Admission Requirements
None.
Description
This multi-faceted course will survey the full range of the library’s tasks today. Through all its historical transformations the library has always remained a crucial centre for the collection, storage and dissemination of knowledge. Topics will be treated by experts in the field (staff members of the Koninklijke Bibliotheek, National Library of the Netherlands) and include the theory and practice of collection development, storage, access and (financial) management; information services; the history of libraries; library materials (from manuscripts to printed and electronic documents); the digital back office; research and development; digitisation and copyright and licensing issues. This thorough survey will equip you to be part of the force that will shape the library’s future.
Course Objectives
*Gain a broad understanding of the position of libraries in the information age
Gain a broad understanding of the development of libraries and their tasks and materials in the past, present and future
Gain an understanding of the four main tasks of a library: acquisition, cataloguing, preservation and providing access
Getting familiar with the digital back office
Gain a broad understanding of current issues: digitisation, library finances, copyright, licensing principles
Timetable
The timetable will be available from July 1 onwards on the Department website.
Mode of Instruction
Two-hour seminar per week.
Assessment
A final paper and a take-home examination.
Blackboard
This course is supported by Blackboard.
Reading list
To be announced.
Registration
Students can register through uSis.
Exchange and Study Abroad students, please see the Study in Leiden website for information on how to apply.
Contact information
Department Book and Digital Media Studies, P.N. van Eyckhof 4, room 102c. Phone: 071 527 2144, or by mail: bookstudies@hum.leidenuniv.nl.