Course Descriptions – UHM Library and Information Science Program

All courses are worth 3 credits unless otherwise noted. Course descriptions are also available via the University of Hawaiʻi Course Catalog. In exceptional circumstances, instructors may waive a prerequisite course requirement or permit students to take a prerequisite course concurrently.

Course Information documents are available below and include meeting days, course objectives, required texts and technology, and major assignments.

Only current LIS students can access course syllabi at the Program-internal Google Drive. Prospective students, alumni, and other interested parties may contact the Program Coordinator (LISstaff@hawaii.edu) to request specific syllabi.

NOTE: Deleted courses and LIS 693/694 "special topics" courses from previous semesters are available on the Course Archive page.

Notation key:
Courses marked SLO satisfy the indicated Student Learning Outcome.
Courses marked Core are core-eligible.
Courses marked Prereq require successful completion of a prerequisite course.

LIS FSS First Semester Seminar

Course Description

Seminar for entering students focused on the development and articulation of a reflective professional philosophy, in preparation for the culminating portfolio or thesis. Peer mentoring, faculty and student presentations. MLISc degree required course. Non-credited. Mandatory badges only.

Course Information
Course Details (PDF)
LIS 601 Introduction to Reference & Information Services SLO 1 Core

Course Description

Philosophy, principles, and practice of reference services in libraries, information centers and information literacy. Bibliographic control, reference research, reference interview, online searching, evaluation of bibliographic and webliographic material. Field component.

Course Information
Course Details (PDF)
LIS 602 Resource Discovery SLO 3 Core Prereq

Course Description

Techniques and strategies for search and discovery of information resources from professional online databases and the internet. Query formulation and use of advanced functions to match retrieved resources with user needs for research and reference work.

Course Information
Course Details (PDF)
LIS 605 Metadata Creation for Information Organization SLO 3 Core

Course Description

Theory and practice of metadata creation for organization of information resources, cataloging code for resource description and access, Library of Congress and Dewey Decimal Classification schemes, use of OCLC. Emphasis is on practical rather than philosophical topics, and on practice at the level common at academic or large public libraries.

Course Information
Course Details (PDF)
LIS 610 Foundations of the Information Professions SLO 2 Core

Course Description

Lecture/discussion course on role of libraries, their social utility in information societies. History and future of libraries in changing technological world. Information professions, information ethics, intellectual freedom, intellectual property, information access, national/international library developments.

Course Information
Course Details (PDF)
LIS 611 Intellectual Freedom SLO 2

Course Description

Seminar course surveying the core philosophical principles of intellectual freedom with special application to librarianship and information science. Covers key areas of controversy, patron rights, and ALA resources.

Course Information
Course Details (PDF)
LIS 612 History of Information SLO 2

Course Description

History of the recording, preservation and transmission of knowledge. Development of libraries and other information organizations as instruments of cultural transmission.

Course Information
Course Details (PDF)
LIS 614 Navigating Information Organizations SLO 6 Core

Course Description

Principles of effective management of information organizations, with emphasis on organizational information flows, team skills and communication, planning, resource allocation, assessment, outreach and advocacy.
LIS 615 Collection Management SLO 3 Core

Course Description

Principles and issues of collection management and care. Criteria and tools for selecting and deselecting materials. Relationships with publishers/producers.

Course Information
Course Details (PDF)
LIS 619 Preservation Management SLO 3

Course Description

Introduction to preservation management. Focuses on management strategies for preservation of materials in libraries and archives. Covers preservation planning, condition surveys, disaster planning, grantsmanship, and basic issues relating to deterioration.

Course Information
Course Details (PDF)
LIS 630 Community Engagement SLO 5 Core

Course Description

Explores how information professionals in libraries and other settings collaborate with community members and organizations. Provides an overview of theory and practice emphasizing critical analysis of policies, services and trends.

Course Information
Course Details (PDF)
LIS 631 Introduction to Hawaii and Pacific Librarianship SLO 5 Core

Course Description

Overview of resources and issues concerning librarianship in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific Islands. Course will cover reference strategies and materials to answer common research questions, collection development and management issues.

