Course Syllabus

Independent Study in Idaho

ISI Website| indepst@uidaho.edu | 208-885-6641

LIBS 5100 Libraries and Their Collections: Material Selection

Sponsoring Institution: University of Idaho

3 Credits

Instructor Information

Course Instructor: Ben Hunter

  • Email: bhunter@uidaho.edu
  • Phone: 208-885-5858
  • Office Hours: Email or By Appointment

Ben Hunter is the Dean of University Libraries at the University of Idaho, a position he has held since July of 2018. Previously, Dr. Hunter served as the Associate Dean of Library Services at U of I, and before that held positions including Head of Technical Services, Interim Head of User & Research Services, and Reference & Instruction Librarian. Before coming to U of I, he was an Association of Research Libraries Fellow at the University of Washington.

Hunter was named the Idaho Librarian of the Year in 2017 by the Idaho Library Association, a Library Journal “Mover & Shaker” in 2013, served as the 2010/2011 President of the Idaho Library Association, and is part of the American Library Association Emerging Leaders 2011 cohort. He holds a B.M. in Music Composition from the University of Idaho, a M.M. in Music Composition from the University of Oregon, an M.S. in Library Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Ph.D. in Managerial Leadership in the Information Professions from Simmons University. 

Course Description

In this introductory course, the foundation of understanding librarianship is laid. We will look at libraries as cultural icons, exploring the roots of early libraries and how they have developed most recently in the United States. The values of the profession will be examined, providing a lens of understanding when we look at selecting unbiased collections designed to promote lifelong readers. There will be readings about the book trade, acquisitions processes and licensing, and a practical application of collection assessment. These various activities will provide a broad overview to librarianship and one of its core services, the library collection.

I expect you to do the reading associated with each lesson in order for you to be successful in completing the work for this course. Your assignments are designed to provide me information about your learning and your interpretations of the materials. All of them will be a brief essay. If you are taking the course for graduate level credit, you will write an additional essay where you are expected to do reading beyond the assignments to deepen the knowledge of the topics presented. Your knowledge will be tested through a self-tested exam.

Course Learning Outcomes

  • The primary objective of this course is to establish your foundational knowledge of librarianship as a service profession. As the entry to a suite of courses, there will be historical and theoretical roots that you will use throughout subsequent classes on librarianship. The special focus on collections is fitting, as collections might be the earliest services offered from this service profession.
  • By exploring the professional values, you will be able to see the diverging thoughts that separate librarianship from teaching. This tension is helpful as you learn how to apply librarianship to school settings.

Required Materials

  • Gorman, Michael. Our Enduring Values Revisited. Chicago: American Library Association, 2015 ISBN: 978-0-8389-1300-0; (Gorman)
  • Intellectual Freedom Manual. Compiled by the Office for Intellectual Freedom of the American Library Association; Trina Magi, Editor; Martin Garnar, Assistant Editor. 9th ed. Chicago: American Library Association, 2015 ISBN: 978-0-8389-1292-8 (Intellectual Freedom Manual)
  • Morris, Betty J. Administering the School Library Media Center. 5 th ed. Santa Barbara, Calif. : Libraries United ISBN: 978-1-59158-689-0
  • Supplementary Materials: Online readings from library databases; YouTube videos; Internet sources

Course Rules and Requirements

I expect you to do the reading associated with each lesson in order for you to be successful in completing the work for this course. Your assignments are designed to provide me information about your learning and your interpretations of the materials. All of them will be a brief essay. If you are taking the course for graduate level credit, you will write an additional essay where you are expected to do reading beyond the assignments to deepen the knowledge of the topics presented. Your knowledge will be tested through a self-tested exam.

Assignment Guidelines

  • Students may submit only one lesson at a time. Students can only submit two assignments per week.
  • Wait for grades and feedback on assignments prior to submitting subsequent assignments unless permission has been granted by the instructor to submit multiple assignments. 
  • Submitting Assignments: Please number questions. Students must submit assignments via Canvas. Students will receive graded assignments via Canvas.
  • You will typically receive graded lessons by end of day on Friday of each week, though sometimes the instructor's grading routine will change. If you have not received a grade within one week of submitting, please feel free to reach out.

Exam Guidelines

  • Wait for grades and feedback on lessons prior to taking exams. 
  • Your final exam will be closed book and no notes. The format will be similar (but not identical) to the self-graded exam, including short answers, fill in the blanks, and an essay.

Grade Information

The course grade will be based upon the following considerations:

  1. Completeness of your response: did you answer the question?
    1. Is your answer clearly stated? Have you used good grammar and spelling?
    2. If required, have you provided citations to the outside sources used?
    3. Have you built a convincing argument?

