Online Master's Degree in Library & Information Science

Curriculum

The program consists of 45 credits (15 courses) and is organized in 10-week quarters.

SELECT ONE CONCENTRATION
(or select  “No Concentration Option” and choose 5 Free Elective Courses (15 Credits):

INFO 520 Prof and Social Aspects of Info Services

Surveys the professional, social, ethical, and legal issues that affect information service professionals and organizations. Addresses such topics as information law, access, ownership, and censorship. Studies professional organizations and the sociology of professions.

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INFO 521 Information Users and Services

Relates basic theories and concepts about information behavior to contemporary provision of information services. Focuses on the conceptual structures of LIS: User communities, factors affecting use of information services and resources, and trends in supporting information services. Develops practical skills in meeting users' information needs, such as answering virtual reference questions and creating online resources.

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INFO 522 Information Access and Resources

Presents access and applied information retrieval as the foundation for information services. Provides an overview of contemporary information services and access methods. focuses on the structure of tools used for satisfying users' information needs. Emphasizes techniques for building effective search strategies for large-scale retrieval systems. Affords opportunities to elevate sources.

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INFO 515 Action Research

Surveys the basic statistical, tabular, and graphic methods as applied to decision making, requirements analyses, user studies, and implementation of change in information organizations when generalizability of results beyond the organization is not a primary concern. Focuses on formulating researchable problems, sampling, data gathering, and computer-assisted analysis of data. Develops skills for preparing reports and presentations and for reading research literatures.

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INFO 530 Foundations of Information Systems

Introduction to concepts and applications of Information Systems (IS) and Information Technology (IT) as applied throughout library and information science. Topics include the structure of information systems, hardware and software concepts, basic principles of system analysis and design, and contemporary applications of computers in organizational environments.

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INFO 640 Managing Information Organizations

Applies theories and techniques of management to libraries, information centers, and information enterprise, concentrating on political processes, leadership, communication, human resources, organizational structure, decision making, planning, and control. Also includes elements of project management.

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INFO 650 Public Library Service

Surveys information services provided through public libraries, with attention to governmental and funding issues, determinants of use, extending services to non-users, and cooperation among libraries.

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INFO 683 Resources for Children

Acquaints prospective professionals with the resources published for use by and with children in grades K to 8. Provides an opportunity to develop basic standards for evaluation of resources. Includes recent research concerning children and the central role of resources in the development of their reading/viewing/listening interests and tastes.

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INFO 684 Resources for Young Adults

Acquaints prospective professionals with the materials intended for use by and with young adults. Provides an opportunity to develop basic standards for evaluation of materials and to learn about recent research concerning young adults and their information needs, reading interests, tastes, and development.

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INFO 552 Internet Information Resource Design

Offers a hands-on introduction to creating sophisticated websites to support users' information needs. Covers website design, implementation, and evaluation. Requires the student to establish a website, compose its text and graphic files, use scripts for interactive application, install a search engine, and create reports on usage.

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INFO 665 Collection Management

Introduces the basic steps of collection development, including community analysis, preparation of policy, criteria for selection of materials, acquisition, weeding, and evaluation. Explores a variety of related issues, including the impact of electronic access on collection development.

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INFO 688 Instructional Role Information Specialist

Examines the instructional role of the information professional. Emphasizes the planning, implementation, and evaluation of instruction for the purpose of information education.

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BSN 501 Measuring and Maximizing Financial Performance 

This course if an introduction to the concepts of financial accounting and financial management. The content of this course includes preparation and analysis of financial statements. Also covered are the time value of money, risk and return, and corporate financing choices.

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MKTG 601 Marketing Strategy & Planning 

Emphasizes application of strategic planning in marketing to achieve competitive advantage. Examines the role of strategic planning in developing effective marketing programs that enhance the overall performance of the firm.

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MGT 655 Knowledge Management 

Provides a broad overview of the emerging field of knowledge management. The primary focus of the course will be on the concepts and approaches useful for managing knowledge from a corporate strategies perspective. Covers KM tools and techniques, and management approaches.

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INFO 634 Data Mining

This course introduces the concepts and principles of knowledge discovery in databases (KDD), with a focus on the techniques of data mining and its function in business, governmental, medical or other information-intensive environments.

