1997 Final Exams Questions

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April 11, 1997

1. The American Library Association was among a number of groups that recently argued a case before the Supreme Court questioning the provisions of the Communications Decency Act (a part of the Telecommunications Act which was enacted in 1996). Describe how the Communications Decency Act has generated concern among the members of the American Library Association (as well as those of many other library associations), and discuss ALAís position regarding those issues. To what extent does the position of ALA regarding the Communications Decency Act correspond to your personal views regarding those issues?

2. To what extent do libraries (especially school, public and academic libraries) have a role in reforming the way education takes place in the United States? Comment on how libraries are involved in the education of people in the United States, and discuss how libraries might play a part in educational reform efforts in school, general public and university settings.

3. For libraries, electronic information resources are increasingly important and have a growing influence on collection development decisions. From the perspective of a library of your choice (e.g., school, public, academic, special), discuss: (1) The kinds of electronic information resources that are relevant to the libraryís services; (2) The advantages and disadvantages of each, and (3) The issues that accompany the decision to make available the electronic information resources.

4. Describe the concept and process of strategic planning. Discuss how a library or other type of information organization might use the concepts and processes of strategic planning to maximize the utility (value) of its human, fiscal, physical and other organizational resources to enhance the quality of services they provide their clients.

5. For libraries to meet the many challenges of the information age, it is frequently argued that librarians need to rethink basic library practices and services. For example, for hundreds of years libraries have served most of the information needs of their client through on-site collections (i.e., through the acquisition, organization and preservation of needed information resources). For a variety of reasons, many librarians argue that libraries need to shift their emphasis from the ownership of materials to providing access to materials, regardless of who owns them or where they are physically located. Briefly identify several reasons why the profession is giving increasing attention to providing access to materials when the materials are needed, and discuss how a shift in philosophy from ownership to access could affect the ways librarians organize their collections and design their information systems and services in the electronic age.

July 18, 1997

1. Providing clients with physical access to needed documents has always represented a primary function of libraries. Identify and describe how methods of document delivery used by libraries have changed over the last 20 years. What changes do you expect to see in document delivery over the next 5-10 years?

2. A major theme in contemporary management theory is that of "customer orientation." That is, that the customer's needs should be the primary Determinant in decisions to allocate resources or change procedures. What changes in philosophy, services and resource allocation do libraries need to adopt in order to focus more directly on patrons and customers of libraries?

3. The emergence of the Internet as a heavily used information system by many segments of our society represents one of the most significant and far-reaching developments in library/information services over the last fifty years. Describe how libraries have generally responded to the availability of this innovative information system. Discuss four important aspects of the Internet that have attracted the attention and/or concern of the library profession.

4. All types of libraries are increasingly challenged to provide their clients with access to new electronic information services. What are libraries doing to meet this challenge? What else can they do to increase the range of services they provide in a time of static (or even declining) funding?

5. End-users of information retrieval systems typically choose the option of using uncontrolled vocabulary (e.g., free text, natural language, keywords) in searching documents. What opportunities and problems may arise in the use of uncontrolled vocabulary in information storage and retrieval? What can the user do to minimize the disadvantages of uncontrolled language searching?

November 21, 1997

1. In an environment of increased demand for accountability, more than ever libraries and information agencies must be able to clearly define and justify the products and services they provide as well as to demonstrate that they are in fact providing them, and doing so in a manner that assures quality and value to the clients. In order to meet this challenge, close attention to assessment is required. From the perspective of a library agency type of your choice, discuss approaches to assessment of products and services that will justify the agencies' claim on human, fiscal, and other resources.

2. The emergence of computer-based, end-user information systems can fairly be described as the more important development in information storage and retrieval during the 20th century. Describe the origin and development of such systems over the last 20 years, and discuss four or five important ways they have impacted or changed libraries and their services.

3. In recent years "outsourcing" has received considerable attention in the library and management literatures. Write an essay in which you (1) explain what is meant by "outsourcing," (2) provides examples of outsourcing by libraries and information centers, (3) set forth reasons for outsourcing, and (4) state whether you believe outsourcing is a good or a bad idea for libraries and information centers and develop the argument for the position you take.

4. What opportunities does making Internet services available to the public provide for libraries? Comment on how various types of libraries are involved in providing internet access to their clients, and identify major challenges that they encounter in providing such access.

5. The role and importance of standards in such areas as faculty status for academic librarians or Z39.2, for example, have long been recognized. In addition to these standards, identify at least two other areas in which standards are important.