne S. Librarian's Guide to Online Searching. Westport, Conn: Libraries Unlimited, 2006.

Walker, Geraldene. Online Retrieval: a Dialogue of Theory and Practice. Englewood, Colo: Libraries Unlimited, 1999.

Vendor Supplied Texts to be distributed in class:

Dialog - Dialog Pocket Guide
Dialog - Introduction to Dialog for Information Professionals
Dialog - 2005 Dialog Database Catalog & 2006 Supplement
Factiva - Inside-Out Complete Reference for Factiva.com
LexisNexis- Learning Lexis Nexis
LexisNexis- Understanding LexisNexis

Articles available online via ALADIN or the web: (Please activate your electronic library privileges in Mullen Library.)

Basch, Reva. "Seven Deadly Sins of Online Services." Online July 1992.  Accessed via ALADIN  Jan. 9, 2008.

Bates, Mary Ellen. "SearchMash." Online May/June 2007. Accessed via ALADIN Jan. 12, 2008.

Davis, Jan. "Factiva 2.0." EContent May 2006. Accessed via ALADIN Jan. 12, 2008.

Nizami, Bella." Factiva." EContent Dec.2006, Vol. 29, Issue 10. Accessed via ALADIN Jan. 12, 2008.

Tenopir, Carole. "Why I Still Teach Dialog." Library Journal May 1, 2001 Accessed via the web Jan. 13, 2008 at: http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA73153.html

Supplemental Reading Sources:

Information Today Online Magazines:

Information Today, http://www.infotoday.com/it/itnew.htm

Online, http://www.infotoday.com/online/default.htm

Computers in Libraries, http://www.infotoday.com/cilmag/ciltop.htm

Searchers http://www.infotoday.com/searcher/default.htm

Assignments, Projects and Grading

The following assignments and projects are due on the dates indicated on the syllabus and will count for 90 points out of 100 for your final grade. The complete details of all assignments and projects will be in the Assignments area of Blackboard. The final in-class final exam will count for 10 points.

Grading

Grading Scale Points
A (100-94)
A- (93-90)
B+ (89-86)
B (85-83)
B- (82-79)
C+ (78-75)
C (74-71)
C- (70-68)

Course Policies:

ACADEMIC HONESTY: You'll find the CUA policies on “Student Academic Dishonesty” on the web at: http://policies.cua.edu/academicundergrad/integrity.cfm . You are held responsible for adhering to these policies. Incidences of academic dishonesty, defined by the University as “failure to observe rules of fairness in taking exams or writing papers, plagiarism, fabrication, and cheating” will result in a grade of F (0 points) on the project or exam in question, and will be reported to the Dean for possible further action (including failure in the course and/or dismissal from the academic program). Talk with me, if you have questions about what is involved in such offenses. Plagiarism, which includes "[1] intentionally or knowingly representing the words or
ideas of another as one's own in any academic exercise; [2] failure to attribute any of the following: quotations, paraphrases, or borrowed information from print sources or websites; [3] buying completed papers from other to use as one's own work", will not be tolerated. For more on what constitutes plagiarism and how to avoid it, please read (carefully) Margaret Proctor's "How to Avoid Plagiarism" (http://www.utoronto.ca/writing/plagsep.html).

ADA ACCOMODATION: Students with disabilities requiring accommodation under federal regulations must present a written accommodation request to the instructor by the second class meeting . It is strongly recommended that the student contact the Office of Disability Support Services , Suite 207, Pryzbyla Center (202-319-5211; email cua-disabilityservices@cua.edu, web http://disabilitysupport.cua.edu/). This is the University office responsible for disability accommodation and services, and its staff can answer questions about services and requirements regarding documentation. Special accommodations or other arrangements cannot be made without documentation approved by this office.

TIMELY SUBMISSION OF ASSIGNMENTS. Assignments are due on the dates indicated in the syllabus and each assignment handout. Late assignments will be penalized with loss of one point per day.

PASSWORDS: For Dialog, Lexis/Nexis, First Search and Factiva, each of you will have an ID and password to signon.

Note: These IDs and passwords are for classroom instruction purpose only and will expire once the semester ends. Please DO NOT use these passwords for any tasks other than for class projects and assignments. They are provided by the vendors for instruction only and any other use will constitute a violation of the agreements between CUA-SLIS and the vendors.