LIS 209: SPECIAL LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION CENTRES

COURSE OUTLINE
Aims of the Course
The course aims at introducing students to the management, functions and operation of
special libraries and information centers.

Objectives of the Course

On completion of the course, students should be able to:

1. apply the general principles of special libraries and information centers

management; and
2. perform tasks relevant to the provision of the services provided by these
institutions.

Assessment of Students
a) Monitoring Performance
In order to make genuine assessment of student’s performance he/she must have attended
at least 75% of the lectures.

b) Assessment of Performance
(i) Coursework comprises the following:
Two take-home assignments – (equal weight)…..….…..30%
Mid- semester test…….……. ...………………………….…20%
(ii) Final examination….……………..………………………..50%
Total……………100%

c) A student, however, must get at least 40% of the final examination in order to pass.

d) The overall pass mark is 50%.

Course Content
1. Historical Development, Functions and Characteristics of Special Libraries
and Information Centers
♦ Definition of special libraries
♦ Types of special libraries
♦ Profile of special libraries and information organization
♦ Historical development of special libraries
♦ Functions
♦ Chacteristics
♦Services offered at the special libraries

2. Management and Organization

♦ Concepts of management and organization
♦ Functions of management within the organization
♦ Organization structure and information needs in the special libraries
♦ Planning and designing information services
♦ Budgeting for information services
♦ Marketing and Management of information services
♦ Evaluation of information services
 3. Collection Development: Selection And Acquisition
♦ Meaning of collection development
♦ Current issues in collection development
♦ Collection development policy and its values
♦ Factors affecting collection development in special libraries
♦ Selection of Materials in special libraries
♦ Acquisition, weeding and preservation of materials

4. Technical Processes of Materials in the Special Libraries

♦ What is it?
♦ Technical processes of materials
♦ Materials organization and subject analysis

5. Information Retrieval and Dissemination Systems

♦ Concept of information retrieval
♦ Information retrieval systems
♦ Ways that information can be retrieval
♦ Principals of information retrieval
♦ Technologies of information retrieval
♦ Ways of information dissemination of information in special libraries

6. Inter-Library Co-Operation and Networks

♦ What is it?
♦Objectives and reasons of cooperation
♦ Forms of cooperation
♦ Areas of cooperation
♦ Regional and international cooperation
♦ Barriers of cooperation

7. Staffing, Security and Funding

♦Concept of staffing, security and funding
♦Staffing development in the special libraries and information centers
♦ Security of material resources
♦ Funding of special libraries and information centers
♦ Problems facing staffing, security and funding special libraries

8. The Use of Modern Technology in Special Libraries and Information

Centers.
♦ Technology and Professional changes
♦ Use of modern technology
♦ Barriers towards the use of modern technologies

Reading List
Ahrensfield, J. L. et al. (1981). Special libraries: A guide for management, 2nd Ed. New
York: Special Libraries Association.
Anstall, B. (1980). Special libraries and information bureau. London: Clive Bingley.

Bryson, J. (1999). Effective library and information center management. 2nd ed.
Aldershot: Gower.

Handbook of special librarianship and information work, 4th ed. London: ASLIB.

Harrison, K. C. (1982). Public relations for librarians, 2nd ed. Gower: A Grafton Book.

InfoSci-Online Database [WWW document containing latest publications in the fields of

Information Science, Technology and Management]
URL: http://www.infosci-online.com

Kumar, K. (1989). Library administration and management. New Delhi: Vikas

Publishing House.

Lawes, A. (Ed.) (1993). Management skills for the information manager. Aldershot:
Ashgate Publishing.

Stueart, R. D. & Moran, B. B. (1993). Library and information center management, 4th
ed. Englewood: Libraries Unlimited.

The Information Society: An International Journal [WWW document with contents of

interest to most aspects of LIS courses].
URL: http://www-slis.lib.indiana.edu/TIS/