LIB 5045: Administration of the Public Library Course Syllabus Summer 2008
Dr. Carol Truett
Appalachian State University
Dept. of Leadership and Educational Studies Reich College of Education 3 semester hours credit
Course Description: Administration, organization, legal basis, services, history, and financing of the public library. Explores the role of today’s public library, staffing and supervision, evaluation of programs and personnel, facilities, library automation, public relations, middle management, the director’s role, working with trustees, and the major issues involved in administering the modern public library.
Goals/Objectives:
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
1. Articulate the role and implement the services of the modern public library.
2. Manage a budget, either departmental or library-wide, for a public library and understand how North Carolina public libraries are financed through public (e.g., taxes, State monies, etc.) and private funds.
3. Hire, supervise and manage personnel in the public library setting.
4. Comply with legal and legislative requirements for managing and administering a public library in North Carolina.
5. Apply for North Carolina Public Library professional certification, understand the legal requirements for certification, and encourage other staff to pursue professional development and certification opportunities.
6. Establish and administer appropriate services for the public library setting, including but not limited to, collection development, electronic information services (including Internet and online searching access), other information and reference services, technical services, access (circulation) services, readers advisory and adult services, youth services, and outreach services.
7. Conduct a community survey or analysis study, and recommend new and/or improved public library services based on the results of the study.
8. Evaluate services using output measures for public libraries and other appropriate evaluation instruments.
9. Address and deal with important issues facing the public library in the 21st century, including: public library financing, certification and standards, censorship, copyright, electronic information sources and the commercialization of computer information databases, planning for new services in a rapidly changing technological setting, and working with networks, integrated library automation, and the electronic global information environment.
Course Outline: I. Role of the Public Library II. History of the Public Library in the United States A. Early Colonial Libraries B. The Boston Public Library C. Dewey and the American Library Association D. The Carnegie Foundation and the World Wars E. Modern Public Libraries III. Today’s Public Library and its Changing Role in the Community A. Organization of the Public Library B. The Planning Process IV. Governance and Politics of the Public Library, Legal Basis for Establishment A. North Carolina Library Legislation B. The North Carolina Public Library Certification Commission 1. Role 2. Certification of Professional Librarians C. The North Carolina State Library D. North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources V. Library Automation and Technology A. Selection and Collection Development B. Technical Services, Cataloging and Classification C. Access Services A. Circulation Policies, Services and Systems B. Interlibrary Loan C. Copyright and Copy Services VI. Information and Reference Services, Library Programming, Information Technologies A. The Reference Librarian and the Reference Interview B. Adult Services and Reader Advisory Services C. Bibliographic Instruction, Online Services D. Youth Services and Programs E. Outreach 1. Bookmobile 2. Minorities 3. Handicapped 4. The Aged 5. Literacy Programs VII. Public Relations A. Friends Groups B. Media VIII. The Library Director A. Job Description and Role B. Working with the Library’s Board IX. Personnel Management and Supervision A. Middle Management B. Job Descriptions and Staff Evaluation C. Library Policies and Conditions of Employment D. Personnel Concerns: 1. Fringe Benefits 2. Civil Service, Unions 3. Staff Recruitment, Orientation, Training, Performance Appraisal, Grievance Procedures, Termination and Burnout 4. Staff Development X. Financial Management A. Library Financing 1. Public Funding 2. Private Funding and Grants B. The Library Budget Process 1. Revenues 2. Expenditures 3. Presenting the Budget 4. Legal Requirements a. State of North Carolina b. Financial Reporting and Practices XI. The Library Building, Equipment, and Furnishing A. The Building Program B. Planning Process and Working with Architects C. Funding the Library Building XII. Evaluation of the Public Library A. Public Library Standards and Evaluation Instruments B. Types of Evaluation a. Administration and Staff b. Services and Programs 1. Adult 2. Reference 3. Children and Young Adults c. Collection, Finances and Physical Facilities d. Use Studies and User Surveys
Required Readings:
Texts:
Required: Nelson, Sandra/PLA. Strategic Planning for Results. Chicago: American Library Association, 2008. ISBN: 13-978-0-8389-3573-6; 10-0-8389- 3573-7
Required: Weingand, Darlene E. Administration of the Small Public Library. 4th ed. Chicago: American Library Association, 2001.
