ISKM33 Information, technology, glue of life

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2024

The course is not taught in Autumn 2024

Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
prof. Andrew Lass, M.A., Ph.D. (lecturer)
PhDr. Pavla Vizváry, Ph.D. LL.M. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
PhDr. Pavla Vizváry, Ph.D. LL.M.
Division of Information and Library Studies – Department of Czech Literature – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Alice Lukavská
Supplier department: Division of Information and Library Studies – Department of Czech Literature – Faculty of Arts
Prerequisites
Since the course is offered in English, a good passive knowledge and acceptable working knowledge is expected. Czech will be used to clarify terminology as needed.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 16 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/16, only registered: 0/16
Course objectives
Over the past few decades, libraries have become sophisticated institutions with new information technologies. The behavior of users has also undergone dramatic changes and, as a result, librarians face new problems and challenges they need to reflect on. For example, at a time when verifiable facts compete with "alternative facts," the role of the librarian takes on a new, social responsibility. In addition to specific questions regarding the profession, about the responsibility for the content of library and information science pedagogy, there is now a more general question about the role of libraries and librarians in user education. The aim of the seminar will be to organize a debate that will lead to the definition of key issues, within four days of strategic planning, identifying the parameters of possible solutions and, finally, to concrete ideas for a re-imagined library profession and the ways of their fulfillment. In addition, the course itself offers participants a model and methodology for constructive planning.
Learning outcomes
After completing the class, a student will be able to:
- apply the method of scenario workshop planning to a defined problem;
- describe the current problems in librarianship;
- discuss possible innovations in library practice in the long run;
- participate in team-work solutions to a given problem.
Syllabus
  • The scenario workshop planning methodology offers a way to navigate in a complex situation, gain insight and lead us to unusual solutions. The first working day is devoted to the problem. After the morning introductory lecture on the role of libraries in contemporary society, specific challenges are defined through a class debate and the introduction to the methodology of strategic planning after which the class breaks up into work groups. In the following days, successive stages of problem solving and shared intermediate outputs lead to four possible model solutions and their presentation for discussion by the entire class.
Literature
  • ANDERSON, Benedict R. O'G. (Benedi. Imagined communities : reflections on the origin and spread of nationalism. Rev. and extended ed. London: Verso, 1991, xv, 224 p. ISBN 0-86091-329-5. info
  • APPADURAI, Arjun. Modernity at large :cultural dimensions of globalization. 3rd print. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1997, 229 s. ISBN 0-8166-2793-2. info
Teaching methods
Lectures, group work, active class discussion, scenario workshop planning methodology
Assessment methods
Group project, active participation, mandatory attendance
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
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