2007 Final Exams Questions

• Spring 
• Summer
• Fall
  

April 11, 2008

1. Assessment is increasingly important in claiming resources and in justifying expenditures. From the perspective of a type of library organization of your choice identify the criteria that you would use to assess the impact of the library’s programs and services. Discuss how this information would be used for continual quality improvement and to argue successfully for resources.

2. The Web that emerged in the early 1990s is now retrospectively referred to as “Web 1.0,” while “Web 2.0” is the label used to describe the new technologies and uses of the current Web. As a result of these Web-based developments, there is also a corresponding view of libraries moving toward a new paradigm referred to as “Library 2.0.”  Describe and contrast the defining characteristics and supporting technologies of both “Web 1.0” and “Web 2.0.” Then, from a library setting of your choice and with examples, describe the move towards the “library 2.0” model by discussing the impact of both “Web 1.0” and “Web 2.0” on library services, collections, and user expectations.

3. Compare traditional metadata applications (library catalogs, bibliographies, indexes, and abstracts) with web-based search services (such as Google, Yahoo, etc.) Discuss the similarities and differences in purpose, approach and content for these different types of resources that enable the retrieval of specific information.

4. Provision of reference services has traditionally been a core function of libraries, yet many libraries report declining reference interactions at reference service points and are thus re-examining this service. In this essay, review the central aims and activities of reference services, describe the possible reasons for their decline and discuss the changes libraries are making to ensure reference services remain relevant and viable in this new environment.

5. ALA ’s Freedom to Read Foundation has just published a list of the most banned books of 2007 which is a reminder that libraries often face attempts to censor theirs materials. From the perspective of a type of library organization of your choice, how would you respond to an attempt by someone in your community to remove a book or other material from circulation? What professional and community resources would you use to respond?

July 11, 2008

1. Copyright law is of great importance to libraries. Write an essay in which you address: the basis for copyright law in the U.S.; what copyright is; what copyright seeks to accomplish, i. e., the purpose of copyright; what parts or provisions of U.S. copyright law are especially relevant to libraries; and the challenges that copyright law presents to libraries.

2. Controlled vocabulary is an important tool in information retrieval, particularly in online catalogs and databases. Define “controlled vocabulary” and give examples. Describe the following aspects of a controlled vocabulary: its component parts and properties and the functions of each. Discuss also the impact of using controlled vocabulary in retrieval.

3. In many parts of the U.S., the population is becoming more diverse. For example, the Hispanic and Asian American population have increased 200% or more during the last decade. With such rapid increase in diversity, libraries have experienced a change in their community of users. As the manager of a library, discuss 1) two major strategies you would employ for working with users of different racial, cultural and language backgrounds, and 2) what factors you would consider in developing those strategies, including any potential barriers that you or your library’s users might face.

4. What does an information professional need to know? From the perspective of a type of information agency and job function (e.g., academic reference, public library children’s services, a corporate information architect), describe specific, essential elements of an information professional’s knowledge base (rather than skills) at the start of the 21st century.

5. Team management is a means of participative decision-making in organizations that allows more effective and timely response, among other things. First describe the major elements of team management. Then, discuss the barriers to effective team building and deterrents to effective team performance.

November 21, 2008

1. Libraries face many challenges such as budget shortfalls, staff retention, increases in demands for services and accountability, just to name a few. From the perspective of a library type of your choice (school, public, special or academic), identify at least one major issue in each of the five functions of management faced by today's library organizations, explain why each issue is important, and identify strategies that might be used to address them.

2. Full text and surrogates represent two different approaches to organizing information for retrieval. Define the term “surrogate.” Compare and contrasts these two approaches in terms of application environments, access mechanisms, tools, and methods for indexing and retrieval, and the pros and cons of each. Use examples where appropriate.

3 . What roles do libraries play in the nation’s economy? From the perspective of a type of library of your choice (school, public, special or academic) describe the direct and specific ways that libraries may have in enabling people to cope with challenges of economic downturn.

4. Many libraries are striving to develop effective metasearch capabilities for the diverse information sources they offer. What are some of the main ways information seekers access library resources, and how well do libraries perform in the context of Google-influenced user expectations? Specifically what problems and issues do the many databases and information sources that libraries offer pose to the user? What are the goals of metasearch (aka federated search) systems, and what standards or technologies can support their development?

5. Using specific theories or models, discuss what we know about the common behaviors of information seekers. Based upon this knowledge, discuss how libraries should respond to make services more effective in ensuring that information needs are met in the best possible way.

Return to Final Written Exam Information