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INFO 893-894 Practicum 

Students without work experience are encouraged to consider a practicum with a focus on professional activities related to Competitive Intelligence and/or Knowledge Management

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INFO 660 Cataloging and Classification I

Introduces and provides intensive practice in the fundamentals of library cataloging and classification with primary focus on modern printed materials, but also includes reference to other media. Instruction on critical reading, interpretation, and use of current professional standards and documentation for the creation of MARC records. Encompasses discussion of relevant historical and theoretical issues in the construction of contemporary bibliographic databases.

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INFO 665 Collection Management

Introduces the basic steps of collection development, including community analysis, preparation of policy, criteria for selection of materials, acquisition, weeding, and evaluation. Explores a variety of related issues, including the impact of electronic access on collection development.

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INFO 650 Public Library Service

Surveys information services provided through public libraries, with attention to governmental and funding issues, determinants of use, extending services to non-users, and cooperation among libraries.

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INFO 651 Academic Library Service

Examines the role of library service in higher education, with emphasis on problems of organization, administration, services, and the relationship of the library to the overall educational program.

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INFO 672 Resources in the Humanities

Studies the major information resources in the fields of religion, philosophy, the performing arts, the visual arts, language, and literature. Emphasizes user needs, bibliographic organization of the materials, collection building, and the provision of reference and information services.

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INFO 673 Resources in Social Sciences

Studies major information resources in the social sciences, including history, geography, political science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, demography, economics, and education. Emphasizes bibliographic organization, collection building, user needs, and reference service.

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INFO 674 Resources in Science and Technology

Studies major information resources in pure and applied sciences, including the physical and biological sciences, engineering and technology, and interdisciplinary subjects. Emphasizes bibliographic organization, collection building, user needs, and reference service.

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INFO 675 Medical Bibliography

Covers the major types of reference tools, including representative titles in the basic medical sciences and clinical specialties, the history and development of medical bibliography, introduction to online searching, and analysis of the reference interview and of typical reference questions. Covers print and electronic reference tools with an emphasis on the integration of electronic tools (Internet, database and CD-ROMs) into the reference collection. Range of materials includes representative titles from collections in hospital libraries, academic health science libraries, consumer health centers, and special libraries (including corporate and non-profit). Covers medical reference information, including the analysis and synthesis of available resources.

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INFO 677 Resources in Business

Focuses on meeting user needs for specific types of business information using strategies for identification, evaluation, selection, and use of specific sources. Sources include topical dictionaries and directories; indexes and abstracts; and numeric and full-text databases. Emphasizes the use of value-added print and electronic resources to meet user needs for information related to companies, industries and markets; corporate and international finance and investments; economic and demographic statistics; and one or more of the following topics: accounting, human resources, insurance and risk management, intellectual property, information systems, operations and logistics.

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INFO 680 US Government Publications

Studies the nature of United States federal government documents and techniques for their acquisition, organization, and use.

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INFO 681 Legal Research

Introduces the fundamentals of legal research, including sources and research strategies.

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INFO 663 Library Technical Services

Focuses on management, policy, and organizational issues related to the administration of technical services in libraries. Includes acquisitions, copy cataloging, original cataloging, serials control, circulation, and preservation. Emphasizes management in an automated environment where traditional methods are being supplanted by new technologies and related organizational changes.

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INFO 664 Library Automation

Provides an overview of information technology applications in library settings, focusing on underlying concepts and management issues.

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INFO 662 Metadata & Resource Description

Introduces the critical roles played by metadata for resource description and discovery. Provides instruction on application and implementation of current metadata schemes and tools. Provides practice in creating metadata records, analyzing the usage of metadata elements and vocabulary schemes, and evaluating the metadata quality of digital repositories.

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INFO 552 Internet Information Resource Design

Offers a hands-on introduction to creating sophisticated websites to support users' information needs. Covers website design, implementation, and evaluation. Requires the student to establish a website, compose its text and graphic files, use scripts for interactive application, install a search engine, and create reports on usage.

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INFO 653 Digital Libraries

This course introduces research and development in the world of digital libraries. Focuses on intellectual access to digital information resources. Topics include foundations and architectures of digital libraries, searching and resource organizing, knowledge representations and discovery, metadata and standards, interfaces and information visualization, intellectual property rights and electronic publishing.

