1983 Final Exams Questions

November 21, 1983

1. The future of the printed word is a topic for speculation and debate among leaders in library and information science. Discuss how the future of the book may be affected by recent and near future advances in communications, electronic publishing, microformats, videodisks and related technologies.

2. In view of economic stringency and related budgetary problems, there has been much discussion and effort devoted to resource sharing and cooperation. The establishment of standards is an important factor in achieving goals and ensuring success in such efforts. Choose a particular area of library or information.service (e.g., online in- formation retrieval, cataloging and classification, indexing, net- working, acquisitions, etc.) and discuss efforts and progress in forming standards. What specific areas still need standards and how will they contribute to services in these areas?

3. Identify specific ways by which you might in6rease effectiveness and efficiency of a library or information center given little or no increases in budgets.

4. From hundreds of user studies conducted over the last two decades, we have learned some characteristics of information seeking behavior and attitudes that most users of information seem to have in common. Discuss these characteristics of users and their implications for information professionals.

5. Bibliographic access and access to the information being cited are both important concerns of information professionals. Discuss cur- rent activities and directions in bibliographic control and infor- mation delivery.

July 15, 1983

1. Describe a major user-oriented service or program introduced by a library of your choice over the last decade or so, (e.g., school, public, university, special, etc.). Why was this service or program introduced and what have been some of the problems encountered in its implementation? Speculate about the future of the service or program in question.

2. Critics of American librarianship have noted that the profession has resisted cooperation in resource development to the detrilent of quality service. (1) Present your analysis of the reasons for this lack of cooperation; (2) Describe some of the recent experiments in cooperation and finally, (3) spectlate about the future of library cooperation.

3. You've been invited by a joint committee of the House & Senate to present to them why libraries are important to this country and what and how the Federal Gov't could/should become more involved. Outline your presentation.

4. More and more voices are being added to the chorus predicting the demise of the traditional "book-centered library" and the rise of the new paperless library." What social, technical, economic, and political forces have led many knowledgeable individuals to conclude that the future of the traditional library is in doubt? Present your own views on the matter.

5. Even in times of financial stress, planning becomes an essential management tool. As Librarian of a large library system, how would you go about planning for future budgetary uncertainties.

April 4, 1983

1. From the perspective of a library or information agency of your choice, describe the basic purpose of a user instruction program. Discuss the extent to which such instructional programs have been successfully implemented and indicate the major problems encountered in providing such programs.

2. Advances in computer and information technology in libraries have affected both technical and public service functions. What products and services have resulted from the application of computer technology and how have they helped the ability of libraries and information agencies to improve user's access to information?

3. Given the probability that many libraries either have no formal goals or objectives or have outdated ones, what process would you set up to develop or up-date goals and objectives? What factors should be considered in doing so?

4. Traditional libraries which have been concerned primarily with the acquisition, organization and storage of information resources are beginning to shift then focus to an increasing emphasis on information access, analysis, dissemination and application. Illustrate this shift with examples from a type of library of your choice.

5. One of the recent technological innovations in some libraries has been the introduction of an online public access catalog. Discuss the user issues and the possible tactics that librarians might employ to enhance user acceptance and ease the transition to this new technology.