Operations and Policies Flashcards
7 cards from real LTA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Operations and Policies flashcards as text
A patron's library card has been expired for two years. What is the standard first step when they want to renew it?
Answer: Verify current address and update patron record before renewing
Renewing an expired card requires verifying and updating patron information such as address to maintain accurate records.
Which of the following best describes an 'interlibrary loan' (ILL)?
Answer: A process by which a library borrows materials from another library on behalf of a patron
Interlibrary loan allows a library to borrow materials from another library to fulfill a patron's request that cannot be met locally.
A library's collection development policy primarily serves to:
Answer: Guide decisions on what materials to acquire and remove from the collection
A collection development policy establishes the criteria and priorities for selecting, acquiring, and weeding library materials.
What does the term 'weeding' mean in library operations?
Answer: Removing outdated, damaged, or underused materials from the collection
Weeding is the systematic removal of materials that are outdated, worn, inaccurate, or no longer relevant to the community.
A patron asks to see another patron's borrowing history. The LTA should:
Answer: Refuse, as borrowing records are confidential under library privacy policy
Library circulation records are confidential and protected by professional ethics and often by state law, and cannot be shared with third parties.
Which ALA principle most directly supports keeping patron borrowing records private?
Answer: Intellectual freedom and patron privacy
The ALA Code of Ethics explicitly protects patron privacy and confidentiality of library records as a core intellectual freedom principle.
When is it appropriate for library staff to access a patron's account without the patron present?
Answer: Only when operationally necessary, such as processing returns or renewals
Staff access to patron accounts should be limited to necessary operational tasks and governed by the library's privacy policy.