Summer 2002, LIS 3100: Seminars in Professional Issues: Technology, Information and Society: Convenience vs. Chaos
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Fall 2002: INFSCI 2938 Special Topics: Leadership and Design of Organizations
Other Course Descriptions
Course Description
The purpose of this seminar is to explore a range of issues related to the changes new technologies are bringing to the library and information service environment. In particular, the class will focus on the process of framing complex issues and on the importance of creating a clear and succinct presentation of issues.
Please expect to participate in extensive in-class discussion. A certain amount of independent and/or group research and reading will be required.
Assignments
For each week of class, students will be expected to produce 1-2 page responses to questions that will be assigned. Each student will write about one question.
Go to Week 1
Go to Week 2
Go to Week 3
Go to Week 4
Go to Week 5
Go to Week 6
Week 1: Definitions and Infrastructure
Download the bibliography for week 1 (MS Word File)
Questions
- What does it mean that we're an information society?
- What is a digital library?
- Do we still need a physical library?
- What forces are driving the development of digital libraries?
- What is the difference between electronic publishing and digital libraries?
- Is the role of the library changing as a result of new technologies?
Week 2: Functions and Services
Download the bibliography for week 2 (MS Word File)
Questions
- How should changes in the activities and habits of library users affect the provision of library services in an increasingly digital information environment?
- How will changes in the provision of library services (as digital information proliferates) affect users and what they do?
- Do different kinds of users need different kinds of library services?
- Does the advent of the digital library suggest more centralization of decentralization of library services?
- With the emergence of 24 by 7 digital reference services, do libraries need to maintain reference desk areas in physical libraries?
- What changes in user education and training will be needed as more digital library services are offered?
- As more digital content is available, how will the traditional technical service functions of the library change?
- Will the role and function of the library professional change as digital libraries evolve?
Week 3: Ensuring Access
Download the bibliography for week 3 (MS word file)
Questions
- Who is responsible for ensuring access to information— the creator, publisher, librarian, archivist, other?
- What are the differences between access and preservation?
- What kinds of tradeoffs are involved in decisions about ensuring long-term access to information?
- Should we alert our users to the vulnerability of digital content?
- Isn't digitization a preservation strategy?
- What must I be concerned about when I access and use digital information?
- What kinds of supporting infrastructure is needed for ensuring long-term access?
Week 4: Privacy and Security
Download the bibliography for week 4 (MS word file)
Questions
- How can librarians help protect the privacy of their library users?
- What advice should librarians give their library users about potential invasion of privacy on the web?
- What are the relevant privacy concerns with digital libraries?
- How does encryption work?
- How can we be sure of the authenticity of a digital document?
- What tools exist to help protect the privacy of digital library users?
- What responsibilities do librarians have in providing a safe digital environment for children in the library ?
Week 5: Intellectual Property
Download the bibliography for week 5 (MS word file)
Questions
- How might copyright constrain the way libraries expand their role as disseminators of digital work?
Week 6: Use and Usability
Download the bibliography for week 6 (MS word file)
Questions
- How can digital library use be defined and measured?
- Has there been any research on whether usage of digital libraries differs from use of non digital libraires?
- What is usability and how does it relate to digital libraries?
- What kinds of opportunities and problems exist for global users of digital libraries?
- What methods exist for evaluating digital library use and usability?
- What kinds of problems might digital library users encounter?
- What kind of digital library user education activities should libraries offert to encourage effective use of digital libraries?
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