L624 Information in Science and Technology
Version of September 15,
2004
Class meets Fridays,
9:00-11:45, Library Room 036
Instructor: Debora Shaw (shawd@indiana.edu)
Library Journal’s 2004 Periodical Price Survey found
simmering
“anger and frustration,” continued inflation, and small steps toward big change
in the STM publishing realm.... major libraries, such Harvard and Cornell,
declining to renew “big deal” e-journal packages, the debut of open access
journals, and signs that what the authors call the “extreme-profit model” in
scholarly communication is in for some big competition. (LJ Academic Newswire,
April 20, 2004)
This description captures a
sense of the complex economic, political, and intellectual settings in which
information professionals deal with issues of access to STM (science,
technology, and medicine) information resources.
Course description: General materials, reference books, periodicals,
government documents, nonbook media in the individual
literature of individual disciplines; patents and report literature. Examination of production, publication, distribution, and forms of
scientific and technical literature.
We will focus on the second
part of the approved course description: Examination of production, publication,
distribution, and forms of scientific and technical literature. We will
consider the various types and formats of information sources in terms of how
they assist the development of, access to, and
dissemination of information in science and technology.
Goals: Upon completion of the course students will
1. understand
the types of information sources in science and technology, be able to use
these to answer questions efficiently and effectively, and know how to assess
and evaluate STM information resources;
2. understand
the information needs and uses of: scientists/researchers, college students,
K-12 teachers and students, journalists, the public, historians of science;
3. understand
the ecological interdependence of information publishers/providers and
purchasers, including current issues and technological developments related to
information access and pricing.
Evaluation and grading: The final course grade will be based on the
following evidence of performance, with these approximate weightings:
1. Practicum - time limited
information seeking in a science library (10% )
2. Class participation,
specifically preparation (10% each) for:
a.
primary sources in computer science and physics (9/10)
b.
secondary sources in biology and chemistry (9/17)
c. interviews
with guest speakers (five of six: 9/24, 10/15, 11/5, 11/12, 12/3, 12/10)
3. Final project, background
and supporting material for a science news topic (20%)
Link to e-reserves in SLIS Library: http://ereserves.indiana.edu/coursepage.asp?cid=2727
Definitions of letter
grades: The SLIS faculty’s definition
of letter grades specifies that a grade of B be assigned for “Student
performance meets designated course expectations and demonstrates understanding
of the course materials at an acceptable level.” Higher grades would exceed
this level of performance. The complete definition of letter grades is
available at http://www.slis.indiana.edu/courses/forms/grades.html
Accommodation of religious
holidays: If you anticipate a
conflict between the requirements for this class and your religious holidays,
please inform the instructor as early in the semester as possible. The Indiana
University Bloomington policies on religious holidays and the form to request
accommodation are available at: http://www.indiana.edu/~deanfac/holidays.html
Class schedule
Pre-first-class ready
reference question:
Who discovered telomeres, and when?
September 3, **Assignment: find answer(s) to question “who
discovered telomeres, and when?” Where did you look
for this information? Where did you find it?
Introduction to the course
Overview of types of
resources and criteria for evaluation
Discuss pre-class ready
reference question on telomere discovery (come
prepared with at least one answer)
Division of labor for
September 10 and 17 discussions
Suggested
reading: Hurd,
J. (1994). Communication in
science: The impact of information technology. In H. R. Malinowsky
(ed.), Reference sources in science, engineering, medicine, and agriculture
(pp. 7-12).
