LSC 508 Database Assignment

Many applications of computers in libraries and information centers lend themselves to the use of databases, for example, statistical reports, schedules, personnel records, inventories, and mailing lists. The University of Narragansett has asked GSLIS to design a database for the faculty, and undergraduate and graduate students in their new information technology program to find citations and annotations on articles in professional journals on information science and technology. Since students in LSC 508 find articles about informatiion science and technology and write annotations about them, the citations and annotations done by students in this course will be used to help form the database.

Your assignment is to design this database. The records in the data base will be the annotations written for the class by yourself and all others taking this class in the spring (two sections, fifteen annotations per student), summer (one section, ten anntations per student) and fall (two sections, fifteen annotations per student) over the next five years. You may do the planning for this assignment individually or in a small group made up of yourself and other members of the class. If you choose to work in a group to plan the data base, each individual in the group is expected to write his or her own report and set up, enter his or her own records, and retrieve and print out his or her own records.

You are to describe the users and the need for this information. You will select the database program and a computer system that will be appropriate for the assignment. You are to use the systems approach in designing your database as described in the presentation on databases (week of 9/12-9/18/08 lesson) on the LSC 508 WebCT website. You may include other information that you find may be relevant to the assignment but the following information must be included in your report:

a description of the situation including the expected users of the database,
a description of any forms used,
a description and rationale for the fields included in each record and the maximum expected sizes of each field,
a discussion of the maximum expected size of each record and the entire file after five years,
a discussion of how well your computer will be able to handle the database at full capacity,
the screen layout for entering data into the database,
a discussion about how you would protect from unauthorized use of the database and access to the database,
comments regarding the usability of the software you've chosen, and
at least two sample printouts appropriate to its use by the intended users.

The PowerPoint presentation used in conjunction with the QuickTime video on databases will be posted on the Weekly Lesson site for 9/5-9/6/08. A website on database management systems will also be posted on the Weekly Lesson site for 9/12-9/18/08. These two presentations and all of the information on this page should be used as a guide in preparing a short report on your website of not more than the equivalent of three word-processed pages.

You must enter NINE (9) records containing the first NINE annotations done for this class into the database program for which you designed the database. You may use any of several database programs, such as Microsoft Access (for PC users only), Filemaker Pro (both Mac and PC users), Bento (for Mac users only), or the database programs in OpenOffice, AppleWorks or ClarisWorks. If you are unsure if the database program is appropriate for this assignment or if you don't have access to a database program, please contact your instructor. Then you will demonstrate at least two common intended uses of this data base and print out the results using the database program. You will either place hard copies of all printouts in my mailbox at GSLIS or send them by regular U.S. mail to GSLIS, OR post screen shots of your printouts as part of your database report. Please include any comments about the printing process in your report.

NOTE: Please DO NOT make a special trip into URI (Rodman Hall will not be open on a Saturday or Sunday.) and DO NOT send your printouts by Overnight Mail. Either send them to me by regular mail or put them in my mailbox if you are going to be on the campus for another reason so I receive your printous on or before 10/24/08. I will grade your assignment as soon as I can after I receive your printouts.

Due: Report is due 10/16/08. (Please DO NOT post your assignment prior to 10/16/08.) Printouts are due on or before 10/24/08.