Exploration of the nature of information and technology in information-intensive environments. Topics to be addressed include information lifecycle processes such as production, storage, sharing, and consumption; social, cultural, economic, legal, and technological contexts for understanding information processes; the roles of information professionals and agencies, and their place in the larger information marketplace; current and emerging information technologies that shape the information economy.
Introduction to the theory and practice of information organization and retrieval in various information environments. Familiarity with principles, standards, tools and current systems relating to organization of information and retrieval. Exploration of supported information system functions such as searching, browsing, and navigation. Assessment and evaluation of information organization and retrieval systems.
Takes a user-centered approach in exploring the information needs and behaviors of people (as individuals and in groups, communities, and institutions) in relation to the larger information ecology that surrounds them. Topics covered include an overview of information ecology; the user-centered paradigm; major information needs and information behavior theories, models, and findings; the landscape of information sources and services for users; factors that influence people’s information needs and behaviors; and user empowerment, information ethics, information fluency, and related issues.
Examines the political, social, economic, and technical forces that influence the larger environments in which information institutions are situated. This course explores characteristics of the environments in which information professionals may work, including but not limited to academic, school, public, and special libraries, museums, archives, cultural heritage institutions, government organizations, corporations across all industries, and information creators and publishers. The course explores characteristics of the information profession including core values and principles, emerging professions, and understanding possible futures in profession, and explores ideas of organizational behavior in information institutions that operate across the institution as a whole, within groups, and within individuals in the organization.
Focuses on quantitative and qualitative research methods applicable to information settings and environments. Explores research design, data analysis, proposal development, and ethical issues.
Students explore the context in which User Experience Design exists and the various methods employed by designers in various fields related to design research, the generation of ideas and implementation of designs. Students are introduced to methods of design evaluation and to the conceptual framework of the related curricula.
The first of three one-credit courses in digital technologies, this course presents foundational knowledge on the principles that underlie digital resources and services in modern information society, with specific emphasis on data representation, encoding, formatting, and data modeling.
The second of three one-credit courses in digital technologies, this course presents foundational knowledge on the principles that underlie digital resources and services in modern information society, with specific emphasis on online information systems, the Internet, and data security.
The third of three one-credit courses in digital technologies, this course presents foundational knowledge on the principles that underlie digital resources and services in modern information society, with specific emphasis on Web-based information applications, programming logic, Linked Data, and the interpretation of data.
Cultural heritage informatics brings a comprehensive, cross-disciplinary approach to supporting the entire lifecycle of cultural heritage information and documentation procedures for the benefit of the preservation, study, and promotion of cultural heritage. The course covers methods of creating descriptions for cultural objects, as well as organizing, delivering, and presenting the cultural heritage (tangible, intangible, and digital) resources in the digital age. The course aims to prepare students for careers focusing on or transcending libraries, archives, museums (LAMs), historical societies, and other cultural institutions by introducing them the methodologies and technologies commonly used in cultural heritage informatics and can be broadly implemented in LAMs.
Management and preservation of digital objects and records throughout their lifecycle. Essential technologies and standards for building and maintaining robust, trusted digital repositories. Emphasizes the use and reuse of scholarly data, business and government records, cultural heritage materials, and other digital objects to create resources supporting communities of practice in their work.
This course introduces a broad set of issues involved in the development and maintenance of digital libraries, including policy development, technology, collection development, project management, user-centered design, digitization, metadata, and interoperability.
Analysis of the historical, sociopolitical, technological, fiscal and organizational factors affecting American public librarianship. Includes evaluation, planning, networking, funding, automation, buildings and censorship.
Introduction to the theory and practice of marketing the library. Topics include the evaluation of customer needs, the marketing mix, merchandising, public relations, relationship marketing, and the design and development of a marketing plan for libraries.
Completed in a student’s last semester. It will include the creation of an electronic portfolio to represent and self-evaluate the student’s experience throughout the MLIS program, considering program learning outcomes and preparation for a career in the field of library and information science.