LIS 416: Descriptive Cataloging

Email is the best way to contact me. I will respond as soon as possible. Please put LIS 416 in the subject line of the email to ensure it grabs my attention.

When I email you, I will use your official simmons.edu address. To avoid missing important messages, make sure that you are checking your Simmons email regularly or that you have it set up to forward to an account that you are checking regularly.

Requirements

At a minimum, students are expected to

• Attend class.
• Be prepared.
• Read required materials.
• Watch required videos.
• Participate in exercises.
• Complete homework assignments on time.
• Participate in group or partnered activities.
• Check email.
• Use Moodle.
• Make every effort to master the material.

Attendance

Attendance is expected each week, and roll will be taken. Attendance accounts for 5% of your grade. Please arrive on time; habitual tardiness or more than one absence will lower your attendance grade.

Sometimes missing class is unavoidable. Students who must miss a class due to religious observance, work obligations, illness, or family emergency should notify the instructor by email before class time.

Readings

You are expected to read the textbook, sections of RDA, and the LC/PCC Rule Interpretation concurrently. This is going to be boring as all get out, but you need to be able juggle multiple standards/tools at the same time. As we get farther along both MARC and ISBD documentation will get thrown in the mix as well. Students have in past complained about having to use so many standards; but that's what descriptive cataloging entails!

The Oliver book, which is available as an e-book from the Beatley Library, is assigned to provide context for your final projects. You should read it before covering Official RDA in Week 7.

Assignments

Assignments reflect the ideas and activities addressed in readings, lectures (live and video), and exercises. They cover both conceptual and practical aspects of information organization.

Here are some guidelines:

• Start Early: Begin assignments well in advance of the deadline to allow time for clarification if needed. While working on assignments, it can be helpful to review your notes from class.

• Seek Clarification: If you are unsure or confused, or you have questions, please contact me via email. You are encouraged to ask for assistance with assignments when needed. Do not wait until the last minute, as I may not be able to respond in time. Please do not wait until one or two nights before the due date to contact me with questions related to the assignment. This substantially decreases the odds that I will get your message and be able to respond in time to assist you before the deadline.

• Consult Your Notes: While you are working on assignments, it can be helpful to review your notes from class. (Hint: Take notes!) The lectures contain lots of important details! If I point out some lapse in the rules or something that's unusual, it may come up again.

• Review Your Work: Ensure your work is complete. Missing pages or answers will result in lost points. Review the assignment instructions to make sure you have provided complete answers.

• Follow Due Dates: Assignments are typically due 2-3 weeks after distribution, but refer to the syllabus calendar for specific dates.

You are expected to successfully complete every assignment in the semester. There are no make-up or extra credit assignments in this class. If you fail to turn in an assignment, you will receive a zero (0%) for that assignment. All assignments must be attempted and submitted to the instructor in order to pass this course.

All assignments must be completed and submitted via email by 9 a.m. on the due date. Files should be in Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) format only, unless otherwise specified. Use the following naming format for files:

LastName1-LastName2-LIS416-Assignment-name.<File extension>

The last names should be in alphabetical order. For example, when you and a partner submit the first assignment, the file name should be similar to this:

Adams-Shin-LIS416-Access-Points.docx

Graded assignments typically will be returned to students 1-2 weeks after submission. Due to time constraints, we will not be reviewing graded assignments in class, but you will receive substantial feedback on the assignments. In addition, I will gladly meet with you to discuss any questions you might have about your returned assignments.

Partners

Throughout the term you will be working individually, in pairs, or in groups. All assignments are to be done only with your partner(s). Only one version of the assignment will be submitted from each pair/group with your agreed-upon answers. Some assignments will have randomly assigned partners; others you will find your partner yourself. If you are looking for a partner (after an assignment has been distributed), please use the "Find a Partner" discussion board in Moodle. 

To ensure a successful partnership:

• Communicate: Establish a plan and communicate effectively.

• Set Expectations: Agree on a schedule and deadlines.

• Check In: Ensure tasks are on track before deadlines.

• Be Responsive: Respond promptly to messages.

If problems arise:

• Document Communications: Keep records of messages and contributions.

• Involve the Professor: If the issue persists, seek guidance.

• Be Prepared: If your partner remains unresponsive, you may be required to submit the assignment individually, with a grade penalty (10%) applied to the unresponsive partner's paper.

Late Policy

I am serious about deadlines. Deadlines in the workplace are consequential; missing deadlines can have an impact on your livelihood. In this class, all assignments are to be completed and submitted on time. Late assignments will not be accepted. If you do not complete or turn in an assignment on the due date, you will receive a zero for that assignment.

There are no extensions, no make-up work, no extra-credit options, and no exceptions. This is an advanced course; you are expected to have your work done on time.

