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East Carolina University Department of Interdisciplinary Professions
Master of Library Science Program

ECU LIBS 7050: Seminar on Public Libraries

Syllabus

Catalog Description: Characteristics, operations, and problems of public libraries.

This course combines textbook and current readings with field experience and cooperative work in a range of libraries to explore the characteristics, operations, and problems of public libraries.

Textbooks:

Ann E. Prentice, Public Libraries in the 21st Century. Libraries Unlimited, 2011.

ISBN 978-1-59158-853-5 (paperback) or 978-1-59158-855-9 (ebook).

THE MISSION OF THE MASTER OF LIBRARY SCIENCE PROGRAM

The master of library science program, reflecting the missions of East Carolina University and the College of Education, prepares library professionals to serve, lead, and partner in their communities.

The MLS Objectives for students are:

#6Understand and apply the principles of management,leadership and advocacy to direct and advance

library programs

#7Understand and apply appropriate technologies to support or enhance library functions and processes

#8Instruct individually, and in collaboration with others,diverse user groups to access library resources

andservices

Learning Objectives

  • To demonstrate an understanding of the history, philosophy, principles, policies, and ethics of

library & information science and technology

  • To demonstrate an understanding of the development, organization, and communication of

knowledge

  • To demonstrate theoretical understanding of and basic competencies in evaluating, selecting and

organizing information sources

  • Apply basic competencies and knowledge that are essential for providing, managing, and

designing information services and programs in a variety of information environments

  • To demonstrate the professional attitudes and the interpersonal and interdisciplinary skills needed

to communicate and collaborate with colleagues and information users

  • To demonstrate an understanding of the principles of administration applicable in libraries.
  • To demonstrate the professional attitudes and the interpersonal and interdisciplinary skills needed

to communicate and collaborate with colleagues and information users

Standards Addressed in Reflection at end of course

All students must include

MLS Program Objective

#8. Instruct individually, and in collaboration with others, diverse user groups to access library resourcesand services

ALA Core Competences of Librarianship

ALA Core Competence #1 Foundations of the Profession

1A;1B; 1C;1D;1F; 1G

ALA Core Competence # 7 Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning

7A.;7B;7C;7D

ALA Core Competence #8 Administration and Management

8A;8C;8D;8E

MLS School Pathway students must also include

AASL/NCATE (2010)

Standard 3: Information and Knowledge

3.2 Access to information

Standard 4: Advocacy and Leadership
4.1. Networking with the library community

DPI Standard(s) Addressed in Artifact:

Standard 1. School library media coordinators demonstrate leadership

1b. School library media coordinators lead in their schools

1c. School library media coordinators advocate for effective media programs

ECU Course Objectives:

  • To understand the history, development, structure, and governance of public libraries in the United States
  • To be able to identify and understand the services, populations and issues of public libraries.

At the end of the course, students will:

  • Be able to identify and understand the services, populations and issues of public libraries
  • Be able to understand and identify current and future issues of importance to public libraries
  • Be able to develop and defend recommendations for how an issue might be addressed and resolved in a particular public library.

Course Plan:

Assignments are due by 11:59 pm on the due date

Assignment/points / Brief Description
1/15 / Unit 1: What Are Public Libraries? History and future of Public Libraries in America.
Select and describe a web tool or website dealing with library history.A brief essay identifies two factors that have affected the development of public libraries in the United States during the last 150 years.
Library Walkabout: You are required to visit a public library. The library must be one that you HAVE NEVER VISITED BEFORE. During your visit to the physical public library building, spend some time there observing and gathering impressions.
2/20 / Unit 2: Community Analysis and Interview of Public Librarian
Examine the role and responsibilities of a public librarian. A detailed examination of a chosen community to understanding the place of the library in the community and its challenges and successes.
3/10 / Unit 3: Political, Economic and Social Trends
Examine and assess a trend and major challenge facing their partner library. Comparison and contrast political, economic and social situations of a contemporary public library. Oral presentation
4/15 / Unit 4: Administration & Leadership
Research library administration and examine role played by trustees and Friends of the Library in a partner public library. Attend and report on a Board of Trustees meeting.
5/10 / Unit 5: Funding
Examine role of money in a public library. Discuss various aspects of budgets and fundraising for their partner library. Present in written report and in class discussion.
6/30
Artifact / Final Assignment – Current Issues Paper
The final project is to develop a realistic current issue and strategic services plan for a selected public library. Based on work with partner library, select a current hot topic/issue(s) in public libraries.
Final Grade: 100

Details for the assignments within each Unit will be posted within Blackboard. Enter the Blackboard site, then click on Assignments in the left-hand column.

