Course Schedule and readings

Class 1.Information infrastructures and institutions

Class 2.Information systems as boundary objects

Class 3.Acquiring and managing resources

Class 4.Introduction to metadata

Class 5.Methods of description, representation and classification

Class 6.Metadata schema, vocabularies and encoding

Class 7.Database design

Class 8.Deep dive: Selected topic from weeks 1-7 deep dive

Class 9.Search and retrieval in information systems

Class 10.Resource dissemination, access and use: Creation of Metadata rich services

Class 11.Metadata rich web services week 2

Class 12.Building blocks of the web

Class 13.Exploration of Data Management

Class 14.Next steps in information infrastructures

Class 1.Information infrastructures and institutions

Class preparation activities

Review syllabus

Acquaint yourself with course technologies

Readings

  1. Mitchell, E. (2015). Chapter 1: Introduction to the world of digital information Metadata standards and web servcies in libraries, archives and museums. Libraries Unlimited, Santa Barbara, CA.
  2. Stop at "REVERSE APPROACH..." Buckland, M. (1991). Information as Thing. Journal of the American Society of Information Science42:5 (June 1991): 351-360.
  3. Kernighan, B. (2011). D is for Digital. Introduction, Chapter 1 (p 1-19)
  4. Skim - IFLA/UNESCO Manifesto for Digital Libraries. (2012).
  5. Watch: What happens when you click a link
  6. For discussion section, watch Jennifer Granick's Blackhat speech (2015).

Optional readings

  1. Borgman, Christine (2003) The Invisible Library: Paradox of the global information infrastructure. Library Trends, 51 (1), 652-674.
  2. Daigle, B. J. (2012). The Digital Transformation of Special Collections.Journal Of Library Administration,52(3/4), 244-264. doi:10.1080/01930826.2012.684504
  3. Schmidt, E. and Cohen, J. (2013). The new digital age: Reshapring the future of people, nations and business. Introduction and Chapter 1. p 3-11

Class overview

Introduce the structure for the semester grounded in a broad orientation to how information institutions work. Explore definitions and examples of information institutions including libraries, archives, schools and museums LASM. Explore the roles that these institutions play in society (e.g. memory, community, education, commerce).

Class 2.Information systems as boundary objects

Class preparation activities

Complete readings

Complete as needed – XHTML tutorial. If you have never worked with HTML, complete w3schools HTML tutorial -

Readings

  1. Mitchell, E. (2015). Chapter 2: Information systems as boundary objects. Metadata standards and web servcies in libraries, archives and museums. Libraries Unlimited, Santa Barbara, CA.
  2. Listen: With modern makeovers, Americas libraries are branching out.
  3. Listen: Computers Are The Future, But Does Everyone Need To Code?. NPR News Story 1/25, 2014.
  4. Listen: Do we really need Libraries (2015 – NPR story):
  5. Kernighan, B. (2011). D is for Digital. Chapter 6: Software systems, Chapter 2: Bitys, Bytes and Representation of Information
  6. Read - “User-centered models of information retrieval.” Introduction to modern information retrieval. Pp 249-261. – Available via ELMS site
  7. Explore: DCC Curation Lifecycle Model. (2012).
  8. Explore: Records and Information Life Cycle Management.

Optional readings

  1. M. K. Buckland. (1997). What is a document?48, 804-809.
  2. Read/Skim: Going Viral! information Diffusion. Chapter 6 in Social Network Analysis for Startups.
  3. Reading tip: Don't get caught up on the math, just read the stories and think about the role that social networks play in helping us create information systems and information networks.

Class overview

Expand on the organizational orientation from class 1 and discuss social and cultural roles of LASM institutions. Explore concrete examples of information, cultural heritage and memory institutions and define concepts and ideas to give students a holistic understanding of “information infrastructure” field. Introduce course model (e.g. Metadata > System > User) and explore connections with other core courses. Explore theoretical foundation of the process of representation.

