AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

This course is structured as a workshop and will furnish students with knowledge of the world of online libraries with a focus on the University of Genoa Library and others in the city. We will discuss the theme of available online resources, choosing and evaluating them with a focus on antique books, the history of the book and the evolution of the web. Topics: the “hybrid library”, online references, Italian and international OPAC and Metaopac, specialized websites, library website services – specifically resources on antique books, historical catalogs and digital collections, the secrets and virtues of Google, an evaluation of online data reliability, general ideas on Linked Open Data. There will also be tests for online hits of bibliographical records based on “entry terms” from a completely digitalized 18th century catalog.

TEACHING METHODS

In-class lectures

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

6 cfu course program

Subject and aims:  After an introduction on the Media and Information Literacy, this workshop course will furnish students with knowledge of the world of online libraries with a focus on the University of Genoa Library and others in the city. We will discuss the theme of available online resources, choosing and evaluating them with a focus on antique books and the history of the book.

Methods: Bi-tri-weekly in-class lectures starting April 4th, 2017 at the ex Hotel Colombia branch of the University of Genoa Library, analysis of documents and a final workshop. Students must understand Italian and possibly some Latin as well as be able to use the internet on their own devices (preferably a portable pc).

Course Program: Introduction: Mutual acquaintance, getting to know the host site/institution, getting to know about the field of study.

1. Information and Big Data, the importance of the Media and Information Literacy, Google, the Web (what it is like, how it is evaluated, the Semantic Web (Open Data, Linked Open Data, etc.)
2. Italian brick-and-mortar libraries, Italian virtual libraries, the hybrid library and other terms, the use of social networks (connections and opportunities)
3. Bibliography vs catalogs, catalogs and their codes (evolution and metadata), SBN – “Servizio Bibliotecario Nazionale” (the Italian National Library Service), ACNO, et al.
4. Libraries and European catalogs, US libraries and catalogs, periodicals, other catalogs and educational sites, research tools (old edition, open archives, etc.)
5. Hard copy archives (comparative analysis with Opac), fieldwork, the Gaspare Luigi Oderico catalog, on the trail of antique books.

Info: oriana.cartaregia@beniculturali.it; tel. 010 2546436

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Students are asked to read a certain number of articles and scientific contributions that are strictly on the subject and to give a summary in class. For the purposes of the final exam, students are not asked to read any particular text but to actively participate in the entire course. The texts listed below are only part of the reading list:

1) Mauro Guerrini, La biblioteca spiegata agli studenti universitari, Milano, Editrice Bibliografica, 2012.

2) Carlo Bianchini, Dai cataloghi alla navigazione semantica in Linked data per biblioteche, archivi e musei : perché l'informazione sia del web e non solo nel web / Mauro Guerrini, Tiziana Possemato, Milano : Bibliografica, 2015, pp. 167-213.

3) Mauro Guerrini - Tiziana Possemato, Linked data per biblioteche, archivi e musei : perché l'informazione sia del web e non solo nel web... Milano : Bibliografica, 2015 (Cap. 1 e 2, solo le pp. 17-28).

4) John Palfrey, Bibliotech : perché le biblioteche sono importanti più che mai nell'era di Google. Milano : Bibliografica, 2016.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

EMILIO BERTOCCI (President)

ORIANA CARTAREGIA (President)

ROBERTO MARCUCCIO (President)

ANTONELLA ROVERE

LESSONS

Class schedule

HISTORY OF THE BOOK AND PUBLISHING II MODULE

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Course conclusion and final exam: At the end of the workshop, students will receive:

• Lecture notes in pdf format including work support tools (all materials are available online)
• An excel sheet with a schema for the collection of metadata regarding the Oderico catalog, locating descriptions in current online catalogs, locating samples in the University Library catalogs and reporting any digital copies

Students are asked to identify the data reported in the catalog by means of its images and fill out the schema as explained in the workshop.

Final grade criteria: As explained to students in the Module I course:

• 60% of the final grade is based on students’ participation in the workshop.
• 40% is based on the accuracy of the final paper.

In the exam session, the grade for Module II is averaged with that of Module I.

Those who are unable to attend enough lessons in Module II, who still need to earn 12 credits, can request additional readings to be added to the exam for Module I.

Exam schedule