GLC Information Access and Delivery 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of a 'reading list' or 'course reserve' service in an academic or school library?
- To provide students timely access to required course materials (Correct answer)
- To restrict general patron borrowing during exam periods
- To automate fine collection for overdue items
- To generate purchase orders for new textbooks
Correct answer: To provide students timely access to required course materials
Course reserves ensure high-demand required readings are accessible to all students in a class, often with shortened loan periods.
Question 2: Which of the following best describes 'information literacy' as defined by the American Library Association?
- The ability to recognize when information is needed and to locate, evaluate, and use it effectively (Correct answer)
- The skill of typing at 60+ words per minute
- Proficiency in using all library databases without assistance
- Memorization of the Dewey Decimal Classification system
Correct answer: The ability to recognize when information is needed and to locate, evaluate, and use it effectively
ALA defines information literacy as recognizing information needs and competently finding, evaluating, and applying information.
Question 3: A librarian notices a database's terms of service prohibit text and data mining. What should the library do before allowing a researcher to conduct such mining?
- Consult the vendor and negotiate amended licensing terms before proceeding (Correct answer)
- Allow the mining since the researcher has a library card
- Cancel the subscription immediately
- Advise the researcher to use a personal VPN to bypass restrictions
Correct answer: Consult the vendor and negotiate amended licensing terms before proceeding
License agreements govern permissible uses of electronic resources; text mining typically requires explicit vendor permission.
Question 4: Which Georgia library certification requirement ensures librarians maintain current professional competencies?
- Continuing education (CE) hours required for certificate renewal (Correct answer)
- Annual standardized testing administered by GPLS
- Mandatory membership in the American Library Association
- Annual submission of a collection development policy
Correct answer: Continuing education (CE) hours required for certificate renewal
Georgia librarian certification renewal requires documented continuing education hours to ensure ongoing professional development.
Question 5: What is the 'first sale doctrine' and how does it affect library lending?
- It allows libraries to lend legally purchased physical copies without additional licensing fees (Correct answer)
- It requires libraries to purchase new items before discarding old ones
- It prevents resale of library surplus materials
- It mandates first-come, first-served hold queue ordering
Correct answer: It allows libraries to lend legally purchased physical copies without additional licensing fees
The first sale doctrine (17 U.S.C. § 109) permits the owner of a lawfully purchased copy to lend or sell it without infringing copyright.
Question 6: A patron with low digital literacy struggles to use the library's e-resource portal. What is the librarian's best response?
- Provide one-on-one instruction and refer to digital literacy programs (Correct answer)
- Redirect the patron exclusively to print resources
- Submit a complaint to the database vendor on the patron's behalf
- Advise the patron to hire a private tutor
Correct answer: Provide one-on-one instruction and refer to digital literacy programs
Librarians support equitable access by offering instruction and connecting patrons with digital literacy programs.
Question 7: Which technology allows a library's discovery layer to present a unified search interface across local catalog and external databases?
- Web-scale discovery service (Correct answer)
- RFID circulation system
- SIP2 protocol
- Automated phone renewal system
Correct answer: Web-scale discovery service
Web-scale discovery services (e.g., EBSCO Discovery Service, Ex Libris Primo) index diverse content sources for a single patron search experience.
GLC Information Access and Delivery 5
What is the purpose of a 'reading list' or 'course reserve' service in an academic or school library?