GLC Collection Development & Resource Management 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following best describes an 'approval plan' in library acquisitions?
- A process requiring board approval for any purchase over a set dollar amount
- An arrangement where a vendor automatically sends new titles matching a library's profile for review or automatic purchase (Correct answer)
- A patron-initiated purchase request system
- A grant-funded purchasing program requiring pre-approval
Correct answer: An arrangement where a vendor automatically sends new titles matching a library's profile for review or automatic purchase
An approval plan is a vendor arrangement where new books matching the library's subject and format profile are sent automatically—either for review and possible return or for automatic purchase.
Question 2: The MUSTIE criteria used in the CREW weeding method stands for Misleading, Ugly, Superseded, Trivial, Irrelevant, and:
- Expensive
- Elsewhere available (Correct answer)
- Expired
- Excessive
Correct answer: Elsewhere available
The 'E' in MUSTIE stands for 'Elsewhere available,' meaning the item is readily accessible through other sources such as interlibrary loan or nearby libraries.
Question 3: When a librarian conducts a 'collection map,' what is the primary outcome?
- A physical floor plan showing where subjects are shelved
- A visual or data representation of the collection's depth and breadth across subject areas (Correct answer)
- A cataloging record for all new acquisitions
- A list of items available for interlibrary loan
Correct answer: A visual or data representation of the collection's depth and breadth across subject areas
A collection map provides a systematic overview of what the library collects in each subject, at what depth, and identifies gaps or imbalances relative to community needs.
Question 4: Which of the following describes 'just-in-case' collection development, as opposed to 'just-in-time'?
- Purchasing materials only after a patron request is received
- Building a broad collection in advance based on anticipated needs (Correct answer)
- Relying entirely on interlibrary loan for all patron requests
- Acquiring materials digitally rather than in print
Correct answer: Building a broad collection in advance based on anticipated needs
'Just-in-case' collection development means acquiring materials proactively based on anticipated demand, building comprehensive collections before specific needs arise.
Question 5: A library wants to assess whether its science collection meets the needs of its users. Which data source would be MOST useful for this evaluation?
- The library's annual budget documents
- Circulation statistics and interlibrary loan requests for science materials (Correct answer)
- The library director's personal subject expertise
- A list of the library's science titles sorted by call number
Correct answer: Circulation statistics and interlibrary loan requests for science materials
Circulation statistics reveal what patrons actually use, and ILL requests reveal unmet needs—both are essential data points for evaluating a subject collection's adequacy.
Question 6: In electronic resource licensing, what does 'authorized users' typically refer to?
- Only librarians who manage the database
- Individuals who are affiliated with the institution and permitted to access licensed content (Correct answer)
- Users who have created a personal account with the vendor
- Government employees who have free access to all databases
Correct answer: Individuals who are affiliated with the institution and permitted to access licensed content
Authorized users are typically defined in the license agreement as current students, faculty, staff, and sometimes walk-in patrons who are affiliated with the subscribing institution.
Question 7: Which of the following is the BEST reason to maintain a diverse collection that includes multiple viewpoints on controversial topics?
- To increase the number of items in the collection
- To support intellectual freedom and ensure patrons have access to a broad range of perspectives (Correct answer)
- To comply with federal cataloging regulations
- To reduce the number of interlibrary loan requests
Correct answer: To support intellectual freedom and ensure patrons have access to a broad range of perspectives
Maintaining diverse viewpoints supports intellectual freedom, a core library value, and ensures patrons can access materials representing a full spectrum of thought and opinion.
GLC Collection Development & Resource Management 4
Which of the following best describes an 'approval plan' in library acquisitions?