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INFO 622 Content Representation

Focuses on fundamental decisions in designing subject access systems and alternative approaches to indexing. Explores current issues in content representation: principles of subject analysis; natural language vs. vocabulary control; manual, computer-assisted, and automatic indexing; faceted indexing and classification systems; image indexing and retrieval; indexing and the World Wide Web. Includes evaluation of indexer consistency and indexing system performance.

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INFO 624 Information Retrieval Systems

Covers the theoretical underpinnings of information retrieval to provide a solid base for further work with retrieval systems. Emphasizes systems that involve user-computer interaction. Covers aspects of information retrieval including document selection, document description, query formulation, matching, and evaluation.

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INFO 608 Human-Computer Interaction

This course focuses on the design and evaluation of human-computer interfaces covering such topics as task analysis techniques for gathering design information, iterative design through prototyping, and formative and summative usability testing; theoretical foundations of HCI and cognitive modeling of user interactions; the integration of HCI techniques into the software development life cycle and the use of user constraints to generate new interaction designs.

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INFO 605 Database Management I

A first course in database management systems. Covers database design, data manipulation, and data-base integrity. Emphasizes concepts and techniques related to the entity-relationship model and relational database systems. Discusses normalization up to third normal form and commercial query languages.

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INFO 658 Information Architecture

Introduces fundamental concepts, methods and theories in Information Architecture for virtual, physical, and hybrid worlds. Focuses on organization, representation, and navigation of conceptual space. Topics include foundations, Web design, cognitive aspects, search, interaction design, knowledge organization, and user experience.

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INFO 643 Information Service in Organizations

Examines various organizational structures and the influence of structure and environment on patterns of information processing and utilization by organizations. Emphasizes the role of function driving the demand for information. Focuses on the structure of information services, resources, and technology as a means of attaining organizational goals. Includes not only traditional business data but all forms of knowledge and emphasizes strategic and tactical uses.

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INFO 678 Competitive Intelligence 

Focuses on the analysis of existing information in order to uncover hidden knowledge about the environment internal and external to (or competing with) an organization. Examines how to analyze and integrate various types of information (patents, financial, production, market); how to use the new knowledge in strategic, tactical and operational decision-making; how to produce reports; and the ethics of competitive intelligence.

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INFO 674 Resources in Science and Technology

Studies major information resources in pure and applied sciences, including the physical and biological sciences, engineering and technology, and interdisciplinary subjects. Emphasizes bibliographic organization, collection building, user needs, and reference service.

Back to course list

INFO 675 Medical Bibliography

Covers the major types of reference tools, including representative titles in the basic medical sciences and clinical specialties, the history and development of medical bibliography, introduction to online searching, and analysis of the reference interview and of typical reference questions. Covers print and electronic reference tools with an emphasis on the integration of electronic tools (Internet, database and CD-ROMs) into the reference collection. Range of materials includes representative titles from collections in hospital libraries, academic health science libraries, consumer health centers, and special libraries (including corporate and non-profit). Covers medical reference information, including the analysis and synthesis of available resources.

Back to course list

INFO 677 Resources in Business

Focuses on meeting user needs for specific types of business information using strategies for identification, evaluation, selection, and use of specific sources. Sources include topical dictionaries and directories; indexes and abstracts; and numeric and full-text databases. Emphasizes the use of value-added print and electronic resources to meet user needs for information related to companies, industries and markets; corporate and international finance and investments; economic and demographic statistics; and one or more of the following topics: accounting, human resources, insurance and risk management, intellectual property, information systems, operations and logistics.

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INFO 681 Legal Bibliography

Introduces the fundamentals of legal research, including sources and research strategies.

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INFO 612 Knowledge Base Systems

Introduces the concepts, principles, and techniques of knowledge base systems, with a focus on implementation of a working expert system. Presents the expert system development life cycle with a focus on analysis and conceptual modeling techniques.

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INFO 650 Public Library Service

Surveys information services provided through public libraries, with attention to governmental and funding issues, determinants of use, extending services to non-users, and cooperation among libraries.

Back to course list

INFO 651 Academic Library Service

Examines the role of library service in higher education, with emphasis on problems of organization, administration, services, and the relationship of the library to the overall educational program.

