LSSC Collection Development and Management 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which document formally outlines a library's criteria for selecting, acquiring, and weeding materials?
- Circulation policy
- Collection development policy (Correct answer)
- Reference service policy
- Interlibrary loan policy
Correct answer: Collection development policy
A collection development policy provides written guidelines governing selection, acquisition, and deselection of library materials.
Question 2: The CREW method is most commonly used in libraries for which purpose?
- Cataloging new acquisitions
- Weeding outdated materials (Correct answer)
- Processing interlibrary loans
- Training circulation staff
Correct answer: Weeding outdated materials
CREW (Continuous Review, Evaluation, and Weeding) is a systematic method used to identify and remove outdated or worn materials from the collection.
Question 3: In the MUSTIE criteria used for weeding, what does the letter 'M' stand for?
- Missing from shelves
- Misleading or factually inaccurate (Correct answer)
- Marked or damaged beyond repair
- Multiple copies no longer needed
Correct answer: Misleading or factually inaccurate
In MUSTIE, 'M' stands for Misleading, referring to materials with inaccurate or outdated information that could mislead patrons.
Question 4: Which selection tool is most authoritative for identifying recommended titles for public library collections?
- Amazon bestseller lists
- Publisher catalogs
- Booklist and Library Journal reviews (Correct answer)
- Patron request logs
Correct answer: Booklist and Library Journal reviews
Professional review sources such as Booklist and Library Journal are standard selection tools that provide evaluative reviews for library collection building.
Question 5: A library's collection turnover rate is calculated by dividing total annual circulation by which figure?
- Number of registered borrowers
- Total number of items in the collection (Correct answer)
- Number of new acquisitions
- Annual budget for materials
Correct answer: Total number of items in the collection
Turnover rate = total circulation ÷ total holdings, indicating how often the average item circulates per year.
Question 6: What is the primary purpose of a 'standing order' in library acquisitions?
- To reserve popular titles for specific patrons
- To automatically receive new volumes in a series or annual publications (Correct answer)
- To prioritize damaged-item replacements
- To set spending limits per subject area
Correct answer: To automatically receive new volumes in a series or annual publications
A standing order is an arrangement with a vendor or publisher to automatically supply each new edition or volume of a continuing work as it is published.
Question 7: Which practice best describes 'demand-driven acquisition' (DDA) in library collection management?
- Purchasing items based solely on staff recommendations
- Acquiring materials triggered by actual patron use or requests (Correct answer)
- Buying materials that complement existing subject strengths
- Accepting donated items from the community
Correct answer: Acquiring materials triggered by actual patron use or requests
DDA (also called patron-driven acquisition) purchases or licenses materials only when patrons actually access or request them, reducing unused purchases.
LSSC Collection Development and Management 1
Which document formally outlines a library's criteria for selecting, acquiring, and weeding materials?