LTA Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield LTA facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which ILL system is operated by the National Library of Medicine and used primarily for health sciences and biomedical literature? → DOCLINE
2. What is a call number? → Location identifier
3. What is subject heading? → Topic descriptor
4. OCLC is a global library cooperative best known for which of the following resources used in cataloging? → WorldCat
5. What skill is needed for online searching? → Boolean logic
6. What is cloud-based library software? → Hosted online and internet-based
7. When registering a new adult patron for a library card at a public library, which two items are most commonly required for verification? → Official photo identification and proof of current address.
8. What type of materials use LC Classification? → Academic library materials
9. What are 'non-returnables' in ILL? → Photocopies or digital scans of articles that patrons are permitted to keep
10. Why is staff training on tech important? → Assist patrons with technology
11. How does automation help libraries? → Improves efficiency
12. Which of the following environmental conditions is most conducive to the long-term preservation of a library's general print collection? → A cool, stable temperature and a moderate, stable relative humidity.
13. The primary purpose of a library catalog is to: → Function as an inventory and access tool for the library's collection.
14. Which organization operates the primary bibliographic network and ILL management platform used by most US libraries? → Online Computer Library Center (OCLC)
15. Why are barcodes used? → Track items and transactions
16. Which of the following material types is MOST commonly excluded from being loaned through a standard Interlibrary Loan (ILL) agreement? → Entire issues of recently published academic journals.
17. Which ALA document provides the primary standards and guidelines for ILL operations in the United States? → Interlibrary Loan Code for the United States
18. What does the acronym 'ILL' stand for in library services? → Interlibrary Loan
19. Why is evaluating sources important? → Check credibility
20. Which of the following information is typically required when submitting an ILL request for a book? → Author, title, publisher, publication year, and ISBN
21. What is shelf reading? → Checking shelf order
22. What does an ILS system manage? → Cataloging and user records
23. Which system is widely used at individual libraries to manage their local ILL workflow, tracking patron requests from intake through fulfillment? → ILLiad by Atlas Systems
24. What is the primary function of a library's shelflist? → To provide a record of items in the order they appear on the shelves.
25. Which tool helps verify publication info? → Ulrich’s Directory
26. The primary purpose of charging overdue fines is to: → encourage the timely return of materials so they are available to other patrons.
27. What is WorldCat, as used in ILL workflows? → A global union catalog aggregating holdings records from thousands of libraries worldwide
28. Why is classification important? → Find and group materials
29. What does a 'Will Not Supply' (WNS) response from a lending library indicate? → The lending library declines to fulfill the request for any of several possible reasons
30. What is the main purpose of cataloging? → Organize and access materials