September 10
Comparative analysis of
primary information sources in computer science and physics:
1. Technical/research reports
2. Conference proceedings
3. Preprints
4. Periodicals (reporting
original work)
5. Standards
6. Theses and dissertations
For the source(s) you are
assigned, be prepared to discuss:
the
authority (publisher, editor, authors)
intended
audience (aims, scope)
price/cost
(if you can determine this readily)
size
(number of pages, entries or other measure)
currency
(how recently, frequently updated)
examples
of how the source might be used
alternative(s) to this source for finding this kind of information
September 17, **Topics for final project due
Comparative analysis of two
secondary information sources in chemistry and biology:
1. Periodicals (commenting on
and interpreting developments reported in the primary literature)
2. Indexing and abstracting
services
3. Reference books
a.
encyclopedias
b.
dictionaries
c.
handbooks
d. tables
e.
formularies
4. Monographs
5. Textbooks
6. Guides to the literature
For the source(s) you are
assigned, be prepared to discuss:
the
authority (publisher, editor, authors)
intended
audience (aims, scope)
price/cost
(if you can determine this readily)
size
(number of pages, entries or other measure)
currency
(how recently, frequently updated)
examples
of how the source might be used
alternative(s) to this source for finding this kind of information
Final task: Develop plan for
interview of Tom Lindberg
September 24
- Information
origination: scientific research and publication
Class interview of Tom
Lindberg, Chemistry doctoral student with experience as a research scientist in
industry and academic settings
Site visit #1 - Swain Hall
Library
Read: Latour, B. & Woolgar, S. (1986). Laboratory life: The construction of
scientific facts (“An anthropologist visits the laboratory, pp. 43-103 ).
Ellis, D.,
& Haugan, M. (1997). Modelling the information seeking patterns of engineers and research
scientists in an industrial environment. Journal of Documentation, 53(4),
384-403.
[available
through IU’s online journals]
October 1 - Searching specialties: patents, chemical structures
Site visit #2 - Chemistry
Library
Guest speaker Ron Kaminecki, Director, Intellectual Property Market Segment,
Thomson Dialog, Roger Beckman, Chemistry Librarian
October 8
** Practicum - General
Science Ready Reference
Roles of the intermediary in
science information: Guest speaker Bob Noel, Head, Swain Hall Library
Read: Ackerson, L. G. (1996).
Basing reference services on scientific communication: Toward a more effective
model for science graduate students. RQ, 36(2), 248-260. [on e-reserve for L624]
Final task: Develop plan for
interview of
October 15
Assignment: Attend undergrad
science class lecture (during the week)
Information needs of
(university) students studying science and technology. Guest speaker: from the
Read: MaKinster, J. G., Beghetto, R. A., & Plucker,
J. A. (2002). Why can’t I fine
Phillips,
L. M., & Norris, S. P. (1999).
Interpreting popular reports of science: What happens when the reader’s world
meets the world on paper? International Journal of Science Education, 21(3),
317-327. [available through IU’s
online journals]
Final task: Develop plan for
interview of Staci Radford-Vincent
October 22
Site visit #3 - Geology
Library, Linda Zellmer, Head
Information needs of teachers
and students (K-12). Guest speaker: Staci
Radford-Vincent, WonderLab Museum of Science, Health,
and Technology (10:30-11:30)
Read: McNally, M. J., & Kuhlthau,
C. C. (1994). The information search process in science
education. Reference Librarian, 44, 53-60. [on
e-reserve for L624]
Final task: Develop plan for
interview of Bill Aspray
October 29
Site visit #4 -
November 5
Information needs of
historians and sociologists of science and technology
Guest expert, William Aspray, Rudy Professor of Informatics:
How are primary source
materials maintained? How do we evaluate these sources?
Final task: Develop plan for
interview of Holly Stocking
Read (well, look over and try out):
http://www.library.cmu.edu/Research/Humanities/History/hots.html
Society for
the History of Technology. Web Resources in the History of Technology.
http://shot.press.jhu.edu/Reference/links.htm
History of
Science Society. (2002). Bibliographic Essays.
http://www.hssonline.org/teach_res/essays/mf_essays.html
History of
Science Society. (2003). Resources for Teaching and Researching the History of
Science.
http://www.hssonline.org/teach_res/resources/mf_resources.html
** Attend SLIS Colloquium by
Peter Boyce, Senior Consultant for Electronic Publishing, American Astronomical
Society, Friday November 5, 2:00-3:30, Main Library Room 001
November 12 - Information needs of journalists and the public
Interview Professor Holly
Stocking (9:30-10:30)
Interview Janice
Read: Blum, D. & Knudson, M. (Eds.). (1997). Field guide for science writers (pp. 27-42).