Course Information
Course Details (PDF)
LIS 633 Indigenous Librarianship SLO 5

Course Description

Development and delivery of information services with and for indigenous communities. Issues include cultural protocols, traditional knowledge organization and ethics of access.

Course Information
Course Details (PDF)
LIS 634 Multicultural Resources for Diverse User Groups SLO 5 Core

Course Description

Examines resources and materials targeted for diverse user groups in libraries and community organizations, locally and globally. Surveys issues and trends related to diversity initiatives affecting the publishing industry, libraries, and cultural institutions worldwide.

Course Information
Course Details (PDF)
LIS 635 Traditional Literature and Oral Narration SLO 5

Course Description

Analysis of traditional literature including Asian and Pacific Island resources. Selection and evaluation of traditional literature emphasizing cultural values. Introduction to oral tradition, history and techniques of storytelling.

Course Information
Course Details (PDF)
LIS 636 Responding to Reading in Libraries SLO 5

Course Description

This course explores reader response theory as a foundational understanding of the reading process in library contexts and settings. Consideration of ways in which responsive reading effects various literary formats available in libraries. Critical examination of ways in which library services impacts reading engagement and interests of library users. This course is particularly useful for those interested in public, school, and academic librarianship.

Course Information
Course Details (PDF)
LIS 641 Digital Librarianship SLO 4 Prereq

Course Description

Lecture with demonstrations to introduce the essential types of digital resources and the software tools for finding high quality and relevant information efficiently from digital journal archives and reference databases.

Course Information
Course Details (PDF)
LIS 645 Asian Research Materials and Methods SLO 3 Core

Course Description

Literature of Asia in Western and Asian languages; bibliography, reference tools, research methods, sources, published and archival repositories.

Course Information
Course Details (PDF)
LIS 648 Government Documents SLO 1 Prereq

Course Description

Survey of government documents at the federal, state/local and international levels in all formats. Covers methods of acquisition and organization, including depository arrangements. Current issues of government information dissemination policies and practices discussed.

Course Information
Course Details (PDF)
LIS 650 Management of Libraries and Information Centers SLO 6 Core

Course Description

Basic theories and principles of administration for effective management of public, academic, and special libraries and information centers, with emphasis on planning, organizing, staffing, directing, and control. Administrative aspects of public and technical services, facilities, planning, evaluation, public relations, interagency cooperation, and the management of change in bureaucratic organizations.

Course Information
Course Details (PDF)
LIS 654 Records, Archives & Memory SLO 2 Core

Course Description

Introduction to records, archives, and memory including the global history and nature of records, archives, and the archival profession. Topics include cultural memory, ethics and values, tribal and indigenous records, archival theory, practice and perspectives.

Course Information
Course Details (PDF)
LIS 655 Digital Archives SLO 4 Core

Course Description

The role of technology in archival theory and practice. Topics include digital preservation, authenticity assessment, arrangement, description and access.

Course Information
Course Details (PDF)
LIS 656 Moving Image Archives SLO 4 Core

Course Description

Principles and technologies of processing, preservation, and accessibility of archival audiovisual materials in moving image archives. Topics include moving image repositories, critical analysis of archival footage, format identification, digitization strategies, equipment and vendor considerations.

Course Information
Course Details (PDF)
LIS 657 Records Management SLO 4

Course Description

Management of records in all media formats. Selection of media format based on government and internal records requirements. Problems associated with electronic media such as legality and shelf life
LIS 658 Archival & Special Collections Management SLO 6 Core

Course Description

Management of archives, manuscript collections and special collections using approaches and best practices from archival studies. Topics include management theory, appraisal theory, facilities issues, privacy, intellectual property, records management, advocacy, fundraising, reference and educational outreach.

Course Information
Course Details (PDF)
LIS 659 Archival Arrangement and Description SLO 3 Core Prereq

Course Description

Principles and techniques for arrangement and description of archival materials. Topics include basic metadata standards, authority sources, record context, series identification, scope and content.

