LIS 670 - Fall 2003

LEGAL ISSUES FOR INFORMATION PROFESSIONALS


Prof. Samuel E. Trosow
strosow@uwo.ca 

Faculty of Law
27 Law Bldg
London, Ontario
Canada N6A 3K7
(519) 661-2111
x82282
Fall 2003 office Hours:
               
Faculty of Information & Media Studies
275D Middlesex College
... London,Ontario
Canada N6A 5B7
(519) 661-2111
x88849

Fall 2003 office Hours:                        

 Course Objective & Description
Course Outline
Assignments and Grading
Links to Resources 

RELATIONSHIP TO THE OBJECTIVES OF THE MLIS PROGRAM 

Students who complete this course will be able to: 
  1. demonstrate an awareness of professional values and standards (from Goal 2, Obj. 1a); 
  2. respond to change in a spirit of intellectual inquiry (from Goal 2, Obj. 1b); 
  3. analyse major problems of the discipline and profession in a spirit of creativity and critical
    inquiry;  (from Goal 2, Obj. 1e). 
  4. demonstrate a critical awareness of contemporary management principles (from Goal 2, Obj. 1f);. 
  5. communicate and work cooperatively and effectively with others, including users, colleagues,
    employers and members of the community (from Goal 2, Obj. 1j); 

COURSE DESCRIPTION 

An exploration of the various areas of the law which impact on the work of the information professional. Consideration of the expertise which the information professional can contribute to the development of the law in each area and an analysis of appropriate avenues for law reform. Discussion of the impact of technological innovation in computers and communications technology in each area. Analysis of the concept of information lying behind the legal constructs affecting information flow in Canadian society. 

COURSE OBJECTIVES

  1. To introduce students to various areas of policy-making in the legal context affecting the information field; 
  2. To provide students with the opportunity for sufficient grounding in the relevant areas of the law to permit the students to be confident to effectively express opinions, in the relevant forums, reflecting the information professional's expertise;
  3. To allow students to gain familiarity with the legal context of various work environments for information professionals in order to allow the students to become efficient and effective in any of those contexts. 

Course Outline (tentative):

WEEK 1:
September 8     

 Introduction & Overview of Course                                                                                                          
WEEK 2:
September  15      

Overview of Canadian Legal System
Division of Powers & Separation of Powers under the 1867 Constitution
WEEK 3:
September 22 


Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Introduction
Freedom of Expression
Analyzing a Charter Challenge
WEEK 4:
September 29   
 Torts: Liability Issues 
Exclusion Policies
Position paper #1 assigned
WEEK 5:
October 6
 Contracts: Enforceability of Agreements  
Legal Identities - Public Library Acts
Position paper #1 due in office by noon October 14th

no class October 13
WEEK 6:
October 20		 More on Freedom of Expression:
Censorship, Filtering, and Book Challenges
WEEK 7:
October 27
 Access to Information Legislation
Position paper #2 assigned
WEEK 8:
November 3
 Privacy Legislation
Identification of Topic for Literature Review Due
WEEK 9:
November 10
 Overview of Intellectual Property
Position paper #2 due
WEEK 10:
November 17
 Copyright Overview
Draft Problem Statement Due
WEEK 11
November 24
 Copyright: Exceptions to Infringement
Emerging Issues in Digital Copyright
WEEK 12:
December 1
 International Issues:
WTO-GATS and Public Library Services
Presentations
WEEK 13:
December 8
 Presentations
Course wrap-up

Assignments and Grading (tentative):

Short Position Papers: 40%

#1 Due in office by noon October 14th (20%)
#2 Due in class November 10 (20%)
 For each assignment, you will be given a scenario and asked to write a position paper of approximately five pages You will have two weeks for each assignment. The format will be discussed in class.

Annotated Literature Review Assignment: 40%

Identification of Topic: November 10th
Draft Problem Statement/ Introduction: November 17th
Class Presentation: December 1st or 8th
Final Literature Review: Due in Class:  December 8

This assignment requires that you select a topic of interest to you and search the scholarly literature of library and information science, communications research, law, political science (or any other related discipline) to find recent articles, books, or other resources (including non-print materials) that cover your subject. You may choose any problem relevant to the course that is of most interest to you. 

Class Participation: 20%

Class will be conducted as a forum for discussion. A class e-mail list will be available so this discussion can continue throughout the week. Students are expected to have read the assigned material and come to class prepared to discuss/critique/synthesize these readings. In addition to the required readings, students are encouraged to bring additional literature to the attention of the class and to forward items of interest via the class e-mail list.


Links to Internet Resources for LIS 670 

Canadian Law Resources

    Constitution

    Statutes and Regulations

    Judicial

    Agencies and Commissions

    General Legal Resources

Ontario Law Resources

Organizational Websites