Assignments & Discussions70

Final Assignment30

Final Grade 100 points

Grading

There are 100 points possible in the course.

Course grades will be assigned as follows:

93-100 = A

86-92 = B

79-85 = C

Below 79 = Failing grade

Major assignments submitted late may be subject to a deduction of 1 point, plus .5 point for every subsequent week late.

Attendance Policy

This is an online class. Much of the coursework will be carried out asynchronously.

Blackboard is the course delivery method; students are expected to monitor the Blackboard site regularly.

PirateMail is a communication vehicle for the course; students are expected to read their PirateMail each weekday.

CLASS POLICIES

  • All participants must have a working knowledge of computers and be familiar with using the Internet.
  • All participants will need access to the Internet in order to receive course information and submit assignments.
  • All participants will be required to use their ECU email accounts and ECU’s Blackboard.
  • All participants will be required to turn in all assignments.
  • Citations: Use APA style Reference List and include DOI citations or URLs. Handy short APA guides are at Purdue and Cornell.
  • All participants will submit assignments per the schedule as determined by instructor. Incompletes may be considered but only as a result of serious and unexpected health and life situations; documentation for incompletes is required in writing with appropriate signatures or other evidence; incompletes must be made promptly upon schedule made by instructor and a letter grade will be deducted.
  • Assignments are to be double-spaced, 12 pt font, 1 inch margins.
  • All students will post their class Artifact and Reflection essay to their Taskstream portfoliobefore receiving a final grade for the course. Students who fail to post the required portfolio documents by the deadline noted in the calendar will have their course grade lowered by one letter.

ADA COMPLIANCE

East Carolina University seeks to comply fully with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Students requesting accommodations based on a disability must be registered with the Department for Disability Support Services, ((252) 737-1016 (Voice/TTY

STUDENT SUPPORT

Technical Support
The College of Education provides additional technology support through the COE Technology Center and East Carolina University provides support through its Information Technology and Computing Services.

ECU Writing Center
The University’s Online Writing Lab gives Distance Education students the opportunity to consult with a trained writing center consultant via email.

Joyner Libraryand Teaching Resources Center
One of the great resources made available to ECU’s MLS students are Joyner Library / and the Teaching Resources Center (TRC) located in the University’s Joyner Library. The TRC, the largest of its type in North Carolina, provides a wide range of pedagogical resources for the use of students in Education and Library Science.

Honor Code

Academic integrity is expected of every East Carolina University student. Assignment and course grades will be reduced for violations.

Professionalism & Ethics

All of you are in training to become professionals and some of you are already working as librarians. Certainly when you finish your courses, you will be a professional and be considered by others as a professional. We will therefore expect professional conduct in this class as outlined in East Carolina University’s Honor Code and ALA’s Core Competences.

FERPA:

In accordance with the Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) guidelines, East Carolina University and the Office of the Registrar are not able to provide confidential information pertaining to students without one the following:

Written consent from student. This is done electronically through ECU OneStop. Students will log in with their Pirate ID and Passphrase and click on BUCKLEY FORM to give authorization for third parties (including parents) to access their student record.

OR

Visual confirmation, (by way of a copy of an income tax form) that the parent(s) claim the student on the most recent tax return. All financial information may be suppressed, but the student's name and social security number must be listed under the dependents section of the most recent Federal Income Tax Form 1040 or 1040A.

Once we have received this information, we will be happy to comply with the request.

What is FERPA? A federal law designed to protect the privacy of education records, To establish the right of students to inspect and review their Education records, and to provide guidelines for the correction of Inaccurate and misleading data through informal and form.