Statistics & Directory of North Carolina Public Libraries. Current ed. Raleigh, N.C.: State Library of North Carolina, NC Department of Cultural Resources.
Van House, Nancy et al. Output Measures for Public Libraries. 2nd ed. Chicago: American Library Association, 1987.
Required: Gertzog, Alice and Edwin Beckerman. Administration of the Public Library. Boulder, Colo.: Rowman & Littlefield, 2003.
Readings:
ALA Small Libraries* Publication Series, No. 1-23. ALA/LAMA. (*Libraries with less than 100,000 population served.) Check printed list for complete listing of titles.
Allred, Stephen. Employment Law: a Guide for North Carolina Employees. Chapel Hill, N.C.: Institute of Government, 1995. Baker, Sharon L. and F. Wilfred Lancaster. The Measurement and Evaluation of Library Services. 2nd ed. Arlington, Va.: Information Resources Press,1991.
Childers, Thomas and Nancy Van House. “The Grail of Goodness: The Effective Public Library.” Library Journal 114 (October 1, 1989): 44-49.
Guidelines for Developing Policies and Procedures in Missouri Public Libraries. Jefferson City, Mo.: Missouri State Library, 1990.
Holt, Raymond. Wisconsin Library Building Project Handbook. 2nd ed. Madison: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, 1991.
Lange, Janet M. “Public Library Users, Nonusers, and Type of Library Use.” Public Library Quarterly 8 (1987/88): 49-67.
Lueder, Diane. Administrator’s Guide to Library Building Maintenance. Chicago: American Library Association, 1992.
McClure, Charles et al. Planning and Role Setting for Public Libraries. Chicago: American Library Association, 1987.
Pungitore, Verna. Public Librarianship: An Issues-Oriented Approach. New York: Greenwood Press, 1989.
Walter, Virginia. Output Measures for Public Library Service to Children. Chicago: American Library Association, 1992.
Walter, Virginia. Output Measures and More: Planning and Evaluating Public Library Services for Young Adults. Chicago: American Library Association, 1996.
Williams, Patrick. The American Public Library and the Problem of Purpose. New York: Greenwood Press, 1988.
Williams, Lorraine. The Library Trustee and the Public Librarian. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press, 1993.
Woodrum, Pat. Managing Public Libraries in the 21st Century. New York: Haworth, 1989.
Young, Virginia. The Library Trustee. Chicago: American Library Association, 1995.
Methods of Teaching:
These include course readings and critiques, class and small group discussion, lecture, group projects, use of electronic communications . 1. Attendance and participation: 100 points
All students are expected to attend all class sessions in their entirety, including any scheduled field trips and teleconferences. Two classes missed (or one Saturday class) will result in a lower grade. Part of this grade will be awarded for student participation in class discussions and activities, as well as in group projects.
2. Public Library Programming: 200 points
Plan and implement a public library program. This will/may be a group project and must be one which could actually be implemented in a public library. Some possible ideas are:
1) National Library Week Program (e.g., check out ALA’s Night of a Thousand Stars program) 2) Summer Reading (Must be original, not the State Library program.) 3) Internet Introduction for the Public 4) Preschool Reading Program 5) Film Festival 6) Earth Day Program 7) Library Author Visit for adults or children 8) Local Genealogy Workshop 9) Retirement Planning Using Library Resources from Your Public Library 10) Banned Book Week 11) Library Advocacy 12) Library Card Registration Drives
This group project will be shared with your classmates on the last two class meetings. Grade will be based on the following criteria:
1. Originality of the program or its execution 10 pts.
Please note: Taking a national program like NEA's Dr. Seuss Day is not original. Please do NOT submit such programs as your own original work.