Course Information
Course Details (PDF)
LIS 661 Informatics SLO 4 Core

Course Description

Sociotechnical concepts and processes underlying information systems, services and use.

Course Information
Course Details (PDF)
LIS 662 Asian Informatics SLO 5 Core

Course Description

Combined online lecture and discussion on information communication technologies that have transformed East Asia in various ways, including media, mobile phone, social media, publishing, e-government and e-commerce.

Course Information
Course Details (PDF)
LIS 665 Digital Instruction SLO 4 Core

Course Description

Study and application of principles and practices that influence digital instruction related to information literacy in libraries and other information environments. Focus on application of instructional design and standards-based outcome assessment. Field research component.

Course Information
Course Details (PDF)
LIS 672 Technology for Libraries & Information Centers SLO 4 Core

Course Description

Survey of theories, concepts, methods and practices relating to the application of information technology to support the administration and use of information resources. Includes digital, printed and audiovisual materials.

Course Information
Course Details (PDF)
LIS 674 Database Design & Creation SLO 4

Course Description

Designing and creating textual and/or directory databases from the viewpoint of information specialists and content providers. Needs analysis, file design, record content and structuring, software choices. Students implement a prototype database.

Course Information
Course Details (PDF)
LIS 676 Creating Digital Libraries SLO 4

Course Description

Principles, techniques and technologies supporting the creation of user-centered digital libraries. Selection, organization, maintenance, access and retrieval of digital collections.

Course Information
Course Details (PDF)
LIS 677 Human Dimension in Information Systems SLO 4 Prereq

Course Description

Lecture/discussion course on human element in information systems, including physical, cognitive and affective behavior in interaction with information systems. Information retrieval, human computer instruction and cognitive science research, quantitative and qualitative research methods. Research component.

Course Information
Course Details (PDF)
LIS 681 Books & Media for Children SLO 3

Course Description

History and criticism of children’s literature; contemporary books and media; trends in book publishing and media production; developmental needs and interests of children; selection and evaluation, and research studies.

Course Information
Course Details (PDF)
LIS 682 Books & Media for Young Adults SLO 3

Course Description

History and criticism of literature for young adults. Contemporary books and media. Trends in media for young adults. Developmental needs and interests of adolescents. Selection and evaluation. Research studies.

Course Information
Course Details (PDF)
LIS 683 Services in Public Libraries SLO 6

Course Description

Planning and implementing services and programming in public and school libraries. Trends, issues, networking, public relations, outreach, competencies, services for the disabled and other special groups.

Course Information
Course Details (PDF)
LIS 686 Information Literacy & Learning Resources SLO 1

Course Description

Process approach to teaching information retrieval, analysis, and use. Emphasizes concepts, practices in effective instructional design, selection of resources that meets learning needs.

Course Information
Course Details (PDF)
LIS 690 Library Internship Program Prereq

Course Description

Field experience in library or information agency settings with supervision of professional librarians or information specialists. Available to classified students only. Selection based on academic advisor approval, application form, interview and possession of required competencies. Students must apply and be accepted before registration. Selection is by agency. Grade options for this course are CR/NC. Repeatable up to 6 credits.

Course Information
Course Details (PDF)
LIS 691 Masters Seminar Prereq

Course Description

Seminar for graduating students focused on the refinement and completion of the culminating portfolio or thesis. Peer mentoring, faculty and student presentations. MLISc degree required course. 3 credits. CR/NC only.

Course Information
Course Details (PDF)
LIS 693 Special Topics in Librarianship
Course Description

Includes issues of topical interest in the profession. Each course concentrates on one major topic of current interest, such as library service to the aged, reprography, medical librarianship, knowledge management, art librarianship, cartography, etc. Repeatable.
- LIS 693 Academic Librarianship SLO 2
  
  Course Description
  
  This elective course will help prepare students for careers in academic libraries, including an overview of the history of higher education, academic librarianship, faculty governance, research and tenure, scholarly publishing, and such emerging trends as digital humanities, and learning commons. We will also briefly explore other research libraries (such as NYPL, LC, and private research libraries) as well as community college libraries. The goal will be to encourage research and leadership in academic librarianship.
  
