GLC Technology and Digital Resources 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which COUNTER report metric do libraries primarily use to measure the usage of individual e-journal articles?
- TR (Title Report) with metric type Total_Item_Requests (Correct answer)
- DR (Database Report) with metric type Searches_Automated
- PR (Platform Report) with metric type Total_Item_Investigations
- IR (Item Report) with metric type Unique_Title_Requests
Correct answer: TR (Title Report) with metric type Total_Item_Requests
The COUNTER TR Title Report with Total_Item_Requests tracks the number of times full-text journal articles are accessed.
Question 2: A library is migrating from one ILS to another. Which file format is the standard for exporting and importing bibliographic records during migration?
- MARC 21 (Correct answer)
- CSV
- XML
- JSON
Correct answer: MARC 21
MARC 21 is the standard bibliographic data format used by virtually all ILS platforms for data migration.
Question 3: What is the main advantage of cloud-hosted ILS solutions over locally hosted systems for small libraries?
- Reduced need for local IT infrastructure and staff (Correct answer)
- Greater customization of the software codebase
- Faster catalog search speeds
- Full ownership of patron data without vendor involvement
Correct answer: Reduced need for local IT infrastructure and staff
Cloud-hosted (SaaS) ILS solutions eliminate the need for on-premise servers and reduce the IT burden on small library staff.
Question 4: Which technology allows library patrons to check out materials by tapping their smartphone against a library card reader?
- NFC (Near Field Communication) (Correct answer)
- Bluetooth Low Energy
- QR code scanning
- RFID wristband
Correct answer: NFC (Near Field Communication)
NFC enables contactless communication between devices in close proximity, supporting mobile payment and library card applications.
Question 5: A patron asks why some library database articles cannot be emailed as attachments. Which legal concept BEST explains this limitation?
- Copyright and publisher licensing restrictions (Correct answer)
- File size limitations on email servers
- FERPA regulations protecting patron privacy
- HIPAA regulations on digital content
Correct answer: Copyright and publisher licensing restrictions
Publisher license agreements commonly prohibit systematic downloading or redistribution of articles, including mass emailing of full-text content.
Question 6: What is the purpose of the LOCKSS (Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe) system?
- To preserve digital content by maintaining multiple distributed copies (Correct answer)
- To manage DRM for e-book lending programs
- To authenticate remote library patrons via IP address
- To rank databases by usage statistics
Correct answer: To preserve digital content by maintaining multiple distributed copies
LOCKSS is a distributed digital preservation system that stores multiple copies of digital content across participating libraries worldwide.
Question 7: When a library publishes its catalog as Linked Data, which format is most commonly used?
- RDF (Resource Description Framework) (Correct answer)
- HTML tables
- CSV spreadsheets
- MARC binary format
Correct answer: RDF (Resource Description Framework)
RDF is the W3C standard for expressing Linked Data on the web, allowing library data to connect with other datasets.
GLC Technology and Digital Resources 4
Which COUNTER report metric do libraries primarily use to measure the usage of individual e-journal articles?