LIS578LE Course Webpage > Syllabus

Technical Services Functions

LIS578LE

Summer 2005

Last updated: 06/23/2005 2:12 PM

 

Instructor Information

Steve Oberg
Electronic Resources Librarian & Assistant Professor
Taylor University
236 W. Reade Ave.
Upland, IN 46989-1001

email: soberg@uiuc.edu
work: (765) 998-5243
home: (765) 998-2328
fax: (765) 998-5569
AIM ScreenName: sjoberg67

Seminar on the principles, trends, and issues of acquiring, identifying, recording, and conserving/preserving materials in all types of libraries and information centers; includes the special problems of serials management; emphasizes service aspects. Credit: 4 Graduate Hours. Source: GSLIS Course Catalog

By the end of this course, students are able to:

1. articulate the particular role that technical services plays in the work of the library as a whole
   
   
2. understand the importance of the interrelationship between technical services and other library components including, but not limited to, public services and systems
   
   
3. discuss the role that technology has played, and will continue to play, in the fulfillment of technical services functions
   
   
4. understand past practices, current reality, and future directions in technical services
   
   
5. appreciate the challenges and opportunities of serials management as an important component of technical services
   
   
6. know where to look in the literature and in other information resources (e.g. websites, discussion lists) to understand issues and resolve problems in technical services work

Course Content

Through various assignments, discussions, readings, and interactions with practicing librarians, students in this course gain a broad view of the theory and practice of technical services librarianship in its many manifestations. Of particular import is the sense of appreciating the “traditional” aspects of this area while at the same time grappling with the significant changes that those working in technical services librarianship are expected to handle on a daily basis, particularly as they relate to technology.

Technical services has such a broad scope that it presents a challenge to cover in a single course except with broad brush strokes. Because of that, certain content choices have been made. For example, a strong emphasis on cataloging work is intentionally absent. There is no question that cataloging work is an essential part of technical services. However, there are other course choices available that cover that topic in greater detail, thus it is given less attention than other areas, such as serials management, that may not be as adequately addressed elsewhere. Flexibility is built into many of the course assignments to enable the student to fill in any "missing pieces" or to focus on areas of particular interest that are not covered or given less emphasis.

In spite of the broad range of topics covered, two intertwining themes are woven into this course by design: 1.) Successful technical services professionals are, above all else, service-oriented; and 2.) they are sense-makers in a world of sometimes bewildering change. As such, their role is pivotal and profound in any library setting and, indeed, extends beyond the library into many non-traditional settings. This is an exciting, challenging area of librarianship!

Note that this syllabus may be augmented at various points throughout the course as needed. Grading definitions and assignment guidelines, however, will not be adjusted or altered. Students will be informed via email and/or bulletin board of any changes that are made to the syllabus or other course content.

Course Calendar (Subject to Change)

Due dates for each assignment are italicized. Click on links to individual sessions in order to see the full details about reading assignments, objectives, and other content for each class period. Some of these links may not be activated until further on in the course.

 

June 15	On-Campus Session: Introduction to Technical Services What is Technical Services? An Overview Tour of UIUC Main Library technical services departments Discussion and tour follow-up
June 17	Reflective Journal Entry Due
June 23	Acquisitions/Collection Development, Part 1 Introduction to definitions and issues Examine/discuss library/vendor relations
June 24	Reflective Journal Entry Due
June 30	Acquisitions/Collection Development, Part 2 Examine/discuss selecting/acquiring electronic resources
July 1	Reflective Journal Entry Due
July 5	Individual Project Purpose Statement Due
July 7	Cataloging: An Overview Historical issues and practices Interrelationship between cataloging and other library services Current cataloging "hot topics"
July 8	Reflective Journal Entry Due
July 14	Preservation Terminology Overview of preservation problems Relationship to collection management and acquisitions Digital preservation, the latest migraine
July 15	Reflective Journal Entry, Individual Project Due
July 21	Serials, Part 1 What is a serial? Serials management: general issues and practices Serials publishing Acquiring serials: challenges and opportunities
July 22	Reflective Journal Entry, Final Synthesis Paper Outline Due
July 28	Serials, Part 2 Bibliographic control of serials
July 29	Reflective Journal Entry
August 4	Course Wrap-Up Final Synthesis Paper Due

 

Assignments/Grades

There are four main elements that make up the course grade, with each element's relative weight shown in parentheses below:

1. Participation in class discussion (40%)
   
   
2. Individual project (20%)
   
   
3. Final synthesis paper (40%)

In addition to the four elements listed above, students are required to maintain a reflective journal throughout the course. Although this task is not assigned a grade, a passing grade for the course will not be given if it is not completed.

Detailed information and instructions about each assignment are provided in the Assignments page.

 

Course Readings and Supplemental Resources

Knowledge of where to go to learn more about trends, problems, issues, and initiatives in technical services librarianship is critical. Although they aren't comprehensive, the citations and links to other resources provided for the purposes of reading assignments and further education in each course section webpage, along with the Supplemental Resources webpage, are intended to provide a broad yet balanced view of all aspects of this area of specialization.

Additional links to and citations for relevant literature and other resources will be added throughout the course, generally well in advance of the section and/or assignments for which they are provided. Students will be notified of any changes to or augmentation of these resources by email and/or the course bulletin board.

 

Student Expectations

At the outset of this class during our on-campus session, students were asked to articulate their expectations for this course. Click here to read the resulting list. We will revisit this list on the final day of class (August 4) to determine whether or not these expectations have been met.

 

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