Assignments and tests:

    • Assignment 1 = 10 pts
    • Assignment 2 = 10 pts
    • Assignment 3 = 10 pts
    • Assignment 4 = 10 pts
    • Assignment 5 = 10 pts
    • Midterm exam (self-graded) = 0 pts
    • Assignment 6 = 10 pts
    • Assignment 7 = 10 pts
    • Assignment 8 = 10 pts
    • Assignment 9 = 10 pts
    • Assignment 10 = 10 pts
    • Final exam = 100 pts

Mid-term Self-graded exam

There is a mid-term exam included after the first five lessons. This is a self-graded exam and will give you an opportunity to practice the type of exam that will be offered at the conclusion of this course. An answer key will be provided to you. While the mid-term is an open book test, the final exam will be closed book/notes. You may wish to take the practice exam in the same fashion.

Grading Scale

  • A 90-100%
  • B 80-89%
  • C 70-79%
  • D 60-69%
  • F 0-59%

The final course grade is issued after all assignments and exams have been graded.

Acts of academic dishonesty, including plagiarism or cheating are considered a very serious transgression and may result in a grade of F for the course.

Course Policies

Refer to the ISI Policies for the most current policies and procedures, including information on setting up accounts, student confidentiality, exams, transcripts, course exchanges, refunds, academic integrity, library resources, disability support and other services. 

AI Policy & Academic Honesty

There have been amazing developments in AI generative text tools and some are freely available on the web and some come with a cost. These are powerful tools and it is possible for them to aid in the learning process and my policy is designed to ensure that they aid in the learning process rather than replace the learning process.

I will stipulate how you may use AI tools in the instructions of your assignments, activities, quizzes, and tests so you are responsible for reading the instructions thoroughly and asking for clarification if necessary. An example of such instructions is:

You may use AI generative text tools to help you create a sample outline of your writing assignment and as a proofreading and editing tool. You must download all evidence of your work with the AI tool and append that evidence along with the submission draft of the assignment. Failure to provide evidence, or failure to abide by the limits I have placed on your use of AI tools will result in a failing grade for the assignment and I must report the incident to the UI Dean of Students as stipulated in Student Code of Conduct (see below)

If I do not stipulate how you may use AI tools, you should assume that use is prohibited. You must cite your use of AI tools using the following guideline for citation (The Chicago Manual, APA, and MLA all have recommendations for your adoption).

This policy is supported by the Student Code of Conduct and Resolution Process as indicated below:

E Prohibited conduct. Specific behaviors of misconduct are identified and defined below.

E-1. Academic dishonesty. Acts of academic dishonesty include but are not limited to the following:

  1. Cheating. Cheating includes, but is not limited to, the following actions as they relate to academic work:
    1. Using, purchasing, providing, or possessing unauthorized materials, sources, or assistance without authorization from the instructor.
    2. Copying from another’s academic work either for the student’s own use or for the use of others.
    3. Sharing academic work without prior permission from instructor.
    4. Acquiring, without written or verbal permission, tests or other academic material belonging to the instructor or another member of the University faculty or staff.
    5. Completing academic work for someone else or having someone else complete academic work on your behalf.
    6. Representing another student in a class for attendance or participation purposes or asking another person for representation for attendance or participation purposes.
    7. Fabrication or falsification of data, research or academic content and the unauthorized alteration or invention of any information or citation.
    8. Forging, altering, reproducing, removing, destroying, or misusing any University document, record, or instrument of identification.
  2. Plagiarism. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, the following:
    1. Using, by paraphrase or direct quotation, the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment.
    2. The unauthorized alteration or invention of a citation.
    3. Buying or selling academic work for the purpose of submitting it for course completion.
    4. Submitting academic work, or any part of academic work, completed for one course as work for another course without the express prior approval of both instructors.
  3. Prohibited behavior. Engaging in any behavior related to course completion prohibited by the instructor or otherwise including but not limited to unauthorized collaboration and reliance on prohibited technological assistance/artificial intelligence tools.
  4. Misrepresenting facts for academic advantage. Examples include but are not limited to providing false academic achievements and false medical documentation for academic extensions.
  5. Violation of University policy regarding intellectual property and research. All data acquired through participation in University research programs is the property of the University and must be provided to the principal investigator. In addition, collaboration with the Office of Research and Economic Development for the assignment of rights, title, and interest in patentable inventions resulting from the research is also required. See FSH 3200 and 5400.