Tentative Schedule (Winter 2012)

Class time: Mondays 9:00 - 11:50 am, Rm. 3-01 or 205A (lab), Rutherford South

Textbook: Bell, Suzanne. S. (2009). Librarian's Guide to Online Searching, 2nd Edition. Libraries Unlimited.

January 9

• Introduction
  
• Readings: None

January 16

• Topics
  
• Database structure; Information retrieval overview
  
• The searcher's toolkit part 1
• Bibliographic databases (OPACs)
  
• Readings:
• Chapters 1, 2, & 6
  
• Humboldt State University Library. Search strategy worksheet.

January 23

• Topics
  
• Digital reference - What is the difference?
  
• The searcher's toolkit part 2
• Social science databases
  
• Readings:
  
• Chapters 3 & 4
  
• Berube, L.  (2003).  Digital reference overview.
  
• Lindbloom, M., Yackle, A., Burhans, S., Peters, T. & Bell, L. (2006).  Virtual reference:  A reference question is a reference question . . . or is virtual reference a new reality?  New career opportunities for librarians.  The Reference Librarian 45(93), 3-22. - SR
• Desai, C.M. & Graves, S.J. (2008). Cyberspace or face-to-face: The teachable moment and changing reference mediums. Reference & User Services Quarterly 47(3), 242-254. - SR
• Janes, J. & Silverstein, J. (2003). Question negotiation and the technological environment. D-Lib Magazine 9(2) (February). - SR
• Penka, J. T. (2003). The technological challenges of digital reference: An overview. D-Lib Magazine 9(2) (February). - SR

January 30

• Topic
  
• Ask A Question (AAQ) Training (including Managing AAQ
) by Stacey Bissell, The Alberta Library
• Readings:
  
• IFLA Digital Reference Guidelines
• Ask A Question service
  
• Assignment due: Comparison of search techniques
  

February 6

• Topics
  
• Value-added reference services: from searching to discovery
  
• Citation indexing and searching;
  
• Citation databases
  
• Digital reference - Opportunities and practices
• Readings:
• Chapter 5 (Web of Science and the citation indexes)
  
• Garfield, E. (1964). Science citation index: A new dimension in indexing. Science, 144, 649-654.
• Tenopir, C. (2001a). The power of citation searching. Library Journal, 126(18), 39-40.
  
• McVeigh, M.E. (2010). Citation indexes and the Web of Science. In Bates, M.J. (Ed). Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science (pp. 1027-1037). CRC Press.
• The Thomson Reuters Journal Selection Process
  
• Student readings
• Dee, C. R. (2005).  Digital reference service:  Trends in academic health science libraries.  Medical Reference Services Quarterly 24(1), 19-27. - SR
• Kern, Kathleen M.  Chat it up!  Extending reference services to assist off-campus students.  Journal of Library Administration. 41(1/2), 217-226. - SR

February 13

• Continue last week's topics;
  
• Readings:
• Jacsó, P. (2005) Google Scholar: the pros and the cons, Online Information Review, vol. 29, no. 2, pp. 208-214.
• Bosman, J, Mourik, I. van, Rasch, M.; Sieverts, E., Verhoeff, H. (2006) Scopus reviewed and compared. The coverage and functionality of the citation database Scopus, including comparisons with Web of Science and Google Scholar, Utrecht: Utrecht University Library.
• Falagas, M. E., Pitsouni, E. I., Malietzis, G. A., & Pappas, G. (2008). Comparison of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar: Strengths and weaknesses. The FASEB Journal, 22, 338-342.
• Jacsó, P. (2005). As we may search – Comparison of major features of the web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar citation-based and citation-enhanced databases. Current Science, 89(9), 1537-1547.
• Student readings
• Forster, S. (2006).  Using instant messaging for online reference service. The Australian Library Journal  55(2), 147-158. - SR
• Jensen, B.  (2004).  The case for non-intrusive research:  a virtual reference librarians’ perspective.  The Reference Librarian 85, 139-149. - SR
• Assignment due: AAQ1