Class 3.Acquiring and managing resources

Class preparation activities

Complete readings

If completely new to CSS - Review CSS tutorial

Readings

  1. Read: Kernighan, B. (2011). D is for Digital. , Chapter 7: Learning to Program
  2. Read: Sheila Corral, The Concept of Collection Development in the Digital World, Chapter 1, in Maggie Fieldhouse and Audrey Marshall, eds.Collection Development in the Digital Age. Great Britain: Facet Publishing, 2012 pp. 3-26. Available from the University of Maryland Libraries as an unlimited-user ebook.
  3. Read Introduction, Literature review, Skim remainder of the article. Cynthia K. Sauer, Doing the Best We Can? The Use of Collection Development Policies and Cooperative Collecting Activities at Manuscript Repositories,American Archivist64(2)308-349, 2001. Available at:

Optional readings

  1. C. M. Sperberg-McQueen and David Dubin, Data Representation, DH Curation Guide.

Class overview

Explore resource acquisition and management work in LASM institutions. Introduce technical service disciplines and illustrate connections with other functional areas in information institutions by reinforcing role of core courses. For each LASM institution type explore the notion of resource operations in light of changing information institution models. At the end of the class students will understand the role of each of the activities in LASM institutions 1) Publication models (formal, in-formal), 2) Acquisition of materials (published, manuscripts, grey literature), 3) Management of formats (physical and digital), 4) Materials processing and management, 5) Appraisal, access and preservation, 6) Alternative acquisition, management and dissemination strategies.

Class 4.Introduction to metadata

Class preparation activities

Complete readings

Readings

  1. Mitchell, E. (2015). Chapter 3: Design of information systems. Metadata standards and web servcies in libraries, archives and museums. Libraries Unlimited, Santa Barbara, CA.
  2. Understanding Metadata. NISO press.
  3. Read/skim sections 1-5: IFLA. (2009). Statement of International Cataloging Rules.
  4. Read/Skim: Statement of Principles adopted by the International conference on cataloging principles. (1961).International conference on cataloging principles. Retrieved from
  5. Read/Skim: Read p 1-12 Standards, C. on D. (2000). ISAD(G): General International Standard Archival Description. Stockholm: INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL ON ARCHIVES..

Optional readings

  1. Optional: In case RDA Toolkit is unavailable -
  2. Park, J., & Tosaka, Y. (2010). Metadata creation practices in digital repositories and collections: Schema, selection, criteria, and interoperability. Information Technology & Libraries, 29 (3), 104-116.
  3. Boston College. (2012). Cataloging Fundamentals AACR2 Basics: Part 1.

Class overview

Introduce metadata model (cataloging model, metadata schema, data representation model, data encoding/serialization). Discuss different types of metadata (e.g. descriptive, administrative, technical) and situate metadata within the broader context of information system design.

Class 5.Methods of description, representation and classification

Class preparation activities

Complete readings

Readings

  1. Mitchell, E. (2015). Chapter 4: Information organization models. Metadata standards and web servcies in libraries, archives and museums. Libraries Unlimited, Santa Barbara, CA.
  2. Mitchell, E. (2013). Chapter 1: Metadata developments in libraries and other cultural heritage institutions. In Library Linked Data: Research and Adoption, Library Technology Reports, 49,5 July/August 2013.
  3. Review: Understanding Metadata. NISO press.
  4. Skim as needed: Powell & Johnston. (2007). Guidelines for implementing dublin core in xml.

Optional readings

  1. Read/skim: Taylor, Arlene G. and Daniel N.Jouedrey. (2009). “Systems for Vocabulary Control.” The Organization of Information.3rd Edition. Available in ELMS
  2. Read / Skim to supplement RDA description. Tillett, Barbara. What is FRBR?
  3. Read section 0 of RDA - RDA Toolkit - Section 0, Introduction, 1–12. Retrieved from See TXT file from this week for login information
  4. Good resource for cataloging rules.
  5. Gilliand, Anne J. (2012). Setting the Stage.
  6. Explore: Introduction to the Dewey Decimal Classification
  7. Explore: Introduction to Library of Congress Subject Headings
  8. Explore: Library of Congress Main Classes,
  9. Harden, Jean. (2012). Inadvertent RDA: New Catalogers’ Errors in AACR2. Journal of Library Metadata. 12:2-3.

