Overview of the major concepts, processes and systems, actors, and operations in the life cycle of information. Introduction to the creation, publishing and distribution, evaluation and selection, organization, access, retrieval, and use of information. Exploration of the social context in which these processes and their stakeholders interact.
Instructors: Nancy Gershenfeld, Trent Hill, Joe Janes

Introduction to the user-centered approach to information behavior. Theoretical foundations of various information behaviors such as information need, utilizing, gathering, seeking, and evaluating. Synthesis of user studies, construction of user profiles, performance of gap analysis, and application of the results of user studies to improve services and system design.
Instructor: Trent Hill

Concepts, processes, and skills related to parts of the life cycle of knowledge involving creation, production, distribution, selection, collection, and services to facilitate access. Specific discussion topics include characteristics of recorded knowledge; organizations and services devoted to managing access to recorded knowledge; principles associated with development of recorded knowledge and collections.
Instructor: Joe Janes

Survey of the extent and nature of business information and its sources, and of business information producers and consumers. Study and use of both print and on-line sources.
Instructor: Nancy Gershenfeld

How has technology changed the way research is done in the humanities? What are the humanities, anyway, and what do its scholars need beyond primary texts? Is the world of humanities reference irrelevant, or is there still a need for the dedication, skill, and insight that well-trained librarians can provide? We'll tackle these issues and others while analyzing information problems and resources in the humanities, covering the fields of philosophy, religion, visual and performing arts, language, and literature.
Instructor: Helene Williams

Introduction to issues in organization of information and documents including: analysis of intellectual and physical characteristics of documents; principles and practice in surrogate creation, including standards and selection of metadata elements; theory of classification, including semantic relationships and facet analysis; creation of controlled vocabularies; and display and arrangement.
Instructor: Allyson Carlyle

Develops an understanding of library catalogs as information retrieval systems. Introduces library cataloging and classification. Focus on principles and standards in the creation of catalogs and cataloging records. Includes practice in descriptive and subject cataloging and classification. User perspective emphasized throughout.
Instructor: Allyson Carlyle

Survey of classificatory principles from bibliographic, philosophical, socio-cognitive, and linguistic perspectives. Overview of history of bibliographic classification and exploration of some existing bibliographic classification systems. Ramification of theoretical approach for classification practice.
Instructor: Allyson Carlyle

Exploration of the design, construction, evaluation, and maintenance of controlled indexing languages, including studies of how users are integrated into the design process. Through completion of thesaurus construction project, prepares students to design index languages, plan and implement a design project, and evaluate indexing languages.
Instructor: Trent Hill

Introduction and overview of information systems, system architectures, and retrieval models. Emphasis given to the role of users in the design, development, and evaluation of information retrieval and database management systems.
Instructor: Terry Brooks

Principles of information systems including the representation and organization of content, creation of access structures and navigation, and information collection and rendering. Course uses XML as a basis for instruction.
Instructor: Bob Boiko

Principles of information systems including the representation and organization of content, creation of access structures and navigation, and information collection and rendering. Course uses XML and commercial taxonomy management tools as a basis for instruction. Prepares students for further work in information architecture, information organization, advanced Web site creation and information systems architecture.
Instructor: Bob Boiko

Concepts, processes, and issues related to the larger social context within which the life cycle of knowledge is played out. Discussion topics include intellectual freedom, information as public/private good, intellectual property, privacy, confidentiality, information liability, information and telecommunications policy, the economics of information, and other professional values.
Instructor: Stuart Sutton

Develops knowledge and skills in instruction and training functions for library and information settings. Issues and strategies for learning and teaching. Design, development, and evaluation of information and technology literacy programs. Addresses the needs of users when designing and delivering instruction.
Instructor: Trent Hill

Introduction to internal and external management issues and practices in information organizations. Internal issues include organizational behavior, organizational theory, personnel, budgeting, planning. External issues include organizational environments, politics, marketing, strategic planning, funding sources.
Instructor: Nancy Gershenfeld

Hands-on project-based approach to imaging, new media, text, databases, metadata and accessibility, rights management, and other issues central to contemporary humanities research.
Instructor: Stacy Waters

Engage the city of Amsterdam as an object of study and develop interdisciplinary research designs that enable collaboration in small group research projects. Students will work collaboratively both in Seattle and in Amsterdam.
Instructors: Clifford Tatum and Julie Villegas