SLIS 5366.001

Course Description

Spring 2000 Dr. Y. Chandler WebCT Home

OFFICE & OFFICE HOURS Information Sciences Building, Room 217B
Tuesday, 1:00 -5:00

Phone: (940) 565-3777

COURSE DESCRIPTION Survey of the history and development; characteristics and distribution of law libraries in the United States. Role and function of law libraries or collections in academic, government or private institutional contexts. Problems of administration peculiar to these environments will be examined in such decision making areas as organization, personnel and financial management, library planning, marketing and evaluation with emphasis on the nature of and administration of reference and information services. Study of tools for collection development, collection development plans and technical processes including acquisitions, cataloging and serials. Introduction to the profession of law librarianship, the organization and activities of professional associations. INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE

This course is designed to give those who already have a fundamental understanding of the sources and bibliography of the law; a broader understanding of the field of law librarianship and more particular training in the administration of law libraries and legal information collections in various institutional contexts, academic, private firm, corporation, state, court, county, or correctional institution. While many issues related to administration in various law library settings will be considered, emphasis will be placed on the practical aspects of management.

Course methods will include textbook and assigned readings, lecture and discussion. Assignments will include summaries of readings and two short papers related to one type of legal information setting. Each student will select the information setting during the first class period. The papers will include a type of library report and a collection development or public services policy statement. Each student will also prepare a report on an integrated library automation system. These reports will be distributed to all members of the class, and will be the basis for the class work for the section on law library automation. A major paper on a topic of your choosing is also required. A list of suggested subjects for the paper will be distributed at the first class session. Other reports will also be assigned during the course.

The last class sessions will include a panel of law librarians from various types of law libraries: academic, corporate, court, or other. This session is scheduled late in the term so that students will be well prepared to ask questions at a sophisticated level and benefit the most from the panel.

GOALS

This course is designed for students to develop:

(1) an understanding of the law library profession and the role of law libraries in the practice of law;

(2) knowledge pertaining to the fundamental elements of law library and legal collections relative to their missions, functions, organization, management, operations and services in the transfer and dissemination of information;

(3) familiarity with the differences between the various types of law libraries and the needs of their particular users;

(4) understanding of law library administrative functions, skills and techniques.

(5) knowledge and skills in the application of computer technology to facilitate better management of law library collections and services;

(6) knowledge of contemporary management concepts, policy and decision-making theories, organizational structures and practices;

(7) the ability to organize information in various formats and

(8) understanding of professional issues of specific concern to administration of law libraries such as copyright, malpractice and unauthorized practice of law

OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this course, students should know:

(1) How to function effectively as an information management professional in law libraries or collections in academic, court, government or private sector settings.

(2) The basic elements of administration of law libraries in various institutional contexts.

(3) The organization, structure and function of different types of law libraries and the principles of law library management.

(4) Techniques for identifying and determining the information needs of the user populations for law libraries and for implementing user-oriented library and information services responsive to those needs.

(5) How to analyze, evaluate and use automated systems and services.

(6) The ability to comprehend and apply theories, principles and practices of collection development and bibliographic control of print and non-print resources for law libraries and legal collections.