2. Thorough plan for the program including at a minimum: 0 pts. 1) Purpose or objectives and proposed actual library 2) Theme and/or target audience (e.g., grades K-3, adult, senior citizens, etc.) 3) Activities involved 4) Personnel needed 5) Other resources needed (e.g., bookmarks, invitations, food, etc.) 6) Proposed program budget and total amount needed 7) Fees or admission charges, if any 8) Time schedule of planning calendar 9) Evaluation of program success (e.g., participant survey, number in attendance, etc.) 10) Audiovisuals and/or other PR materials you will use 3. Class presentation of program (if time) 20 pts. 4. Self evaluation of program and what you would do to improve it next time 10 pts. Total Project Points = 100 X 2 = 200
3. Course Readings and Critiques: 150 points Read and critique 6 current readings related to the public library topics on the course content outline. You may not count text chapters or other required course readings for this assignment. Each reading critique must be on a different topic. You MUST use Taurabian style (also known as the Chicago Style Manual) for these readings. In case you do not have samples of this style, consult the textbook by Gertzog and Beckerman as they use this form. Please NOTE: This is different from APA style. Be prepared to discuss your readings in class. Check the course calendar for reading due dates. 6 Readings X 25 points = 150 4. Library Evaluation: 150 points Using the Library Walkabout in Appendix B of the Gertzog and Beckerman text cited above, evaluate a library which is new to you (i.e., one with which you are not previously familiar or employed in). Write up a 3-5 page essay style (no question/answer simple responses please) evaluation of this library covering the Walkabout components including: External Features, The Lobby, Impressions related to Overview, A Bird’s Eye View of Collections, Amenities, and a Summary of both positive and negative aspects that you feel should be changed. 5. Reading Journal: 400 points This will consist of reading reaction notes to all of your course reading with the exception of the 6 articles critiqued separately. Please do NOT summarize the chapters; your professor has read all of the chapters. Your reactions/responses/criticisms are called for here, not summary. 6. Topical Reports Each student will do a topical oral report on a subject of importance to the public library. For suggested topics, see the final project (including the policy manual) topics listed above and the course outline found in the syllabus. Also a summary of suggested topics appears at this link: Some Suggested Oral Report Topics Click above link. 200 points Total Possible Points for Course 1200 points
Grading Scale
95-100 = A 77-79 = C+
90-94 = A- 73-76 = C
87-89 = B+ 70-72 = C-
83-86 = B 60-69 = D*
80-82 = B- 59 or below = F
*Note: No one will ever receive a final grade of D because the Graduate School at ASU does not allow this grade to be assigned in a graduate level course.
Policy on Late Assignments and Incompletes (I Grade)
Assignments which are turned in late will be penalized one grade level or 5 points for each class period or week late. NOTE: Incomplete grades (“I”) are never “taken” by the student, but are assigned by the instructor only in extenuating circumstances. This may include divorce, death in the family, critical illness, or certain other serious life altering circumstances. Over commitment or mismanagement of one’s time is not considered an extenuating circumstance justifying the assignment of an Incomplete grade. It is not this instructor’s policy to assign Incomplete grades in any regular required course and the Graduate School now requires completion of Incompletes in the following semester. Please schedule a conference with your instructor immediately if you even suspect you might have trouble completing assignments in a timely manner. These may be done by e-mail or telephone if that is more convenient than a face to face meeting. You may be asked to drop the course and simply register at a later date. You cannot do a late drop to avoid a failing grade in a course. Important:No assignments will be accepted after the last day of class unless specifically stated otherwise. In the case of class presentations, I must be informed in advance (at least 24 hours) if an assignment will be turned in or presented late. Consistent tardiness in assignments can result in your grade being penalized. Also, two or more missed classes will result in a grade reduction.
Inclement Weather Notification Policy
In the event that a class must be canceled due to inclement weather, you may call your instructor at home or work, or the departmental office, 2 hours before class. Or the instructor will indicate by e-mail class list if a class is being canceled 2 hours before it is scheduled to begin. The class will be rescheduled and all students informed in an appropriate manner, most likely by e-mail, of the new class meeting date and time. It is not the Reich College of Education policy to individually telephone each student registered in a class canceled due to inclement weather conditions so be aware that you will most likely be personally responsible for finding out this information. In all cases, please take all precautions necessary and use your own best judgment to ensure your own personal safety and security in bad weather. It is impossible to know the road and weather conditions occurring in all parts of North Carolina and the fact that class is held in Boone or some other city does not necessarily mean that you will find safe driving conditions on your way to your Appalachian State University class. The University’s Inclement Policy may be read at: http://www.appstate.edu/www_docs/news/releases/info/111600inclementWeathe r.html Extension classes which are canceled will have announcements posted on their web site at: http://www.ext-dl.appstate.edu/ Canceled classes will also be announced on the LIB 5045 home page web site which, of course, is located at: http://www.lesn.appstate.edu/truett/lib5045/