Course name: Research Fronts of Library and Information Science

Teaching medium:Bilingual (Chinese and English)

A. COURSE DESCRIPTION

1 credit, 12 Class Hours, 1st Semester etc.

This course will illustrate international developing mainstreams of library and information science context, the academic frontiers and research hotspots, and introduce top ranked international professional colleges and universities of LIS, based on the teaching and practice, this course will expand postgraduates’ international academic field of vision, improve their knowledge in LIS professions, and stimulate students’ interests in LIS discipline development.

B. METHOD OF INSTRUCTION

This course is based on lecture method, supplemented by in-class report on English literature reading, professional academic oral communications, and international library information science academic institutions introductions, to comprehensively exercise and improve graduates’ professional academic competences and broaden their academic horizons.

COURSE OBJECTIVES(five or six objectives; general but comprehensive)
Objective 1: Create proactive, critical, group and individual learning environments, and understand and study basic concepts and characteristics of digital library.

Objective 2: Help students to understand regulations and standards of digital libraries in USA.

Objective 3: Help students to understand emerging technology applications in American digital libraries.

Objective 4: Introduce hot topics in American library and information sciences and research methods.

Objective 5: Introduce LIS & archives education in the USA & iSchool in University of Illinois at Urbana & Champaign.

C. COURSE TOPICS/UNITS AND DATES

First class (2 class hours): Introduction to digital library’s definition and characteristics.

Second class (2 class hours): Group homework discussion and classical literature reading.

Third class (2 class hours): Introduction to development in American digital libraries.

Fourth class (2 class hours): Illustration of challenges in digital library services in USA and research vision in future, past and present.

Fifth class (2 class hours): Introduction to hot topics in American library and information sciences and research methods.

Sixth class (2 class hours): Introduction to developing highlights and opportunities of international LIS academia.

E. TEXTBOOK(S) AND REQUIRED TOOLS OR SUPPLIES
Textbook (required):

[1] Witten, I. H., Bainbridge, D., Nichols, D. M. (2010). How to build a digital library. Burlington, MA : Morgan Kaufmann Publishers.

[2] Wilhelm, A. G. (2002). Democracy in the digital age: Challenges to political life in cyberspace. Routledge.

[3] Foster, N. F., & Gibbons, S. (Eds.). (2007). Studying Students: The Undergraduate Research Project at the University of Rochester. Chicago: Association of College and Research Libraries.
Supplies and/or tools:
[1] Fox, E. A., Akscyn, R. M., Furuta, R. K., & Leggett, J. J. (1995). Digital libraries. Communications of the ACM, 38(4), 22-28.

[2] Kuny, T. (1998). The digital dark ages? Challenges in the preservation of electronic information. International preservation news, 17, 8-13.

[3] Hedstrom, M. (1997). Digital preservation: a time bomb for digital libraries. Computers and the Humanities, 31(3), 189.

[4] Salager-Meyer, F. (2008). Scientific publishing in developing countries: Challenges for the future. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 7(2), 121-132.

[5] Arlitsch, K., & Sadler, S. (2015). Building a Digital Library: What to Expect as a Technology Project Manager on a Library Construction Project. Journal of Library Administration, 55(3), 221-234.

[6] Maron, D., & Feinberg, M. (2018). What does it mean to adopt a metadata standard? A case study of Omeka and the Dublin Core. Journal of Documentation, 74(4), 674-691. doi:10.1108/JD-06-2017-0095

F. GRADING PLAN
1. In-class participation (40%): (1) Full attendance; (2) Active participation in class discussion.

Research paper (60%): (1) At least 2000 words; (2) Complete article structure; (3) Good topics and innovation; (4) Compliance with academic ethics, no plagiarism.

2. Grading standards: (1) 60~70: Can basically complete the teaching tasks and assignments of this course and master the international development situation and frontier hotspot of LIS.

(2) 71~80: Can complete the teaching content and tasks of this course and have a relatively comprehensive understanding of the international development situation of LIS.

(3) 81~90: Can well complete the teaching tasks of this course and have a comprehensive understanding of the international development situation of LIS.

(4) 91~100: Can perfectly complete the teaching tasks of this course and have a thorough understanding of the international development situation of LIS.

G. COURSE COMPONENT SPECIFICS

First class (2 class hours):①What’s Digital Library? Definition.②Characteristics of Digital Libraries.

Second class (2 class hours):①Group Homework Discussion: Planning a Digital Library – Understanding the field of digital library.②Reading Discussion: As We May Think.

Third class (2 class hours):①Digital Library Development in American.

Fourth class (2 class hours):①To learn challenges in digital library services in USA and study vision in future, past and present of digital libraries.②To know website services - UIUC library as a case study.

Fifth class (2 class hours):①Hot topics in American library and information sciences and research methods.

Sixth class (2 class hours):①Introduction to ACRL’s Plan for Excellence – Strategic Focus ACRL.②Introduction to IFLA Global Vision Report Summary: Top 10 highlights and opportunities.③Introduction to rank of iSchools, education programs including: Master’s degree programs, MS in library and information science, MS in information management, certificate of advanced study, PhD in Library and Information Science in UIUC.④Introduction to LIS Education in the US, design of specialized curricula.