From the course proposal (written by Tang in Oct. 2007):
   This course provides an overview to the historical, current, and future automation and technological concerns facing information professionals in a variety of library information settings. It examines various functional components of automated library systems in acquiring, harvesting, organizing, maintaining, accessing, circulating, and disseminating collections. The course covers the process and principles of managing and evaluating library automation systems, including functional specifications, needs assessment, vendor review, RFPs, system implementation and customization, systems integration, and usability testing. It also addresses state of the art library automation trends, including incorporating new technologies such as wikis, RSS feeds, user tagging, and participatory services into library systems.

   Class activities may involve presentations and demos from vendors and systems librarians and possible site visits. Course requirements may include exercises using components of one or more integrated library systems (ILS). Projects may include vendor profiling, comparative analysis of online public access catalogs (OPACs) and other ILS modules, RFPs for library system products, and investigative reports on Library 2.0 technologies.

-- Click the buttons below to go to course objectives, student learning outcomes, and course design specifics --

I. Course Program Goals:

Library automation is at the heart of the daily operations of libraries in a variety of environments. The course provides automation knowledge and technology skills upon which students may build proficiency to work in libraries, archives, museums, and information centers. This course is designed to provide students not only with the experience of working with an ILS, but also with the ability to select, implement, test, evaluate, and maintain the system. The course addresses new technologies and next generation library automation tools, which students will be expected to know in the workplace.

This course is related to several GSLIS courses, including LIS 415 (Information Organization, which is a prerequisite) and LIS 462 (Digital Libraries, which focuses narrowly on a specific type of content). It is most closely related to LIS 488 (Technology for Information Professionals, which is a prerequisite) and LIS 418 (Technical Services, a course that provides a non-technology focused overview of the environments in which library automation systems are primarily used and managed). With its focus specifically on library automation, this course serves as a valuable extension of LIS 488 and LIS 418.

The course supports the GSLIS Master's program goal to "provide students with the foundation for developing careers as information professionals. Graduates will possess a broad understanding of library and information science in a rapidly changing society, while beginning to develop some specialization related to management, information and knowledge organization, information production, distribution, dissemination, retrieval, and use; information systems, services, and ethics; networks; and publishing." Specifically, it helps to prepare students for careers in

• Information systems support (for the student with pre-existing computing experience or academic preparation, this includes working with software/hardware applications such as basic network operations, providing technical support and training, Web management, developing documentation or training tools, and programming); and
• Knowledge and information resources management (which includes identifying, organizing, and managing the internal and external sources necessary to help an institution or organization conduct its business).

This course meets three of the objectives of the GSLIS program by helping students to:

• Gather, organize, manage, and preserve knowledge and information resources;

• Locate, retrieve, evaluate, and disseminate information -- in all formats -- from the full range of sources;

• Understand the information profession, both historical and present day, with respect to professional, social, and ethical issues; professional values; information policies and resources; and potential challenges for the future.

II.  Course Objectives:

• To understand the historical, current, and future trends of library automation development and technological evolution;
  
• To become acquainted with the key players in library automation industry and their signature ILS products, including those that are propriety and those that are open source;
  
• To learn the process of preparing the RFP (Request for Proposal), selecting vendors, evaluating products, and implementing and maintaining the system;
• To understand the planning process and decision matrix for adding, reconfiguring, replacing, and customizing tools into part or all library automation systems;
• To understand the extend to which the ILS automates and supports the library workflow, and to recognize the emerging gaps between ILS current functionality and the increasing demand of handling, sharing, and cross retrieving digital collections and resources; 
  
• To develop a keen awareness of key issues and new directions involved in the use and development of library technology, and to explore the movement of patron empowerment and participatory services as it drives the advancement of next generation ILS.

III.  Student Learning Outcomes:

• Graduates demonstrate critical thinking in their practice of library, archival and information science
• Graduates communicate clearly and effectively in a range of formats to a variety of audiences
• Graduates demonstrate leadership capability in practice and service and in diverse communities

IV. Course Design Specifics:

   Class meetings will combine lectures, discussions, presentations, and hands-on exercises. In addition to acquiring knowledge from lectures and discussions, students will practice with LibraryWorld, EOS.Web, or Koha in creating records for individual modules, including cataloging, circulation, serials, acquisitions, and others.

    The class sessions are typically composed of two parts: (1) Lecture on relevant topics; (2) demo, presentation or guest lecture by vendors and librarians/practitioners on the use and functionality of several ILS products. A number of guest speakers representing a variety of participants in library automation (automation vendors and ibrary systems) will be presenting on various aspects of library automation systems. 

    Early on in the semester, students will conduct investigation of library automation vendors and examine how a particular ILS software has been implemented and used in an actual library. Students will then be involved as a group of two in developing functional requirement documents for a particular module based on a scenario library setting. Students will then engage in studying a particular the future of the ILS case, and report on their findings of what changes have been brought to traditional ILS functions. Starting in the second part of the semester students will form teams to develop data source for a particular type of library using one of the three ILS practicing software. Students will present the finished products and explain their reasoning for the data structure to the class.

 

Rong Tang 2012.
Site created by Rong Tang January 2012.