S521 - Day

This class explores information sources in the humanities and related issues of humanities information production, user and producer groups, etc. The class is made up of class presentations, reviews of materials, lectures, and guest speakers. It is a seminar class, rather than a lecture class, so heavy student participation is expected.

Text: Blazek, Ron, and Aversa, Elizabeth (2000). The Humanities: A Selective Guide to Information Sources. Purchase is optional. It is on reserve in Kent-Cooper Room, Wells Library.

1) Group resource list —for several weeks, different groups of students will be responsible for showing resource sites in paper and in electronic form and providing resources lists and research papers in their subject area of choice (see schedule, below). These resources will include databases listed by subject areas and otherwise at the IUB libraries, web pages and other internet resources, and paper resources. Student groups are also expected to supply relevant readings of important topics in the librarianship of the given subject area. I may present some materials in the beginning of the class, but largely most of the class is to be organized and managed by the student groups.

	Class	Topic
1	September 8	Overview of class responsibilities of the student, overview of class syllabus. Introductions. Overview of electronic resource sites at IUB. Overview of resources in the textbook. Form groups for group presentations of disciplinary resource sites.
2	September 15	What are the 'Humanities'? READ: Chapter 1 and 2 in Blazek and Aversa Stone, Sue. "Humanities Scholars: Information Needs and Uses" Journal of Documentation December, 1982. (on e-reserves) Pathfinder topics due.
3	September 22	Subject area 1: Philosophy and History Resources, Search Strategies, and Issues.
4	September 29	Subject area 2: Religion, Mythology, and Folklore Resources, Search Strategies, and Issues.
5	October 6	Subject area 3: Fine and Visual Arts Resources, Search Strategies, and Issues.
6	October 13	Subject area 4: Performing Arts Resources, Search Strategies, and Issues.
7	October 20	Issues in Fine Arts librarianship: Guest speakers: Eileen Fry, Image Librarian, IUB Fine Arts Library; Tony White, Director, IUB Fine Arts Library
8	October 27	TBA
9	November 3	Guest speaker: Jenn Riley, metadata librarian, Indiana University Digital Library Program--first half of class. Readings in digital libraries (TBA)
10	November 10	Guest speaker: Sylvia Jayne Turchyn, Section Head, Western European Cataloging; specialist in 'artists books.'
11	November 17	Guest speaker: Joel Silver, Collection Specialist, Lilly Library — rare books and special collections for humanists
12	November 24	Guest Speaker: Angela Courtney, Humanities Librarian first half to full class—language and literature resources and issues.
13	December 1	Visit: Suzanne Mudge: Archives of Traditional Music (*to meet at Archives of Traditional Music*)
14	December 8	Student pathfinder presentations

A pathfinder is a tool created by librarians to help their patrons, and colleagues, find information on a specific humanities topics (Dadaism, certain traditions of philosophy, etc).

You will create a pathfinder on a topic that you choose. Think carefully about this choice. Talk to me about your topic if you are having trouble making a decision. We will workshop the pathfinder topics at the end of the second class.

The pathfinder will be a minimum of ten pages in length. You need to create an introduction with a statement as to the scope of the pathfinder, how you chose and evaluated your sources, etc. It must be posted to the web and you will present it in class at the end of the semester. Examples of class pathfinders made by SLIS and other students for a different class can be found at: http://www.slis.indiana.edu/faculty/meho/L524/pathfinders.html

You must also send me your pathfinder URL by the time of the class presentation. Send it to me using the subject line: 521pathfinder

Grades will be assigned on an A, B, C scale. The following definitions of letter grades have been defined by student and faculty members of the Committee on Improvement of Instruction and have been approved by the faculty (November 11, 1996) as an aid in evaluation of academic performance and to assist students by giving them an understanding of the grading standards of the School of Library and Information Science:

Grade	GPA	MEANING
A	4.0	Outstanding achievement. Student performance demonstrates full command of the course materials and evinces a high level of originality and/or creativity that far surpasses course expectations
A-	3.7	Excellent achievement. Student performance demonstrates thorough knowledge of the course materials and exceeds course expectations by completing all requirements in a superior manner
B+	3.3	Very good work. Student performance demonstrates above-average comprehension of the course materials and exceeds course expectations on all tasks as defined in the course syllabus
B	3.0	Good work. Student performance meets designated course expectations, demonstrates understanding of the course materials and is at an acceptable level
B-	2.7	Marginal work. Student performance demonstrates incomplete understanding of course materials.
C+ C	2.3 2.0	Unsatisfactory work. Student performance demonstrates incomplete and inadequate understanding of course materials
C- D+ D D-	1.7 1.3 1.0 .07	Unacceptable work. Coursework performed at this level will not count toward the MLS or MIS degree. For the course to count towards the degree, the student must repeat the course with a passing grade.
F	0.0	Failing. Student may continue in program only with permission of the Dean.

There is extensive documentation and discussion of the issue of academic dishonesty in the Indiana University Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct." Of particular relevance is the section on plagiarism:

A student must not submit work that reproduces ideas, words, or statements of another person without appropriate acknowledgment. A student must give credit to the originality of others and acknowledge indebtedness whenever he or she does any of the following:

4. Borrows facts, statistics, or other illustrative material, unless the information is common knowledge.

Indiana University and SLIS policies on academic dishonesty will be followed. Students found to be engaged in plagiarism, cheating, and other types of dishonesty will be reported to the Dean's Office for appropriate action. As a rule of thumb, when in doubt, cite the source!

*This syllabus uses some of the assignments from Angela Courtneys summer 2007 SLIS Humanities Information class. Appreciation and acknowledgments go out to Ms. Courtney for her work and permission to use these.

This syllabus may be modified throughout the semester. Notice will be given in class of any modifications. Students are responsible for knowing about and following such changes.