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. When shifting a collection to a new area of the library, what must the LTA do FIRST? → Measure available shelf space and plan the shift before moving any items
2. A library uses the CREW method for weeding. What does the 'C' stand for? → Currency
3. A library receives a water-damaged book. What is the recommended first step? → Place it in a freezer to halt mold growth
4. Which term describes the process a library uses when a patron formally objects to a specific item in the collection? → Material reconsideration
5. Which classification best describes the periodical index 'Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature'? → An index to popular magazine articles
6. Which ILL system is operated by the National Library of Medicine and used primarily for health sciences and biomedical literature? → DOCLINE
7. In an ILS, which module handles the lending and returning of materials to patrons? → Circulation
8. A library technician notices the automated materials handler (AMH) is misfiling returned items. What is the MOST likely cause? → Dirty or damaged barcodes/RFID tags on the items
9. What is a call number? → Location identifier
10. Which statistic is most commonly tracked to evaluate the effectiveness of a library's collection? → Circulation counts by subject area or format
11. What is subject heading? → Topic descriptor
12. Which of the following BEST describes the purpose of subject headings in library catalogs? → To group materials about the same topic under consistent terminology for easier searching
13. What is the purpose of a 'call number' on a library item? → To provide a unique address for shelving and retrieval
14. OCLC is a global library cooperative best known for which of the following resources used in cataloging? → WorldCat
15. What is 'deduplication' in the context of library digital collections? → Removing duplicate records or files to maintain a clean database
16. What is the primary advantage of a cloud-based ILS over a locally hosted system? → The vendor manages updates and infrastructure, reducing local IT burden
17. A bibliographic record that describes an online journal article would most commonly include which MARC field to record the URL? → 856
18. Which temperature range is recommended for general library stack areas to balance preservation and patron comfort? → 65–70°F (18–21°C)
19. A library's fiscal year ends June 30. Unspent funds cannot be carried over. This is called: → Fund lapsing
20. What skill is needed for online searching? → Boolean logic
21. Which organization publishes the Dewey Decimal Classification system? → OCLC (Online Computer Library Center)
22. Which MARC field is used to record a subject added entry using LCSH? → 650
23. Which filing rule is used in most US libraries when alphabetizing entries that begin with 'Mc' or 'Mac'? → File exactly as spelled, so 'Mc' entries precede 'Mac' entries
24. What is cloud-based library software? → Hosted online and internet-based
25. Which of the following is an example of a secondary source? → A biography written about Abraham Lincoln
26. In library automation, what is the function of a 'materials handling system'? → Automated equipment like conveyors and sorters that route returned items by destination
27. A patron's library card has expired. The patron wants to check out materials immediately. What is the correct procedure? → Direct the patron to the appropriate desk to renew their card before checkout
28. What does 'reserve' or 'holds' policy allow patrons to do? → Place a request to borrow a currently unavailable item when it becomes available
29. Which metadata standard is commonly used for describing digital objects and resources on the web? → Dublin Core
30. A library's collection development policy primarily serves to: → Guide decisions on what materials to acquire and remove from the collection