This course aims to expand student understanding of current issues and developments in reference resources and services in a range of in-person and digital information-providing contexts. Students will apply critical, constructive approaches to evaluation, reference interviewing, problem solving and participation in publically available services such as the Internet Public Library.  

Introduction to the North American and international publishing market of graphic novels and comic books. Major trends, works, authors and artists will be introduced. These materials will be considered and evaluated according to audiences (children, young adults, adults) and types of libraries (public, academic, and school).

We will explore folktale and myth and examine the relevance of this traditional material in public, school, and academic libraries. The study of the literature and its influence on fiction and current cultural activities will be reviewed along with collection evaluation/development and professional and patron perceptions and needs.

Theory and practice of collection management for print and electronic resources, including selection tools and criteria, methods of acquisition, evaluation of collections, deselection strategies, preservation and other collection management and development topics.

This course covers the nature, extent, variety and value of government information sources and services. Issues in the management of government information products are examined. The focus is on official information sources of Canada, the United Kingdom, United States and Intergovernmental Organizations, such as the United Nations.

Sources of legal information and their use including primary legal materials (bills, statutes, regulations, cases), secondary legal materials (journal articles, monographs), and their finding aids utilizing both paper-based and digital sources. Characteristics and needs of users of legal information in law firm, academic, courthouse and other types of law libraries.

Nature and communication of scientific, medical and technological research. Information needs and uses of researchers and practitioners in these disciplines. Specialized forms of literature and information in science, medicine and technology. Organization of library and information services and their evaluation.

This course covers the concepts of health and medicine and the organization of biomedical research and consumer health literature; information seeking by people with health concerns, issues in health communication; specialized vocabulary and forms of medical literature, organization of information services for health consumers and methods for evaluating them.

Information professionals play a key role in evidence-based health care (EBHC) - the application of “best evidence” to health care decisions. This course will provide an overview of EBHC methods, and teach expert searching techniques, including use of health-related indexes and databases, and software to collate and organize search results.

The information requirements of the small business and corporate environment. The provision of library and information services to patrons in those environments. Information sources, including technical, marketing and management information.

The course will provide an introduction to genealogy, its methodology and the aims of the researcher, as well as an introduction to a variety of local history research interests.  The course will also provide an overview of the types of published, archival and on-line resources which are available to researchers and how reference staff can assist them with, or direct them to, the appropriate records or other resources.