1992 Final Exams Questions

November 20,1992

1. The effectiveness of information retrieval depends to a large extent on the quality of information analysis and storage in both manual of the online catalog environment. In this context, information analysis and storage referes to cataloging, subject indexing, classification, database structure and file indexing. Discuss how information analysis and storage affects the information retrieval results achieved with regarde to at least three of the processes or aspects identified above. Use examples to support your presentation where appropriate.

2. A variety of developments over the last two decades have raised some serious questions regarding the long-term health, and future structure, of libraries in our culture. From the perspective of a library of your choice (e.g. school media center, public libraries, academic libraries, special libraries, etc.), describe what you concider to be the most important developments or threats to such libraries, and discuss what needs to be done in order to effectively respond to these developments or threats.

3. Your program of study in library and information science has been designed to provide you with exposure to both the academic and professional aspects of the field, in preparation for your first professional position as a librarian. Discuss how (by what means or strategies a librarian/information professional can effectively maintain or enhance his/her professional competence throughout his/her professional career.

4. It is frequently argued that, for libraries to meet the challenges of the information age, librarians need to reexamine or rethink library practices and services. In this context, discuss how advances in information tecnology (i.e., computer and communication technology) are affecting, and will continue to affect, libraries in the areas of human resources, the evaluation of services, and accessing materials over the next decade.

5. Imagine that you have been given the assignment of assessing the effectiveness of a library of your choice (i.e., a school media library, public library, academic library, special library, etc.) What criteria, or indicators of effectiveness, would you consider appropriate to your assignment? Briefly discuss how you would utilize the criteria in the assessment and evaluation process.

July 10, 1992

1. The evaluation of libraries, and tle information services they provide their clients, has received a great deal of attention by the library community (i.e. librarians, clients and funding sources) over the last two decades. What has the value of evaluations within 1ibraries(i.e. how are evaluations used in the library context)? Discuss several major problems which the process of evaluation presents to library professionals.

2. Compare and contrast the two approaches to management known as Classical Management and Social Systerns Management. Discuss how these two different schools of management thought have contributed to library management as it currently exists in practice.

3. Compare and contrast the two approaches to management known as Classical Management and Social Systerns Management. Discuss how these two different schools of management thought have contributed to library management as it currently exists in practice.

4. Discuss how the development of CD-ROM based information systems has changed the way in which libraries provide patrons with access to computer-based infotation services. What special opportunities and problems do such systems (i.e., CD--ROM based systems) present both libraries and their patrons. Discuss.

5. Most studies of library use indicate that not more than perhaps 30 percent of the library's potential clients (i.e., all those people the library is charged to serve) actually use libraries as a source of information on a regular and frequent basis. Why do you suppose that this is the case? From the perspective of a library of your choice (i.e. school media library, public, academic or special library), what kinds of things could you recommend that would likely have the effect of converting part of that large group of non-users into users of libraries and their services? Discuss.

6. Describe the actions libraries have taken over the last decade to deal with the dramatic increase in the cost of library materials (e.g., books, journals, nonprint materials, etc.) and collection development budgets which are declining, stable or growing slowly. In your judgment, what do these actions suggest regarding the nature of library collections and services of the future? Discuss.

April 10, 1992

1. Our democratic society is partly based on the tenet of an educated and imformed electorate. To this end we espouse free universal education and free access to information. In terms of library service, what is the meaning of "free access to information"? What are the issues related to this concept? What situations or circumstances in libraries have brought the issues into focus as a concern of the profession.

2. From the perspective of a library of your choice (for instance, public Iibrary, academic library, special library, school media center, etc.), describe the development of computer based information services which libraries have provided their patrons over the last two decades. Highlight at least four specific developments in computer based information services which you consider of exceptional significance.

3. Cataloging is a basic process by which libraries provide clients with access to thei collections. Typically, cataloging results in the creation of an "index" to the library's holdings in the form of either a card catalog or an online catalog (Online Public Access Catalog of CD-ROM catalog). Discuss 3 or 4 major changes in the cataloging process and/or the resulting "index" which the professional community feels would greatly improve patron access to a library's collections.

4. Many library administrators have expressed the view that " libraries will not continue to exist if they are not marketed." What do these adminstators mean by the concept marketing (i.e., what specific activities are included within the concept), and how would you go about establishing a marketing program for a library.

5. Developing an on-site collection of information sources which satisfies the information needs of clients the library serves, is an important responsibility that libraries have had in the past and will almost certainly retain in the future. From the perspective of a library of your choice (e.g., public library, academic library, special library, school media center, etc.), discuss four or more major issues, problems or developments which librarians need to consider when developing on-site collections.