Class overview

Discuss cataloging methods and different forms of metadata in information institutions. Introduce concept of metadata schemas and role that metadata standards play in enabling creation of digital documents and representations. Reinforce specific cataloging standards/approaches (e.g. RDA, DACS, ISAD/G) and introduce metadata schema (e.g. MARC, DC, EAD). Reinforce context of these standards in broader metadata and information system design models. Draw connections to other types of information systems. Explore and apply classification structures. Explore information seeking processes and the connection between categorization and cognition.

Class 6.Metadata schema, vocabularies and encoding

Class preparation activities

Complete readings

Optional if you have felt lost with regards to technology so far in this class I would recommend spending some time with an XML tutorial –

Readings

  1. Mitchell, E. (2015). Chapter 5: Metadata standadrds contents and values. Metadata standards and web servcies in libraries, archives and museums. Libraries Unlimited, Santa Barbara, CA.
  2. Mitchell, E. (2015). Chapter 6: Serialization. Metadata standards and web servcies in libraries, archives and museums. Libraries Unlimited, Santa Barbara, CA.
  3. Young, D., & Madans, P. (2009). XML: Why Bother?.Publishing Research Quarterly,25(3), 147-153. doi:10.1007/s12109-009-9120-4.
  4. After reading XML: why bother- watch -
  5. Google Knowledge Graph.
  6. Woodley, Mary S. (2012). “Crosswalks, Metadata Harvesting, Federated Searching, Metasearching: Using Metadata to Connect Users and Information.” Introduction to Metadata.

Class overview

Expand on concepts in metadata schema including the notion of application profiles, abstract models (e.g. Dublin Core Abstract Model) and Resource Description Framework. Broaden student understanding of vocabularies by introducing new serialization standards (e.g. XML, JSON).

Class 7.Database design

Class preparation activities

Complete readings

Readings

  1. Revisit: Mitchell, E. (2015). Chapter 4: Information organiation models (database design section). Metadata standards and web servcies in libraries, archives and museums. Libraries Unlimited, Santa Barbara, CA.
  2. Vines, Rose. (2011). Databases from scratch I: Introduction.
  3. Vines, Rose (2011). Databases from scratch II: Simple database design.
  4. Vines, Rose. (2011). Databases from scratch III: The design process.
  5. Note - Rose Vines also has tutorials IV-VII but they get a bit more complicated than we are going to.

Optional Readings

  1. W3Schools. (2013). Introduction to SQL.

Class overview

Introduce relational database design concepts and techniques. Reframe student understanding of information systems by introducing web-based information system design (e.g. Model – View – Controller). Topics covered include entity relationship modeling, database creation, database querying and information filtering.

Class 8.Deep dive: Selected topic from weeks 1-7 deep dive

Class preparation activities

Select the focus of your final project and perform your own "Deep Dive" into content. This may involve learning a technical skill, reading up on a trend or information infrastructure theory or collecting data for research

This is a good week to dive into the programming assignment as well - estimated time to complete is 13 hours.

Readings

  1. Watch: The Data Brokers, The heart of the revolution, 60 minutes special.
  2. Guest speaker Camille Salas (UMD student and Library of Congress Intern on ViewShare project) Video at (Starts around 2 minute mark)
  3. Other readings are on you :)

Class overview

Student exploration of their final project topics.

Class 9.Search and retrieval in information systems

Class preparation activities

Complete readings

Readings

  1. Mitchell, E. (2015). Chapter 7: Creating, using and evaluating metadata in digital information systems. Metadata standards and web servcies in libraries, archives and museums. Libraries Unlimited, Santa Barbara, CA.
  2. Watch: How Search Works:
  3. Watch: The evolution of search:
  4. Kernighan, B. (2011). D is for Digital. Chapter 4: Algorithms
  5. Read: How Search Works.
  6. Pirolli, Peter. (2009). Powers of Ten.

Optional Readings

  1. Read/Skim: Michael Lesk, The Seven Ages of Information Retrieval, Conference for the 50th Anniversary of As We May Think, 1995.
  2. Baeza-Yates, Ricardo and Berthier Ribeiro-Neto, Modern Information Retrieval, Addison Wesley Longman, 1999, Chapter 1
  3. Watch: Kenning Arlisch talk about SEO in libraries - (Last talk in the first block of speakers)
  4. Explore:
  5. Read/skim:

Class overview

Explore methods for automatic indexing and ranking of information resources. Introduce foundation of web search techniques, full text searching of scanned books and image searching.

