Associate Professor Graeme Johanson
Associate Professor
Phone: +61 3 990 32414
Fax: +61 3 990 31077
Contact hours: appointment by email, please
contact by email at any time:
graeme.johanson@infotech.monash.edu.au
This unit focuses on the provision of reference and information services in a variety of settings, including libraries, and to the information needs and seeking behaviour of many different user groups. The process of satisfying these needs through the reference interview and the application of skilled search strategies, and the provision of online searching and instruction, is explored.
The ways that information resources are procured by libraries and related organisations through purchase or licensing, and supplied to users on a cost-effective, efficient basis are examined. The unit covers the conduct and policy of the selection, purchase, and licensing functions of libraries; the management of collections, both physical and virtual; provision of lending, document supply and photocopying services; preservation of resources; and the impact of co-operative frameworks such as reciprocal borrowing and co-operative collecting. The unit explores the emergent concept of the virtual library, through which eligible users should be able to gain access to any information whether currently in analogue or digital form, wherever held, aided by a common user interface for identifying and requesting appropriate information items.
Students should have access at home to a computer with Microsoft Office software and good Internet and e-mail facilities.
Lectures and tutorials are audio-recorded by means of Monash Lectures Online (MULO), with a slight time delay, and can be retrieved at your convenience from http://www.mulo.monash.edu.au/. Sound files can be downloaded as an MP3. The audio remains on the website for 6 months. Discussion in tutorials (as in lectures) will be digitised using a special microphone, as an audio file, for MULO.
At the MUSO unit website, at the url above, lecture notes and tutorial exercises will be posted to on-campus students and OCL students alike. (Please note that the Monash student e-mail addresses are used).
Assignment specifications will also be distributed in class, on the website and by e-mail.
For the purposes of disseminating material, on-campus and OCL students, and postgraduate and undergraduate students, are treated the same – i.e., they need to access the MUSO unit website regularly, lectures online, and set readings. Do not expect to receive anything regularly through the post. Students have taken this unit from Canada, London, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the outback of Australia. The Discussion Database on MUSO will be used. Andrew Dixon will endeavour to keep in touch continually in that mode. If you are an online student, Andrew (andrew.dixon@lib.monash.edu.au) will ensure that you are connected into all relevant channels.
For information on timetabling for on-campus classes please refer to MUTTS, http://mutts.monash.edu.au/MUTTS/
On-campus students should register for tutorials/laboratories using the Allocate+ system: http://allocate.its.monash.edu.au/
| Week | Date* | Topic | Key dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 01/03/10 | Unit outline. First assignment. Information Literacy. | |
| 2 | 08/03/10 | Nature of knowledge; basic factual sources. Overview of Reference Services. | |
| 3 | 15/03/10 | Common Information Seeking Practices | |
| 4 | 22/03/10 | Information Seeking â Well-structured databases. | |
| 5 | 29/03/10 | Information Seeking -- The Internet. | assignment 1 due |
| Mid semester break | |||
| 6 | 12/04/10 | the Reference Interview. | |
| 7 | 19/04/10 | The reference process and end users. Evaluation of services. | |
| 8 | 26/04/10 | Collection Management Principles. | |
| 9 | 03/05/10 | Collection Development/Management policies. | |
| 10 | 10/05/10 | Selection Principles and Tools. | |
| 11 | 17/05/10 | Document Delivery and Co-operative Schemes. | |
| 12 | 24/05/10 | Evaluation of collections. | assignment 2 due |
| 13 | 31/05/10 | Revise and review. Exams start on 10 June | |
*Please note that these dates may only apply to Australian campuses of Monash University. Off-shore students need to check the dates with their unit leader.
There are no prescribed texts.
Many readings can be found at http://www.lib.monash.edu.au/resourcelists/i/fit5105.html, and other readings will be suggested during the semester. Students will also be expected to use Monash University Library resources and Worldwide Web to find additional material.
Other references:
Brophy, P. (2007). The Library in the Twenty-first Century. 2nd edition. London, Facet.
Clayton, P. & Gorman, G.E. (2001). Managing information resources in libraries: collection management in theory and practice. London: Library Association. Evans, W. (2009). Building Library 3.0; issues in creating a culture of participation. Oxford, Chandos.
Ferguson, S. (ed) (2007). Libraries in the Twenty-first Century; Charting New Directions in Information Services. Wagga Wagga: Centre for Information Studies, Charles Sturt University.
George, C.A. (2008). User-centred Library Websites; Usability Evaluation Methods. Oxford, Chandos.
Katz, W. (1997). Introduction to Reference Work. (7th ed.) New York: McGraw-Hill. Kennedy, J. (2002). Collection management: a concise introduction. Wagga Wagga: Centre for Information Studies, Charles Sturt University. OCLC (2005), Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources, downloadable at: http://www.oclc.org/reports/2005perceptions.htm
See above list
Students studying off-campus are required to have the minimum system configuration specified by the Faculty as a condition of accepting admission, and regular Internet access. On-campus students, and those studying at supported study locations may use the facilities available in the computing labs. Information about computer use for students is available from the ITS Student Resource Guide in the Monash University Handbook. You will need to allocate up to 12 hours per week for use of a computer, including time for newsgroups/discussion groups.
Study resources we will provide for your study are:
Weekly detailed lecture notes outlining the learning objectives, discussion of the content, required readings and exercises; Weekly tutorial or laboratory tasks and exercises with sample solutions provided one to two weeks later; Assignment specifications and sample solutions; A sample examination and suggested solution Access to past examination papers; Discussion groups; This Unit Guide outlining the administrative information for the unit; The unit web site on MUSO, where resources outlined above will be made available.To pass a unit which includes an examination as part of the assessment a student must obtain:
If a student does not achieve 40% or more in the unit examination or the unit non-examination total assessment, and the total mark for the unit is greater than 50% then a mark of no greater than 49-N will be recorded for the unit.
Late assignments submitted without an approved extension may be accepted up to one week late, at the discretion of your lecturer, but will be penalised at the rate of 10% of total assignment marks per day (including weekends).
Example:
Total marks available for the assignment = 100 marks.
Marks received for the assignment = 70 marks.
Marks deducted for 2 days late submission (20% of 100) = 20 marks.
Final mark received for assignment = 50 marks.
After one week, the assignment will score zero.
Assignment coversheets are available via "Student Forms" on the Faculty website: http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/forms/
You MUST submit a completed coversheet with all assignments, ensuring that the plagiarism declaration section is signed.
Assignment submission and return procedures, and assessment criteria will be specified with each assignment.
Weighting:
50%
Length:
3 hours
Type (open/closed book):
Closed book
Remarks:
Please make every effort to submit work by the due dates. It is your responsibility to structure your study program around assignment deadlines, family, work and other commitments. Factors such as normal work pressures, vacations, etc. are not regarded as appropriate reasons for granting extensions. Students are advised to NOT assume that granting of an extension is a matter of course.
Students requesting an extension for any assessment during semester (eg. Assignments, tests or presentations) are required to submit a Special Consideration application form (in-semester exam/assessment task), along with original copies of supporting documentation, directly to their lecturer within two working days before the assessment submission deadline. Lecturers will provide specific outcomes directly to students via email within 2 working days. The lecturer reserves the right to refuse late applications.
A copy of the email or other written communication of an extension must be attached to the assignment submission.
Refer to the Faculty Special consideration webpage or further details and to access application forms: http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/equity/special-consideration.html
Students can expect assignments to be returned within two weeks of the submission date or after receipt, whichever is later.
Please visit the following URL: http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/units/appendix.html for further information about: