Instructor:
Jenn Riley
jenlrile@indiana.edu
856-5759
Office hours by appointment
Course overview
Prerequisite: S504: Cataloging (formerly L520: Bibliographic Access and Control). Knowledge of and the ability to effectively use at least one metadata content standard prevalent in the library, archives, or museum community is essential to success in this course. Experience with AACR2 gained in S504 (or L520) will provide the needed knowledge. Demonstrated knowledge and experience with the application of another content standard such as DACS or CCO will be sufficient as well—contact the instructor before registering if you have this experience but have not taken the prerequisite course. Students who have not taken one of the prerequisite courses will be required to complete an extra assignment in this course.
This course will provide an introduction to the Library of Congress' Metadata Object Description Schema (MODS) metadata structure standard, an increasingly used resource description standard for digital libraries. This course is intended for students and individuals interested in pursuing careers in digital libraries, metadata specialization, cataloging, or those interested in learning about emerging metadata standards. Students will learn when MODS is appropriate for use as a metadata format, where it fits in the larger metadata landscape, and where it fits in the lifecycle of digital library projects. Students will also gain experience with some supporting technologies such as XML and XSLT.
The class will introduce theoretical considerations, and focus on translating that theory into practice. Assignments will give direct, hands-on experience with the MODS structure, and readings and lectures will provide context for its use. New MODS elements will be introduced each week, covering the complete element set over the course of the workshop.
During class periods students will participate in individual, graded, mark-up exercises. Since we meet only six times attendance will be mandatory and will be figured into the final grade. Also prior to each class students will be required to turn in brief journal entries via e-mail to the instructor commenting on the weeks required readings. If you are unable to attend a class please inform the instructor prior to the class period so arrangements for the missed assignments can be made.
Late Submissions
Late assignments will not be accepted. If you foresee any problems with turning in an assignment by the due date, please contact the instructor prior to the due date to discuss options.
Assignments and grading
Attendance and participation: 10% Students will be expected to participate in class at each session by contributing to the conversation based on the weekly readings and by actively being involved with the class exercises.
Weekly journal: 25%
Each week students must summarize and provide an original reaction to each of the week's readings. Additional journal entries will be assigned.
In-class exercises: 20%
In-class MODS creation exercises will be submitted in Oncourse by the end of the class session. These records will be graded on the basis of record validity, appropriate choice of content standards, and loosely on appropriate element and attribute values.
Creating MODS records: 45%
Five items will be provided for cataloging in MODS over the course of the semester. Each week records will be turned in containing elements introduced the previous week. Following the completion of these records, full records for two new resources will be assigned. These records will be graded on the basis of syntactic validity, appropriate choice of content standards, and loosely on appropriate element and attribute values.
Grades:
| The following definitions of letter grades have been defined by student and faculty members of the Curriculum Steering Committee and have been approved by the faculty as an aid in evaluation of academic performance and to assist students by giving them an understanding of the grading standards of the School of Library and Information Science. | ||
| A | 4.0 | Outstanding achievement. Student performance demonstrates full command of the course materials and evinces a high level of originality and/or creativity that far surpasses course expectations. |
| A- | 3.7 | Excellent achievement. Student performance demonstrates thorough knowledge of the course materials and exceeds course expectations by completing all requirements in a superior manner. |
| B+ | 3.3 | Very good work. Student performance demonstrates above-average comprehension of the course materials and exceeds course expectations on all tasks as defined in the course syllabus. |
| B | 3.0 | Student performance meets designated course expectations and demonstrates understanding of the course materials at an acceptable level. |
| B- | 2.7 | Marginal work. Student performance demonstrates incomplete understanding of course materials. |
| C+ C |
2.3 2.0 |
Unsatisfactory work. Student performance demonstrates incomplete and inadequate understanding of course materials. |
| C- D+ D D- |
1.7 1.3 1.0 0.7 |
Unacceptable work. Coursework performed at this level will not count toward the MLS or MIS degree. For the course to count toward the degree, the student must repeat the course with a passing grade. |
| F | 0.0 | Failing. Student may continue in program only with permission of the Dean. |
Academic Honesty
This course will follow Indiana University and School of Library and Information Science policies on academic dishonesty. Students found to be engaging in plagiarism, cheating, and other types of dishonesty will receive an F for the course. For further information, please see the Code of Student Ethics.
Assignments
Each of the first four weeks of class, new MODS elements will be introduced. Weekly assignments require students to add these new elements to records for items provided by the instructor in the following formats:
Course Schedule
Session 1: June 16
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Session 2: June 23
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Session 3: June 30
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Session 4: July 7
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Session 5: July 14
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Session 6: July 21
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