This unit introduces students to the major categories of information resources in all media and how they are accessed through a variety of common user interfaces from anywhere in the world. The process of satisfying these needs through the reference interview and the application of skilled search strategies is explored. The ways that information resources are procured by libraries and e-repositories through purchase or licensing, and supplied to users on a cost-effective, efficient basis are examined. Access and authentication, intellectual property law and professional duty of care are described.
Minimum total expected workload equals 12 hours per week comprising:
(a.) Contact hours for on-campus students:
(b.) Study schedule for off-campus students:
(c.) Additional requirements (all students):
See also Unit timetable information
Off-campus students generally do not attend lecture and tutorial sessions, however, you should plan to spend equivalent time listening to lectures online via MULO and undertaking tutorial exercises.
Tom Denison
Consultation hours: Thursdays 2.00 - 4.00pm, H7.33
Andrew Dixon
Monash is committed to excellence in education and regularly seeks feedback from students, employers and staff. One of the key formal ways students have to provide feedback is through the Student Evaluation of Teaching and Units (SETU) survey. The University’s student evaluation policy requires that every unit is evaluated each year. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the surveys. The feedback is anonymous and provides the Faculty with evidence of aspects that students are satisfied and areas for improvement.
For more information on Monash’s educational strategy, see:
www.monash.edu.au/about/monash-directions/ and on student evaluations, see: www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/quality/student-evaluation-policy.html
The unit's content has been revised and updated this year in response to student, staff and industry feedback. The unit has scored well in all aspects in previous evaluations, however there has been some criticism of the instructions provided for the tutorial exercises forming part of Assignment 1. These have been reviewed and revised.
If you wish to view how previous students rated this unit, please go to
https://emuapps.monash.edu.au/unitevaluations/index.jsp
| Week | Activities | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Students will need to familiarise themselves with the information contained in this unit guide as well as materials on the unit website (eg lecture notes and tutorial activities) | No formal assessment or activities are undertaken in week 0 |
| 1 | The variety of information services and organisations | No seminar/tutorial |
| 2 | The information multiverse: physical, digital and virtual information resources/collections and meta-collections | Seminar Topic 1: The multiverse of information services |
| 3 | Understanding user information needs: Information seeking behaviour; user needs analysis; the reference interview | Seminar Topic 2: The multiverse of information resources. Assignment 1 Topic 1 due |
| 4 | Understanding user information needs: Information literacy | Seminar Topic 3: User needs analysis/the reference interview. Assignment 1 Topic 2 due |
| 5 | Building information resource collections in libraries (library collection management; principles and tools; cooperative schemes and networks, e.g. DocDel, ILL) | Seminar Topic 4: Library collection management. Assignment 1 Topic 3 due |
| 6 | Building information resource collections in archives (archival appraisal and collection policies; principles and tools; cooperative schemes and networks) | Seminar Topic 5: Archival appraisal and collection policies. Assignment 1 Topic 4 due |
| 7 | Designing access to information resources/collections/meta-collections: libraries and archives as intermediaries; disintermediation | Designing, managing and evaluating information services. Assignment 1 Topic 5 due |
| 8 | Designing and managing user services | Designing, managing and evaluating information services |
| 9 | Information infrastructure: Information policies; copyright; access permissions; terms and conditions of use | Seminar Presentations. Assignment 2 due |
| 10 | Accessing information resources/collections/meta-collections: search and discovery strategies; Web 2.0 technologies | Seminar Presentations |
| 11 | Accessing archival resources/collections/meta-collections: search and discovery strategies; Web 2.0 technologies | Seminar Presentations |
| 12 | Review of Weeks 1-11 | Seminar Topic: Exam Revision. |
| SWOT VAC | No formal assessment is undertaken in SWOT VAC | |
| Examination period | LINK to Assessment Policy: http://policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/ academic/education/assessment/ assessment-in-coursework-policy.html |
*Unit Schedule details will be maintained and communicated to you via your learning system.
