Automated Library Systems - The ILS and basic functionality for all library systems
INFO 241

Dr. Timothy J. Dickey
E-mail
Office Hours: Fridays 10 am Pacific Time, or by appointment. Your email questions about any other course question during the week should be answered within 24 hours.

This one-credit course runs from January 25th - February 22nd. 

This course will introduce you to the variety of technology applications available to libraries in the twenty-first century, with a focus on underlying concepts and issues of library technology management. You will learn about the history and current state of integrated library systems, the current and expanding use for libraries of new technology fields such as open-source systems, e-books, and mobile applications, and the potential use in the near future of emerging technologies such as web services, linked data, and embedded computing. Many students will already be familiar with at least one automated library system; the emphasis, therefore, is on new trends and the plethora of alternative technologies now available. Course materials, discussions, and written assignments will center on the practical applications of successful library technologies - how information professionals are already using these tools to meet the 21st-century requirements of their users.

Expectations

Students are expected to participate fully in all class activities. It is expected that students will be open-minded and participate fully in discussions in class and debate in a mature and respectful manner. Use of derogatory, condescending, or offensive language including profanity is prohibited. Disagreement is healthy and perfectly acceptable. Expressing disagreement should always include an explanation of your reasoning and, whenever possible, evidence to support your position. In accordance with San José State University's Policies, the Student Code of Conduct, and applicable state and federal laws, discrimination based on gender, gender identity, gender expression, race, nationality, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or disability is prohibited in any form.

Course Workload

Success in this course is based on the expectation that students will spend, for each unit of credit, a minimum of forty-five hours over the length of the course (normally 3 hours per unit per week with 1 of the hours used for lecture) for instruction or preparation/studying or course related activities including but not limited to internships, labs, clinical practica. Other course structures will have equivalent workload expectations as described in the syllabus.

Instructional time may include but is not limited to:
Working on posted modules or lessons prepared by the instructor; discussion forum interactions with the instructor and/or other students; making presentations and getting feedback from the instructor; attending office hours or other synchronous sessions with the instructor.

Student time outside of class:
In any seven-day period, a student is expected to be academically engaged through submitting an academic assignment; taking an exam or an interactive tutorial, or computer-assisted instruction; building websites, blogs, databases, social media presentations; attending a study group; contributing to an academic online discussion; writing papers; reading articles; conducting research; engaging in small group work.

Core Competencies (Program Learning Outcomes) Supported

INFO 241 supports the following core competencies:

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

1. Evaluate the current and potential use for libraries of technology fields such as cloud computing, open-source systems, and mobile applications.
2. Describe the history and current state of integrated library systems.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of technology (hardware and cloud technologies) and industry standards and their importance in the field.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of underlying concepts and issues of library technology management.

Textbooks

Recommended Textbooks:

• Burke, J. (2016). Neal-Schuman library technology companion: A basic guide for library staff (5th ed.). ALA. Available through Amazon: 0838913822

• Varnum, K.J. (Ed.). (2019). New top technologies every librarian needs to know. ALA Editions. Available through Amazon: 0838917828

LIBRARY WEBSITE REVIEW (25%): For this assignment, each student will compose a 3-4 page review of a specific library website of your choice. Please include a complete citation to the library website at the beginning of your paper, followed by an assessment of the library’s patron base in as much detail as you can provide (size, demographics, funding situation). Any information you can consider regarding specific technology support for the library’s website and/ or specific initiatives on the part of the library to update their public interface are welcome but should be very concise.

The bulk of your paper should be a critical identification of at least 3 points of good interface design and at least 3 points identifying specific improvements or enhancements that could be made. Consideration should be given to all issues of website usability, convenience of access to library resources and other information, proper and efficient service to specific patron groups (identified above), and use of available library information technologies. Write as if you were an outside consultant evaluating the website from the standpoint of the current, intended, and potential user base. Be constructive in your criticisms and feel free to think outside the box in potential solutions, but keep in mind the state of the library’s funding and support (identified above) for feasible solutions.

Due Feb. 8. The Library Website Review supports CLOs 1 and 3:

VENDOR EVALUATION (50%): Each student will compose a comprehensive 5-7 page review of a single library ILS vendor of your choice. Please include complete contact information for the vendor where possible, as a citation (you are encouraged to include information garnered from individual contact with the vendor, as long as it is so cited in the text of the paper), and some concrete sense of the specific users you have in mind for the specific library who might be served. Other areas that should be covered in the evaluation include available modules, integration with streaming content and other technologies (such as learning management systems), interaction with consortial partners, next-generation offerings, customization and pricing, support, etc. Sources of supporting information can include the vendor’s website, published reviews of the vendor’s products, and any literature in the Library & Information Science field that can be pertinent to your evaluation – user information studies and use cases, comparative analyses and studies of implementations, and news items regarding specific initiatives on the part of the vendor to provide services to libraries and other information centers. Due Feb. 23. The Vendor Evaluation supports all four of the course CLOs.

Participation (25%)

Each student is expected to contribute at least one timely and substantial post to each online discussion board, with substantive comments or critical questions on one or more of the course readings or topics and/or responses to specific questions the instructor will raise. PLEASE POST EARLY so that your instructor and colleagues have a chance to respond.

Each student is also expected to comment substantively at least once on other threads of discussion.

The standard SJSU School of Information Grading Scale is utilized for all iSchool courses:

In order to provide consistent guidelines for assessment for graduate level work in the School, these terms are applied to letter grades:

• C represents Adequate work; a grade of "C" counts for credit for the course;
• B represents Good work; a grade of "B" clearly meets the standards for graduate level work or undergraduate (for BS-ISDA);
  For core courses in the MLIS program (not MARA, Informatics, BS-ISDA) — INFO 200, INFO 202, INFO 204 — the iSchool requires that students earn a B in the course. If the grade is less than B (B- or lower) after the first attempt you will be placed on administrative probation. You must repeat the class if you wish to stay in the program. If - on the second attempt - you do not pass the class with a grade of B or better (not B- but B) you will be disqualified.
  
• A represents Exceptional work; a grade of "A" will be assigned for outstanding work only.

Graduate Students are advised that it is their responsibility to maintain a 3.0 Grade Point Average (GPA). Undergraduates must maintain a 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA).

Per University Policy S16-9 (PDF), relevant university policy concerning all courses, such as student responsibilities, academic integrity, accommodations, dropping and adding, consent for recording of class, etc. and available student services (e.g. learning assistance, counseling, and other resources) are listed on the Syllabus Information web page. Make sure to visit this page to review and be aware of these university policies and resources.

Course Calendar, including Assignment Due Dates

The plan of course topics - always subject to change within the Canvas system, is as follows: