Marti Fuerst
Last updated: August 6, 2015.
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The following is a list of courses I have taken at San Jose State University.  Descriptions are from the San Jose State University School of Library and Information Science website. I completed my degree in December 2013.

Completed Courses

LIBR 200: Information and Society (A-)
Explores the complex and interrelated historical, social, economic, cultural, political, and technological influences that shape information and society. Emphasis is on the various roles and responsibilities of information organizations and the values and ethics of information professionals. 

As part of the research/paper portion of this class, I created a video presentation on Traditional vs. Non-traditional Services in Public Libraries.

LIBR 202: Information Retrieval (A)
Principles of information retrieval and their application to information systems and services. Emphasizing models of user information seeking behavior, human information processing and their relationship to retrieval models in information systems.  

LIBR 204: Information Organizations and Management (A)
Identifying distinguishing characteristics, culture and relationships of information organizations. Emphasizes theories examining the interaction between human beings and the organizations in which they work.  

LIBR 210: Reference and Information Services (A)
A process-oriented examination of how information professionals answer reference questions. The interpersonal skills required for effective question negotiation and the sources with which questions are answered are stressed. 

For this course, I put together a pathfinder for zombie fiction/nonfiction/media titled Zombies in the Stacks.

LIBR 244: Online Searching (A-)
Techniques of searching and managing on-line search services. Includes searching strategies, evaluation of database structures, implementation and management of search services and on-line experience. 

LIBR 251: Web Usability (A+)
Through examination of theory, methodologies, and real-life cases, LIBR 251 offers a framework for developing user-friendly interfaces for use in information systems. Students will learn the principles of user-centric design and style for particular circumstances and populations. 

The final project in this course was to attempt to find a solution to a usability issue of our choice. I chose to work on the Materials Request form at the Rapid City Public Library.

LIBR 283: Marketing of Information Products and Services (A)
Applications of marketing concepts to library and information services. Market analysis, use surveys, market targeting and introduction of services will be featured. 

LIBR 285: Research Methods in Library and Information Science (A)
Covers fundamental principles, processes, values and roles of research for professional application in information organizations. Students will become critical consumers of research products and learn the basic skills of evaluating, planning, designing, executing, and applying research. In addition to a general research methods class, which examines a variety of research methodologies, SLIS offers a number of applied or specialized sections of LIBR 285 for students to choose from. (Evaluating Services)

LIBR 281: Seminar in Contemporary Issues (A)
Investigation of major contemporary issues within the information profession; topics range from censorship to the need for a national information policy and change each time the course is offered.  Focus: Transformative Literacies

One of the primary goals for this course was to create an online learning tool and facilitate learning for staff at a library.  My group was assigned a public library, and I took on the responsibility of designing and coding our site in WordPress as well as designing the Prezi module.  I also helped design the archive for the class.

LIBR 240: Information Technology Tools and Applications (A)
Builds the skills needed to structure, store, process, access, and present information in a Web environment. Topics may vary, but will typically include the design of Web sites and Web coding and scripting languages.

LIBR 248: Beginning Cataloging and Classification (A-)
Theory and practice of bibliographic control including the study of representative cataloging using descriptive cataloging standards, machine-based representation using MARC format and other standards,   subject analysis and classification using LCSH, Dewey, and LCC.

LIBR 246. Information Technology Tools and Applications - Advanced - Learning to use Drupal and Understanding Content Management Systems. (A)
Content changes. Topics typically offered include XML, Web programming languages such as XSLT, JavaScript, PHP, and MYSQL, and designing interactive content using Web 2.0 tools. 

This course took a hands-on approach to installing and setting up a Drupal website and included the community aspects of Drupal, emphasizing how the CMS changes as community members create and improve modules.  I created a Drupal site for this course, and that is where I completed assignments that exposed me to different security and design elements of the CMS.

LIBR 261A. Programming and Services for Young Adults (A)
Administration and delivery of professional library and information services with multi-cultural young adult populations: features critical youth studies cultural/historical research, resources, policy, threats, tools, methods, service philosophies and management skills necessary for a comprehensive profile of YA library services.

For this course, I analyzed the teen services offerings at the Eola Branch of the Aurora Public Library and created a "toolkit" training presentation on teen advocacy using storytelling and professional literature.

LIBR 280. History of Books and Libraries (A)
This class examines the role of the book and the library in expressing and fostering culture throughout history. It traces the development of the book through its many stages--cuneiform fragments, illuminated manuscripts, printed books, and electronic journals-and explores how the creation, use, and storage of information are affected by social and technological change. The development of libraries and librarianship and how they have accommodated themselves to the changing form of the book will also be considered.

There were three projects for this course - a study of a manuscript, a printed book, and a paper on the history of a library.  I did my projects on the Taymouth Hours (Yates Thompson 13), The Complete Confectioner by Frederick Nutt (1807), and the Nichols Library of Naperville, Illinois, respectively.
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