2004 Final Exams Questions

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April 9, 2004

1. Librarians have spent decades building and utilizing information systems that are designed around a number of assumptions regarding recall and precision, the need for structured access points, usability, and convenience. Users, however, are now more likely to "google" a few key words and accept the results of a quick web search as satisfactory, often without consulting any library database. Make the case for why library databases are (or should be) relevant and useful in many information seeking situations by comparing a search in a structured information system (e.g., Library Literatures, ERIC, etc.) with a Google search of the Internet; include discussion of resource availability and quality, search vocabulary options, search logic and ranking of results.

2. Many libraries and information agencies have engaged in outsourcing of what were once internal library functions. Define what is meant by outsourcing. What issues arise in outsourcing? Explain circumstances under which you would consider outsourcing appropriate and inappropriate.

3. Review the major computer and networking technology developments of the last 25 years and discuss how they have impacted libraries. From a type of library perspective of your choice, identify and discuss three current or emerging technologies or technology standards that you would consider to be of increasing importance in the next decade or so and why you think so; explain how they will impact information delivery, services to the public, and the role of librarians.

4. Intellectual Freedom is an important cornerstone of library services in the United States. Explain what intellectual freedom means in the context of library and information services. Describe 4 important intellectual issues currently facing the library community and discuss the profession's basic position regarding each of these positions.

5. The availability of electronic resources has begun to transform library information services and added to the complexity of collections development in libraries. From a type of library perspective of your choice, discuss the following issues: (1) the kinds of electronic resources that would be the greatest value to the library's clients, (2) the considerations you would take into account in deciding how to divide the money available between electronic resources and traditional print resources, and (3) how the introduction of electronic resources will likely change the nature of such libraries, and how they are used, over the decade.

Final Exam, July 16, 2004

ANSWER 3 OF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS, EACH IN A SEPARATE EXAM BOOKLET. PLACE THE QUESTION NUMBER ON THE SUBJECT LINE OF THE EXAM BOOKLET. DO NOT PUT YOUR NAME ON THE EXAM BOOKLET ITSELF.

1. You have been given the task of developing an assessment mechanism that will provide you with information on the effectiveness of your agency. From the perspective of type of library or information agency, identify outcomes that you would include as the best indicators of effectiveness; how would you involve your internal and external constituencies in the process; and how would you utilize the results in improving the agency’s services.

2. The Internet has had an enormous impact on libraries over the last few decades. Describe the overall history of the Internet and the major technological developments that have led to its current prominent role in our information seeking activities. Then, from the perspective of a library type, describe the effect the Internet has had on collections, services, and access to library resources.

3. Privacy and confidentiality are central to the work of libraries, and maintaining privacy has become increasingly important and problematic in the electronic, web connected world of the last decade, particularly in the context of the current political climate. What are the key components of the profession’s view regarding privacy as represented by ALA? What do you see as the main threats and issues regarding privacy and Libraries? From the perspective of a library type of your choice, describe the policies and actions you believe are called for to respond to these issues.

4. 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,” and what kinds of things could libraries and librarians do to contribute to the accomplishment of this goal?

5. In their book entitled ORGANIZING INFORMATION, Rowley and Farrow state: “Indexing and searching processing are complementary." Explain the function of indexing and indexes. Compare and contrast manual (intellectual) indexing and automatic indexing and discuss how they affect the search process and results of retrieval.

Final Exam, November 19, 2004

ANSWER 3 OF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS, EACH IN A SEPARATE EXAM BOOKLET. PLACE THE QUESTION NUMBER ON THE SUBJECT LINE OF THE EXAM BOOKLET. DO NOT PUT YOUR NAME ON THE EXAM BOOKLET ITSELF .

1. Should libraries offer varying levels of service ranging from basic services (provided without direct fee) to premium levels of service (at an additional fee)? Describe what this range of service might consist of including the differences in the value added at each level of serve. What are the arguments for and against this approach to providing services?

2. What effect has filtering software had upon the “haves” versus the “have-nots” in our society? Does filtering widen the Digital Divide in the U.S? Discuss these questions in light of our professional commitment to intellection freedom and equity of access.

3. In July of 2004, the federal Government Printing Office ordered depository libraries across the country to destroy five non-classified US Department of Justice pamphlets on prosecuting asset forfeiture cases. The government position is that ownership is retained by the federal agencies that produce the materials and that libraries must comply with the directive to "withdraw these materials immediately and destroy all copies by any means to prevent disclosure of their content...." ALA immediately responded that it would challenge this directive as an infringement of the public's right to access non-classified government published information. Discuss the legal, ethical, and intellectual freedom issues and implications inherent in this situation from the perspective of an information professional working in American libraries today. Include discussion of the arguments you would expect ALA to bring forth in a challenge of this directive.

4. The rise of electronic resources has greatly enhanced information access but has resulted in an environment where library users must search multiple, heterogeneous information products and platforms. It is not surprising that the goal of facilitating an effective "metasearch" (also referred to as a federated or broadcast search) of these various electronic resources and systems is an important library trend. Describe the current state of the electronic information environment of multiple library systems and products (e.g., OPAC, full-text journals, other data bases) and discuss the access issues or problems such a diverse, and often unconnected, array of choices can present to information seekers.

5. Reference service has been a central information service of libraries for many years. Clearly explain or describe what constitutes reference service in a library context. What are the major issues currently facing reference in all types of libraries and, from the perspective of a library type of your choice (i.e., public, academic, special, etc.), discuss how reference service is likely to develop or change over the next decade or so.