Examination (3 hours): 50%; In-semester assessment: 50%
| Assessment Task | Value | Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment 1: Discussion Topics 1-5 | 25%: note up to 20% of this mark (5 marks) will be deducted for non-participation in related tutorials by on-campus students, non-completion of tutorial exercises by off-campus students; and non-participation in discussion forum. | Topic 1 due Week 3; Topic 2 due Week 4; Topic 3 due Week 5; Topic 4 due Week 6; Topic 5 due Week 7 |
| Assignment 2: Evaluation of an information service | 25%: note up to 20% of this mark (5 marks) will be deducted for non-participation in related tutorials by on-campus students, non-completion of tutorial exercises by off-campus students; and non-participation in discussion forum. | Report due at the end of Week 9; Presentations scheduled Week 9 to Week 11 |
| Examination 1 | 50% | To be advised |
Faculty Policy - Unit Assessment Hurdles (http://intranet.monash.edu.au/infotech/resources/staff/edgov/policies/assessment-examinations/assessment-hurdles.html)
Academic Integrity - Please see resources and tutorials at http://www.monash.edu/library/skills/resources/tutorials/academic-integrity/
On-campus students are expected to participate in all tutorials; all students are expected to complete tutorial exercises and related discussion forums. The activities in these sessions are directly related to the Assignments. Up to 20% of the marks for each assignment may be deducted if students do not meet this requirement.
Criteria for assessment:
1. Degree to which postings demonstrate understanding of the topic and engagement with the readings.
2. Contribution in discussion forum and responses to postings with other students.
3. Completion of class exercises.
You will be assessed on the basis of:
1. Demonstrated understanding of the information service.
2. Evaluation of the main components of the service according to the criteria provided.
3. Research and investigative effort.
4. Identification, coverage and use of relevant sources.
5. Presentation of findings in report, including citations and bibliography.
6. Class presentation.
7. Participation in related tutorial exercises and discussion forum.
Further detailed guidelines will be provided.
See the unit reading list via the Monash Libraries website.
Additional references will be provided during semester.
Monash Library Unit Reading List (if applicable to the unit)
http://readinglists.lib.monash.edu/index.html
Types of feedback you can expect to receive in this unit are:
Submission must be made by the due date otherwise penalties will be enforced.
You must negotiate any extensions formally with your campus unit leader via the in-semester special consideration process: http://www.monash.edu.au/exams/special-consideration.html
It may be possible to resubmit assignments in a limited number of special circumstances. However, this will only be possible with the prior permission of the Lecturer.
APA 6th is the recommended style for undergraduate and coursework masters students in the the Faculty of Information Technology. Information about APA 6th can be found in the Library Style Guide at http://intranet.monash.edu.au/infotech/resources/students/style-guide/.
It is a University requirement (http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/conduct/student-academic-integrity-managing-plagiarism-collusion-procedures.html) for students to submit an assignment coversheet for each assessment item. Faculty Assignment coversheets can be found at http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/forms/. Please check with your Lecturer on the submission method for your assignment coversheet (e.g. attach a file to the online assignment submission, hand-in a hard copy, or use an electronic submission). Please note that it is your responsibility to retain copies of your assessments.
If Electronic Submission has been approved for your unit, please submit your work via the learning system for this unit, which you can access via links in the my.monash portal.
All materials will be delivered through Moodle. Students must check Moodle regularly for announcements relating to the unit.
Monash has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and to provide advice on how they might uphold them. You can find Monash’s Education Policies at: www.policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/academic/education/index.html
Important student resources including Faculty policies are located at http://intranet.monash.edu.au/infotech/resources/students/
The University provides many different kinds of support services for you. Contact your tutor if you need advice and see the range of services available at http://www.monash.edu.au/students. For Malaysia see http://www.monash.edu.my/Student-services, and for South Africa see http://www.monash.ac.za/current/.
The Monash University Library provides a range of services, resources and programs that enable you to save time and be more effective in your learning and research. Go to www.lib.monash.edu.au or the library tab in my.monash portal for more information. At Malaysia, visit the Library and Learning Commons at http://www.lib.monash.edu.my/. At South Africa visit http://www.lib.monash.ac.za/.