LTA Reference and Information Services 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following reference sources would you consult to find the correct spelling and pronunciation of a word?
- Almanac
- Thesaurus
- Dictionary (Correct answer)
- Atlas
Correct answer: Dictionary
A dictionary provides definitions, correct spellings, pronunciations, and etymologies of words.
Question 2: When using a subject-specific database like PsycINFO, a library technical assistant should understand that it covers:
- All academic disciplines equally
- Primarily psychology and behavioral sciences literature (Correct answer)
- Only books published by the American Psychological Association
- Medical and nursing research exclusively
Correct answer: Primarily psychology and behavioral sciences literature
PsycINFO is a specialized database produced by the APA that indexes literature in psychology, behavioral sciences, and related fields.
Question 3: A patron requests a government document. Where would a library technical assistant FIRST look?
- The local newspaper archive
- The library's government documents collection or a resource like GPO (Government Publishing Office) FDsys/GovInfo (Correct answer)
- A general encyclopedia
- A biographical index
Correct answer: The library's government documents collection or a resource like GPO (Government Publishing Office) FDsys/GovInfo
Government documents are best found in a library's dedicated government documents collection or through the GPO's GovInfo (govinfo.gov) database.
Question 4: Which statement about Wikipedia is MOST accurate in a reference context?
- Wikipedia is always a reliable final source for research
- Wikipedia can be a useful starting point but should be verified with authoritative sources (Correct answer)
- Wikipedia is never appropriate to mention to a patron
- Wikipedia is an official government publication
Correct answer: Wikipedia can be a useful starting point but should be verified with authoritative sources
Wikipedia can help patrons get an overview of a topic and identify keywords, but its open-edit nature means information should be verified with authoritative sources.
Question 5: The 'call number' on a library item primarily serves to:
- Identify the item's purchase price
- Indicate the item's physical location on the shelves (Correct answer)
- Record the patron who last borrowed the item
- Display the item's copyright date
Correct answer: Indicate the item's physical location on the shelves
A call number is an alphanumeric code that indicates where an item is shelved in the library's stacks, based on its subject classification.
Question 6: Which of the following describes a 'peer-reviewed' article?
- An article written by a well-known celebrity
- An article evaluated by experts in the field before publication (Correct answer)
- An article published in a popular magazine
- An article with the most online views
Correct answer: An article evaluated by experts in the field before publication
Peer-reviewed (also called refereed) articles have been evaluated by subject experts before publication to ensure accuracy, methodology, and scholarly merit.
Question 7: A patron wants to know about events happening this week in a specific city. The MOST efficient resource would be:
- A printed almanac from five years ago
- A local newspaper website or community events calendar (Correct answer)
- A printed encyclopedia
- An interlibrary loan request
Correct answer: A local newspaper website or community events calendar
Local newspaper websites and community event calendars provide the most current, location-specific information about upcoming events.
LTA Reference and Information Services 4
Which of the following reference sources would you consult to find the correct spelling and pronunciation of a word?