February 20

• No class - Statutory Provincial holiday; University buildings closed

February 27

• Topics
  
• Digital reference - Interpersonal communication
• Databases for science and medicine
• Guest Speaker: Linda Slater on Health Sciences Databases (9:00am)
  
• Readings:
  
• Chapter 5 (MEDLINE and PubMed) 
• Silverstein, J. (2005).  Just curious:  Children’s use of digital reference for unimposed queries and its importance in informal education.  Library Trends. 54(2), 228-244. - SR
• Radford, M. L. (2005).  Encountering virtual users:  A qualitative investigation of interpersonal communication in chat reference.  Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology 57(8), 1046-1059. - SR
• Kwon, N. & Gregory, V.L. (2007). The effects of librarians' behavioral performance on user satisfaction in chat reference services. Reference & User Services Quarterly 47(2), 137-148. - SR
• Lankes, R.D. (2005). Digital reference research: Fusing research and practice. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 44(4), 320-326. - SR
• Assignment due: Citation databases and their application in reference services

March 5

• Topics
  
• Digital reference - Issues and management
• Humanities databases;
  
• Guest Speaker:  Lisa-Jane Watson
 on Using EBSCO Host (9:00am)
• Readings:
  
• Chapter 7
  
• Neuhaus, P. (2003).  Privacy and confidentiality in digital reference. Reference & User Services Quarterly.  43(1), 26-36. - SR
• Shachaf, P., & Horowitz, S.M. (2008). Virtual reference service evaluation: Adherence to RUSA behavioral guidelines and IFLA digital reference guidelines. Library & Information Science Research, 30, 122-127. - SR
• Ciccone, K., & VanScoy, A. (2003). Managing an established virtual reference service.” Internet Reference Services Quarterly 8(1/2): 95-105. - SR
• Assignment due: AAQ2
  

March 12

• Topics
  
• Numberical databases
• User dimension of IR systems
• Guest Speaker: Chuck Humphrey on Accessing data (9:00am)
  
• Readings:
• Chapters 8 & 9

March 19

• Topics
• Evaluation of databases
• Law databases
• Guest Speaker: Wanda Quoika-Stanka on Law Databases (10:30am)
• Readings:
• Chapters 10 & 11
• RUSA. Business Reference and Services Section. (Winter 2001). Guidelines for medical, legal, and business information service responses. Reference and User Services Quarterly 41(2): 111-13.
  
• Assignment due: AAQ3

March 26

• Topic
  
• Databases for business information
• Web searching
• Retrieval of  information unique in content or format
• Guest speaker: Kathy West on Business Information (9:00am)
• Readings:
• Felter, L.M. (2005). The Better Mousetrap: Google Scholar, Scirus, and the Scholarly Search Revolution. Searcher 13(2), 42-48.
• SEOmoz Search Engine Ranking Factors
  
• Dodging Google sheriff
  
• Google AdWords info and tutorials
• Google family search tools
• Assignment due: Comparison of databases

April 2

• Topics
  
• Patent literature
• Government documents
• Issues and trends
  
• Guest Speakers:
• Sandy Campbell
 on Accessing Patent Literature (9:00am)
• Amanda Wakaruk on Accessing Government documents (10:30am)
• Readings:
• Chapter 12
• Taylor, A. (2005).  Patent searchers.  Searcher.  13(3): 28-33.
• Tenopir, C., Baker, G., & Grogg, J. (2010). Database Marketplace 2010: Feast and Famine. Library Journal, 05/15/2010.
• Guz, S.S. (2011). Best Databases 2011: Librarians Decide Which Databases Make the Grade. Library Journal, 12/ 07/2011.

April 9

• No class - Easter Monday
  
• Assignment due: Reference work using multiple digital IR systems (April 10)