Back to course list

INFO 660 Cataloging and Classification I

Introduces and provides intensive practice in the fundamentals of library cataloging and classification with primary focus on modern printed materials, but also includes reference to other media. Instruction on critical reading, interpretation, and use of current professional standards and documentation for the creation of MARC records. Encompasses discussion of relevant historical and theoretical issues in the construction of contemporary bibliographic databases.

Back to course list

INFO 664 Library Automation

Provides an overview of information technology applications in library settings, focusing on underlying concepts and management issues.

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INFO 665 Collection Development

Introduces the basic steps of collection development, including community analysis, preparation of policy, criteria for selection of materials, acquisition, weeding, and evaluation. Explores a variety of related issues, including the impact of electronic access on collection development.

Back to course list

INFO 683 Resources for Children

Acquaints prospective professionals with the resources published for use by and with children in grades K to 8. Provides an opportunity to develop basic standards for evaluation of resources. Includes recent research concerning children and the central role of resources in the development of their reading/viewing/listening interests and tastes.

Back to course list

INFO 684 Resources for Young Adults

Acquaints prospective professionals with the materials intended for use by and with young adults. Provides an opportunity to develop basic standards for evaluation of materials and to learn about recent research concerning young adults and their information needs, reading interests, tastes, and development.

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INFO 688 Instructional Role Information Specialist

Examines the instructional role of the information professional. Emphasizes the planning, implementation, and evaluation of instruction for the purpose of information education.

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EDUC 520 Professional Studies in Instruction

For students who lack professional-level classroom teaching in grades K to 12. Examines and develops skills in instructional planning, pedagogy, motivation, classroom management and discipline, interrelationships among diverse populations within school settings, and identification of instructional resources. Discusses current principles of developmental and learning theories and instructional design applied to teaching.

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EDUC 522 Evaluation of Instruction

Provides study and experience in quantitative and qualitative assessment. Methods for assessing student learning include informal test procedures such as rating scales, checklists, observations, and student self-assessment and formal test procedures such as essay tests, developmental criteria and rubrics, teacher-made objective tests, and standardized tests. Authentic alternative assessments include journals, portfolios, and performance assessments. Processes and problems in test construction and analyzing, summarizing, and reporting student outcomes are examined. Standards for validity and reliability are studied. Qualitative research includes gathering data through observations, interviewing, documentation, and triangulation in field settings. Includes a field component.

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EDUC 524 Current Research in Curriculum & Instruction

Examines the relationship of curricula and instruction to current research in learning and knowledge construction, developing higher-order thinking in specific disciplines and content areas, and the role of understanding and metacognition in learning. Complex problems of pedagogy are identified and analyzed (e.g., interdisciplinary curricula, team teaching, collaborative learning), with attention to designing learning goals and outcomes with effective instructional strategies.

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EDUC 525 Multimedia in Instructional Design

Investigates learning theory and its implications for interactive multimedia formats, including the relationship of instructional design principles to selection of media elements (text, video, sound, animation, and graphics) for high-quality design. Examines human-computer interface principles, navigation features, and visual thinking using a wide range of educational software examples. Criteria for software assessment and virtual classrooms are reviewed. Students design and write a software prototype as a group design project. Complex issues and concepts in technology and education are analyzed.

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EDUC 526 Language Arts Process

Applies contemporary research to processes and problems in teaching oral and written communication, with the basic assumption that listening, speaking, writing, and reading are integrated processes and should be taught as such. Covers analysis and use of instructional strategies for teaching developmental reading and writing, reading and writing in content areas, written correspondence, research reports, journal writing, poetry, and appreciation of children's literature.

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INFO 891 Field Study

Designed for students who lack experience in managing and teaching in a media center. Provides supervised field experience in a selected school media center or classroom in the Delaware Valley area. Discussion sessions accompany the on-site experience.

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INFO 560 Introduction to Archives I

Provides an introduction to the theory and practice of archives, including an overview relating to the elements of an archival program and the role and work of archivists. Focuses on the functions of the archives, such as acquisition, appraisal, arrangement and description, preservation, reference, outreach, and technology in archives.

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INFO 561 Introduction to Archives II

Continues the introduction to archival theory and practice begun in Introduction to Archives I. Provides additional depth in several areas, including appraisal, arrangement and description, focusing on model and standards. Addresses legal, ethical, cultural, and political issues as well as the range of historical and contemporary archival formats.

