ILS 504 Reference and Information Resources and

Services
Dr. Elise Okobi
Fall 2009
Catalog Description:

ILS 504 is one of the core courses in the MLS program. It is the prerequisite
for nearly all-upper level courses in the MLS program. It the study of general
reference sources print and electronic; their content, evaluation and use. The
reference process and the organization of reference and information services
as they relate to different types of libraries. Lab in on-line retrieval.

Course Objectives:

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

1. Discuss the history and development of reference service

2. Understand the organization of information for access
3. Analyze patron's information need by conducting reference interviews
and provide relevant resources to satisfy the patron's information
need.
4. Develop the ability to use and critically evaluate reference materials in
all formats and to select suitable sources for specific library uses.
5. Demonstrate the basic skills for electronic searching, including search
techniques and strategies.
6. Understand the basics of collaborative reference work
7. Use Internet Resources to satisfy user’ information needs.
8. Use electronic communication channels with class mates and other
reference discussion groups.
Required Texts
Cassell, K., & Hiremath, U. (2006). Reference and information services in the
21st century. New York: Neal-Schuman. ISBN: 1555705634
Bopp, R., & Smith, L. C. (Eds). (2001). Reference and information services: an
introduction. (3rd ed.). Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited. ISBN:
1563086247
Katz, W. A. (2002). Introduction to reference work. (Vol. 1). (8th ed.). New
York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN: 0072441070
Highlights of the Course and Samples of Work
In this course we have to use all formats of reference resources( print,
electronic, Web-based) to answer all kind of different reference questions.
We also have to evaluate these types of resources using evaluation criteria,
we need to apply all the concepts we learned , and develop our abilities to
answer all kind of challenging questions in order to be able to face the real
world of reference services working as excellent reference librarians.

These are the links to all my individual, and Group works and
assignments that we had to submit during that course. They are
very helpful in the matter of practicing reference services.

The main link to all my individual assignments and group work for
ILS 504 is my ILS 504 course web site:
http://www.scribd.com/Ibrahimh504
The link to my Final project document
http://www.scribd.com/doc/23559446/Final-Project-Document
The link to my group final reference evaluation document:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/23262960/Final-References-Evaluation-
Group-Work
Links to Each Set of Evaluation:
1- Evaluation : Bibliographic resources:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/23263825/Bibliographic-Resources-
Evaluation
2- Evaluation : Almanacs and Factsbooks resources:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/23264286/Almanacs-Handbooks-
Factbooks
3- Evaluation : Encyclopedias, and Dictionaries
http://www.scribd.com/doc/23263996/Encyclopedia-Evaluation
4- Evaluation : Directories
http://www.scribd.com/doc/23264186/Directories-Evaluation
5- Evaluation Geographic Resources
http://www.scribd.com/doc/23264381/Geographic-Evaluation
Link to Individual Evaluation Work sets:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/23262429/Final-Individual-Evaluation
Assignments links :
1- Lay of the land: Hilton C. Buley Library Reference Department
2- Parts of a book Assignment: Famous First Facts (print edition)
3- Changes
4- Library Visit Assignment : An observation and personal experience of evaluating
reference librarians at Buley library & Trumbull library
5- Google - Search Assignments
6- Online databases Lab Assignment
7- Reference Questions Set 1
8- Biographical Lab Assignment
9- Virtual Reference Service
10- E-Books LAB assignment
11-EndNote Assignment
12-Internet Search Assignment
13-Reference Question set 2