Programme Specifications

In situ experience

Librarianship and Information Management

March 2013

• To enable senior library and information service staff to manage key resources through an understanding of their organisational value
• To provide managers with specific skills in core activities
• To offer an academic component to the career advancement of professionals
• To enable employers to support Continuous Professional Development without the need for breaks in employment
• To enhance academic abilities developed at undergraduate level or equivalent and apply these to library and information management research

The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, skills, qualities and otherattributes in the following areas:

·        An understanding of the core elements of management as an academic discipline

·        An appreciation of management principles and their application in the workplace

·        An understanding of the flow of information both within and across communities, and of methods of managing organisational knowledge 

·        An understanding of how different organisational groups communicate and an appreciation of patterns of communication across a range of groups

·        An understanding of relevant managerial concerns relating to information management

·        Knowledge of a range of specific tasks/skills; for example, to cost, plan and devise a training schedule for a new service

·        An understanding of the importance of leading, motivating and communicating with staff

·        An appreciation of the value of a business plan for a service

·        Familiarity with tools to evaluate the function of information systems and manage finance in operating the service

·        An ability to use a tool-box of techniques to evaluate the performance and value of service activity

·        An awareness of an organisation’s external environment and the inter-relationship of external and internal environments in managing change

·        The application of generic research methods to a significant piece of independent research and the application of specific methods to empirical data collection and analysis for completion of an academic dissertation

 Teaching, learning and assessment methods used to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated

1. Documentation provided to each student for each programme, including course requirements, modules and resource packs containing copies of relevant articles (subject to copyright clearance), and pointers to useful learning resources

2. Wide range of types of assignment

3. Practical experiments with documents of all kinds in a variety of media to exercise skills

4. Consistent and constructive feedback throughout the course

5. Use of computers for, for example, information retrieval experiments, Web searching, Web page design, access to online hosts, CD ROMs, Online Public Access Catalogues (OPACs), digitised archives, electronic journals or for other information-related projects

6. Intensive use of libraries and/or archives, intensive use of a range of information and communications technologies

7. Introduction to core module content at residential study schools. This includes practical and tutorial content elements as well as interactive module introduction sessions. Each student attends a separate study school in preparation for the dissertation

8. Year-round interaction between students and staff, student groups and individuals through the virtual learing environment (VLE). This includes involvement of staff of the Departmental (Thomas Parry) Library, updating of module materials and course noticeboard facilities

9. Monitoring of student progress and feedback via the VLE throughout the year

10. Use of information and communication technologies in completing coursework and developing a portfolio of personal knowledge

Assessment

A variety of assessment methods, including the following:

1. Planning, carrying out and reporting of project work

2. Essay assignments of various length

3. Reports of laboratory-based work.

4. Business plan

5. Dissertation (15,000 words)

1. Planning, carrying out and reporting of project work

2. Essay assignments of various lengths
3. Reports of laboratory-based work
4. Business plan
5. Dissertation (15,000 words)

The programme enables students to develop skills in the following.

The open learning format of the programme and the preparation for distance learning delivered at the study schools are aimed at enabling students to study independently in a systematic, effective and purposeful way using a wide range of appropriate resources. This includes critical self-reflection, making effective use of feedback, working to self-imposed deadlines and interacting effectively with tutors and peers. Students are responsible for ensuring that their accumulation of credits is in accordance with their individual learning plan.

D2 Independent project work:

Project reports will measure the ability of the student to collect data regarding their own work environment, process them and evaluate the resulting information for presentation in an appropriate report format. This will be carried out on an individual basis.

D3 IT and information handling

The programme requires students to make regular use of computers for project activities, access to web-based resources and completion of coursework as well as computer conferencing (using web or bespoke software applications). In addition, specific activities at the residential study school will involve use of computers.

D4 Use and analysis of numerical information

Financial management, particularly the costing of information services is a core component of the programme. The use of quantitative information in organisational performance appraisal, information systems, budgets and business planning and in project management are associated elements. Application of these is central to business plans and an appreciation of their function is integral to project reports. It is also encouraged in the dissertation.

D5 Writing in an academic context

Coursework assignments require a different approach to writing with a range from traditional narrative essay to highly structured project report. Business plans and project reports require analysis and synthesis of primary and secondary sources and add a requirement for the application of outcomes.

D6 Oral discussion and presentation

The residential study school includes oral presentation of group discussions. No assessment is associated with this.

D7 Careers need awareness

The programme is one of continuous professional development and is aimed primarily at enhancing students’ skills and attributes in management of the information environment at a senior level. Their ability to reach more senior levels within their organisations is therefore a core objective. All elements of summative and formative assessment measure development of these skills and attributes.

D8 Self-management

Time management is a crucial element of self-management within distance learning both through personal decisions concerning time allocation and through development of an Independent Learning Programme with a personal tutor. Within the work environment the programme applies time management within project management techniques (in association with cost and quality).

D9 Group activity

Group activities as part of taught sessions and as activities outside delivered content are elements of the residential study schools. These are not summatively assessed.

Teaching, learning and assessment methods used to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated

A variety of assessment methods, including the following:

1 Planning, carrying out and reporting of computer-based project work

2 Word-process essay assignments of various lengths and formats

3 Apply computer technology

4 Generate reports of laboratory-based work.

5 Use electronic resources to research a subject area and present the findings in the form of a Dissertation (15,000 words). This might include both word-processed, database/spreadsheet and graphical components

6 Use of specific pieces of bespoke software in the workplace and its application in addressing the outcomes of 10.1 and 10.3

7 Practical exercises in the application of computer software as research tools. This takes place through study school practical and interactive sessions