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INFO 750 Archival Access Systems

Introduces students to the creation, maintenance, and evaluation of archival access systems. Covers the theoretical concepts that underlie archival description and their evolution into the current set of electronic information systems. Reviews current descriptive standards. Addresses user needs and different formats.

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INFO 751 Archival Appraisal

Introduces students to the theory and practice surrounding the core function of selection and appraisal of records and papers enduring value. Focuses on the development of methodologies as well as approaches used in different settings, for different audiences, and for various formats of material.

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INFO 756 Digital Preservation

Explores concepts, principles, and practice for preserving digital information resources. Topics include selection, organization, and access for materials in trusted repositories. Both technological and policy perspectives are addressed.

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INFO 755 Electronic Records Management

Presents records management theory and practice from the perspective of the archivist.  Covers the transformation of the profession and its practices as it adapts to electronic recordkeeping.  Introduces records management principles and applies them to the contemporary digital office environment. Relates records management concepts to other information management disciplines

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INFO 605 Knowledge Base Systems

A first course in database management systems. Covers database design, data manipulation, and data-base integrity. Emphasizes concepts and techniques related to the entity-relationship model and relational database systems. Discusses normalization up to third normal form and commercial query languages.

 Back to course list

INFO 622 Content Representation

Focuses on fundamental decisions in designing subject access systems and alternative approaches to indexing. Explores current issues in content representation: principles of subject analysis; natural language vs. vocabulary control; manual, computer-assisted, and automatic indexing; faceted indexing and classification systems; image indexing and retrieval; indexing and the World Wide Web. Includes evaluation of indexer consistency and indexing system performance.

 Back to course list

INFO 552 Internet Information Resource Design

Offers a hands-on introduction to creating sophisticated websites to support users' information needs. Covers website design, implementation, and evaluation. Requires the student to establish a website, compose its text and graphic files, use scripts for interactive application, install a search engine, and create reports on usage.

 Back to course list

INFO 653 Digital Libraries

This course introduces research and development in the world of digital libraries. Focuses on intellectual access to digital information resources. Topics include foundations and architectures of digital libraries, searching and resource organizing, knowledge representations and discovery, metadata and standards, interfaces and information visualization, intellectual property rights and electronic publishing.

 Back to course list

INFO 658 Information Architecture

Introduces fundamental concepts, methods and theories in Information Architecture for virtual, physical, and hybrid worlds. Focuses on organization, representation, and navigation of conceptual space. Topics include foundations, Web design, cognitive aspects, search, interaction design, knowledge organization, and user experience.

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INFO 668 History of the Book

Examines the metamorphosis of written text from the Western medieval manuscript to the printed book to present-day digital media. Topics include methods of production, intellectual and graphical content, social impact, and the role of church, state, and economic factors.

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INFO 669 Special Collections

Focuses on the functions of a curator of special collections. Such collections include both modern and historical collections of printed materials, manuscripts and archival collections, and collections of allied materials, including works of art. Gives special attention to the research uses of such materials together with reference to exhibitions, departmental publications, specialized reference sources, collection management, acquisitions, conservation, preservation, funding development, and donors.

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INFO 679 Information Ethics

Presents the philosophical foundations of applied ethics and technology with primary focus on the uses and abuses of information, human moral agency in relation to new information and communication technologies, and the meaning of social responsibility in the global information society, including the concepts of global information justice and human rights.

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INFO 680 US Government Publications

Studies the nature of United States federal government documents and techniques for their acquisition, organization, and use.

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INFO 893 Practicum I

Provides relevant professional experience that will strengthen work skills. Particularly useful for students without prior work experience, career changers, or those exploring possible work environments. Associated academic coursework provides the opportunity to more deeply explore professional issues, and places the practical work experience within the context of larger workplace trends.

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INFO 894 Practicum II

Provides relevant professional experience that will strengthen work skills. Particularly useful for students without prior work experience, career changers, or those exploring possible work environments. Associated academic coursework provides the opportunity to more deeply explore professional issues, and places the practical work experience within the context of larger workplace trends.

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INFO 624 Information Retrival Systems

Covers the theoretical underpinnings of information retrieval to provide a solid base for further work with retrieval systems. Emphasizes systems that involve user-computer interaction. Covers aspects of information retrieval including document selection, document description, query formulation, matching, and evaluation.

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INFO 780 Special Library Services

Special topics course.

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