GLC Collection Development and Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A library's collection development policy should include which of the following elements?
- A list of all current titles in the collection
- Selection criteria, scope, and procedures for gifts and weeding (Correct answer)
- Vendor contact information and pricing schedules
- Annual budget allocations by department
Correct answer: Selection criteria, scope, and procedures for gifts and weeding
A collection development policy defines selection criteria, collection scope, and procedures for managing gifts and deselection.
Question 2: Which model of collection development emphasizes acquiring materials based on demonstrated patron demand rather than anticipated need?
- Just-in-case model
- Demand-driven acquisition (DDA) (Correct answer)
- Blanket order model
- Approval plan model
Correct answer: Demand-driven acquisition (DDA)
Demand-driven acquisition (DDA) purchases items only when patrons actually request or access them.
Question 3: When evaluating a vendor's approval plan, a librarian's primary concern should be:
- The vendor's physical warehouse location
- The accuracy of the profiling system in matching library needs (Correct answer)
- The number of years the vendor has been in business
- Whether the vendor offers free shipping
Correct answer: The accuracy of the profiling system in matching library needs
An approval plan's value depends on how well the vendor profile accurately reflects the library's collection scope and community needs.
Question 4: The term 'interlibrary loan net lender' describes a library that:
- Borrows more items than it lends to other libraries
- Lends more items than it borrows from other libraries (Correct answer)
- Only participates in regional ILL agreements
- Charges fees for every ILL transaction
Correct answer: Lends more items than it borrows from other libraries
A net lender fills more ILL requests from other libraries than it sends out, indicating a strong collection relative to borrowing needs.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes 'cooperative collection development'?
- One library purchasing materials on behalf of a consortium
- Multiple libraries coordinating collecting responsibilities to reduce duplication (Correct answer)
- A vendor managing a library's entire purchasing process
- A state agency dictating what libraries must acquire
Correct answer: Multiple libraries coordinating collecting responsibilities to reduce duplication
Cooperative collection development involves libraries dividing subject or format responsibilities to maximize collective coverage and reduce redundancy.
Question 6: A librarian notices that a reference database costs more per use than an ILL request for the same content. The most appropriate action is to:
- Immediately cancel the database subscription
- Analyze usage trends over time before making a decision (Correct answer)
- Negotiate a price increase with the vendor
- Add more promotional materials for the database
Correct answer: Analyze usage trends over time before making a decision
Cost-per-use data should be examined over multiple periods and in context before cancellation decisions are made.
Question 7: Which federal legislation most directly affects library collection decisions regarding accessible formats for patrons with disabilities?
- The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (Correct answer)
- The Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA)
- The Copyright Term Extension Act
Correct answer: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The ADA requires libraries to ensure their services, including collections, are accessible to patrons with disabilities.
GLC Collection Development and Management 2
A library's collection development policy should include which of the following elements?