Spring 1999Syllabus for LS 556: Bibliography of the Sciences
Description of LS 556: Survey of the literature and practice of librarianship in major areas ofthe sciences, including biology, chemistry, engineering, geology,mathematics, medicine, and physics. Prerequisite: LS 500. This course has been designed to enable the student to understand and have working knowledge of science library collections; to build, maintain, budget and manage a science library collection; to learn how to communicate with their clientele and funding agencies; and how to negoitate the purchase of both print and electronic resources necessary to the collection.
Contact Info:
Head, Engineering & Science Library,
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890
Phone: (412) 268-2428 Fax: (412) 681-1998
Email: ltinsley@andrew.cmu.edu
Email is the preferred way to reach me but feel free to
call if you wish. I have a CMU email account. I have voice mail at CMU.
I will return calls as soon as possible.
OFFICE HOURS: 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. on Friday, April 9 and Friday, May 7; every Monday, 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. at (412) 268-2428 or email me at ltinsley@andrew.cmu.edu.
Email will be answered within 24 hours of receipt and is acceptable at any point outside of formal office hours.
Texts: On reserve in the Carlson Library
- Using science and technology information sources/ Ellis
Mount and Beatrice Kovacs. Q223 .M68 1991
- Reference sources in science, engineering, medicine,
and agriculture / H. Robert Malinowsky.
Z7401 .M278
1994
- Scientific and technical literature: an introduction
to forms of communication / Richard D. Walker and
C.D. Hurt.
Q223 .W34 1990
Reserve: As the semester unfolds additional readings will be provided on Reserve at the library. I will keep this web site updated with detailed information on all of the course readings and projects.
Course Web Site: http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/usr/ltinsley/clarion99.html
Grading: Grades will be based on regular class attendance, participation in class, and the completion of course projects.
Main course project
45% DUE: May 7, 1999
Class Partipation
20%
Sci/Tech in the News class presentation 20%
To be presented April 9/10
Practice Searches/Reference questions
15% Due as assigned
Calendar (subject to change)FEBRUARY 19/20
Introduction
- Overview of the nature of scientific and technical
literature
- Information seeking behavior of scientists and
engineers
- The research and teaching environment in science
as it operates in academic, corporate and public libraries
- The research information cycle
Readings: Mounts/Kovacs: pp.3-11; 12-14
** Check for articles placed on reserve in the
Carlson Library**
Primary Formats
- Conferences
- Dissertations and thesis
- Journals
- Technical Reports
- Handbooks, encyclopedia’s, indexes, directories,
etc.
- Lab notebooks
Readings: Mounts/Kovacs: pp.17-20; 21-25; 26-33;
48-53; 34-35.
Walker & Hurt: pp. 79-102; 1-77, 103-127
** Check for articles placed on reserve in the
Carlson Library**
Internet Resources and workstation technology
- general overview
- online catalogs / specialized databases
- Vendors and publishers
- How to get familiar with your collection subject field
** Check for articles placed on reserve in the Carlson Library**
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Computer Science
- Intro to primary and secondary resources
- Online resources
Sci-Tech in the News assignment - To be presented during class time
** Check for articles placed on reserve in the Carlson Library**
Saturday, April 10: Field Trip to Pittsburgh, Engineering & Science Library, CMU
Engineering Resources (engineering fields and geology)
- Intro to primary and secondary resources
- Online resources
- Standards
- Patents
Readings: Mounts/Kovacs: pp.130-135; 39-44
Walker & Hurt:
pp. 129-180
** Check for articles placed on reserve in the Carlson Library**
MAY 7/8
- Medical Resources
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Intro to primary and secondary resources
- Online resources
** Check for articles placed on reserve in the Carlson Library**
Services in Libraries
- Document delivery
- Search services
- Collection building
- Instruction
- The patrons
** Check for articles placed on reserve in the Carlson Library**
Assignments:
Main Course Project:
You have just been hired by WeBuiltIt, Inc., an international
scientific research firm. The company has 75 worldwide sites, with
a main corporate library in Paris, France. The firm’s interests are
varied and each location is specialized in one of the following areas:
Environmental Engineering
Mathematics
Physics
BioMedical Engineering
Biology
Ceramics and Plastics Research
Chemistry
Artificial Intelligence and Expert Systems
At your site, no library collection currently exists. You were hired to build it. Keep in mind that you will need a ready reference collection to answer inquires; a small book collection for in-depth study; a current journal section; and you will need to select appropriate online services (i.e. CDROMs, search services, databases, etc.). You can call upon the services of the main corporate library remotely, but document delivery and assistance are slow.
Your assignment is to create a working list of your collection. Choose one of the areas listed above and purchase away! For each category, you will need to purchase:
Reference Collection = 8 items
General book collection = 10 items
Journal collection = 8 titles
Databases = at least 3
State each item selected and annotate it. Describe how it can be utilized in your setting. Feel free to use the Internet – go look at engineering and science university library homepages, bookstore websites, society websites and so on.
Length should not exceed 10 pages. Introduce your
collection and tell me about your services. Extra points will be
given for “creative” approaches. This assignment is the major course
assignment and will count 45% toward the final grade (out of a possible
100%).
Hints:
1. Remember that your clients will ask non-technical,
general reference queries.
2. You can take advantage of document delivery services
to purchase requested documents.
3. This is only a skeleton collection; a first pass at
a beginning working collection.
Please feel free to ask questions about this assignment.
DUE: May 8, 1999
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Sci-Tech in the News Project - To be presented April 9/10
Locate, read, and summarize a current article featuring some aspect of science or technology in the news. Your choice. Be prepared to present your summary to the class.
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Practice Searches / Reference questions
I will have these occassional assignments as needed. I will provide these to you in class. I will also add them to this website and to the reserve desk at the Carlson Library.
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Special Needs: Students with learning disabilities and/or special physical requirements should make their needs known to me. I will make every effort to assist you.
Note: Clarion University of Pennsylvania regards student participation in class as essential to the learning process. Therefore regular classroom attendance is required. It is understood that absence does not excuse the student from course work and the responsibility to complete assignments on time. The instructor should be notified in advance of planned absences and arrangements will be made to complete missed work. The instructor is not required to give make up examinations or accept class work missed as a result of an unexcused absence.
Statement of Scholarly Responsibility: Students are expected to follow normal practice in acknowledging the source of facts, ideas, summaries, quotations, and paraphrases used in their written work. Direct quotations must be enclosed in quotation marks and the exact source acknowledged. The use of another's words without attribution and without enclosing the words in quotation marks is plagiarism. Using facts, ideas and summaries derived from another source without indicating the source is also plagiarism. A close paraphrase may also be considered plagiarism - even if the source is named. Submitting another student's work as though it were your own is always plagiarism - even if the original paper has been paraphrased or otherwise modified. If you are in doubt as to what consititues plagiarism, you are encouraged to consult with the instructor. Any student suspected of plagiarism will have the suspect passage pointed out to him/her and will be given an opportunity to explain why it should not be regarded as plagiarism. Depending on the severity of the infraction, penalties for plagiarism include 1) receiving a reduced grade for the assignment 2) redoing the assignment on a different topic 3) receiving a failing grade for the assignment, or 4) receiving a failing grade for the course. Students who are dissatisfied with the instructor's decision in such a case may - without prejudice - refer the matter to the attention of the department chair, the college dean, the provost and academic vice president, and/or the university Conduct Board, as described in the Student Rights and Regulations Handbook.
Updated February 25, 1999