SYLLABUS
Spring 2010

LBRA 1371.090
Introduction to Libraries

Calendar

Students contact Prof. Glass by Tuesday, Jan. 12th by email in Blackboard Vista or my email. (email is colby.glass@yahoo.com.) For all other communications, unless very personal, please use the "Discussions" area in Blackboard Vista.

Come to the on-campus orientation on Jan. 11th if possible. The orientation is at 6:30 in the evening in room 200 of the PAC library (upstairs at the head of the stairs). If not possible, go to Online Orientation.

Jan. 11-17 Week 1 Introduction to Libraries: Types of information organizations and employers.

Jan. 18-24 Week 2 Role of the LTA

Jan. 25-31 Week 3 History of the Book

Feb. 1-7 Week 4 History of Libraries

Feb. 8-14 Week 5 Automation

Feb. 15-21 Week 6 Tools and Terminology

Feb. 22-28 Week 7 Basic Library Philosophy

Mar. 1-7 Week 8 Critical Thinking and Information Literacy

Mar. 8-14 Week 9 Advanced techniques in reading, writing, speaking, thinking and listening

Mar. 15-21 Spring Break.

Mar. 22-28 Week 10 Research Techniques (six online classes) 2 weeks

Mar. 29- April 4 Week 11 Research Techniques continued

Apr. 5-11 Week 12 Seeking a Job

Apr. 12-18 Week 13 Library Vendors

Apr. 19-25 Week 14 Conflict Resolution

Apr. 26- May 2 Week 15 Dealing with Change; being the boss; being the employee

May. 3-9 Week 16 (Finals)

Course Description

LBRA 1371.090 - Communications Skills for Manager: Intro. to Libraries - covers types of organizations and employers, role of the LTA, automation, history of the book, tools and terminology, basic library philosophy, seeking a job, written and oral communications skills, library vendors, conflict resolution, dealing with change.

Textbook

Due to the ridiculous prices being charged for textbooks today, this course will not employ one. Instead, we will be using the Internet and my notes from books.

Contact Information:

Colby Glass personal email = colby.glass@yahoo.com

Colby Glass home phone = 210-561-7905. Please call between 1pm and 6pm.

Far and away the best means of contacting me is through the BBV Discussions area. Whatever question you have, others in the class will also probably have. The Discussions area allows everyone in the class to see the question and my answer.

For technical problems call Support Central at 210-485-0555.

Office Hours

Since BBV and the Internet are asynchronous, we are all free to communicate at any time which is convenient for everyone.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be familiar with libraries, books, and their histories. You will know about types of information organizations and employers, role of the LTA, automation, tools and terminology, basic library philosophy, seeking a job, written and oral communications skills, library vendors, conflict resolution, and dealing with change.

Modules

This class is divided into modules, and each module contains readings and quizzes. All of the modules will be accessible from the Class Content area of Blackboard Vista. Quizzes will only be available until a few days after the week due. They will be available ahead of time, however, in case you want to work ahead.

Your grades are avaiable on the bottom left of the BBV screen. The heading is "My Tools" and the first of three items is "My Grades". Remember, if you are not satisfied with your grade, the quiz can always be retaken before the end of the semester.

Course Assignments and Grading Policies

Course assignments include reading the material under each week, reading the links included, and taking the quizzes and the final.

Grading Policies:

A = 90-100
B = 80-89
C = 70-79
D = 60-69
F = below 60

Any grade below a C for the semester is unacceptable for the program certificate. The course will have to be repeated.

Semester grade includes:

60% = Average of weekly quizzes
20% = Adequate communication and involvement with the class
20% = Final

Every time you comment on a week's topic in Discussions, you receive 5 points toward a 100 or better in your Communication and involvement grade which is 20% of your total greade.

Late assignments--which includes class participation and weekly quizzes--will have one point deducted for every day they are late.

Student Responsibilities

Students are expected to read the weekly materials, take the weekly quizzes, participate in the class discussions and other communications, all in a timely manner--in the week specified. Students should immediately inform the instructor if they are ill or otherwise incapacitated. Adjustments can be made if I know what's happening.

In addition, students are to look up any words they do not understand in the dictionary and begin developing a professional vocabulary. They should also use the tools and links provided, taking careful notes in preparation for the weekly quiz.

PAC Withdrawal Policy

Students are responsible for officially withdrawing from classes by the deadline date listed in the current Class Schedule [online]. There is no automatic withdrawal process. Failure to follow the proper withdrawal procedures may result in a grade of "F". Students may drop a course by CLASS, CLASS-Web, or in person at the Office of Admissions and Records. For more information on withdrawals, go to the PAC Registration Policies.

Technical Requirements, Downloads

In order to view certain multimedia elements and documents on the Web, you need specific plug-ins. The most popular plug-ins are QuickTime, Real, Flash, Shockwave, and Acrobat Reader, and they are all freely downloadable.

Get QuickTime Player for Apple and MacIntosh machines,

or Get Real Player for PC machines.

(You will need to download the latest version of Real Player or QuickTime to watch the videos required in the course.)

Get Acrobat Reader.

Get the Flash Player.

Get Shockwave.