圖書館實務研討 ( 01393)

Field Work and Practical Researches

輔仁大學圖書資訊學系研究所一甲

 Syllabus

Nature and Scope of the Course

 This course is to provide a practical overview of the major issues faced by managers in libraries and information centers. While theory will be studied and addressed, emphasis will be on practical approaches to management problems. Class sessions will be heavily discussion oriented, and it is expected that students will share their experiences and thoughts.

Textbook:

Evans, Ward and Ward, Bendik Rugaas.(2000). Management basics for information professionals. New York : Neal-Schuman.

Readings :

Brenfeld, B. A. (2004). “ Developing a Team Management Structure in a Public Library ”. Library Trends 53 (1), 112-128.

Creer, Roger C., John Agada, and Grover, Robert (1994). “ A model for libraries and other information agencies.” Library Administration & Management 8 (1): 35-42.

Deiss, K. J. (2004). “ Innovation and Strategy: Risk and Choice in Shaping User-Centered Libraries” . Library Trends 53 (1), 17-32.

Deiss, Kathryn & Joan Giesecke. (1999). "From Here to There; Moving to the Future through Scenario Planning. Library Administration & Management 13 (2):99-104

Honea, S.M. (2000).”The Impact of Professionalism on Library administration.” Journal of Library Administration, 31 :1

Kaarst-Brown, M. L., Nicholson, S., Von Dran, G. M., & Stanton, J. M. (2004). “ Organizational cultures of libraries as a strategic resource” . Library Trends 53 (1), 33-53.

Mason, F. M., Wetherbee, L. V. (2004). “Learning to Lead: An Analysis of Current Training Programs for Library Leadership”. Library Trends, 53 (1), p187-217.

Mintzberg, H. (1975). “The Manager's Job: Folklore and Fact”. Harvard Business Review 53 (4), 49-6.

Pymm, Bob.(2000). Learn library management . Canberra : Book Promotion & Service Stueart,

R. D. and Moran, B. B. (2002). Library and information center management . 6 th ed. Greenwood Village , CO : Libraries Unlimited.

Star J. (2004). A measure of change: Comparing library job advertisements of 1983 and 2003. LIBRES 14 (2), available at: http://libres.curtin.edu.au/libres14n2/index.htm

Evaluation and grades : Course grades will be determined by your performance on three assignments and class participation. Each assignment has the following weight:

Management issue position paper 30%

Research paper 30 %

Class participation: 40%

Total: 100 points

Assignments

The following assignments are required. Written work must be submitted by the end of class on the deadline date. I strongly encourage you to submit written assignments via e-mail as an attached Word .

Assignment one: Management issue position paper (group project) Managers are often called on to decide complex issues or assist with the decision making process for such issues. An effective way to do this, either for yourself or to advise another manager, is through a position paper. In its most basic form a position paper describes all of the points of view on a topic, analyzes those positions, recommends an outcome, and then defends the recommendation. In this assignment you will work with a partner to prepare a 5000 word position paper on a library related management topic.

Topic submission due: Oct. 03, 2006.

Paper due: Nov. 07, 2006.

Process: You will need to find a partner and agree on an issue. If you cannot find a partner I will be glad to try to match you up with someone. Suggestions for finding an issue are below. Once you have a partner and an issue, submit a brief outline of the issue to me. The topic outline must be submitted to me by March 6 , 2004. Do not proceed with work on the paper until I have approved the issue. You may work on the issue and the paper in whatever manner you like as long as you meet the basic parameters laid out below. The final paper is due April 17, 2004. You will make a short presentation about the issue in class on April 14 .

Basic parameters:

• I would like you to work in pairs on this paper. This is not absolutely required but is strongly encouraged.
• Once you have identified an issue you should determine what possible positions or outcomes exist for the issue. Those positions should be divided equally between the members of the pair. Each of you will do research on your set of positions and prepare an argument for or against each position. You will find that it will work best to work collaboratively so that you can address the arguments and positions being handled by your partner as you do your own work.
• The final paper will be about 5000 words in length. It will consist of about 2000 words of argument written by each member of the pair and about 1000 words of conclusion and recommendation written by both.
• In writing your paper follow the following outline:
• describe all of the points of view on the topic
• analyze those positions
• recommend an outcome
• defend the recommendation

Each of you should describe and analyze your positions separately and then put the recommendation and its defense in the conclusion. If you cannot agree then you can recommend and defend two outcomes in the conclusion.

• Half of your grade on the paper will be based on how well you worked together in presenting and arguing the issues. This does not mean you need to agree; only that you worked together in researching, analyzing, and preparing and writing the conclusion portion of the paper. The other half of your grade will be based on the quality of your work alone.

Finding an issue: There are many potential issues to choose from. You should feel free to suggest any library management issue that is of interest to you. As examples, some potential topics include:

• Should the library move to a team structure instead of the traditional hierarchical management structure?
• Is a “flat” management structure better than the traditional hierarchical structure?
• Should the library provide virtual or online reference services?
• Should paper periodicals be discontinued in favor of online versions, even if it doesn't save money?
• Do online catalogs require new forms of subject access?

Again, these are just suggestions. You should feel free to come up with a topic of your own.

Assignment two: Research paper

Bookstore scanning and Library story

( We'll talk about in the class)

Paper due: Jan. 09, 2007.

Lead class discussion: You will be assigned some topics for class discussion. In addition to the assigned readings, find one article that adds information on the topic. Lead the class discussion and include the information from the article. Write an outline of about 250 words covering what you want to discuss, including relevant information from the article. Turn in the paper and a copy of the article.

Course timeline

Sept.19 Introduction

Class details

Discussion: What is management

Sept. 26 Management concepts

History of Management Thought

Reading : Honea, S.M. (2000)

Oct. 3 History of library and Information Service Management Concepts

Discussion: Management issue position paper

Reading : Evans(2000), chap. 2

Oct. 10

The National Day

Oct. 17 Environment Issues

Introduction

Reading : Evans(2000), chap. 3

Oct. 24 Environment Issues

Class discussion

Oct. 31 Management issue position paper

Group: 1-2

Nov. 7 Management issue position paper

Group:3-4

Nov. 14 Management: Knowledge and skill

Marketing

Class discussion

Reading : Evans, chap. 4

Nov. 21 Management: Knowledge and skill

Marketing

class discussion

Nov. 28 Management: Knowledge and skill

Innovation and change

Reading : Evans, chap. 5

Dec. 5 Management: Knowledge and skill

Innovation and change

Class discussion

Dec. 12 Management: Knowledge and skill

Decision Making

Reading : Evans, chap. 6

Dec. 19 Management: Knowledge and skill

Decision Making

Class discussion

Dec. 26 Management: Knowledge and skill

Decision Making

Class discussion

Jan. 2 2007 Management: Knowledge and skill

Other issues

Class discussion

Jan.9 2007 Management: Knowledge and skill

Other issues

Class discussion

Jan 16 2007 Course Wrap-up

Assignment paper

Management issue position paper

Research paper

Lead class discussion