Sorry, course:
INFO-548 no longer exists
Course description
INFO 548 Law Librarianship is designed as an introduction to the practice of law librarianship for Information Studies students; or for working librarians with little or no knowledge of law libraries, but who are interested in exploring the field; or for those who have been working in a law library for a short time and need a framework to organise the new knowledge they are acquiring.
Learning objectives
By the conclusion of the INFO 548 course, students should have an understanding of:
- The sources and structures of the New Zealand legal system and how they relate to other Commonwealth jurisdictions.
- The structural framework of the law, and how topic areas relate to each other.
- The range of primary and secondary materials, together with most of the key reference tools used in law libraries. How to use these materials in both paper and electronic formats for New Zealand.
- How to apply the research model developed for New Zealand legal research to other jurisdictions.
- Management and professional issues relevant to the effective operation of law libraries. This includes the importance of an awareness of high profile issues; i.e. hot topics in the law and law librarianship.
Schedule (2009)
INFO 548 will be held in the third trimester (6 November-2 February) of the 2009 academic year. There will be no sessions for two weeks during the mid-trimester break (21 December-3 January). Please note: this course will be delivered via distance learning only.
- There will be a 1-1/2 hour evening class each week on Tuesdays from 6.45-8.15 p.m. using Internet conferencing.
| Week | Topic |
| 1 | System of government |
| 2 | Parliament & parliamentary information |
| 3 | Government agencies and government information |
| 4 | Classification of forms of legal information |
| 5 | Legislation |
| 6 | Courts & cases |
| 7 | Classification of legal subject matter |
| 8 | The law library and its manager |
| 9 | Collection management |
| 10 | Legal research skills training |
| 11 | Professional issues |
Assessment (2009)
This course will be internally assessed, and there will therefore be three assignments due during the trimester.
| Assignments | Date due | Value | Length |
| 1. Essay | tbc | 20% | 1500 words max. |
| 2. Research | tbc | 20% | 1500 words max. |
| 3. Report | tbc | 60% | 4000 words max. |
Prescribed text
Greville, M., Davidson, S. & Scragg, R. (2006). Legal research and writing in New Zealand (3rd ed.). LexisNexis. ISBN: 9780408718240. The price is approximately $96.00.
The course text is available from Vic Books, PO Box 12-337 (or c/- Students' Union Building), Wellington, ph. (04) 463 5515 or freephone 0800 370 370, fax (04) 471 2124, email vuwtexts@vicbooks.co.nz. It is also possible to order texts through the Vic Books' online book ordering service.
Recommended text
- Eagles, I., et al. (2006). Law in business and government in New Zealand (4th ed.). Palantine.
- McDowell, M. & and Webb, D. (2006). The New Zealand legal system: Structures, processes and legal theory (4th ed.). LexisNexis.
- Palmer, G. & Palmer, M. (2004). Bridled power: New Zealand's constitution and government (4th ed.). Auckland: Oxford University Press.
All recommended texts will be placed on 3-day loan at the Library.