1999 Final Exams Questions

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April 9, 1999

ANSWER THREE OF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS, ALLOWING UP TO 60 MINUITES FOR EACH. ANSWER EACH ONE IN A SEPARTE EXAM BOOKLET WITH THE QUESTION'S NUMBER ON THE SUBJECT LINE OF THE EXAM BOOKLET. DO NOT PUT YOUR NAME ON THE EXAM BOOKLET ITSELF.

1. The Council on Library and Information Resources is an organization that focuses on, and funds, projects, which relate to information in our society. In its 1997/98 Annual Report the foundation stated that "as an overarching concern, decision makers want to understand how digital libraries will make new demands on our institutions." Discuss how the development of digital information has already impacted library institutions in terms of public or information services and library management.

2. Many information professionals consider the development of a society that is information literate an important national goal. What does the information profession mean by the term "information literacy?" Discuss, with some specific illustrations, the kinds of things that libraries and librarians might do to contribute to the accomplishment of this goal.

3. Since their inception, a primary purpose of libraries has been to provide their clients with access to information resources that they can use to satisfy personal information needs. In most cases, this access has been provided through on-site collections of information resources (i.e., collection development). From the perspective of a type of library or information agency (e.g., public, school, academic or special libraries, etc.) discuss the various factors that an information professional should consider when deciding to acquire, or not acquire, an information resource for the local collection.

4. Most information professionals agree that the Internet is one of the most important information-related developments of the 20th century. What is the Internet? Discuss four important issues or problems that the development of the Internet has presented to the library community.

5. Over the past century, the library community has developed elaborate methods of information storage and retrieval that rely heavily on standards that control methods and processes in various ways. Describe four or five important standards that are currently used by the library community to control the way in which information resources are described, organized and accessed. To what extent are these existing standards likely to be adequate or applicable to the emerging electronic resources such as those found on the Internet?

July 16, 1999

ANSWER THREE OF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS, EACH IN A SEPARATE EXAM BOOKLET. PLACE THE QUESTION'S NUMBER ON THE SUBJECT LINE OF THE EXAM BOOKLET. DO NOT PUT YOUR NAME ON THE EXAM BOOKLET ITSELF.

1. A major theme in contemporary management theory is that of "customer orientation". That is, the customer's needs and wishes should be the primary determinant in decisions on how to allocate resources and to change procedures. What changes in allocation of human and fiscal resources do libraries need to adopt in order to focus more directly on the customers of libraries?

2. Providing users with the physical access to documents has always been a primary function of libraries. Identify and describe how methods of document delivery used by libraries have changed over the last twenty years or so. What changes do you expect to see in document delivery in the near future?

3. Using controlled vocabulary is often the preferred choice of the professional searcher in retrieving information. First define what is mean by "controlled vocabulary" and then address the advantages and disadvantages that arise in the use of controlled vocabulary for searching.

4. The role of the information professional is changing and there is much speculation as to how. From the perspective of a library or information agency of your choice, describe changes that you think will be required in the role and function of the information professional over the next decade or so.

5. A recent poll by the Kellogg Foundation found that the American public seems to want public libraries to be two things: a traditional library and an electronic one. By "traditional" respondents meant a physical space in which the services of the past - books, children's programming, and personal help from librarians - continue to be readily available. By "electronic" was meant the library as provider of access to the Internet and the creator of online databases and services. Obviously this line of thinking could be extended to other types of libraries as well. How should information professionals view the demand for new services and facilities in light of the library's desire to continue traditional services as electronic services are added? In your answer, consider the importance of public support, the economic environment of libraries, and the equipment and staff training needed to pursue both objectives.

November 19, 1999

1. Various studies of reference service have found that reference librarians typically provide full and accurate answers to about 55% of the questions asked by clients. Is this rate of correct answers an acceptable level of performance? Discuss how we should assess the performance of reference services and their value to library clients.

2. Some state governments now require that school and public libraries must provide filtering technology to ensure that sexually explicit material is not made available to library patrons using the Internet. What arguments can be made for and against filtering Internet content?

3. The ALA Code of Ethics is one of a half-dozen codes of ethics that define expected behavior of information professionals in regards to intellectual freedom, the level and quality of information services provided, client privacy, intellectual property, and professional development. How have library policies and practices developed to address these areas of the Code?

4. Describe the introduction of computer and telecommunications technologies into a library setting of your choice (e.g., academic, school, public). What have been the consequences of the introduction of these technologies? Use specific examples of both technologies and consequences to illustrate your answer.

5. Over the past century, elaborate methods for information storage - -describing and providing access to resources -- have been developed by library and information professionals. A substantial body of theory and standards have been established and implemented. Outline and discuss these concepts and standards for describing and organizing print resources, and discuss their applicability to organizing information in the electronic environment.