Credits: 3

MLIS Prerequisite(s): INF 6080 or equivalent

MSIS Co-requisite(s): INF 6000

Rationale for inclusion in curriculum

This course analyzes information policy issues confronting information professionals and the effect of these policies on the economic, social, ethical and technical decisions made by individuals, organizations and governments.

Information policies affect information creation, production, control, distribution, access, use and valuation. From intellectual property to telecommunications standards, from privacy and security to digital governance, information policy has emerged as a key factor in local, regional, national and international decision making. Information policy decisions are being made today that will influence our individual futures as citizens and workers, the development of our society, and our relationships within the international community. The potential consequences of these information policies need to be carefully considered.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students will be able to:

• Differentiate among various definitions of information policy and examine the potential implications for library and information science.
• Apply an information policy model to assess how local information policies affect individual decision making.
• Create an organizational information policy using applicable state, regional and federal guidelines.
• Develop strategies for identifying the impact of information policies in professional and ethical decision making.
• Select and analyze the effects of an existing governmental information policy.
• Critically evaluate the implications of information policies at the local, professional and government levels.

Content

• Defining information policy
• Scope of  information policy
• Analyzing local information policies
• Social and cultural aspects of information
• Developing an information policy
• Information policies in organizational and professional contexts
• Relationships among information needs and information policy
• Descriptive assessment of a federal information policy
• Identifying federal information policies
• Legal and legislative implications of information policies
• International information policy
• The effect of information policy on the lives of everyday people

Course methodology

• active participation including discussion, blogs, journals
• lecture
• problem based learning interactions
• group collaboration

Bases for evaluation of student performance

Formative and summative evaluations including written assignments, oral presentations, skill building activities, tests and quizzes.

Text

To be determined

Revised: 7/11/2018