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LIB 127: Library and Internet Research
MW 2:00-2:50
E-mail: katherine.cunnion@umpqua.edu
Phone: 440-7681
Classroom: UCC Library Classroom
Office Hours: 7:30-4:30 M-F generally, and by appointment
Course Description:The course is designed to develop students' skills and techniques to help them use and evaluate information, introduce students to current resources in the library and online, and refine the student's information gathering ability. It prepares students for higher level college library use and will encourage post-academic use of libraries for continuing education. The course is intended to be helpful to the student who has a research paper assignment as most of the work in the class applies directly to writing a research paper for another class.
Students will become acquainted with the library, how to use the library catalog, research strategies-including title, author, subject and keyword searches, use of Boolean logic, and subject headings. Students will learn the basics of compiling a bibliography of print and electronic resources using either the APA or MLA citation styles. Introductions to basic techniques for searching the Internet and online periodical indexes are included. All of these skills will be useful across the disciplines and will apply directly to any other type of library.
Course Objectives:At the completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Locate information resources in the UCC Library and on the library website.
- Be familiar with the research process, understand the importance of citing sources, and use a standard citation format (MLA or APA) in their own work.
- Use keywords, subject headings, Boolean operators, and truncation for more effective online & catalog searching.
- Evaluate the validity, currency, and usefulness of available information to their research needs.
Necessary Materials and Supplies: There is no textbook for the course. I will be giving out many handouts, so be prepared!! (Have an organized notebook.)
Required Reports or Assignments: Each class meeting usually consists of a brief lecture and discussion. There are regular assignments over the course of the quarter which support what you have learned in class. There are three short projects that build on each other. There may also be a field trip to the University of Oregon Knight Library around the middle of the term; we'll discuss this in more detail in class.
Final Exam: There will be a final project but no final exam. The final project is the third of the short projects mentioned above.
Grading Policy: 65% daily assignments, 10% class participation, 25% projects. 500 points total.
Grading Scale:
90-100-----A
80-89------B
70-79------C
60-69------D
0-59-------F
Expectations: : I expect you to be on time for class and to participate. More than two absences will count against your participation grade. You are expected to make up any missed work, and you can work ahead of time if you know you will not be able to make it to class. It is your responsibility to pick up missed assignments from me. Assignments are due on their due date. Assignments that are not turned in by the next class meeting after they are due may not be accepted. This class is a cumulative learning experience so it is very important to stay caught up.
A portion of the information we will be examining in this class may be of a controversial or political nature (i.e. the different opinions expressed in the Opposing Viewpoints database, etc.). I expect you to come to class prepared to discuss this material; this is part of your participation grade.
Some food and drink is okay in class, but nothing at the computers.
Accommodation: If you feel you need accommodation, please come see me during office hours or after class, and/or contact Disability Services in the Campus Center at 440-7655.
Academic Integrity: All work submitted must be your own and written exclusively for this course. Any detected plagiarism or other offense listed in section 721.1 of the UCC Policy Manual will be reported to the Vice President of Student Development and will result in possible failure of the assignment or, in extreme cases, the entire course. A late withdrawal from the course will not be possible if plagiarism is detected. Plagiarism is the use of another's ideas, information, language, or writing in one's work without the proper acknowledgement of the original source.
What the Library Has:
- Books, videos, CDs, newspapers, magazines, maps, reference collection, career collection, reserve books, photocopiers (3 black and white, 1 color), VCRs for telecourses, TV/VCRs (2) & TV/DVD (2) for viewing videos, library catalog, interlibrary loan, microfilm and microfilm reader.
- BOOKS, MAPS, CDs- 3 week checkout. VIDEOS/DVDs- 1 week checkout. MAGAZINES/JOURNALS- may not be checked out. Douglas County Library does check out magazines and they can be requested by Interlibrary Loan. RESERVE BOOKS- loan period varies depending on the instructor (library use only, overnight, 1 day checkout, 3 day checkout etc…)
- Overdue fines- $1.00 (1 week grace period), for reserve materials .25 an hour.
- Interlibrary Loan- Borrow from Douglas County Library System or other books at libraries around the country.
- Computers- The computers in the lab and all have Internet access, word processing programs and many other helpful programs. Express and scanner machines must be signed out on your library card. There are also 5 printers; 4 black and white and 1 color in the lab-printouts are free for students, but please only use what you need (so we do not have to start charging for them).
- Electronic Databases- EBSCOHost, LexisNexis Academic Universe, Access Science, CQ Researcher, Oregonian, Magill OnLiterature Plus, Encyclopedia Britannica, Opposing Viewpoints Center, etc… At the library homepage.
If you do not have a library card, please get one-- it is free!!
Umpqua Community College is an equal opportunity educator and employer.
This page last updated 01-19-07.