AI Policy

Unless otherwise specified, the use of generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, GPT-based applications, or other text-generation software) is prohibited for all course assignments and discussion board posts. This policy is intended to promote meaningful engagement with the course material and to ensure that you are developing the essential knowledge and competencies required for professional success in the Library and Information Science (LIS) field.

You are expected to submit work that you and your partner(s) have created independently, without assistance from AI. This ensures that you fully internalize the concepts, tools, and skills critical to your academic and professional development. Although generative AI will likely be a part of future LIS workplaces, over-reliance on these tools during your education can hinder your learning and ability to apply key concepts effectively.

It also reduces your capacity to critically evaluate the accuracy, appropriateness, and potential bias of AI-generated content—skills that are increasingly vital in our field. Developing this kind of expertise requires a strong grasp of the underlying concepts and methods, so that you can recognize when AI outputs are incomplete, biased, misleading, or simply incorrect.

Why this matters: The purpose of this course is not just to earn a grade, but to help you develop competencies that will be essential for your career. Using AI to complete your assignments deprives you of the opportunity to genuinely learn and practice the skills you will need in the LIS profession.

If you are uncertain whether AI use is permitted for a specific task, you are expected to seek clarification from the instructor before submitting your work.

Incompletes

Students who become ill, have a medical emergency, a death in the immediate family, extreme hardship, or unusual circumstances may request an incomplete from the instructor. Students must be performing at a passing level to be considered eligible for an incomplete. Students must work with the SLIS MS-Program Director in order to request an incomplete. If approval is granted, the incomplete must be finished before the first week of the following term (e.g., if you take an incomplete in the spring semester, you must finish the incomplete before summer classes begin). If the incomplete is not finished by the deadline, you will receive zeros in all outstanding assignments.

Zoom-specific Information

For this course, Zoom is our classroom and should be treated as such. Behaviors/activities that are inappropriate for an on-campus course should be avoided for a Zoom-based class as well. Although this course is being taught online, it is a synchronous class. That means students are expected to be seated in the Zoom classroom on the dates and times listed in the course schedule.

Students are expected to be in a safe and somewhat private environment while in the Zoom classroom. Students need to be in a space where they can listen closely, take notes, participate in group exercises, speak freely and audibly, and so on. In short, they need to be in an environment conducive to learning. This means, during class time, students should not be driving a car, running errands, eating in a restaurant, sitting in a public space, etc.

For online synchronous courses, it is important for students to have stable Internet connections and reliable computing equipment. Live-streaming requires a certain amount of bandwidth and computing power. Zoom's help center is found here. Many in-class activities will require opening multiple windows and using information tools with varying levels of success regarding adaptive design. The small screens of smartphones and tablets are often inadequate for completing the activities. If reliable Internet access and computing equipment are issues, online synchronous courses may prove to be a difficult mode of delivery. If you are having issues with Internet access and/or computing equipment, you may wish to contact Simmons Technology for advice on how to mitigate these issues.

I typically do not record the class sessions in Zoom. If a student knows they will be absent, the professor may record the session for later viewing upon request.

I do not require students to be on-screen during the entire class session. I ask that you be on-screen during discussions and exercises. You may turn off your cameras during lecture portions of the class.

Student Policies

You can access the SLIS Student Handbook for more information about various SLIS policies.

For information regarding these Simmons University policies on Academic Integrity, Accessibility Services, Sexual Harassment Policy, and more, please see the Syllabus Policies website.

Land Acknowledgment: Simmons SLIS recognizes that the land on which we work and study is the rightful heritage of peoples known, including the Massachusett, Pawtucket, Pocumtuc, Nonotuck, and Nipmuck peoples, as well as peoples unknown to us. We gratefully respect not only their attachment and claim to the land, but the centuries of stewardship which allows us and our institution to prosper here. As grateful, but uninvited guests on this land, we will continue to work to be accountable to the needs of Native American and Indigenous peoples.

Changes to the Syllabus: This syllabus is not a contract. The instructor reserves the right to alter the course requirements, schedule, and/or assignments based on new materials, class discussions, or other legitimate pedagogical objectives. Students will be given notice of relevant changes in class or via e-mail.

Digital Student Products: Any digital work produced in this course and maintained on a Simmons server will be erased 90 days after the end of the course. In some cases, a 30-day extension is available with the permission of the COCIS Tech Manager. SLIS Students are ultimately responsible for preserving the longevity of their digital coursework. You can do this most effectively by using the resources that are made available from COCIS Tech or SLIS faculty.

Copying of Student Products: Unless the student indicates otherwise by e-mail to the instructor, the instructor may be collecting copies of student work for use in the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education or the COA accreditation process. Student names will be removed from the student work prior to use.