GLC Collection Development & Resource Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A library's collection development policy should primarily serve as a guide for which of the following?
- Selecting, acquiring, and evaluating library materials (Correct answer)
- Training new circulation staff
- Scheduling interlibrary loan requests
- Designing the library's physical layout
Correct answer: Selecting, acquiring, and evaluating library materials
A collection development policy provides a framework for selecting, acquiring, and evaluating materials to ensure the collection meets community needs.
Question 2: Which evaluation method involves systematically examining each item in the collection to assess its condition and relevance?
- Circulation analysis
- Shelf-reading
- Item-by-item review (Correct answer)
- Comparative benchmarking
Correct answer: Item-by-item review
Item-by-item review (also called direct review) involves physically examining each item to judge currency, condition, accuracy, and relevance.
Question 3: When a librarian uses the CREW method for weeding, what does the acronym CREW stand for?
- Collection Review and Evaluation Worksheet
- Continuous Review, Evaluation, and Weeding (Correct answer)
- Cataloging, Revision, and Elimination of Works
- Current Resources for Efficient Weeding
Correct answer: Continuous Review, Evaluation, and Weeding
CREW stands for Continuous Review, Evaluation, and Weeding, a systematic method developed by the Texas State Library for weeding public library collections.
Question 4: Which factor is LEAST relevant when evaluating a nonfiction book for potential weeding?
- Date of publication
- Physical condition of the item
- The author's academic credentials (Correct answer)
- Circulation history over the past five years
Correct answer: The author's academic credentials
Author credentials alone do not determine whether a book remains current, accurate, or in demand; circulation, age, and condition are more directly relevant to weeding decisions.
Question 5: A library is developing a collection in a subject area where materials become outdated quickly. Which criterion should receive the MOST weight during selection?
- Publisher reputation
- Currency of the information (Correct answer)
- Length and depth of the work
- Price of the item
Correct answer: Currency of the information
In rapidly changing fields such as medicine or technology, currency of information is the most critical selection criterion to ensure accuracy and usefulness.
Question 6: What is the primary purpose of a gift policy in a library's collection development framework?
- To establish donation tax benefits for the library
- To define criteria for accepting or declining donated materials (Correct answer)
- To create a fundraising plan for acquisitions
- To recognize major donors publicly
Correct answer: To define criteria for accepting or declining donated materials
A gift policy outlines standards and procedures for evaluating, accepting, or declining donated items to ensure they align with the collection's needs and quality standards.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes a 'standing order' in library acquisitions?
- A one-time purchase of a backlist title
- An agreement to automatically receive and pay for each new volume in a series (Correct answer)
- A short-term subscription to a database
- A request for a specific out-of-print title
Correct answer: An agreement to automatically receive and pay for each new volume in a series
A standing order is an arrangement with a vendor to automatically supply and bill each successive volume of a serial, series, or annual publication as it is released.
GLC Collection Development & Resource Management 2
A library's collection development policy should primarily serve as a guide for which of the following?