  Course Information
  Course Details (PDF)
- LIS 693 Indigenous Oceania Approaches to Archival Advocacy & Ethics SLO 5 Prereq
  
  Course Description
  
  This course is designed for those interested in careers in archives, library special collections, Indigenous librarianship, or museum education. This course is designed to address the unique preservation, collection and management of island-based collections, with a particular emphasis on the islands of Oceania.
  
  This course differs from other special topic courses on Indigenous librarianship and Hawai'i and Pacific Librarianship by focusing on the particular ethical and environmental preservation/conservation challenges of island archipelagos in the Pacific. Libraries and archives being a particularly western construct, this course will examine Indigenous Oceania methods of knowledge storage and continuum, understandings of time and understandings of access to certain types of knowledge. We will ask how those methods pose unique challenges for archivist and librarians in Oceania.
  
  Course Information
  Course Details (PDF)
- LIS 693 International Librarianship SLO 5
  
  Course Description
  
  In these times when travel is made very hard, if not impossible, we will use this class to embark on a virtual journey around the globe and visit different libraries and librarians, and learn from them about different aspects of international librarianship, including the roles of libraries as central for a national culture, international recommendations related to cultural heritage, sustainable goals and ways they might be reached using library-promoted technologies (HCI, ICT4D), and the mission and tasks of various professional institutions that function internationally (IFLA, OCLC, Europeana, etc.),
  
  Course Information
  Course Details (PDF)
- LIS 693 Records, Archives, & Memory Prereq
  
  Course Description
  
  The history and nature of records, archives, and the archival profession. Topics include cultural memory, ethics and values, and colonized and indigenous materials. (Synonymous with LIS 654 credits).
- LIS 693 Responding to Reading in Libraries SLO 5
  
  Course Description
  
  This course explores reader response theory as a foundational understanding of the reading process in library contexts and settings. Consideration of ways in which responsive reading effects various literary formats available in libraries. Critical examination of ways in which library services impacts reading engagement and interests of library users. This course is particularly useful for those interested in public, school, and academic librarianship.
  
  Course Information
  Course Details (PDF)
LIS 694 Special Topics in Information Technology
Course Description

Includes issues of topical interest in information technology. Each course concentrates on one major topic of current interest, such as information transfer, networks, library information systems, artificial intelligence applications. Repeatable three times, up to nine credits.
- LIS 694 Digital Humanities SLO 4
  
  Course Description
  
  The digital humanities (DH) are an emerging cluster of tools, practices, and areas of research focusing on the intersection of traditional humanities research and digital technology. Increasingly, libraries are looking for librarians with experience in the digital humanities or DH-adjacent areas. This course will explore the history of the digital humanities and humanities computing, current tools and methods, and the theoretical underpinnings and critiques of current scholarship.
  
  Course Information
  Course Details (PDF)
- LIS 694 Organizational Storytelling SLO 4
  
  Course Description
  
  This course will provide students with the skills to strategically stitch together a contiguous narrative (storytelling) across media and platforms, resulting in cohesive organizational stories. Students will determine best practices for storytelling projects through engagement with course readings, engaging in asynchronous discussion based on course materials, and the creation of a social media strategy for a non-profit organization.
  
  Course Information
  Course Details (PDF)
LIS 696 Practicum in School Librarianship SLO 6

Course Description

Skill development and application of academic study through observation and practice in a fieldwork setting under the supervision of a cooperating professional librarian. Seminar sessions are required. Grade options for this course are CR/NC.

Course Information
Course Details (PDF)
LIS 699 Directed Reading and/or Research Prereq

Course Description

Individualized program of directed reading and/or research outside the scope of regularly titled courses. Enrollment requires approval before end of previous semester, with specification of goals, work requirements, number of credits, rationale.
LIS 700 Thesis Research

Course Description

Research for master’s thesis.