Class 10.Resource dissemination, access and use: Creation of Metadata rich services

Class preparation activities

Complete readings

Complete worksheet

Readings

  1. Mitchell, E. (2015). Chapter 8: Using metadata to create information services. Metadata standards and web servcies in libraries, archives and museums. Libraries Unlimited, Santa Barbara, CA.
  2. Skim: Does Discovery still happen in the library?
  3. Watch: Making Stuff Faster. David Pogue. Available at
  4. Read: An online Magna Carta: Berners-Lee calls for bill of rights for web | Tech | The Guardian.
  5. OAI for beginners – the Open Archives forum online tutorial.
  6. In conjunction with the worksheet: review the viewshare tutorial:

Optional Readings

  1. Cole, T., Mischo, W., Ferrer, R., Habing, T., & Kraft, D. H. (2000). Using XML, XSLT, and CSS in a digital library.Knowledge Innovations: Celebrating Our Heritage, Designing Our Future. (Proceedings Of The 63Rd ASIS Annual Meeting, Volume 37), 430-439.
  2. Lagoze, Carl and Herbert Van de Sompel. (2001). The Open Archives Initiative: Building a low-barrier interoperability framework. Joint Conference on Digital Libraries..
  3. Woodley, Mary S. (2012). “Crosswalks, Metadata Harvesting, Federated Searching, Metasearching: Using Metadata to Connect Users and Information.” Introduction to Metadata.

Class overview

Explore services that support access to physical and digital objects. Introduce broad types of information services including user-focused services (library catalog) and system-focused web-services (interoperability, harvesting, transformation) (ONIX, OAI/PHM).

Class 11.Metadata rich web services week 2

Foundations of the Internet: Linked data and information services

Class preparation activities

Complete readings

Readings

  1. Berners Lee, Tim. (2009) on the next Web.
  2. See week 10 readings

Optional Readings

  1. OCLC announcement of Linked Data.
  2. Good source for linked data information. LinkedDataTools.com

Class overview

Continue exploring metadata rich web services

Class 12.Building blocks of the web

Class preparation activities

Complete readings

Readings

  1. Kernighan, B. (2011). D is for Digital. Chapter 9, 10
  2. Read (i's short) and browse comments: Williams, G. (2013). User-Friendly Advice for Accessible Web Design.
  3. Watch video/read: What a DDoS attack looks like.
  4. Watch video: Google's DDOS filter

Optional Readings

  1. Skim chpaters 1 and 2 as intereset warrants: Yu, Holly., Content and Workflow Management for Library Web Sites: Case Studies, Information Science Punlishing, 2005. [available as an eBook through the UMD libraries]

Class overview

Revisit web-publishing document standards (e.g. HTML, CSS, JavaScript). Acquaint students at a high level with web publishing approaches.

Class 13.Exploration of Data Management

Class preparation activities

Complete readings

Readings

  1. Read: Data Science/Data Scientist Definitions.
  2. Watch: Loo, J. (2011). Scientific Data Management Practices - Introduction.
  3. NIH tells Genomic Resaerchers: You Must Share Data.
  4. Browse: Loo, J. (2011). Scientific Data Management.

Class overview

In this class we are exploring the broad area of Research Data Management in order to better understand how issues of organization and information technology have an impact in an emerging area of interest in libraries, archives, schools and museums. Students will explore a real-world data management guide and try their hand at data management tools.

Class 14.Next steps in information infrastructures

Class preparation activities

Take cumulative test, discuss capstone project

Class Readings

  1. Mitchell, E. (2015). Chapter 9: Future trends in information systems, metadata and information use. Metadata standards and web servcies in libraries, archives and museums. Libraries Unlimited, Santa Barbara, CA.
  2. Kernighan, B. (2011). D is for Digital. Chapter 11 Data, information and privacy
  3. Buckland, Michael (2012). What kind of science can information science be? JASIST 63 (1), 1-7.

Class overview

Review course content and bridge student knowledge of information infrastructures, systems and services to other parts of the curriculum. Discuss professional paths for different areas of interest. Connect learning by re-visiting institutional, data life-cycle and information system models.

1