Check out the Indiana Soybean
Board’s website: http://www.indianasoybeanboard.com/
November 19
Publishing issues: Commercial
publishers, secondary publishers, open archives movement
Final task: Develop plan for
interview with Blaise Cronin
Read: Suber, P. (2004). Creating an intellectual commons through open access. Paper
presented at the Workshop on Scholarly Communication as a Commons, Workshop in
Political Theory and Policy Analysis,
http://dlc.dlib.indiana.edu/archive/00001246/01/suberrev052804.pdf
Searing, S.
E., & Estabrook, L. S. (2001). The future of scientific publishing on the Web:
Insights from focus groups of chemists. portal:
Libraries and the Academy, 1(1), 77-96. [available
through IU’s online journals]
Open Archives Forum (n.d.) OAI for beginners: Overview. http://www.oaforum.org/tutorial/english/page1.htm
Ashling, J. (20004, July/August). ICSTI
Public Conference. Information Today, 21(7), 29-30. [available through IU’s online
journals]
November 26 - Thanksgiving
recovery day, class does not meet
December 3
Guest speaker: Blaise Cronin, SLIS Dean and Rudy Professor of Information
Science - an editor looks at STI publishing
Presentations of final
projects
Final task: Develop plan for
interview with Ralph Quarles
Read: Brown, T. (2004). Peer review and the acceptance
of new scientific ideas: Discussion paper from a Working Party on equipping the
public with an understanding of peer review. Available from: http://www.senseaboutscience.org.uk/peerreview/
December 10
Assignment: Final projects
due
Guest speaker: Ralph Quarles,
Assistant Director and Operations Manager,
Library Information
Technology, IU Bloomington
- challenges of access to classified information
Ethical and political issues
- topics and readings to be determined by seminar participants
Read four papers plus optional readings from Ralph
Quarles:
1. Defense Security Services
(2004). Online at http://www.dss.mil
. Read the following 3 pages of the DSS site (all are brief) then
generally scan the site otherwise:
a. “What are we protecting?”
located at http://www.dss.mil/cithreats/protect.htm
b. “Scholarly Approaches to
Collect Scientific and Technical Information from Cleared Defense Companies”
located at http://www.dss.mil/cithreats/satcst.htm
c. DoD Guide to Marking
Classified Documents - Security Reminders, located at http://www.dss.mil/isec/marking/page3.htm
2. CIA minimum personnel
security standards and procedures governing eligibility for access to sensitive
compartmented information. Miscellaneous. CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY. OFFICIAL USE.
Issue Date: Nov 27, 1984. Unsanitized. Complete. Reproduced in Declassified Documents Reference System.
http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/DDRS?vrsn=1.0&view=image&slb=FT&locID=iuclassb&srchtp=basic&c=1&img=.25&page=1&ste=4&txb=classification+guidelines&sortType=RevChron
(Read pp. 1-6 only)
3. Frank Press outlines plans
for an approach to
4.
http://researchadmin.uchicago.edu/regulations/federal_exportandtrade.shtml
Additional optional readings:
Quist, A. (2002) Security Classification of Information:
Introduction, History, and Adverse Impacts.
Available at
http://www.fas.org/sgp/library/quist/index.html
(Browse site otherwise to get
a feel for perspective of those researchers generally opposed to
strict classification).
Letter from British Prime
Minister Harold Macmillan to President John F. Kennedy regarding collaboration
plans by U.S. and British scientists to improve instrumentation designed to
detect underground nuclear explosions. Letter. White House. TOP SECRET. Issue
Date: Mar 14, 1962.
Date Declassified: May 23,
2000. Unsanitized. Complete. 12 page(s). Reproduced in Declassified Documents Reference System.